Ezra 7:21-23 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 7:22

Unto one hundred talents of silver ,.... Which amounted to 35,300 pounds sterling; these, according to Jarchi, were to buy the offerings or sacrifices with: and an hundred measures of wheat ; or corn, the same measure with the homer, each of which held ten ephahs, or seventy five wine gallons, five pints, and upwards; these, according to the same writer, were for meat offerings, made of fine flour, or rather bread offerings, as they may be called: and to an hundred baths of wine ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 7:23

Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven ,.... In the law given by Moses to the people of Israel: let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven ; for the service of it, particularly sacrifices: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons ? through the neglect of the service of God in the temple, and by reason of the default of the king's treasurers. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezra 7:22

A hundred talents of silver - The talent of silver was 450£. A hundred measures of wheat - A hundred cors; each cor was a little more than seventy-five gallons, one quart, and a pint, wine measure. A hundred baths of wine - Each bath was seven gallons and five pints. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezra 7:23

Why should there be wrath - As he believed he was appointed by the Almighty to do this work, he therefore wished to do it heartily, knowing that if he did not, God would be displeased, and that the kingdom would be cut off from him or his posterity. 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

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 7:22

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezra 7:23

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezra 7:22

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezra 7:23

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

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