Ezra 7:26
And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment. And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
Artaxerxes Longimanus in his seventh year, in 457 B.C., issued the decree authorizing the restoring and building of Jerusalem and empowering Ezra to set magistrates and judges beyond the river to govern by the law of God and enforce both that law and the king's law with speedy judgment unto death, banishment, confiscation of goods, or imprisonment. It was the third and final decree since the close of the seventy years' captivity, completing in its completest form what Cyrus originated and Darius re-affirmed. This going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem marks the beginning together of the 2300 days or years of Daniel 8:14 and the seventy weeks of Daniel 9:25-27 cut off from them. Reckoned simply from 457 B.C. the 2300 years were first expected to close in 1843, but because the decree took effect near the close of that year in the autumn the period reaches to the fall of 1844, from which date every specification of the seventy weeks is fulfilled.
Decree Context and Terms
The closing command belongs to the decree recorded in Ezra 7:11-26, also given as Ezra 7:12-26, issued by Artaxerxes Longimanus, king of Persia, in his seventh year. It was issued in 457 B.C. and took effect in the autumn, near the close of that year, authorizing the restoring and building of Jerusalem and connected with Ezra's return to Jerusalem. It was the third decree issued since the close of the seventy years' captivity, and the third and final decree for Jerusalem's restoration. What Cyrus originated and Darius re-affirmed, Artaxerxes completed, bringing it in its completest form to the perfection required by prophecy.
In granting Ezra's request to return to revive interest in the study of God's word and help restore the holy city, the king showed him marked favor. He was deeply impressed by Ezra's perfect trust that God was abundantly able to protect and care for His people, and he had great confidence in Ezra's integrity. God moved the king to favor Ezra, to bestow rich gifts for the temple service, and to provide for the temple and for the Jews' return from Babylon. He made Ezra a special representative of the Medo-Persian kingdom and conferred on him extensive powers to carry out the purposes in his heart. This gave God's people after seventy years of captivity another opportunity to serve Him in their own land, showing God's forbearance toward them.
After the wisdom of his God, Artaxerxes directed Ezra to set magistrates and judges to judge all the people beyond the river, all such as know the laws of God, and to teach those who do not know them. In this way the people would be governed justly in accordance with the Jewish code of laws. He authorized enforcement of both the law of God and the law of the king, with judgment to be executed speedily upon whoever would not obey. The penalties were unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods or property, or to imprisonment.
Prophecy's Starting Point
The decree that contains this verse is the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem that marks the beginning of the 2300 days or years of Daniel 8:14 and the seventy weeks of Daniel 9:25-27. The seventy weeks, cut off from the 2300 days, begin together with the 2300 days from that date. That starting point is dated to 457 B.C., the year the decree went forth.
Reckoned simply from 457 B.C., 2300 minus 457 leaves 1843 for the close of the period. That 1843 termination was first expected as the coming of the Lord.
Because the decree went forth near the end of 457 B.C., in the autumn near its close, the period reaches to the fall of 1844 rather than ending at the close of 1843 as first expected. From that autumn date every specification concerning the seventy weeks is fulfilled, and the prophetic periods in Daniel 9:25-27 align with the events specified there and lead to 1844.