The Four Decrees

The Decree Given to Ezra

(Seventh Year of Darius, 434 BC) We first must dispel the belief that this Artaxerxes is anyone other than Darius Hystaspes. After the temple had been finished in the sixth year of Darius (aka Artaxerxes [6:14]), the Jews observed the feast of Unleavened Bread.

We then read in Ezra 7:1, Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia.

This should be understood, in the context of the passage, that after those in Judea had finished observing the stated feast, Ezra began to make preparations to go to Judea. In the text of Ezra, the last mentioned Artaxerxes is Darius (6:14). There is nothing in the text that makes us think we are dealing with a different Artaxerxes, of a different time (remembering Artaxerxes is a title, not a name). Ezra is simply continuing the narrative, letting us know that what he is about to describe, occurs during the reign of the same king.

We also have a hint that this Artaxerxes in the time of Ezra, was Darius the Great, from the book of 1 Esdras. In Esdras, it is Artaxerxes which is said to give Ezra permission to return to Jerusalem. In Esdras 8:11, we read,

As many therefore as have a mind thereunto, let them depart with thee, as it hath seemed good both to me and my seven friends the counsellors;

Here, this Artaxerxes says that allowing Ezra to return with, “As many as have a mind” to return, seemed good to him and his seven friends, the counsellors. It is widely known that Darius was enabled to take the throne from Pseudo-Smerdis, through the help of seven other Persian princes. These seven princes were awarded special status in Darius’ kingdom. They were treated as friends who could have access to Darius at any time, except when he was in his bedchamber with the queen. This little tidbit tells us that it was Darius Hystaspes who gave permission to Ezra to go to Jerusalem with as many as desired to go with him.

Since the temple had been completed in the sixth year of Darius, now in the seventh year of Darius ( who hereafter is referred to as Artaxerxes), Ezra makes preparation to come and fully establish the priesthood and levites.

With this decree, which allows Ezra to go to Jerusalem to firmly establish the priesthood, there is no mention of rebuilding the city or temple.

The decree issued by Artaxerxes (Darius Hystaspes) to Ezra, concerned the operation of the temple, and does not concern itself with building anything. The temple was completed a year before, in the sixth year of Darius. This second decree of Darius (Ezra 7:11-26) had to do with the following.

• All of Israel who desired to go to Judah, was free to go.
• To carry freewill offerings of gold and silver to Jerusalem.
• To deliver vessels used in the service of the temple.
• Anything else he might need, taken from the kings treasure house.

"It shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon" any of those who serve the temple. He was to establish courts of law in the land.

After four months of travel, Ezra arrived with his caravan of goods and people in the fifth month, the seventh year of Artaxerxes.

Ezra mentions the wall of Jerusalem 13 years before Nehemiah.

There is another detail that Ezra shows us that is of real interest. After he had settled in, he received a report that many of those who had returned, had intermarried with the people of the land. Ezra responded to this news after this manner,

9:3 And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.

Then at the time of the evening sacrifice, Ezra spread his hands and prayed to God for forgiveness. At a certain point in his prayer, Ezra says this,

9:9 For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and (even) in Jerusalem.

It should be obvious that a wall was not built around the whole of the land of Judah, but that it refers to "a wall in Judah, even in Jerusalem,” which makes much more sense. The fact that Ezra mentions a wall around Jerusalem 13 years before Nehemiah comes in the twentieth year of this same Artaxerxes, should tell us something. It tells us that something happened to the wall of Jerusalem within this span of 13 years. We are not told what, but it would make sense that the enemies of Judah had attacked Jerusalem to cause this disruption of life.

Also note the phrase, "mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia." At the time of Ezra's prayer, there had been only two kings who "extended mercy" unto Judah. These two kings would have been Cyrus and Darius (aka Darius Hystaspes, Artaxerxes). Cyrus was the king who gave the original command to return and rebuild. Darius issued the decree countering the decree issued by Pseudo-Smerdis. It is these two kings, Cyrus and Darius, who were responsible for issuing decrees for the captives to return and to rebuild Jerusalem and its temple.