And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.
Ezra left Babylon on the first day of the first month and reached Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of King Artaxerxes I, four months later, by God's good hand upon him. He led a considerable company back to join their brethren, to give the dispersed Jews another opportunity to serve God in their own land and to revive the study of His word and restore the city. The decree for Jerusalem's restoration went forth in that seventh year, dated to 457 B.C., and that date is the starting point for reckoning the 2,300 years of Daniel 8:14 and the seventy weeks. Subtracting 457 from 2,300 leaves 1843 for the close of the period, but because the decree was issued near the close of 457 B.C. the period reaches to the fall of 1844, from which starting date the specifications of the seventy weeks are fulfilled.
Journey and Historical Context
Ezra began the journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month and came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes I, four months later, according to the good hand of God upon him. The seventh year named is the seventh year of the Persian king's reign, the year of the decree authorizing the return.
The return brought the Jews dispersed from the Babylonian captivity another opportunity to serve God in their own country. It gave the dispersed people of Judah opportunity to help restore Zion and the holy city. It was part of God's purpose to restore Israel to its land.
Ezra led a considerable group back to assist their brethren under his spiritual care. His work on arrival was to revive the study of God's word and to help restore the city, the holy city and Jerusalem. The king granted Ezra's request, with gifts for the temple and authority to carry out his plans, because he trusted Ezra and was impressed by his faith in God's care for Israel. The arrival came several years after the events in Esther, when Mordecai's rise to favor at the Medo-Persian court helped make the return possible.
Prophetic Time Calculation
The decree for the restoration of Jerusalem found in Ezra 7 went forth in the seventh year of Artaxerxes, dated to 457 B.C., and that date is the starting point for reckoning the 2,300 years of Daniel 8:14 and the seventy weeks. Subtracting 457 from 2,300 leaves 1843 for the close of the period, which was calculated to terminate in 1843 with the coming of the Lord. Because the decree was issued near the end or close of 457 B.C. rather than at the beginning of that year, the 2,300-year period reaches the fall of 1844 rather than the end of 1843. The prophetic specifications of the seventy weeks are fulfilled when counted from this starting date.
Ezra left Babylon on the first day of the first month and reached Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of King Artaxerxes I, four months later, by God's good hand upon him. He led a considerable company back to join their brethren, to give the dispersed Jews another opportunity to serve God in their own land and to revive the study of His word and restore the city. The decree for Jerusalem's restoration went forth in that seventh year, dated to 457 B.C., and that date is the starting point for reckoning the 2,300 years of Daniel 8:14 and the seventy weeks. Subtracting 457 from 2,300 leaves 1843 for the close of the period, but because the decree was issued near the close of 457 B.C. the period reaches to the fall of 1844, from which starting date the specifications of the seventy weeks are fulfilled.
Journey and Historical Context
Ezra began the journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month and came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes I, four months later, according to the good hand of God upon him. The seventh year named is the seventh year of the Persian king's reign, the year of the decree authorizing the return.
The return brought the Jews dispersed from the Babylonian captivity another opportunity to serve God in their own country. It gave the dispersed people of Judah opportunity to help restore Zion and the holy city. It was part of God's purpose to restore Israel to its land.
Ezra led a considerable group back to assist their brethren under his spiritual care. His work on arrival was to revive the study of God's word and to help restore the city, the holy city and Jerusalem. The king granted Ezra's request, with gifts for the temple and authority to carry out his plans, because he trusted Ezra and was impressed by his faith in God's care for Israel. The arrival came several years after the events in Esther, when Mordecai's rise to favor at the Medo-Persian court helped make the return possible.
Prophetic Time Calculation
The decree for the restoration of Jerusalem found in Ezra 7 went forth in the seventh year of Artaxerxes, dated to 457 B.C., and that date is the starting point for reckoning the 2,300 years of Daniel 8:14 and the seventy weeks. Subtracting 457 from 2,300 leaves 1843 for the close of the period, which was calculated to terminate in 1843 with the coming of the Lord. Because the decree was issued near the end or close of 457 B.C. rather than at the beginning of that year, the 2,300-year period reaches the fall of 1844 rather than the end of 1843. The prophetic specifications of the seventy weeks are fulfilled when counted from this starting date.