References (22)
[Chapter 6 ended with the temple finally being dedicated in 516 BC by the first group that returned from exile. Chapter 7 picks up 58 years later (458 BC), see . Zerubbabel had led the first group, and now, 80 years later, Ezra leads the second group back. Eventually, Nehemiah will lead the third group (444 BC), see .]
Now, after all this, during the reign of Artaxerxes (Hebr. Artachshasta), king of Persia, Ezra, son of Seraiah, son of Azariah (Hebr. Azarjah), son of Hilkiah,
This Ezra came up from Babylon. He was skilled in the teachings of Moses (Hebr. ) that the Lord (Yahweh), the God of Israel (Elohim), had given. The king granted him everything he asked for, because the hand of the Lord (Yahweh), his God (Elohim), was upon him.
For Ezra had wholeheartedly decided (had set his heart ) to seek and explore the teachings of the Lord (Yahweh) (Hebr. Torah), to live by them and to teach their statutes and ordinances in Israel.
Now this is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes (Hebr. Artachshasta) gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, a teacher of the law of the Lord (Yahweh) and his statutes for Israel.
[Verses 12-26 are in Aramaic:]
" [From:] Artaxerxes (Hebr. Artachshaste), king of kings [a popular title at the time – describing rule over many peoples],
to Ezra the priest, teacher of the commandments of the God of heaven (Aramaic: dat).
I, King Artaxerxes (Hebr. Artachshaste), now issue a decree to all the treasurers in the land beyond the river: Whatever the priest Ezra, teacher of the law of the God of heaven, asks of you, it shall be done and given,
And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom God has given you, appoint judges and lawyers who will administer justice to all the people in the land beyond the river, all those who know the statutes of your God. If anyone does not know them, you shall teach them.
While Ezra prayed and confessed, weeping and prostrating himself (face down on the ground) before the house of God (Elohim), a very large crowd of Israelites, men, women, and children, gathered around him. The people also wept bitterly.
And Shecaniah, the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said to Ezra, "We have been unfaithful to our God (Elohim) and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land. Nevertheless, there is still hope (Hebr. miqveh) for Israel in this matter. [The Messiah is Israel's hope for purification and salvation, see ; .]
Then Ezra stood up and took the leaders of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel, and made them swear an oath according to this word. They swore this oath.
Then Ezra rose from the place before the house of God and went into the chamber belonging to Jehohanan, son of Eliashib, and when he got there, he ate no bread and drank no water, for he mourned because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles.
And Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, "You have been unfaithful (broken your faith) and married foreign women to increase the guilt of Israel.
And the sons of the exiles did so. And Ezra the priest, together with selected leaders of each family (literally "the heads of the fathers' houses"), each of them designated by name, sat down on the first day of the 10th month [Tevet – Dec/Jan] and examined the matter.
All the people gathered as one man in the open space in front of the Water Gate. They spoke to Ezra, the scribe, that he should bring out the book (scroll) with Moses' teaching, which the Lord (Yahweh) had established for Israel.
Then Ezra the priest brought the teaching [the five books of Moses – Hebr. Torah] to the assembly, to the men and women and all who could understand what they heard. [Even children, see .] It was the first day of the seventh month [Tishri; October 8, 445 BC].
Ezra, the scribe, stood on a raised wooden platform [] that they had made for that purpose. [This platform (literally: tower of wood) must have been large enough for Ezra and his 13 assistants to stand there.] Beside him stood [six people:] Mattithiah, Shema, Ananiah, Oriyah, Hilkiah (Hebr. Chilqijaho), and Maaseiah on his right hand, and [seven people:] Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddana, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand.
Ezra opened the book (the scroll – Hebr. sefer) in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above the people, and when he opened it, all the people stood up. [Standing was a way of showing respect, see .]
Ezra blessed the Lord (Yahweh), the great God (Elohim), and all the people responded, "Amen, amen," while they lifted up their hands and bowed their heads and fell down before the Lord (Yahweh) with their faces to the ground.
Governor Nehemiah, the scribe Ezra, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept when they heard the words of the teaching (Torah).
On the second day [October 9, 445 BC], the heads of the families of the whole people, together with the priests and Levites, gathered at Ezra the scribe to study (gain insight and understanding) the words of the teaching (Hebr. Torah). [Ps 119:97]
These lived in the time of Jehoiakim, the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the time of Governor Nehemiah and Ezra the priest, the scribe.
and his brothers Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, and Judah, and Hanani with the musical instruments of David the man of God. Ezra the scribe went before them.
