1 NOW after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,

2 The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,

3 The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,

4 The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,

5 The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest: [ So we have a brief although maybe not complete genealogy here at least there is enough for him to prove his line of authority. At this time there is a second wave now coming to the temple, coming from afar those who were not part of the original group that stayed behind for whatever reason they had. ]

6  This Ezra went up from Babylon; [ The time period here is about 60 years after the first group went to rebuild the temple. At this point Ezra brings another group with him. ] and he was a ready [ Means: skilled. The first thing that is said about him is that he knows the law of Moses inside and out. ] scribe [ Writing and reading. ] in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.

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.

8 And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.

9 For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.

10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law [ He yearned to learn the law. It was not easy but he did, he would have had to study the law not just red it, but study it. ] of the LORD, and to do it, [ It is one thing to seek it and yet another thing to do it. He does. As he does what he learns in the law he see's how his life is blessed, as a result he seeks further light and knowledge so that might have more power in God. When we really learn it we will want to live it. ] and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments. [ So the temple has been built and God brings Ezra along kind of as a second Moses. His mission is to re-establish the law among Israel. ]

11 ¶ Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, [ The King gives him a letter to show that he has the authority of the king to do the following as described in tne letter. ] the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel.

12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.

13 I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee. [ The King first affirms that if the people want to return to Jerusalem than that is fine with the King. ]

14 Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand;

15 And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,

16 And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God [ The King pledges whatever Ezra needs in order to make offerrings to God, the animals for sacrifice. ] which is in Jerusalem:

17 That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.

18 And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God. [ So I am giving you plenty of money here for your sacrifices and I know that some will be left over. However; I don't care what you do with that money do with it however you feel that God would have you do. ]

19 The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem.

20 And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king’s treasure house. [ sounds like Ezra is given a blank check from the King of Persia. I am giving you what I think that you will need, and if there is some left over use it however God wants you to, and if I did not give you enough just go to the treasury and get what you need, no questions ask as I trust you, after all you have proven that you are defined as one who knows the law and lives it. So I know that you will take what God wants you to and that is it. ]

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, [ How about this for total trust in Ezra. The King tells his treasurers that whatever Ezra asks for don't hasle him, don't ask why he needs it, just give it to him. ]

22 Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.

23 Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently [ In verse 21 it was do it speedily now here it is diligently. Pretty compelling directions from the King. ] done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons? [ The King of Persia suggesting that the reason he is doing all of this is that maybe if he does he will have the Israelite God on his side as well. Again one can never have too many Gods on your side logic. ]

24 Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, [ Means those who are set apart. ] , or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them. [ They have a tax exempt status. Not only is the King not worried about them contributing to his kingdom,. but he makes sure that they don't even have to worry about it themselves. They are left free to do the work. ]

25 And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, [ Find those who know the law and set them up to administer and teach it. ] which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not. [ Teach them correct principles and then let them govern themselves by those principles. ]

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.

27 ¶ Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, [ We finally have Ezra speaking here in the first person. ] which hath put such a thing [ Or Heavenly Father I know that it was you that put into the heart of the King to do all of these wonderful things to thy house. ] as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem:

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, [ Ezra again emphasizes the real source of his blessings. ] and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.