Ezra 7:21 NIV

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 7:21

And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river ,.... The receivers of his tribute, tax, and custom, beyond the river Euphrates, on the side towards the land of Israel: that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven ; see Ezra 7:12 , shall require of you, it be done speedily ; which seems at first a grant at large for whatsoever he should want or demand, but is limited and restrained by what follows. 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 7:11-26

Ezra's commission from Artaxerxes. After giving a general account of the exodus of Israel from Babylon under his leadership, Ezra transcribes the letter of the king of Persia containing his commission. In considering this very remarkable document, we notice— I. THE GREETING . 1. The monarch announces himself. "Artaxerxes king of kings." 2. He addresses his letter : II. THE FAVOURS . Verse 13, etc. The particulars are— 1. Permission to go up to Jerusalem. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 7:11-28

1. the permission accorded to all Persian subjects of Israelite descent to accompany Ezra to Jerusalem (verse 13); 2. the commission to Ezra to convey to Jerusalem certain offerings made by the king and his chief courtiers to the God of Israel (verses 15, 19); 3. the permission given him to convey to Jerusalem the free-will offerings of Jews and others resident in Babylonia (verse 16); 4. permission to Ezra to draw on the royal treasury to the amount of a hundred talents of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 7:21-24

The decree of Artaxerxes to the treasurers. Embodied in the letter of the Persian king to Ezra we have certain directions addressed through him to the treasurers beyond the river. These directions, though emanating from a heathen source, suggest the principles which should guide liberality in the cause of God , as to its measure, its spirit, and its reasons. I. THE MEASURE . 1. This should be generous. "Whatsoever Ezra the priest," etc. 2. It should not be reckless. ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ezra 7:21

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. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ezra 7:1-28

7:1-8:36 RETURN UNDER EZRAThe temple was completed in 516 BC. Ezra’s return was in 458 BC, the seventh year of the reign of Artaxerxes I (see 7:1,7). There is therefore a gap of about sixty years between Chapters 6 and 7. By the time of Ezra, former leaders such as Zerubbabel, Joshua, Haggai and Zechariah had died. Without their leadership, Israel’s religious life became weak and its community life disordered. The only detailed information that the Bible gives of events during these years is... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ezra 7:21

I, even I. Figure of speech Epizeuxis , for emphasis. read more

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 7:21

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 7:11-26

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 7:11-26

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 7:11-26

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 7:11-28

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezra 7:21-24

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ezra 7:21

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ezra 7:1-28

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ezra 7:21

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