Reading for November 16th

Read Ezra 7.11-20. In 7.11-28: King Artaxerxes' commission to Ezra. The letter that Artaxerxes purportedly gave to Ezra elevates Ezra from a religious teacher to an imperial offical, undertaking an important mission at the request of the king. While portions of the letter may well be genuine, there are serious questions about the authenticity of other sections, and the author seems to have taken some significant liberties in editing the document. In verse 12: Artaxerxes, king of kings: Persian kings did refer to themselves this way, suggesting part of an authentic Persian letter. In verse 14: You are sent by the king and his "seven counselors" Persian monarchs had a high council of seven trusted advisers who were called upon to help with significant decsions. Ezra is instructed to make inquiries about Judah and Jerusalem, a vague task. According to the law of your God may suggest that Ezra is ensuring that the worship in the Temple is being properly conducted. Which is in your hand has been varuously interpreted. On its simplest level, it means that Ezra is physically carrying a copy of the Pentateuch from Babylon to Jerusalem, although in Hebrew that are more direct ways to express this. The phrase in your hand is attested in several Persian period documents as meaning "in your power" or "in your sphere of authority." In this understanding, Artaxerxes is directing Ezra to conduct his inquiry in terms of the laws that are relevant to the inquiry, laws that apply to Ezra's task. In verse 19: The vessel that have been given you: Like the vessels Nebuchadnezzar had taken and Cyrus had returned to the Temple (1.7-11), these vessels are a royal gift bestowed on the temple as a sign of gratitude for God's granting Artaxerxes' rule. Comments or Questions..