AFTER THESE THINGS - The words mark an interval of 57 years; if, with most commentators, we take Artaxerxes to be Longimanus. See the introduction to the Book of Ezra. Three kings named Artaxerxes, the Greek rendering of the Hebrew Artakhshasta, and the Persian Artakhshatra, ruled over Persia, namel... [ Continue Reading ]
A READY SCRIBE - Or, “a ready writer” Psalms 45:1. The professional scribe was well known in Egypt from an early date (see Genesis 39:4 note); and under David and his successors “scribes” were attached to the court as the king’s secretaries (2 Samuel 8:17; 2 Samuel 20:25; 2 Kings 12:10, etc.). It wa... [ Continue Reading ]
The direct distance of Babylon from Jerusalem is about 520 miles; and the circuitous route by Carchemish and the Orontes valley, which was ordinarily taken by armies or large bodies of men, is about 900 miles. The time occupied in the journey is long, and is perhaps to be accounted for by the danger... [ Continue Reading ]
The title, “king of kings,” is assumed by almost all the persian monarchs in their inscriptions. PERFECT PEACE - “Peace” is not in the original, and the word translated “perfect” occurs only in this place. Some prefer to take it as an adjective descriptive of Ezra (see margin); others (Septuagint)... [ Continue Reading ]
SEVEN COUNSELORS - Herodotus relates that there were seven families pre-eminent in Persia, those of the seven conspirators against the Pseudo-Smerdis (Ezra 4:7 note); and it is reasonable to suppose that the heads of these families formed the special council of the king; the “Achaemenidae,” or royal... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THE TREASURERS - The Persian system of taxing the provinces through the satraps involved the establishment in each province of at least one local treasury.... [ Continue Reading ]
This verse assigns limits to the permission of Ezra 7:20. As the Persian tribute was paid partly in money and partly in kind (see Ezra 4:13 note), the treasuries would be able to supply them as readily as they could furnish money.... [ Continue Reading ]
Literally, as in the margin, i. e., Whatsoever is commanded in the Law with respect to the temple service.... [ Continue Reading ]
The decree of Artaxerxes was more favorable to the Jews than those of all previous Persian monarchs. We hear of a similar exemption of ecclesiastics from tribute, only to a less extent, under the Seleucidae. MINISTERS - The rare word here used, which in Daniel has the sense of “worshippers,” appear... [ Continue Reading ]
BANISHMENT - literally, as in the margin. Separation from the congregation is probably intended (compare Ezra 10:8).... [ Continue Reading ]
An abrupt transition from the words of Artaxerxes to those of Ezra. Compare a similar abrupt change in Ezra 6:6. The language alters at the same time from Chaldee to Hebrew, continuing henceforth to be Hebrew until the close of the book.... [ Continue Reading ]