Ezra Sent to Teach the People

Ezra 7

1 Now after these things, in the reign of a Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the b son of Seraiah, c the son of Azariah, the son of d Hilkiah, 2 the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, 3 the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, 4 the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, 5 the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest - 6 this Ezra came up from Babylon; and he was e a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given. The king granted him all his request, f according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.

7 g Some of the children of Israel, the priests, h the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and i the Nethinim came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes. 8 And Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. 9 On the first day of the first month he began his journey from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, j according to the good hand of his God upon him. 10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to k seek 1 the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to l teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.

11 This is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave Ezra the priest, the scribe, expert in the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of His statutes to Israel: 12 2 Artaxerxes, m king of kings,
To Ezra the priest, a scribe of the Law of the God of heaven:
Perfect peace, n and 3 so forth. 13 I issue a decree that all those of the people of Israel and the priests and Levites in my realm, who volunteer to go up to Jerusalem, may go with you. 14 And whereas you are being sent 4 by the king and his o seven counselors to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, with regard to the Law of your God which is in your hand; 15 and whereas you are to carry the silver and gold which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, p whose dwelling is in Jerusalem; 16 q and whereas all the silver and gold that you may find in all the province of Babylon, along with the freewill offering of the people and the priests, are to be r freely offered for the 5 house of their God in Jerusalem - 17 now therefore, be careful to buy with this money bulls, rams, and lambs, with their s grain offerings and their drink offerings, and t offer them on the altar of the house of your God in Jerusalem. 18 And whatever seems good to you and your brethren to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, do it according to the will of your God. 19 Also the articles that are given to you for the service of the house of your God, deliver in full before the God of Jerusalem. 20 And whatever more may be needed for the house of your God, which you may have occasion to provide, pay for it from the king's treasury.

21 And I, even I, Artaxerxes the king, issue a decree to all the treasurers who are in the region beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, may require of you, let it be done diligently, 22 up to one hundred talents of silver, one hundred kors of wheat, one hundred baths of wine, one hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribed limit. 23 Whatever 6 is commanded by the God of heaven, let it diligently be done for the 7 house of the God of heaven. For why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons? 24 Also we inform you that it shall not be lawful to impose tax, tribute, or custom on any of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, Nethinim, or servants of this house of God.

25 And you, Ezra, according to your God-given wisdom, u set magistrates and judges who may judge all the people who are in the region beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God; and v teach those who do not know them. 26 Whoever will not observe the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily on him, whether it be death, or 8 banishment, or confiscation of goods, or imprisonment.

27 w Blessed 9 be the LORD God of our fathers, x who has put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem, 28 and y has extended mercy to me before the king and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty princes.
So I was encouraged, as z the hand of the LORD my God was upon me; and I gathered leading men of Israel to go up with me.

