Ezra Chapters 7-8
These chapters describe a second return of exiles from Babylon, this time under Ezra in 458 B.C. (7:7). Here Ezra often wrote in the first person (“I” and “we”). “The emphasis in these chapters is on the character of Ezra, which sets the scene for chapters 9 and 10 where sin is uncovered in the postexilic community. Ezra is presented as a man who was strongly motivated by the Law of God” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 665). Chapter 7 7:1 “Now after these things”: This expression points to a gap of 57 years since the events at the end of chapter 6. The temple was completed in 515 B.C. in the reign of Darius I. After Darius’ death in 486 his son Xerxes ruled for 20 years (485-465). Since Xerxes was the Ahasuerus mentioned in the Book of Esther, the events of that book occurred between Ezra 6 and 7. Then Xerxes’ son Artaxerxes ruled from 464 to 424. From 515 to 458 (the seventh year of the reign of Artaxerxes, Ezra 7:7) was 57 years. 7:1-5 The lineage of Ezra is given and is traced all the way back to Aaron, the very first priest under the Law. Because of his priestly ancestry, Ezra, like the priests, had authority to teach God’s Law in Israel (Leviticus 10:11; Ezra 7:10). “Seraiah” was the chief priest in Jerusalem at the time it was destroyed by the Babylonians. He was taken and killed (2 Kings 25:18-21). More than 120 years had elapsed since then, hence, Ezra was probably his grandson or even further removed. Somewhere around this time period, the prophet Malachi spoke. If Malachi spoke before or shortly after the time that Ezra arrived in Jerusalem, then we also know that Ezra will face: decaying moral and religious practices. The people were questioning God’s love for them and were offering Him diseased and worthless animals (Malachi 1:2,7-14). Many Jewish men had left their Jewish wives and married pagan women
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