I make a decree, that all those of the people of Israel, and their priests and the Levites, in my realm, who intend of their own free will to go to Jerusalem, go with you. Because you are sent by the king and his seven counselors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your God which is in your hand, and to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem, and all the silver and gold that you will find in all the province of Babylon, with the free will offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem; therefore you shall with all diligence buy with this money bulls, rams, lambs, with their meal offerings and their drink offerings, and shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem. Whatever seems good to you and to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, do that according to the will of your God. The vessels that are given to you for the service of the house of your God, deliver before the God of Jerusalem. Whatever more will be needed for the house of your God, which you may have occasion to give, give it out of the king’s treasure house.
I, even I Artaxerxes the king, make a decree to all the treasurers who are beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, requires of you, it shall be done with all diligence, up to one hundred talents of silver, and to one hundred cors of wheat, and to one hundred baths of wine, and to one hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much. Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done exactly for the house of the God of heaven; for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?
Also we inform you that it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll, on any of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants, or laborers of this house of God.
You, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges, who may judge all the people who are beyond the River, who all know the laws of your God; and teach him who doesn’t know them. Whoever will not do the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed on him with all diligence, whether it is to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
Blessed be Yahweh, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify Yahweh’s house which is in Jerusalem;
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv13, 14, 18, 21, 22, 23, 25, 27 Which remained as yet in Babylon and had not…
Which remained as yet in Babylon and had not returned with Zerubbabel.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv13–27 Ezr 7:13 I make a decree, that all they…
Ezr 7:13 I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and [of] his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.
Ver. 13. And of his priests] sc. The God of heaven’s priests, Ezr 7:12, and therefore honoured and respected by this great monarch; so was Samuel by Saul, Jaddus by Alexander the Great; the Bards (anciently) here in Albion by the greatest commanders.
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Which are minded of their own freewill] He would compel none; neither doth Almighty God. His people are all volunteers, Psa 110:3 Isa 56:6; he finds them not so, but makes them so; and accounts that Virtus nolentium nulla est. Lex voluntaries quaerit The courage of the unwilling is nothing. The law seeks volunteers. (Ambrose in Psa 1:1-6). God accepts a freewill offering, and commands us to come off roundly and readily in his service.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv14, 16, 20, 22, 23, 25, 26 His seven counsellors; his chief nobles and officers of…
His seven counsellors; his chief nobles and officers of state, of whom see also Est 1:10,14.
To inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, i.e. to make inquiry into all abuses and deviations from your law, and to redress them.
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Which is in thine hand; which is now and always in thy hand, being the matter of thy daily study and exercise; which thou now carriest along with thee, the interpretation whereof belongeth unto thee.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain On v27 Ezra cannot proceed in his story without inserting his…
Ezra cannot proceed in his story without inserting his thankful acknowledgement of the goodness of God to him and his people in this matter. As soon as he has concluded the king's commission, instead of subjoining, God save the king (though that would have been proper enough), he adds, Blessed be the Lord; for we must in every thing give thanks, and, whatever occurrences please us, we must own God's hand in them, and praise his name. Two things Ezra blessed God for: - 1. For his commission. We suppose he kissed the king's hand for it, but that was not all: Blessed be God (says he) that put such a thing as this into the king's heart. God can put things into men's hearts which would not arise there of themselves, and into their heads too, both by his providence and by his grace, in things pertaining both to life and godliness. If any good appear to be in our own hearts, or in the hearts of others, we must own it was God that put it there, and bless him for it; for it is he that worketh in us both to will and to do that which is good. When princes and magistrates act for the suppression of vice, and the encouragement of religion, we must thank God that put it into their hearts to do so, as much as if they had granted us some particular favour. When God's house was built Ezra rejoiced in what was done to beautify it. We read not of any orders given to paint or gild it, or to garnish it with precious stones, but to be sure that the ordinances of God were administered there constantly, and carefully, and exactly according to the institution; and that was indeed the beautifying of the temple. 2. For the encouragement he had to act in pursuance of his commission (Ezr 7:28): He has extended mercy to me. The king, in the honour he did him, we may suppose, had an eye to his merit, and preferred him because he looked upon him to be a very sensible ingenious man; but he himself ascribes his preferment purely to God's mercy. It was this that recommended him to the favour of his prince. Ezra himself was a man of courage, yet he attributed his encouragement not to his own heart, but to God's hand: "I was strengthened to undertake the services, as the hand of the Lord my God was upon me to direct and support me." If God gives us his hand, we are bold and cheerful; if he withdraws it, we are weak as water. Whatever service we are enabled to do for God and our generation, God must have all the glory of it. Strength for it is derived from him, and therefore the praise of it must be given to him.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv13–26 Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and…
Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors,.... Such a number the kings of Persia used to have from the times of Darius Hystaspis, who was chosen out of seven nobles to be king, and ever after the Persian kings had seven counsellors privileged, as those nobles were, Est 1:14, and Ezra had the honour to be sent with a commission from this king and his seven counsellors:
to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem; the inhabitants thereof, whether they had knowledge of and behaved
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according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand; a copy of which he had with him, and was very expert in and conversant with, and could readily and at once pass judgment whether they acted according to it or not.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv14, 16, 25, 26, 27 According, &c. - To make inquiry into all abuses…
According, &c. - To make inquiry into all abuses and deviations from your law, and to redress them. Which - Which is now and always in thine hand, being the matter of thy daily study.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv13, 14, 16, 18, 22, 23, 24, 26 Verse 13. Their own free-will] None shall be forced…
Verse 13. Their own free-will] None shall be forced either to go or to stay. He who loves his God will avail himself of this favourable opportunity.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv14, 15, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 Ezr 7:14. And of his seven counsellors — His…
Ezr 7:14. And of his seven counsellors — His chief nobles and officers of state; of whom see Est 1:10; Est 1:14. This decree, being made by their advice, had the greater authority. To inquire concerning Judah according to the law of thy God — To make inquiry into all abuses and deviations from your law, and to redress them. Which is in thy hand — With which thou art very conversant, and in which thou art well skilled. It may seem strange that the edict should be drawn up in this manner, as it is more in the style of a Jewish supreme governor than of a heathen king; but it is not improbable that Ezra, being in such favour in the Persian court, might get the edict drawn up in the manner and words which he thought would be most proper for the purposes for which he had obtained it.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv14, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27 Seven counselors - Herodotus relates that there were seven…
Seven counselors - Herodotus relates that there were seven families pre-eminent in Persia, those of the seven conspirators against the Pseudo-Smerdis (Ezr 4:7 note); and it is reasonable to suppose that the heads of these families formed the special council of the king; the “Achaemenidae,” or royal family, being represented by the head of the branch next in succession to that of the reigning monarch (see the marginal reference).
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv14, 16, 20, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27 Counsellors. Interpreters of the laws. (Josephus, [Antiquities?] xi. 6.)…
Counsellors. Interpreters of the laws. (Josephus, [Antiquities?] xi. 6.) --- The number seems to have been established at the courts of the Assyrian and Chaldean monarchs, Tobias xii. 15. We find their names, Esther i. 10, 14. The history of this queen happened in the reign of Darius Hystaspes. (Calmet) --- Hand. By this he was to pass sentence, ver. 25. (Haydock) --- The Jews were authorized to follow their own laws (Calmet) under the Persian dominion, ver. 26. (Tirinus)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv14, 22, 27 sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors--This…
sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors--This was the fixed number of the privy council of the kings of Persia (Est 1:10, Est 1:14). The document describes, with great clearness and precision, the nature of Ezra's commission and the extent of power and prerogatives with which he was invested. It gave him authority, in the first place, to organize the colony in Judea and institute a regular government, according to the laws of the Hebrew people, and by magistrates and rulers of their own nation (Ezr 7:25-26), with power to punish offenders by fines, imprisonment, exile, or death, according to the degree of their criminality. Secondly, he was empowered to carry a large donation in money, partly from the royal treasury and partly raised by voluntary contributions among his countrymen, to create a fund out of which to make suitable provision for maintaining the regular worship of God in Jerusalem (Ezr 7:16-17). Thirdly, the Persian officers in Syria were commanded to afford him every assistance by gifts of money within a certain specified limit, in carrying out the objects of his patriotic mission (Ezr 7:21).
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv14, 16, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 14. His seven counsellors — Seven seems to have…
14. His seven counsellors — Seven seems to have been a favourite and sacred number among the Persians as among the Jews. “Besides the royal family itself — or clan of the Achaemenidae — there were six great houses which had a rank superior to that of all the other grandees. According to Herodotus these houses derived their special dignity from the accident that their heads had been fellow-conspirators with Darius Hystaspes, (Herod., 3:84;) but there is reason to suspect that the rank of the families was precedent to the conspiracy in question, certain families conspiring because they were great, and not becoming great because they conspired. At any rate, from the time of Darius I., there seem to have been seven great families, including that of the Achaemenidae, whose chiefs had the privilege of free communication with the monarch, and from which he was legally bound to choose his legitimate wives. The chiefs appear to have been known as ‘the seven princes,’ or the ‘ seven counsellors,’ of the king. Est_1:14. They sat next to him at public festivals; they were privileged to tender him their advice whenever they pleased, (Herod., 3:84, 118;) they recommended important measures of state, and were, in part, responsible for them; they could demand admission to the monarch’s presence at any time, unless he were in the female apartments; they had precedence on all great occasions of ceremony, and enjoyed a rank altogether independent of office. Sometimes — perhaps most commonly — they held office; but they rather conferred a lustre on the position which they consented to fill, than derived any additional splendour from it.” — RAWLINSON, Ancient Monarchies, vol. iii, p. 223.
To inquire concerning Judah — It would seem that Ezra had received some intimation of irregularities among the Jews at Jerusalem, and of their ignorance and neglect of the law, and had asked authority from the king to go and inquire about the matter, and, if possible, rectify it.
