Ezra 7: The Return of the Exiles – Clear & Engaging Audio Bible Reading | Ezra’s Commission, God’s Favor, and the Rebuilding of Jerusalem

Experience the captivating story of Ezra 7 with this clear and engaging audio recording. Follow the journey of Ezra and his people’s return from exile to Jerusalem, Ezra’s commission to teach the law, God’s favor upon him, and the rebuilding of the city. Perfect for study, reflection, or meditation, immerse yourself in this powerful chapter and let the Scriptures come alive.

EZRA 7 (NIV)

1 After these things, during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra 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—

6 this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well
versed in the Law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given. The
king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was
on him.

7 Some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, musicians,
gatekeepers and temple servants, also came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year
of King Artaxerxes.

8 Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the
king.

9 He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first
month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for
the gracious hand of his God was on him.

10 For Ezra had devoted himself to
the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees
and laws in Israel.

11 This is a copy of the letter King Artaxerxes had given to Ezra the priest,
a teacher of the Law, a man learned in matters concerning the commands and
decrees of the Lord for Israel:

12 Artaxerxes, king of kings,
To Ezra the priest, teacher of the Law of the God of heaven:
Greetings.

13 Now I decree that any of the Israelites in my kingdom, including priests
and Levites, who volunteer to go to Jerusalem with you, may go.

14 You are
sent by the king and his seven advisers to inquire about Judah and Jerusalem
with regard to the Law of your God, which is in your hand.

15 Moreover, you
are to take with you the silver and gold that the king and his advisers have
freely given to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem,

16 together
with all the silver and gold you may obtain from the province of Babylon, as
well as the freewill offerings of the people and priests for the temple of
their God in Jerusalem.

17 With this money be sure to buy bulls, rams and male
lambs, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and sacrifice
them on the altar of the temple of your God in Jerusalem.

18 You and your fellow Israelites may then do whatever seems best with the
rest of the silver and gold, in accordance with the will of your God.

19
Deliver to the God of Jerusalem all the articles entrusted to you for worship
in the temple of your God.

20 And anything else needed for the temple of your
God that you are responsible to supply, you may provide from the royal
treasury.

21 Now I, King Artaxerxes, decree that all the treasurers of Trans-Euphrates
are to provide with diligence whatever Ezra the priest, the teacher of the Law
of the God of heaven, may ask of you—

22 up to a hundred talents of silver, a
hundred cors of wheat, a hundred baths of wine, a hundred baths of olive oil,
and salt without limit.

23 Whatever the God of heaven has prescribed, let it
be done with diligence for the temple of the God of heaven. Why should his
wrath fall on the realm of the king and of his sons?

24 You are also to know
that you have no authority to impose taxes, tribute or duty on any of the
priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers, temple servants or other workers at
this house of God.

25 And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you
possess, appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the
people of Trans-Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to
teach any who do not know them.

26 Whoever does not obey the law of your God
and the law of the king must surely be punished by death, banishment,
confiscation of property, or imprisonment.

27 Praise be to the Lord, the God of our ancestors, who has put it into the
king’s heart to bring honor to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem in this way

28 and who has extended his good favor to me before the king and his advisers
and all the king’s powerful officials. Because the hand of the Lord my God was
on me, I took courage and gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.