Ezra 6:22 - and kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy; because Yahweh had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, to strengthen their hands in the work of God, the God of Israel’s house.
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What does "Ezra 6:22" mean?
Ezra 6:22 describes the joyous celebration of the Feast of Unleavened Bread by the returned exiles after the completion of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Let's break down the meaning:
"and kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy": The Feast of Unleavened Bread is a week-long festival following Passover. It commemorates the Israelites' hasty departure from Egypt, where they didn't have time for their bread to rise. The key word here is "joy". They weren't just performing a ritual; they were genuinely happy.
"because Yahweh had made them joyful": This highlights the source of their joy. It wasn't just a natural happiness, but a divine gift. Yahweh (God's name) was the reason for their exultation. This connects back to the whole narrative of restoration and God's faithfulness to His people.
"and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them": This is a crucial point. The king mentioned here isn't actually the king of Assyria. Assyria had long been defeated by this point. This refers to King Darius of Persia. The text can use "Assyria" as a general term for the region of Mesopotamia/Persia, or it could be a loose reference to the imperial power that had historically ruled the region. The key takeaway is that God influenced this foreign king. The king's favorable disposition was instrumental in enabling the rebuilding of the Temple.
"to strengthen their hands in the work of God, the God of Israel’s house": This explains the purpose of the king's change of heart. Darius' support (likely through decrees, resources, and protection) directly aided the Jewish people in rebuilding their Temple, which is described as "the work of God". It emphasizes that God was actively involved in facilitating the rebuilding, using even a foreign ruler to accomplish His purposes. The "God of Israel's house" further emphasizes the specific covenantal relationship God has with the people of Israel.
In summary, the verse means that the Jewish people celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread with great joy because God had moved in two significant ways:
1. Internal Joy: God instilled within them a genuine joy and celebration for His deliverance and the restoration of their worship.
2. External Support: God had divinely influenced the Persian King Darius to support and empower them in the rebuilding of the Temple, which was seen as a crucial step in restoring their relationship with God.
Key Themes:
God's Providence: The verse demonstrates God's active involvement in human affairs, using even foreign rulers to accomplish His will.
Restoration: It highlights the theme of restoration after exile and the joy that comes with renewed worship and God's favor.
God's Faithfulness: It underscores God's faithfulness to His covenant with Israel, fulfilling His promises to restore them to their land and rebuild His Temple.
Source of Joy: It clarifies that true joy is ultimately a gift from God, not simply a product of circumstances.
This verse is a testament to the power of God to work in both the hearts of individuals and the actions of nations to accomplish His purposes. It's a reminder that even in difficult circumstances, God can bring about joy and restoration.
Ezra 6:22 - and kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy; because Yahweh had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, to strengthen their hands in the work of God, the God of Israel’s house.
What does "Ezra 6:22" mean?
Ezra 6:22 describes the joyous celebration of the Feast of Unleavened Bread by the returned exiles after the completion of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Let's break down the meaning:
"and kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy": The Feast of Unleavened Bread is a week-long festival following Passover. It commemorates the Israelites' hasty departure from Egypt, where they didn't have time for their bread to rise. The key word here is "joy". They weren't just performing a ritual; they were genuinely happy.
"because Yahweh had made them joyful": This highlights the source of their joy. It wasn't just a natural happiness, but a divine gift. Yahweh (God's name) was the reason for their exultation. This connects back to the whole narrative of restoration and God's faithfulness to His people.
"and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them": This is a crucial point. The king mentioned here isn't actually the king of Assyria. Assyria had long been defeated by this point. This refers to King Darius of Persia. The text can use "Assyria" as a general term for the region of Mesopotamia/Persia, or it could be a loose reference to the imperial power that had historically ruled the region. The key takeaway is that God influenced this foreign king. The king's favorable disposition was instrumental in enabling the rebuilding of the Temple.
"to strengthen their hands in the work of God, the God of Israel’s house": This explains the purpose of the king's change of heart. Darius' support (likely through decrees, resources, and protection) directly aided the Jewish people in rebuilding their Temple, which is described as "the work of God". It emphasizes that God was actively involved in facilitating the rebuilding, using even a foreign ruler to accomplish His purposes. The "God of Israel's house" further emphasizes the specific covenantal relationship God has with the people of Israel.
In summary, the verse means that the Jewish people celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread with great joy because God had moved in two significant ways:
1. Internal Joy: God instilled within them a genuine joy and celebration for His deliverance and the restoration of their worship.
2. External Support: God had divinely influenced the Persian King Darius to support and empower them in the rebuilding of the Temple, which was seen as a crucial step in restoring their relationship with God.
Key Themes:
God's Providence: The verse demonstrates God's active involvement in human affairs, using even foreign rulers to accomplish His will.
Restoration: It highlights the theme of restoration after exile and the joy that comes with renewed worship and God's favor.
God's Faithfulness: It underscores God's faithfulness to His covenant with Israel, fulfilling His promises to restore them to their land and rebuild His Temple.
Source of Joy: It clarifies that true joy is ultimately a gift from God, not simply a product of circumstances.
This verse is a testament to the power of God to work in both the hearts of individuals and the actions of nations to accomplish His purposes. It's a reminder that even in difficult circumstances, God can bring about joy and restoration.