Ezra 7:21 - I, even I Artaxerxes the king, make a decree to all the treasurers who are beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, requires of you, it shall be done with all diligence,
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What does "Ezra 7:21" mean?
This verse, Ezra 7:21, is a powerful statement of royal authorization. Let's break it down to understand its meaning:
"I, even I Artaxerxes the king...": This emphasizes the authority and personal involvement of King Artaxerxes I of Persia. He's not delegating the responsibility; he's personally issuing the decree. The repetition of "I" drives this point home.
"...make a decree to all the treasurers who are beyond the River...": This specifies the recipients of the decree. "Beyond the River" refers to the region west of the Euphrates River, encompassing the land of Judah and surrounding territories. These treasurers were officials responsible for collecting taxes and managing royal resources in that area. Artaxerxes is directly addressing these powerful individuals.
"...that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, requires of you...": This identifies Ezra as the beneficiary and gives him extraordinary power. Ezra is a priest and a skilled interpreter and teacher of the Law of Moses ("scribe of the law of the God of heaven"). This highlights the importance of religious law within the Persian Empire's administration of the area. The phrase "whatever Ezra... requires" is incredibly broad and grants Ezra immense discretion.
"...it shall be done with all diligence...": This underscores the seriousness and urgency of the command. The treasurers are instructed to fulfill Ezra's requests completely, promptly, and without question. "All diligence" means without hesitation, resistance, or delay.
In Summary:
This verse is a royal order from King Artaxerxes I to his treasurers in the region west of the Euphrates River. It instructs them to provide Ezra, the Jewish priest and scribe, with whatever he needs for his mission in Jerusalem, and to do so quickly and completely. This decree provides significant resources and authority to Ezra to rebuild the Temple and re-establish Jewish religious law and practice in Jerusalem.
Significance:
This verse is significant for several reasons:
Royal Favor: It demonstrates the favor that Artaxerxes I showed towards the Jewish people and their religion. This could have been due to political reasons, religious tolerance, or a combination of both.
Financial Support: It ensures that Ezra has the financial resources necessary to rebuild the Temple, restore its worship, and implement religious law.
Political Authority: It gives Ezra a level of authority in Judah, backed by the Persian Empire.
Historical Importance: It is a critical piece of evidence for the Persian Empire's involvement in Jewish affairs during this period. It highlights the Persian policy of allowing subject peoples to practice their own religions and customs, and sometimes even providing assistance for them to do so.
In conclusion, Ezra 7:21 is a powerful and pivotal verse demonstrating the King's authority and resources devoted to Ezra's important religious and political mission. It's a testament to the complex relationship between the Persian Empire and its conquered peoples.
Ezra 7:21 - I, even I Artaxerxes the king, make a decree to all the treasurers who are beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, requires of you, it shall be done with all diligence,
What does "Ezra 7:21" mean?
This verse, Ezra 7:21, is a powerful statement of royal authorization. Let's break it down to understand its meaning:
"I, even I Artaxerxes the king...": This emphasizes the authority and personal involvement of King Artaxerxes I of Persia. He's not delegating the responsibility; he's personally issuing the decree. The repetition of "I" drives this point home.
"...make a decree to all the treasurers who are beyond the River...": This specifies the recipients of the decree. "Beyond the River" refers to the region west of the Euphrates River, encompassing the land of Judah and surrounding territories. These treasurers were officials responsible for collecting taxes and managing royal resources in that area. Artaxerxes is directly addressing these powerful individuals.
"...that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, requires of you...": This identifies Ezra as the beneficiary and gives him extraordinary power. Ezra is a priest and a skilled interpreter and teacher of the Law of Moses ("scribe of the law of the God of heaven"). This highlights the importance of religious law within the Persian Empire's administration of the area. The phrase "whatever Ezra... requires" is incredibly broad and grants Ezra immense discretion.
"...it shall be done with all diligence...": This underscores the seriousness and urgency of the command. The treasurers are instructed to fulfill Ezra's requests completely, promptly, and without question. "All diligence" means without hesitation, resistance, or delay.
In Summary:
This verse is a royal order from King Artaxerxes I to his treasurers in the region west of the Euphrates River. It instructs them to provide Ezra, the Jewish priest and scribe, with whatever he needs for his mission in Jerusalem, and to do so quickly and completely. This decree provides significant resources and authority to Ezra to rebuild the Temple and re-establish Jewish religious law and practice in Jerusalem.
Significance:
This verse is significant for several reasons:
Royal Favor: It demonstrates the favor that Artaxerxes I showed towards the Jewish people and their religion. This could have been due to political reasons, religious tolerance, or a combination of both.
Financial Support: It ensures that Ezra has the financial resources necessary to rebuild the Temple, restore its worship, and implement religious law.
Political Authority: It gives Ezra a level of authority in Judah, backed by the Persian Empire.
Historical Importance: It is a critical piece of evidence for the Persian Empire's involvement in Jewish affairs during this period. It highlights the Persian policy of allowing subject peoples to practice their own religions and customs, and sometimes even providing assistance for them to do so.
In conclusion, Ezra 7:21 is a powerful and pivotal verse demonstrating the King's authority and resources devoted to Ezra's important religious and political mission. It's a testament to the complex relationship between the Persian Empire and its conquered peoples.