Ezra and the Law

DEVOTIONAL READING: Ezra 7:1–10, 23–26

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: Ezra 7:1–26 EZRA 7:1–10, 23–26

1 After these things, during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, 2 the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, 3 the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, 4 the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, 5 the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest—6 this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the LORD his God was on him. 7 Some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers and temple servants, also came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes. 8 Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king. 9 He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him. 10 For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel. 23 Whatever the God of heaven has prescribed, let it be done with diligence for the temple of the God of heaven. Why should his wrath fall on the realm of the king and of his sons? 24 You are also to know that you have no authority to impose taxes, tribute or duty on any of the priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers, temple servants or other workers at this house of God. 25 And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach any who do not know them. 26 Whoever does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king must surely be punished by death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.

I. Ezra’s Qualifications

(EZRA 7:1–6)

A. Physical Lineage (vv. 1–5)

1a. After these things, This phrase refers to the events of Ezra 6: “1 Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. 2 And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written: 3 In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits; 4 With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expences be given out of the king’s house: 5 And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God. (Ezra 6:13–18). Most scholars put approximately 57 years between the events of Ezra 6 and the events of today’s text. in order to better understand this lesson the verse before this will set up when the new temple was built before Ezra came into the picture .and from verse 6 to today's lesson it was 57 years in between that time , which was not a long time in those days , but now it seems like a long time . if you dont belive that ask any child to tell you the difference . because my crazy daughter got my age back in George Washington's day.

1b. during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, In antiquity there were three Persian rulers with the name Artaxerxes. This one is Artaxerxes I, who reigned 465–424 BC. Since the other two reigned much later (404–359 BC and 359–338 BC), there was no need for Ezra to distinguish among them. Artaxerxes I is the same individual who would later send Nehemiah to Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:1). all a history lesson for Ezras qualification and as you can see here they really went back a ways .

1c. Ezra son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, The following genealogy traced the ancestry of Ezra back to Aaron, the first high priest (see Exodus 28:1), and validated Ezra’s role as priest (see Ezra 7:11, not in today’s text). The genealogy relates Ezra to several prominent priests with the expression son of, an idiom meaning “descendant.” This idiom does not necessarily indicate a direct father-son relationship. In the Old Testament, at least 11 individuals were named Seraiah (see 2 Samuel 8:17; 1 Chronicles 4:13, 35; Ezra 2:2; Nehemiah 10:2; 11:11; 12:1; Jeremiah 36:26; 40:8; 51:59). The individual mentioned here was likely the high priest when Nebuchadnezzar’s forces captured and destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BC (see 2 Kings 25:8, 18). The Old Testament mentions more than 20 individuals with the name Azariah, including a second individual in Ezra’s genealogy (see commentary on Ezra 7:3, below; see 1 Kings 4:5; 2 Kings 14:21; 1 Chronicles 2:8, 38; 6:9; etc.). This name likely refers to a priest and official in the service of King Solomon (see 1 Kings 4:2). Visual for Lesson 11. Allow one minute for silent personal reflection on this question, following the lesson’s conclusion. In 622 BC, during the reign of King Josiah, the high priest Hilkiah found the Book of the Law neglected in the temple (see 2 Kings 22:3, 8). 2. the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, In 622 BC, during the reign of King Josiah, the high priest Hilkiah found the Book of the Law neglected in the temple (see 2 Kings 22:3, 8).

so here we are going through Ezras family tree just to get a qualification for him even to be known as a priest! can you imagine us going through this to become a minister but not through a family line im glad we don't because somewhere down my line there were no preachers maybe on on one side of my family but on the tapscott side were more then one ???? i beleive ,

