Ch 7 / 10~4 min
Ezra

Chapter 7

A Scribe Devoted to the Word of Elohim

Ezra's heart set to study, do, and teach the law of Elohim prefigures Yeshua, who fulfilled all the law and taught with authority as no one before Him had.

  1. Ezra the Scribe Introduced

    Ezra the scribe arrives in Jerusalem, a man devoted to studying and teaching Elohim's Torah. His life is built on the Word.

  2. 1Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
  3. 2the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,
  4. 3the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,
  5. 4the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,
  6. 5the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest—
  7. 6this Ezra went up from Babylon. He was a skilled scribe in the law of Moses, which YHWH, the Elohim of Israel, had given; and the king granted him all his request, according to YHWH his Elohim’s hand on him.
  8. 7Some of the children of Israel, including some of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.
  9. 8He came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.
  10. 9For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylon; and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his Elohim on him.
  11. 10For Ezra had set his heart to seek YHWH’s law, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.
  12. The King's Letter to Ezra

    The king gives Ezra a letter granting sweeping authority to teach and enforce Elohim's law. Even pagan kings serve the Father's purposes.

  13. 11Now this is the copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, even the scribe of the words of YHWH’s mitzvot, and of his statutes to Israel:
  14. 12Artaxerxes, king of kings, To Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the perfect Elohim of heaven. Now
  15. 13I 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.
  16. 14Because you are sent by the king and his seven counsellors to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your Elohim which is in your hand,
  17. 15and to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered to the Elohim of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,
  18. 16and 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 Elohim which is in Jerusalem.
  19. 17Therefore you shall with all diligence buy with this money bulls, rams, and lambs with their meal offerings and their drink offerings, and shall offer them on the altar of the house of your Elohim which is in Jerusalem.
  20. 18Whatever 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 Elohim.
  21. 19The vessels that are given to you for the service of the house of your Elohim, deliver before the Elohim of Jerusalem.
  22. 20Whatever more will be needed for the house of your Elohim, which you may have occasion to give, give it out of the king’s treasure house.
  23. 21I, 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 Elohim of heaven, requires of you, it shall be done with all diligence,
  24. 22up 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.
  25. 23Whatever is commanded by the Elohim of heaven, let it be done exactly for the house of the Elohim of heaven; for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?
  26. 24Also 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 labourers of this house of Elohim.
  27. 25You, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your Elohim 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 Elohim; and teach him who doesn’t know them.
  28. 26Whoever will not do the law of your Elohim and the law of the king, let judgement be executed on him with all diligence, whether it is to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
  29. Ezra Praises Elohim's Faithful Hand

    Ezra praises Elohim for putting this mission in the king's heart. The Father works through human authorities to accomplish eternal plans.

  30. 27Blessed be YHWH, the Elohim of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify YHWH’s house which is in Jerusalem;
  31. 28and has extended chesed to me before the king and his counsellors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. I was strengthened according to YHWH my Elohim’s hand on me, and I gathered together chief men out of Israel to go up with me.
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