  1. Cross References
    Nehemiah 2:1
    And it came to pass in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, that I took the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had never been sad in his presence before.
  2. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 6:14
    Azariah begot Seraiah, and Seraiah begot Jehozadak.
  3. Cross References
    Jeremiah 52:24
    The captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the second priest, and the three doorkeepers.
  4. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 35:8
    And his leaders gave willingly to the people, to the priests, and to the Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, rulers of the house of God, gave to the priests for the Passover offerings two thousand six hundred from the flock, and three hundred cattle.
  5. Cross References
    Ezra 7:11
    This is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave Ezra the priest, the scribe, expert in the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of His statutes to Israel:
    Ezra 7:12
    Artaxerxes, king of kings, To Ezra the priest, a scribe of the Law of the God of heaven: Perfect peace, and so forth.
    Ezra 7:21
    And I, even I, Artaxerxes the king, issue a decree to all the treasurers who are in the region beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, may require of you, let it be done diligently.
  6. Cross References
    Ezra 7:9
    On the first day of the first month he began his journey from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.
    Ezra 7:28
    And has extended mercy to me before the king and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty princes. So I was encouraged, as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me; and I gathered leading men of Israel to go up with me.
    Ezra 8:22
    For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, "The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him.
  7. Cross References
    Ezra 8:1 - 14
    These are the heads of their fathers' houses, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of King Artaxerxes:
  8. Cross References
    Ezra 8:15
    Now I gathered them by the river that flows to Ahava, and we camped there three days. And I looked among the people and the priests, and found none of the sons of Levi there.
  9. Cross References
    Ezra 2:43
    The Nethinim: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth.
    Ezra 8:20
    Also of the Nethinim, whom David and the leaders had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinim. All of them were designated by name.
  10. Cross References
    Ezra 7:6
    This Ezra came up from Babylon; and he was a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given. The king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.
    Nehemiah 2:8
    And a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he must give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel which pertains to the temple, for the city wall, and for the house that I will occupy." And the king granted them to me according to the good hand of my God upon me.
    Nehemiah 2:18
    And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king's words that he had spoken to me. So they said, "Let us rise up and build." Then they set their hands to this good work.
  11. Cross References
    Psalms 119:45
    And I will walk at liberty, For I seek Your precepts.
  12. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 33:10
    They shall teach Jacob Your judgments, And Israel Your law. They shall put incense before You, And a whole burnt sacrifice on Your altar.
    Ezra 7:6
    This Ezra came up from Babylon; and he was a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given. The king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.
    Ezra 7:25
    And you, Ezra, according to your God-given wisdom, set magistrates and judges who may judge all the people who are in the region beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God; and teach those who do not know them.
    Nehemiah 8:1 - 8
    Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded Israel.
    Malachi 2:7
    For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, And people should seek the law from his mouth; For he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
  13. Cross References
    Ezekiel 26:7
    For thus says the Lord GOD: 'Behold, I will bring against Tyre from the north Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, with horses, with chariots, and with horsemen, and an army with many people.
    Daniel 2:37
    You, O king, are a king of kings. For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory.
  14. Cross References
    Ezra 4:10
    And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnapper took captive and settled in the cities of Samaria and the remainder beyond the River - and so forth.
  15. Cross References
    Esther 1:14
    Those closest to him being Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who had access to the king's presence, and who ranked highest in the kingdom):
  16. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 6:2
    I have surely built You an exalted house, And a place for You to dwell in forever.
    Ezra 6:12
    And may the God who causes His name to dwell there destroy any king or people who put their hand to alter it, or to destroy this house of God which is in Jerusalem. I Darius issue a decree; let it be done diligently.
    Psalms 135:21
    Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, Who dwells in Jerusalem! Praise the LORD!
  17. Cross References
    Ezra 8:25
    And weighed out to them the silver, the gold, and the articles, the offering for the house of our God which the king and his counselors and his princes, and all Israel who were present, had offered.
  18. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 29:6
    Then the leaders of the fathers' houses, leaders of the tribes of Israel, the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the officers over the king's work, offered willingly.
    1 Chronicles 29:9
    Then the people rejoiced, for they had offered willingly, because with a loyal heart they had offered willingly to the LORD; and King David also rejoiced greatly.
  19. Cross References
    Numbers 15:4 - 13
    Then he who presents his offering to the LORD shall bring a grain offering of one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with one-fourth of a hin of oil.
  20. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 12:5 - 11
    But you shall seek the place where the LORD your God chooses, out of all your tribes, to put His name for His dwelling place; and there you shall go.
  21. Cross References
    Exodus 18:21
    Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.
    Exodus 18:22
    And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you.
    Deuteronomy 16:18
    You shall appoint judges and officers in all your gates, which the LORD your God gives you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with just judgment.
  22. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 17:7
    Also in the third year of his reign he sent his leaders, BenHail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.
    Ezra 7:10
    For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.
    Malachi 2:7
    For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, And people should seek the law from his mouth; For he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
    Colossians 1:28
    Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
  23. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 29:10
    Therefore David blessed the LORD before all the assembly; and David said: "Blessed are You, LORD God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever.
  24. Cross References
    Ezra 6:22
    And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy; for the LORD made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.
    Proverbs 21:1
    The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.
  25. Cross References
    Ezra 9:9
    For we were slaves. Yet our God did not forsake us in our bondage; but He extended mercy to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to revive us, to repair the house of our God, to rebuild its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.
  26. Cross References
    Ezra 5:5
    But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, so that they could not make them cease till a report could go to Darius. Then a written answer was returned concerning this matter.
    Ezra 7:6
    This Ezra came up from Babylon; and he was a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given. The king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.
    Ezra 7:9
    On the first day of the first month he began his journey from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.
    Ezra 8:18
    Then, by the good hand of our God upon us, they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli the son of Levi, the son of Israel, namely Sherebiah, with his sons and brothers, eighteen men.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Next Book Next Book