2. the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, Some 14 individuals in the Old Testament share the name Shallum (see 2 Kings 15:10–15; 22:14; 1 Chronicles 2:41; 3:15; 4:25; 2 Chronicles 28:12; etc.). In Ezra’s day, temple gatekeepers were one of the first exiles to return to Judah (Ezra 2:42; see 1 Chronicles 9:17). Their role was critical as they protected the entrance to the temple protected the entrance to and the sacred items located in the temple (9:23; 15:23) all these gate keepers were the first to return to Judah after Nebuchadnezzar rule and they had a top secret clearence to gaurd the gate from those who did have the right papers to come in . just like in most gov buildings. gate keepers in our time are either rent a cops or actual police on a part time job.

v 3–4. the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, For further detail about the ancestral background of the tribe of Levi, one might turn to 1 Chronicles 6:1–81, where a detailed genealogy lists the relatives of Levi and Aaron. Some names from Ezra 7 are omitted in the genealogy of 1 Chronicles 6. However, their lack of inclusion is not an issue as it was uncommon to list every member of every generation.

some of the names were ;eft out going down the line of Ezras kin but it didn't matter back then it happen a lot so n nothing new . a lot of times we are not mention in our line of folks .....

5. the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest—

Beyond his service as high priest from the tribe of Levi, very little is known about Abishua (1 Chronicles 5:30–31; 6:50). Upon seeing Israel’s sin with Baal, Phinehas is recorded to have killed an Israelite man and a Midianite woman (see Numbers 25:3–8). His act of violence was seen as an act of righteousness, turning away the wrath of the Lord and establishing a “covenant of peace” (25:11–12; see Psalm 106:28–31). Eleazar followed in his father’s priestly duties upon Aaron’s death (Numbers 20:25–29). Additionally, Eleazar assisted Joshua in distributing land to the tribes of Israel (Joshua 14:1). One might consider biblical genealogies boring and useless, but they stand as historical record and are essential to show the validity of certain roles. For Ezra, these genealogies validated his role as leader and priest of his people. The importance of as leader and priest of his people. The importance of this is seen in the identical wording (in both Hebrew and English) of Ezra 2:62 and Nehemiah 7:64. What Do You Think? What role, if any, should physical or spiritual genealogy play in your life? Why? Digging Deeper What boundaries do 1 Timothy 1:4 and Titus 3:9 establish in this regard?the role of or gens plays some fact in our lives on how we act towards ourselves and others but if we dig deeper we can see that maybe we dont need to dig too deep in our gen history bueause some of ot you might now want anyone to know and it more than likely is not gonna help anyway. so dont bring it up...... lets read this

AN ENDURING LEGACY

Amanda experienced a difficult childhood. By her 10th birthday, her parents had divorced. One parent dealt with a prescription drug addiction, and the other parent died by the time Amanda was in middle school. Because of these challenges, Amanda was forced to care for her younger brother. Eventually, Amanda’s grandmother became the primary legal caregiver for Amanda and her brother. Their grandmother cared in ways they had never previously experienced. She attended parent-teacher conferences, provided school supplies for the children, and cooked nourishing meals daily. She was present for all the ups and downs Amanda experienced during high school. Says Amanda, “Without my grandma’s example for me, I don’t know where I’d be today.” The legacy of Amanda’s grandmother will be long-lasting as it extends to Amanda’s children and grandchildren. When a family member’s care and support counteract the challenges of life and affect future generations in the process, a legacy is established. How will your legacy encourage leadership and healing for future generations? What kind of legacy will you leave? i want to known as the one trying to get to the kingdom .

B. Spiritual Preparation

(v. 6)

6a. this Ezra came up from Babylon.

With Ezra’s role validated by his genealogy, the narrative turns to Ezra’s specific task: leading a journey from Babylon to Jerusalem. The distance between the two cities was approximately 880 miles and would take extensive planning.

just like getting a new job he met the qulifaction from his gens , oh my but what a long journey that Ezra had to make after leaving babylon 880 miles by either camel or horse which may have taken 5-6 months to get to Jerusalem . well it gave Ezra plenty of time to reflect on what his job was going to be once he got there.

