Ezra 7
Lutheran reading notes
In Ezra chapter 7, the account continues the story of the return from exile and rebuilding of the temple. Lutheran interpretation frequently highlights how these events reveal both human sinfulness and God’s faithful promises. The chapter demonstrates the tension between human failure and God’s ongoing grace working through history.
1
Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
Ezra 7:1 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
2
The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,
Ezra 7:2 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
3
The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,
Ezra 7:3 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
4
The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,
Ezra 7:4 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
5
The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest:
Ezra 7:5 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
6
This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he {was} a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.
Ezra 7:6 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
7
And there went up {some} of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.
Ezra 7:7 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
8
And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which {was} in the seventh year of the king.
Ezra 7:8 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
9
For upon the first {day} of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first {day} of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him. {began...: Heb. was the foundation of the going up}
Ezra 7:9 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
10
For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do {it}, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
Ezra 7:10 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
11
Now this {is} the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, {even} a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel.
Ezra 7:11 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
12
Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect {peace}, and at such a time. {unto...: or, to Ezra the priest, a perfect scribe of the law of the God of heaven, peace, etc}
Ezra 7:12 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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.
Ezra 7:13 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
14
Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which {is} in thine hand; {of the king: Chaldee, from before the king}
Ezra 7:14 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
15
And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation {is} in Jerusalem,
Ezra 7:15 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
16
And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which {is} in Jerusalem:
Ezra 7:16 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
17
That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which {is} in Jerusalem.
Ezra 7:17 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
18
And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God.
Ezra 7:18 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
19
The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, {those} deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem.
Ezra 7:19 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
20
And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow {it} out of the king's treasure house.
Ezra 7:20 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
21
And I, {even} I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which {are} beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,
Ezra 7:21 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
22
Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing {how much}. {measures: Chaldee, cors}
Ezra 7:22 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
23
Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons? {Whatsoever...: Chaldee, Whatsoever is of the decree}
24
Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.
Ezra 7:24 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
25
And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that {is} in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that {are} beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know {them} not.
Ezra 7:25 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
26
And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether {it be} unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment. {to banishment: Chaldee, to rooting out}
Ezra 7:26 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
27
Blessed {be} the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put {such a thing} as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which {is} in Jerusalem:
Ezra 7:27 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
28
And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God {was} upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.
Ezra 7:28 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.