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Then after all these things, in the days of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, set out
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son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub
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son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth
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son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki
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son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, that is, Aaron the chief priest.
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This Ezra went up from Babylon. He was a scribe, skilled in the Law of Moses that the LORD, the God of Israel, had given. And the king granted him all that he asked, because the hand of the LORD his God was upon him.
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Also some of the Israelites, and priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.
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Then he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, in the seventh year of the king.
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On the first day of the first month he began his journey up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, because the gracious hand of his God was upon him.
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For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances.
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This is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest and scribe, a scribe skilled in the words of the commandments of the LORD and his statutes for Israel:
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“Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the God of heaven, and so forth. And now,
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by me a decree is issued that anyone in my kingdom who belongs to the people of Israel, or to its priests or Levites, and who is willing to go to Jerusalem, may go with you.
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Since you are sent by the king and his seven counselors to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem according to the law of your God that is in your hand,
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and to carry the silver and gold that the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem,
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together with all the silver and gold that you shall obtain in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offerings of the people and the priests, for the house of their God in Jerusalem,
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therefore you shall diligently use this money to buy bulls, rams, lambs, with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and you shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God in Jerusalem.
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But whatever seems good to you and to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and gold, you may do according to the will of your God.”
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Only the vessels that have been given to you for the service of the house of your God, deliver them before the God in Jerusalem.
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And whatever else is needed for the house of your God, for which payment is your responsibility, you may pay from the royal treasury.
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Then I, King Artaxerxes, issue a decree to all the treasurers in the region beyond the River Euphrates: whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the God of heaven, asks of you, let it be done carefully,
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with silver up to one hundred talents, wheat up to one hundred cors, wine up to one hundred baths, oil up to one hundred baths, and salt without limit.
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Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven must be carried out diligently for the house of the God of heaven, so that wrath may not come upon the kingdom of the king and his sons.
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Furthermore, we make known to you that it is not lawful to impose tax, tribute, or toll on the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, the temple servants, and the servants of the house of God.
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And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges, that they may judge all the people who live in the region beyond the River Euphrates, namely all who know the law of your God; and those who do not know it, you shall teach.
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Whoever does not do the law of your God and the law of the king shall be punished carefully, whether by death, by banishment, by fine, or by imprisonment.”
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Blessed be the LORD, the God of our fathers, who has thus moved the heart of the king, so that he has adorned the house of the LORD that is in Jerusalem,
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and has made me favored by the king and his counselors and by all the mighty officials of the king!
(7-28b) Then I strengthened my heart, because the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered from among the Israelites some leaders to go up with me.
📜🧑🏫✨ Summary of Ezra 7 – Ezra Comes to Jerusalem Bringing the Law of God
Ezra 7 is an important turning point in this book because it introduces the main figure: Ezra, a priest and scribe who lived devoutly and was skilled in the law of God. Under the rule of King Artaxerxes of Persia, Ezra led the second group from exile to return to Jerusalem. He was sent not to build a structure, but to restore the spiritual life of the people by bringing authority to teach and uphold God’s law in Judah. This chapter is about restoration through the Word of God.
📌 1. Ezra’s Profile – Priest and Scribe (verses 1–6)
➡️ Ezra was a direct descendant of High Priest Aaron
➡️ He was a scribe of the book of the Law of Moses, highly respected and given authority by King Artaxerxes
➡️ Ezra “found favor with the Lord,” so that he received everything he asked from the king
🎯 A spiritual leader must have depth in the Word and integrity of life.
📌 2. Ezra Leads the Company to Jerusalem (verses 7–10)
➡️ Ezra led the company that returned to Jerusalem in the seventh year of Artaxerxes’ reign
➡️ In the company were priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants
➡️ Ezra set his heart to study, do, and teach the law of the Lord
🎯 True restoration comes when leaders and the people return to loving and obeying the Word of the Lord.
📌 3. King Artaxerxes’ Letter to Ezra (verses 11–26)
➡️ This official letter gave full authority to Ezra to regulate religious life in Judah
➡️ The king allowed Ezra to bring silver, gold, and offerings to the house of God
➡️ He ordered the officials beyond the River to provide all that Ezra needed without hindrance
➡️ Ezra was given authority to appoint judges and teachers of the law, and to enforce the law of God
➡️ Punishment could be imposed on anyone who broke the law of God and the law of the king
🎯 God can move secular leaders to support the spread and enforcement of God’s law.
📌 4. Ezra Praises the Lord (verses 27–28)
➡️ Ezra gave thanks because the hand of the Lord was with him
➡️ He praised the Lord who stirred the king’s heart, and said that he was strengthened by the Lord to lead the company back
🎯 When the Lord opens the way, spiritual leaders must respond with humility and gratitude.
📖 Main Teaching
- Spiritual restoration begins with understanding, applying, and teaching the word of God
- Leaders who rely on the Word and the love of God will be greatly used by Him
- God is able to use secular authority to support His plan
- Ezra’s integrity, wisdom, and obedience made him trusted by the king and the people
- The Lord’s presence is the key to the success of spiritual mission
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
“Make every effort to present yourself approved before God, a worker who need not be ashamed and who rightly handles the word of truth.”
➡️ Ezra is a picture of a faithful and true servant of the word
“Teach them to observe all that I have commanded you…”
➡️ Ezra carried out a teaching mission similar to the Great Commission
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…”
➡️ Ezra shows that the word of God must sink in, be taught, and be lived out
“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.”
➡️ Ezra studied, did, and then taught — the right order in spiritual growth
🕊️ “Ezra… a scribe skilled in the law of Moses…” – Ezra 7:6
🕊️ “Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD, to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances…” – Ezra 7:10
🕊️ “Whatever is commanded by your God… let it be done diligently.” – Ezra 7:23
🕊️ “The hand of the LORD my God was upon me…” – Ezra 7:28
