Ezra 7:13, commentary and pictures

Artaxerxes decrees that any of the people of Israel with his priests and Levites in his realm who are freely willing to go up to Jerusalem may go with Ezra. It is the third decree issued for restoring and building Jerusalem since the close of the seventy years' captivity, completing what Cyrus began and Darius continued so that together they stand as one decree. In its completed form it was issued in 457 B.C., in the king's seventh year near the close of the year in autumn, and it is the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem. Its date marks the beginning of the 2,300 years of Daniel 8:14 and of the seventy weeks, from which the periods of Daniel's prophecy are traced. Reckoned from the autumn of 457 the 2,300 years reach to the autumn of 1844 rather than 1843, and measured from that same starting point the seventy weeks are fulfilled to A.D. 34 when the apostles turned to the Gentiles, with the crucifixion in A.D. 31 in the midst of the last week.

Decree and Return

Artaxerxes' decree gives permission for all of the people of Israel, including priests and Levites, throughout his realm who are minded of their own free will to go up to Jerusalem to go with Ezra. It provides for the return of all who freely choose to make the journey, leaving the decision entirely to their own willing choice.

The decree is the third issued since the close of the seventy years' captivity for the restoring and building of Jerusalem. It completes what Cyrus began and Darius continued, so that together their acts count as one decree for restoring Jerusalem. In that completed form it stands as the third and final decree for Jerusalem's restoration.

The decree is remarkable for its expressions regarding the God of heaven, for its recognition of Ezra's attainments as priest and scribe of the law of the God of heaven, and for the liberality of the grants made to the remnant people of God. At Ezra's request, and according to the good hand of his God upon him, the king was persuaded to make abundant provision for the return, as part of his support for restoring worship and the city. That royal support and provision enabled the Jews to return to Jerusalem after the captivity, to rebuild the temple, and to serve God again in their own country, showing God's forbearance toward His wayward people.

The return under it was entirely voluntary, again giving the children of the dispersion opportunity to return to the land whose possession was linked with the promises to the house of Israel. Under this third and final decree a company of Jews returned from Babylon to Jerusalem with Ezra. Their uniting with him in studying God's purposes concerning His people brought great rejoicing.

Prophetic Starting Point

In its completed form the decree was issued in 457 B.C., in the king's seventh year, in the autumn near the close of the year, and it is the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem. Its date marks the beginning of the 2,300-year period of Daniel 8:14 and of the seventy weeks, from which the periods in Daniel's prophecy are traced. Measured from that starting point, the specifications of the seventy-week prophecy were fulfilled.

Counted from 457, the 2,300 years were first reckoned by the simple calculation of 2,300 minus 457 as terminating in 1843 with the coming of the Lord, a reckoning so plain that even children could understand it. When it was ascertained that the decree belonged to the close and autumn of the year rather than its beginning, the period was seen to reach to the fall and autumn of 1844, so counting from the beginning of 457 gives the wrong endpoint. Because it went forth near the end of that year, the period was understood to end in the fall of 1844, not at the close of 1843.

The earlier expectation led to disappointment when 1843 passed without Christ's return, but the corrected reckoning showed the vision had not failed or tarried beyond its appointed time, though it had seemed to do so. Ending in A.D. 34 when the apostles turned to the Gentiles, the seventy weeks reach their close from this same starting point, with the crucifixion in A.D. 31 falling in the middle of the final week.