6b. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given. Ezra was more than merely a priest. He is described as a teacher, or scholar, of the Law of Moses. As the legal scholars of the day, teachers of the Law (also called scribes) were highly regarded as they studied the ancient law given to Moses, provided accurate interpretation, and taught it to others (compare Nehemiah 8). The ease at which Ezra understood the complex nuances of law is indicated by his description as well versed. This implies his skilled comprehension. Ezra’s focus on the law did not lie with its editorial foundations;

he was not concerned with whether there were multiple authors of the law over several centuries. Instead, his focus lay with the reality that it was the Lord, the God of Israel who had given the law.well this brainic of the law of Moses was no dummy he was well educated and god was the one who filled him with this ability to understand the laws of our God and to follow then and to teach them .

6c. The king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the LORD his God was on him. As the king had granted Ezra’s requests and needs for the upcoming journey, it seems that Artaxerxes’s attitude had changed. Elsewhere, the king ordered that work on rebuilding the city of Jerusalem stop until he issued a new decree (Ezra 4:21). However, the king changed his opinion and supported Ezra’s journey. Artaxerxes even contributed great quantities of silver and gold for the work in Jerusalem (8:25–27). Ezra prepared for this moment, knew the needs of the journey, requisitioned necessary resources, and secured the complete confidence of the king. The hand of the Lord is referred to throughout the latter half of Ezra and acknowledges the source of the blessings bestowed on this journey and the following rebuilding projects in Jerusalem (see Ezra 7:6, 9, 28; 8:18, 22, 31). This journey would be successful because it was blessed by the Lord. we can be thankful that Jesus gave us a way back to God because God will show favor to us when needed. like in Ezras case God already had favor for Ezra its like having God on your side when needed. thanks be to Jesus for us>>>>>>>

What Do You Think? What does Ezra’s favor with the king suggest regarding how you should view and interact with governing authorities?

that some where during that time the king knew God and for that he showed Ezra that he also has favor from God so he gave him all he wanted and needed. and we should try and feel out what some people in Gov. are like if they even believe in God and that's not hard to do all you have to do is mention God once just to see what kind of reaction you get from them .then you can move forward on your quest in the proper way.

you Digging Deeper How do Acts 5:29; Romans 13:1–7; Titus 3:1; Hebrews 11:23; and 1 Peter 2:13-17 what i said before these verses its like i read them before i wrote but thats not the case if you put your faith in God then you know how to act around people and you will get the real people to come out just mention God .... and rest assure i am always going to mention God one way or another because im gonna be on Gods side and not man . man cant get me into heaven only through Jesus and believing in MY GOD.

II. Ezra’s Journey

(EZRA 7:7–10)

A. Travel Companions (v. 7

) 7. Some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers and temple servants, also came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes. The total number of those who traveled to Jerusalem numbered fewer than 2,000 (Ezra 8:1–14). This group included the priests and the Levites, individuals necessary for proper worship in the newly built temple; musicians and gatekeepers, necessary for rightly ordered worship; and other Israelites. The temple servants were individuals who had given their lives to work and minister in the temple in a non-priestly manner (see 1 Chronicles 9:2; Ezra 8:20).

so we can see that there are others that came to jerusalem to do work in the temple that was just finished and we alreade know about the new temple and erza and this crew of church workers were with him these are just like a church .ministers, deacons (but not the preist that Ezra was.) levites Could have been trustees sect,ushers so forth and so on., keepers of the church(temple_)

B. Journey’s Length

(vv. 8–9a)

8. Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king. As a careful scribe, Ezra gives additional information about the chronology of the trip. The entire journey took place in the seventh year of the king, Artaxerxes, corresponding to 458 BC. see i told yall it took about - 5-6 months 880 miles a long ride to get there…

9a. He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, The journey from Babylon began on the first day of the first month, the Jewish month of Nisan (late March to early April). Ezra arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, the Jewish month of Ab. This date would be to August 4, 458 BC. As the Jewish calendar is based on lunar months, each month is approximately 29.5 days. Therefore, the travel time was approximately 118 days, including Sabbath Days for rest. Because this group likely included animals, children (Ezra 8:21), and cargo (8:24–30), those would have necessitated a slower rate of travel: approximately nine miles a day. What Do You Think? What steps can you take to avoid the danger of enslavement in the “spiritual Babylon” culture that surrounds us? keeping man made laws and goverment at a distance because we still need goerment on the land but what we need the most is what God wants us to do .