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In thine hand — In thy possession. Compare Ezr_7:25, where the wisdom of God is spoken of as in the hand of Ezra.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv13–27 13. Permission to Jews to return with Ezra to…
13. Permission to Jews to return with Ezra to Jerusalem.
I make a decree] The same phrase as in Ezr_4:19, Ezr_6:8; Ezr_6:11.
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all they of the people of Israel] Cf. Cyrus’s decree Ezr_1:3 ‘Whosoever there is among all his people’. Here, by the side of ‘the priests and Levites’, the expression, as in Ezr_7:27, should be compared with Ezr_2:2.
of his priests] R.V. their priests, i.e. the priests of the people.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 (14) Seven counsellors.—These are mentioned in Est_1:14, and were…
(14) Seven counsellors.—These are mentioned in Est_1:14, and were probably the heads of those families who aided Darius Hystaspis against the pseudo-Smerdis, as mentioned by Herodotus.
According to the law of thy God.—Ezra’s commission was first to enquire into the condition of the city and province, with regard to the relation of both to the Divine law.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 All they of the people of Israel. The decree…
All they of the people of Israel. The decree of Artaxerxes is as wide in its terms as the proclamation of Cyrus, (Ezr_1:3) and gives permission not to the Jews only, but to all Israelites of whatever tribe, to accompany Ezra to Jerusalem. That Israelites of all the tribes actually went up to Jerusalem on the occasion seems indicated by the "twelve bullocks for all Israel," which those who returned with Ezra offered on their arrival to the "God of Israel". (see Ezr_8:35)
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On vv23, 27 Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let…
Ezr_7:23
Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done.
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The decree of Artaxerzes
It is remarkable that some of the richest effusions of poetry in the whole Scriptures proceeded from heathen monarchs, e.g., Darius and Nebuchadnezzar. Consider these words--
I. In reference to the Jewish church.
1. The state of the Jewish Church at this time is not unlike to that in which it was in the days of Ezra. It is impossible to behold them in their religious services, and not to see how thick s veil is yet upon their hearts. Nor do they manifest any respect for their own law in its sublimer precepts. Of real holiness of heart and life they are ignorant in the extreme.
2. But to us is given, no less than to Ezra, a command to advance their welfare.
3. In this work we should engage with all diligence (Rom_11:30-31).
II. In reference to the church which is amongst us.
1. We need to have Gods work advanced in our midst.
2. We ought to engage in this work with our whole hearts. Conclusion:
We ought to obey this imperial mandate--
1. In a way of personal reformation.
2. In a way of ministerial exertion. (C. Simeon, M. A.)
Christian missions
We may well sit at the feet of Artaxerxes and learn from heathen lips the extent of our duty and the nature of our obligations. We plead for missions.
I. To assign some reasons for active devotedness to the cause of God in the world.
1. From the Divine authority by which it is enjoined. It is commanded by the God of heaven. We love to see the estimate of Christian duties from the men of the world. They often take a just measure of our obligations. The law of love to the perishing heathen is clearly laid down. God makes man the medium of His blessings to man. The same God who bids us believe on the Lord Jesus Christ that we may be saved bids us go into all the world, etc. We should like to see inscribed over all our missionary institutions the law, Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.
2. From the urgent necessity which exists for your exertions.
3. From the fearful consequences of the neglect of this duty. For why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?
4. From the success which has attended the fulfilment of this duty.
II. To offer some suggestions as to the spirit and mode in which this work should be carried on.
1. Earnestly, without remissness. Let it be diligently done.
2. Prayerfully.
3. Speedily. (Samuel Thodey.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv14, 17, 19, 21, 24, 25, 27 Connecting Statement:
Connecting Statement:
This continues the decree that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra.
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I, the king, and my seven counselors
The word "I" and the phrase "the king" refer to the same person. The king is reminding the people who hear this letter that he is the author of this letter.
to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem according to God's law
What they were to inquire about can be stated more clearly. AT: "to investigate the situation in Judah and Jerusalem, in order to learn whether or not they are obeying God's law" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
You are to bring the silver and gold
Where they were to bring it can be stated clearly. AT: "You are to bring to Jerusalem the silver and gold" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
the silver and gold that they have freely offered
"Freely" means that they were not forced to offer the money. They gave it because they wanted to. AT: "the silver and gold that they have willingly offered"
what is freely offered by the people and the priests
This can be expressed active form. AT: "what the people and the priests have freely offered" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
translationWords
advice
inquire
Judah
Jerusalem
silver
gold
Babylon
people group
priest
house of God
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv14, 15, 16, 21, 23, 24, 25 7:14 I and my council of seven: The Greek…
7:14 I and my council of seven: The Greek historian Xenophon knew of this council (Xenophon, Anabasis 1.6.4-5), and Esth 1:14 lists the names of the seven princes of Xerxes, Artaxerxes’ father. • your God’s law: The word translated law in this verse is the Aramaic word dath rather than the Hebrew torah (7:10), suggesting that a Persian wrote this letter (7:11-26).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.