Ezra 7:7
And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king. And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.
Some of the children of Israel went up from Babylon to Jerusalem in the seventh year of Artaxerxes I, dated to 457 B.C., including priests and Levites and singers and gatekeepers and temple servants, under Ezra's leadership by the king's permission and provision for the work. They came to serve God and to renew interest in His word and to help restore the city and Zion, given after seventy years of captivity another opportunity to serve Him in their own land. That year 457 B.C. is the historical starting point from which to reckon the 2,300-year period of Daniel 8:14 and the seventy weeks of Daniel 9, whose specified events are fulfilled when counted from that date. Subtracting 457 from 2,300 first gave the year 1843 for the close of the period, but because the decree went forth near the close of 457 B.C. the reckoning extends to the fall of 1844.
The Return to Jerusalem
Some of the children of Israel went up from Babylon to Jerusalem in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king, with Ezra from Babylon to Jerusalem after the king permitted him to take the help needed for the work there. Those who went up included priests and Levites, with singers and porters or gatekeepers, and Nethinims or temple servants and other temple workers. The king is identified as Artaxerxes I, and his seventh year is dated to 457 B.C.
The return took place under Ezra's leadership and spiritual care, as he led a considerable number to help their fellow Israelites. Artaxerxes granted Ezra's request, permitting him to take what was needed for the work in Jerusalem. He also provided gifts for the temple and gave Ezra authority to carry out his plans.
Those returning were coming to serve God in their own country after seventy years of captivity, given another opportunity to serve Him there. Their coming was to renew interest in God's word and to help restore the city. In this they fulfilled God's purpose of bringing His people back to their land and to Zion.
The return occurred several years after Mordecai's rise to favor at the Medo-Persian court. The decree together with Ezra's leadership opened a favorable and providential opportunity to help restore Zion and carry out God's purpose. Some recognized this opportunity and chose to embrace it by returning.
Prophetic Starting Point
The chapter to which this verse belongs records the decree or commandment to restore and build Jerusalem, begun under Cyrus, continued under Darius, and completed under Artaxerxes, and counted as one command. The going up in the seventh year of Artaxerxes is the going forth of that commandment.
That seventh year is dated to 457 B.C., and that date is the historical and chronological starting point from which to reckon the 2,300-year period of Daniel 8:14, the prophetic periods of Daniel 8 and 9, and the seventy weeks prophecy. Subtracting 457 from 2,300 leaves 1843, which is how the year 1843 was first reached as the close of the period and the time looked for for the coming of the Lord.
Because the decree went forth near the end or close of 457 B.C. rather than at the beginning of that year, the 2,300 years do not finish at the close of 1843 but extend to the fall of 1844. Counted from that late-year starting point, the vision had not failed or truly tarried though it seemed to do so. Counted from 457 B.C., the specified events of the seventy weeks are fulfilled.