Digging Deeper How do texts such as 2 Corinthians 5:16; 10:4; 11:18–20; Galatians 4:8–9; and 1 Peter 5:13 speak to this issue? we dont have to really be of this world we only have to be in this world for a short time but our faith must not be in man only in what Christ has taught us . so obey these man made laws but follow the laws of God because we are followers we are Gods childern we are believers in VChrist and all that he did for us.

C. God’s Blessing (vv. 9b–10)

9b. for the gracious hand of his God was on him. The arrival of the travelers to Jerusalem gave evidence that the providence and blessing of the gracious hand of his God was upon Ezra (see commentary on Ezra 7:6, above).durning their travels Gods Hand was on him . and durning 5 months of slow travel God put his hand on him . so that he and the rest of them could have safe trvel which on a daily basis i pray for all the time for safe travel because i am a traveler . thank you God for always being there for me ......

10. For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel. Ezra’s role as a scribe and teacher is seen by the ways the Law of the Lord affected his life and the lives of others. It was not enough that he wanted to study teach God’s law. The desire to practice observance of God’s law implied a full understanding of the law’s life-changing affect. Ezra’s dedication to his calling undoubtedly changed Israel for the better and encouraged proper worship as the travelers returned to their homeland (compare Nehemiah 8).

What Do You Think? What disciplines do you find helpful in motivating you to seek, do, and teach God’s will? i can truly say that God has filled my heart with his love and with his guidence so that i can do his will. from where he brought me from i know i got Gods hand upon me and all around me. praise be to God .

Digging Deeper What activities have you noticed that work against this ideal?

well from what i see in the news there is so many things going on that has nothing to do with what God wants us to do a;so i notice an ad from an athesis on tv and to me it should not have been there but how many ads do see coming from christians??????

Start 2nd Half 2/17

III. Ezra’s Obligations

(EZRA 7:23–26)

The intervening verses consist of the words of King Artaxerxes in a letter to Ezra. The text of this letter was written in Aramaic, the official language of the Persians. This letter granted Ezra authority to determine the proper location to observe God’s law (Ezra 7:14).

A. What to Do, Part 1 (v. 23)

23. Whatever the God of heaven has prescribed, let it be done with diligence for the temple of the God of heaven.

Why should his wrath fall on the realm of the king and of his sons? Whether Artaxerxes regarded Israel’s God as the one, true God is undetermined. However, at the very least, he held a high regard for the Israelites’ God. The king ordered obedience to the commands of God as they related to the temple of God. The expression the God of heaven admits that Ezra’s God is not just the God of Israel; this God is much greater, and Artaxerxes recognizes the scope of God’s domain. However, it is also possible that Artaxerxes acted pragmatically, not wanting to incur divine wrath and desiring to maintain order among those in his kingdom (see Ezra 1:2–4; 6:10).

RECOGNIZING A NEED Our church began collecting backpacks filled with school supplies to distribute to students at our local school. After an initial hesitation, the school’s principal accepted our help and showed us further needs of the students. Our church collected and distributed meals for children home alone during the day on Christmas break. Later, our church organized a program to provide tutoring assistance.

Ezra recognized the needs of his people, organized King Artaxerxes’s donations, and envisioned ways to meet the needs of the people (Ezra 7:15–22). My church saw the needs of our community, organized the resources and abilities of our church community, and provided ways to meet the needs of our neighbors. As a person of faith, how can you reach out to your neighbors in need, even by sharing your own resources? —L. M.-W. B.

first pf all we need to do Gods will in all we do don't let any one or anything stop you . lets us stand up for what we believe . that there is only one true God no other. so lets place God in our temple which is this body of ours.

