Ezra 7:28
And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.
God extended mercy to Ezra by granting him favor before King Artaxerxes, his counselors, and all his mighty princes, shown in the decree that gave permission and provision for Israel's return to Jerusalem. Strengthened as the hand of the Lord his God was upon him, Ezra responded with gratitude and gathered chief men out of Israel to go up with him to help restore the city and renew the study and practice of God's Word. That decree was issued in the seventh year of Artaxerxes, dated to 457 B.C., and it completed the single command begun by Cyrus and continued by Darius to restore and build Jerusalem. The 457 B.C. decree is the starting point for reckoning the 2,300 years of Daniel 8:14 and the seventy weeks prophecy. The period was first counted by subtracting 457 from 2,300 to end in 1843, and because the decree went forth near the close of 457 B.C. it was reckoned to reach the fall of 1844, so the delay called for waiting until the appointed time of the vision.
Favor, Strength, and Gathering
The extended mercy in the verse is God granting Ezra favor before King Artaxerxes, his counselors, and all his mighty princes, shown in the decree with its permission and provision for Israel's return to Jerusalem. That providence was manifest in Artaxerxes issuing the decree and in putting it in the king's heart to beautify the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. Those who discerned this providence gladly took advantage of the favorable privilege to return.
The king and his princes had done more than their part in opening the way for the return by providing abundant means for it, so that what was still lacking was not provision but men willing to go. Ezra responded with gratitude, testifying that he was strengthened as the hand of the Lord his God was upon him. That strength from God's favor before the Persian king and his officials enabled him to act.
So strengthened, he gathered together chief men out of Israel who were willing to go up with him to Jerusalem to help restore the city and renew the study and practice of God's Word. That company included priests and Nethinim brought to serve as ministers, teachers, and helpers for God's house. The gathering involved sending trusted messengers to urge the Levites to join the company.
Although Ezra expected a large number to return, only a disappointingly small number responded to the call. Many who had acquired houses and lands had no desire to sacrifice these possessions, loved ease and comfort, and were well satisfied to remain. Their example hindered others who otherwise might have chosen to cast in their lot with those advancing by faith.
Dating Prophetic Time Periods
Ezra 7 records the decree of Artaxerxes in his seventh year, dated to 457 B.C., which provides the command to restore and build Jerusalem that begins the prophetic reckoning. That decree completed the single command begun by Cyrus and continued by Darius to restore Jerusalem. That 457 B.C. decree is the starting point for the seventy weeks prophecy. It is also the starting point for the 2,300 years of Daniel 8:14.
The reckoning was simple and plain enough for even children to understand. It was made by counting 2,300 years from 457 B.C., found by subtracting 457 from 2,300, to terminate in 1843 with the coming of the Lord. Because the decree was issued near the end of 457 B.C., the period was reckoned to reach the fall of 1844 rather than ending in 1843. The delay did not mean the vision had failed, but called for waiting until its appointed time.