Ezra 7:11-13

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezra 7:11-26

We have here the commission which the Persian emperor granted to Ezra, giving him authority to act for the good of the Jews; and it is very ample and full, and beyond what could have been expected. The commission runs, we suppose, in the usual form: Artaxerxes, King of kings. This however is too high a title for any mortal man to assume; he was indeed king of some kings, but to speak as if he were king of all kings was to usurp his prerogative who hath all power both in heaven and in earth. He... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 7:11

Now this is the copy of the letter that the King Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest ,.... This title relating to his office is justly given him, since he was the son of an high priest, and lineally descended from Aaron, as the above account of his pedigree shows: the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the Lord, and of his statutes to Israel ; the doubling of the word "scribe" shows that he was very wise and learned in the law, in the commandments and statutes of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 7:12

Artaxerxes, king of kings ,.... Having many kings and kingdoms subject and tributary to him; for this was not merely a proud haughty title which the eastern kings F16 See the Universal History, vol. 5. p. 16, 137. & vol. 11. p. 7, 8. margin, & p. 66. assumed, particularly the Persians; for after Cyrus they were so in fact, who took this title also, and had it put on his sepulchral monument,"Here I lie, Cyrus, king of kings F17 Strabo, Geograph. l. 15. p. 502. ;'this title... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 7:13

I make a decree ,.... Which, according to the laws of the Medes and Persians, when signed, might not be changed, Daniel 6:8 , that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm ; who remained there, and took not the benefit of the edict of Cyrus, which gave them leave to go; but neglecting the opportunity, it seems as if they could not now go out of the realm without a fresh grant, which is hereby given: which are minded of their own freewill to go up... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezra 7:12

Artaxerxes , king of kings - This letter, from the beginning of this verse to the end of Ezra 7:26 , is in the Aramitic or Chaldee language. This title of the king would, in Persian, run thus: Ardsheer shahinshah , or padshah , "Ardsheer, king of kings;" "great or supreme king, or emperor." read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezra 7:13

Their own free-will - None shall be forced either to go or to stay. He who loves his God will avail himself of this favorable opportunity. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 7:11

The copy of the letter that the king … gave to Ezra . This decree, as already observed, was a private firman , one copy of which only was made, which was presented to Ezra, and was his authority for doing certain things himself, and for requiring certain acts of others. The priest. This is implied in the genealogy (verses 1-5), but not directly stated elsewhere by Ezra himself. Nehemiah, however, designates him similarly ( Ezra 8:2 , Ezra 8:9 ). His most usual title is the "scribe." ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 7:11

The royal and the religious. I. THE ESTEEM WHICH THE ROYAL HAD FOR THE RELIGIOUS . "Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace" (verse 12). Ezra had so conducted himself as to win the regard of the king; the king admitted the moral character of Ezra in all its grandeur. The minister must gain the esteem of his comrades before he can influence them for good; piety is attractive, and when rightly manifested will... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 7:11-26

The reformer's commission. The insertion here of this decree of Artaxerxes at length, and in its original Chaldee form, is in more or less close keeping with the earlier parts of this book ( Ezra 1:2-4 ; Ezra 4:11-16 , Ezra 4:17-22 ; Ezra 5:6-17 ; Ezra 6:3-12 ); and furnishes an argument, therefore, strongly in favour of the unity of authorship of the whole book. It is also in keeping with the character of Ezra himself. As a special student of God's written law, he would... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 7:11-26

Pagan piety. It is certainly a striking fact that a second Persian monarch should have shown so right a feeling toward the people and the cause of God. We have in this Artaxerxes another illustration of pagan piety. We see— I. ITS FAITH . "Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done," etc. ( Ezra 7:23 ). Evidently Artaxerxes thoroughly believed in the existence and the power of Jehovah. It is noteworthy that he speaks of him not as the God of Judaea or... read more

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