What Not to Do (v. 24)

24. You are also to know that you have no authority to impose taxes, tribute or duty on any of the priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers, temple servants or other workers at this house of God.

It was customary for the Persians not to levy taxes on priests of any kind of religious order. Decades before Ezra, Persian King Darius the Great exempted servants of the cult of Apollo from paying taxes and tribute to the state. Artaxerxes continued that precedent to include all who served at the house of God in Jerusalem.

well at least we see that this King Artaxerxes had respect for the God if Isreal and he did not impose any taxes on the priest Levites,musicians or any body that wotk in Gods temple. im going to look this up , but as you cansee that this is not true here in the US . this is whaat i found out after going to google.

PASTORS ARE DUAL STATUS TAXPAYERS

First, all “ministers” by the IRS definition are dual status taxpayers. That means that you pay income taxes as an employee but pay payroll taxes (Social Security and Medicare taxes) as if you were self-employed. Self-employed people pay these taxes under the SECA system. ALL ministers pay under the SECA system, it is not optional.

Self-Employed Contributions Act. so i see that some taxes are being inforced on Pastors so maybe if we are paying taxex on our Pastor then we should go back to that.

C. What to Do, Part 2

(v. 25)

25. And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates​—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach any who do not know them. Artaxerxes had developed a very high regard for Ezra and empowered Ezra to establish just and consistent guidance on the laws of … God. Undoubtedly, Ezra’s identity as an expert on God’s laws allowed him to accurately know and teach others in the same regard. The region known as the Trans-Euphrates refers to the area across the Euphrates River to the west. This highlights the geographic extent of the Persian Empire (see Ezra 4:10; Nehemiah 2:7, 9; 3:7), which stretched from the Euphrates to the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea, and from northern Syria to the border of Egypt. surley we can see what this mean because its the same thing we hear all time about going out and sperading the good news of Our GOD and thanks be to Jesus since we have a way to God Jesus is the one we have to show that world oand all of our brothers and sisters will know God and if you dont then you really dont want know........... so spread the Good news the news about Jesus.

D. Penalty for Disobedience

(v. 26)

26. Whoever does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king must surely be punished by death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment. .In a surprising move, Artaxerxes required people to obey both the law of the king and the law of … God. Years before, Darius the Great made a similar demand, requiring obedience to “the God of heaven” and the word of the king (Ezra 6:9–12).

What Do You Think? Which motivates you more as a Christian: expectation of eternal reward or fear of judgment? Why? Right now my goal is to make to the Kingdom og God and hope that all i have done in these last few years wikk get me through those narrow gates lets repent ask for forgiveness and just maybe God will have mercy on us.......

Digging Deeper How is this evident in your life? its evident im my life by the i am trying to walk trying to talk and by wanting to be more like Jesus. its not eas but it is something we can strive for. AMEN?????????

1 st Corinthians 15:57

57  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

A. Be an Ezra! Leaders must cast vision and invite others to see that vision similarly. Leaders must address immediate decisions, favors, or requests made to them by their followers. By reading widely, listening to the advice of experts, and preparing for all possible scenarios, thoughtful and successful leaders are able to face a variety of challenges. Ezra flourished as a leader because he focused on what really mattered: the wisdom of God and law of God. He studied God’s Word and law in order that he might teach and lead Israel well. Because of his determination in study, combined with his priestly background, Ezra showed to be the most capable leader for Israel’s return to Jerusalem. He became an example to following generations of a God-focused leader. The primary goals of his life were to study, to do, and to teach God’s Word! Is Ezra a model for you?

B. Prayer

Almighty God, we are thankful for the example of Ezra. May we too be good examples as we take on our daily tasks, and may others see that your Word guides our lives. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

C. Thought to Remember Follow Ezra’s example!

here takes back to the ancestry of Ezra all the back to Aron the high priest. which was the Brother of Moses .. so how many generation can you go back to not that far i dont think. i applied for a new job for more money than i am currently making but is more like a resume then a family tree but there will be a background check .. things have really changed over the years .