Ezra 7:12, commentary and pictures

The greeting is from Artaxerxes Longimanus, king of Persia, to Ezra the priest and scribe of the law of the God of heaven, and it opens the third and final decree for restoring and building Jerusalem issued in his seventh year. The decree granted Ezra's request to lead a company back to Jerusalem, with liberal provision from the king's treasure-house for the temple service and authority as a representative of the Medo-Persian kingdom. Together with what Cyrus began and Darius carried forward, this decree completes the work so that their actions count as one commandment to restore and build Jerusalem. It took effect in the autumn of 457 B.C., the starting date from which the 2300 years of Daniel 8:14 are reckoned, so that subtracting 457 from 2300 leaves 1843 as William Miller plainly calculated before the disappointment when the Saviour did not come. Because the decree went forth near the end of that year the period reaches to the fall of 1844, with the first 490 years extending to A.D. 34, Christ crucified in A.D. 31, and the remaining 1810 years then reaching to 1844.

Decree's Setting and Terms

Artaxerxes, king of kings, is the king of Persia, identified as Artaxerxes Longimanus, in whose reign Ezra returned to Jerusalem. His letter is addressed to Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven. That address recognizes Ezra's standing and learning, and marks him as appointed by God for special work.

The letter opens the third and final decree for the restoring and building of Jerusalem issued since the close of the seventy years captivity. It was issued in Artaxerxes' seventh year, in its fullest form continuing and completing the work begun by Cyrus and carried forward by Darius, so that together their actions count as one commandment. The decree is remarkable for its expressions regarding the God of heaven, whose habitation is in Jerusalem, for its recognition of Ezra's attainments, and for the royal confidence in his integrity and learning. God moved the king and his counselors to favor Ezra and to honor Israel's God.

The decree granted Ezra's request to return, backed by liberality and provision from the king's treasure-house. With gifts and abundant means for the temple service, it supplied the remnant people of God for their work. It also gave Ezra authority as a representative of the Medo-Persian kingdom.

In this way the decree made it possible for the Jews to return to their own country after captivity in Babylon. Ezra led a company back to Jerusalem to renew study of God's Word and to help restore the city and temple service. Their return gave God's people another opportunity to serve Him and showed His forbearance toward them.

Prophecy's Starting Date

The decree to which this verse belongs was completed and took effect in 457 B.C., near the end and in the autumn of that year. Together with the earlier actions of Cyrus and Darius, this decree in its fullest form fulfills the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem from which the seventy weeks and the 2300-year period are reckoned. The kings' actions count as one commandment, the work begun by Cyrus and carried forward by Darius being continued and completed by Artaxerxes.

That date is the starting point for reckoning the 2300 years of Daniel 8:14 in a calculation so simple and plain that even children could understand it. Subtracting 457 from 2300 leaves 1843, which is how William Miller reached 1843 for the expected coming of the Lord. The year passed and the Saviour had not come, bringing sad disappointment.

Because the decree was issued near the end of 457 B.C. rather than at the beginning of the year, the 2300-year period reaches not the end of 1843 but the fall of 1844. Counted from its effective date in the autumn of that year, the 2300 days end in the autumn of 1844. From the same starting date the specifications of the seventy weeks were fulfilled. The first 490 years extend to A.D. 34, with Christ's crucifixion in A.D. 31 in the final week, and the end of the period marked by the apostles turning to the Gentiles; the remaining 1810 years then reach to 1844.