Ezra 7:21
And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily, And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,
Artaxerxes ordered all the treasurers beyond the River Euphrates to do speedily whatever Ezra the priest and scribe of the law of the God of heaven required of them. The order gave generous support from the royal treasury for worship and temple service and made Ezra a specially empowered representative to return to Jerusalem and revive study of God's word and restoration of the city. It was the third and final decree for restoring Jerusalem, completing what Cyrus began and Darius carried forward, issued in the seventh year of Artaxerxes in 457 B.C. and taking effect in the autumn. In its completed and fullest form this decree to restore and build Jerusalem marks the starting point for the 2,300 years of Daniel 8:14 and for the seventy weeks and related periods of Daniel 9:25-27. Counted from 457, the seventy weeks reach to A.D. 34 with the turning to the Gentiles, and the 2,300 years reach not to 1843 as first reckoned but to the autumn of 1844.
Decree's Provision and Context
Ezra 7:21 is Artaxerxes' order to all the treasurers beyond the River, that is beyond the Euphrates, to do speedily whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of them, empowering Ezra to carry out what he needed in service of God's law. The order directed those officials to provide promptly whatever he required, supplying generous practical support for his work and worship. That support included rich gifts for temple service and payment of temple expenses, with abundant means drawn from the king's treasury.
The grant made Ezra a special representative of the Medo-Persian kingdom with extensive powers for carrying out the purposes in his heart. It allowed him to return to Jerusalem to revive interest in the study of God's word and to assist his brethren in restoring the holy city to serve Jehovah. The king was moved to this favor by Ezra's declared perfect trust that the God of Israel was abundantly able to protect and care for His people, and by great confidence in Ezra's integrity. Through that favor God made it possible for the Jews to return to their own country after seventy years of captivity in Babylon. That return gave His people another opportunity to serve Him there and showed His forbearance toward them.
The decree is the third and final decree for the restoration of Jerusalem. Cyrus began the work of restoration, Darius carried it forward, and Artaxerxes completed it, so that the three form one continuing action to restore Jerusalem. It was issued by Artaxerxes in his seventh year, dated to 457 B.C., and took effect in the autumn of that year. It is associated with Ezra's return and work, and Artaxerxes' reign also saw Nehemiah's rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls and religious reforms.
Prophetic Dates and Fulfillment
The decree to restore and build Jerusalem in its completed and fullest form is the starting point for the 2,300 years of Daniel 8:14 and for the related seventy weeks and prophetic periods of Daniel 9:25-27. Ezra 7 contains that decree, which went forth in B.C. 457. That 457 B.C. date is the commencement from which the 2300 years are reckoned.
Counted from 457 B.C., the specifications of the seventy weeks prophecy fit their stated fulfillment. The decree supplies the starting point for the seventy weeks, whose prophetic details are fulfilled when counted from that year. The seventy weeks end in A.D. 34, with the apostles' turning to the Gentiles fitting that endpoint.
Counting 2,300 years from 457 first gave 1843 as the closing year, calculated as 2300 minus 457, which was looked for as the coming of the Lord. Because the decree was issued near the end of 457 B.C. and took effect in the autumn, the period did not end in 1843 as first expected but reached the fall of 1844. The 2,300 days thus end in autumn 1844. This 457 B.C. dating is supported by Ptolemy's Canon, whose chronology is corroborated by eclipses.