ARTAXERXES is the Greek form of the Old Persian Artakhshatra , the Hebrew being Artachshast ( â ). The Artaxerxes of the Bible is Artax. Longimanus (b.c. 465 424), son of Xerxes (Bibl. Ahasuerus). By him Ezra was permitted to go to Jerusalem from Babylon and restore the affairs of the Jewish community ( Ezra 7:1 ff; Ezra 8:1 ). He also favoured the similar mission of his cup-bearer Nehemiah thirteen years later ( Nehemiah 2:1; Nehemiah 5:14; Nehemiah 13:6 ). The events narrated in Ezra 4:7 ff. and said to have occurred in the time of Artaxerxes must have taken place during an earlier reign, probably that of Cambyses, unless, indeed, they are to be regarded as unhistorical. His regime was more important for Israel than that of any other king of Persia except Cyrus the Liberator.
J. F. McCurdy.
Complete and trustworthy, Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible is a thorough reference (5,915 entries) for all readers of the Bible. For nearly a century, lay people and scholars alike have valued the authoritative contents and the convenient format of this one-volume work.Wikipedia
Read More