Ezra 7:1-10

Expanded Bible

Ezra Comes to Jerusalem

7 After these things, during the rule of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra came up [^CEzra’s coming is not actually stated until v. 6] from Babylon [^Cif this refers to Artaxerxes I, then chapter seven takes place around 458 bc, about fifty-eight years after chapter six, but some date the events differently] as 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 ·high [chief] priest. ⁶ This Ezra came ·to Jerusalem [^Lup] from Babylon. He was a ·teacher and knew well [scribe skilled/well versed in] the ·Teachings [Law; ^LTorah] of Moses that had been given by the Lord, the God of Israel. Ezra received everything he asked for from the king, because the [^Lhand of the] Lord his God was ·helping [on] him. ⁷ In the seventh year of King Artaxerxes more ·Israelites [sons/people of Israel] came to Jerusalem. Among them were priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and Temple servants.

⁸ Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of Artaxerxes’ seventh year as king. ⁹ Ezra had left Babylon on the first day of the first month [^CApril 8], and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month [^CAugust 4], because [the good/gracious hand of] God was ·helping [on] him. ¹⁰ Ezra had ·worked hard [dedicated/devoted himself; ^Lset his heart] to ·know [study] and ·obey [practice; do; observe] the ·Teachings [Law; ^LTorah] of the Lord and to teach his rules and commands to the Israelites.