Exile and return · Ezra 7–8
Ezra Returns to Jerusalem
Under the Persian king Artaxerxes, Ezra, a priest descended from Aaron and a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses, leaves Babylon with a group of Israelites. The king grants him everything he asks for: a letter sends him to inquire about Judah and Jerusalem according to the law of his God, with silver and gold for the house of the LORD, and an order to appoint judges. Ezra “had prepared his heart to study the law of the LORD, to do it, and to teach.” By the river Ahava, he finds no Levites and sends for some from Casiphia. Then he proclaims a fast: he would have been ashamed to ask the king for an escort, because he had said, “The hand of our God is upon all those for good that seek him.” God answers them and protects them on the way. In Jerusalem, the treasures are weighed out and the returned exiles offer burnt offerings.
What happens
- Ezra, a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses, leaves Babylon Ezra 7:6
- He has prepared his heart to study, practice, and teach the Law Ezra 7:10
- The king sends him with silver and gold for the house of God Ezra 7:14–15
- By Ahava, no Levites: Ezra sends for some from Casiphia Ezra 8:15–17
- A fast instead of an escort: “he was entreated of us” Ezra 8:21–23
- Arrival in Jerusalem: treasures weighed, burnt offerings made Ezra 8:32–35
Who is in this story
The lesson
The hand of God rests on the one who prepares: studying the Word, putting it into practice, then teaching it. Ezra chooses to fast and pray rather than ask the king for an escort, and God answers: true protection comes from the One we seek.
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.
Quick quiz on this story
During the reign of which Persian king does Ezra go up to Jerusalem?
Ezra came from Babylon “in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia” and reached Jerusalem in the seventh year of the king. Ezra 7:1
What had Ezra set his heart on doing?
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
Why does Ezra give up asking the king for an escort?
Ezra would have been ashamed to ask for an escort, because he had told the king, “The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him.” Ezra 8:22
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