Ezra Arrives in The Land
August 11, 2019
Commentary
Between the events of chapter 6 and the return of Ezra in this chapter is a period of fifty-seven years. Although the people had re-established temple worship under Zerubbabel and Joshua they were obviously living in a backslidden and despondent condition. No further reference is made to Zerubbabel and Joshua and so it is assumed that these great leaders had died in the interval between chapters 6 and 7. Ezra, who was still residing in Babylon, had it laid upon his heart to lead another group back to Jerusalem.
Ezra went from Babylon to Jerusalem, for the good of his country (v. 1). H gives a considerable amount of information about himself that establishes his priestly lineage and gives him authority to deal with the law and worship of Jehovah (vv. 2-6). His lineage is traced all the way back to Aaron, the high priest under Moses (v. 5). His home had been in Babylon and he was a “ready scribe of the law” (v. 6). This implies that he was more than just a scholar who was learned in the law. Ezra came to Jerusalem with the approval of the king and was accompanied by a group of people that included the priests, the Levites, the singers and the porters (vv. 7-8). Even though the heathen king permitted the return of Ezra, it was ultimately the hand of the Lord that made the return possible (v. 9). Ezra spent his entire life studying the Law of the LORD and teaching it to others (v. 10).
Application
I need to be on the lookout for anything that the Word of God teaches and seeking new ways to teach it to others. Many Christians know the Word but never teach it. Notice that Ezra taught from the depth of a pure heart and a consistent life-style. It is not so much that I need to learn new truth but my greatest need is to obey the truth I already know and pass it on to others.
Ezra 7:1– 10 (NET)
1 Now after these things had happened, during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, Ezra came up from Babylon. Ezra was the son of Seraiah, who was the son of Azariah, who was the son of Hilkiah, 2 who was the son of Shallum, who was the son of Zadok, who was the son of Ahitub, 3 who was the son of Amariah, who was the son of Azariah, who was the son of Meraioth, 4 who was the son of Zerahiah, who was the son of Uzzi, who was the son of Bukki, 5 who was the son of Abishua, who was the son of Phinehas, who was the son of Eleazar, who was the son of Aaron the chief priest. 6 This Ezra is the one who came up from Babylon. He was a scribe who was skilled in the law of Moses which the Lord God of Israel had given. The king supplied him with everything he requested, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him. 7 In the seventh year of King Artaxerxes, Ezra brought up to Jerusalem some of the Israelites and some of the priests, the Levites, the attendants, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants. 8 He entered Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king. 9 On the first day of the first month he had determined to make the ascent from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he arrived at Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him. 10 Now Ezra had dedicated himself to the study of the law of the Lord, to its observance, and to teaching its statutes and judgments in Israel.