It has been 57 years since the Second Temple was finished. Aside from the story of Esther, and a brief mention of interference from the Samaritans and other old enemies of Israel, little is known of this period. However, it seems plain the Jews had become rather cozy with the locals. By the time Ezra arrives, the first issue he faces is the intermarriage with local pagans. While it appears Ezra wasn't aware of this specific problem before he arrived in Jerusalem, it's quite likely he knew things weren't right, and this was his reason for coming. His commission from Artaxerxes makes mention of a need to appoint judges under the Law of Moses. He was a reformer from the start.
Ezra 7-8 -- Artaxerxes I ruled from 465-424 BC, a rather long 40-year reign. During his first six years or so on the throne, he struggled with rebellion in his empire, particularly Egypt. Rebellion in any empire is most common at the change of rulers. There was also the continuing warfare with Greece. After settling a treaty with these two, Artaxerxes turned back to internal matters. Part of this was the matter of Judah. In his seventh year, 458 BC, he issued a decree to the Syrian Province. We can be rather certain Ezra was in some position of influence with the Imperial Court, and managed to obtain this decree backing the very work he was determined to do for Jehovah.
The man Ezra is identified as a priest, but not in the line of High Priestly descent. He refers to himself as a Scribe. In ancient times, reading alone was hardly as universal as in modern times. Writing was far more demanding, and Ezra belonged to the class of priests who had dedicated themselves to this skill for the very purpose of making copies of the Law. After a decade or two of copying Moses, they were exceptionally well-versed in the minutiae of the Law, and were asked to teach, argue as a lawyer in court cases, and eventually to serve as priestly judges. We note it is wholly in character for him to make much of genealogies. As the best candidate for final editor of the Chronicles and Ezra-Nehemiah, we see this stamp of his work throughout them.
As part of his commission, Ezra was given a tremendous load of gold, silver and other precious materials for the sake of the Temple. He delivered this into the care of some priests and Levites who accompanied him. There was also a huge collection of mixed items sent as offerings from the community remaining in Babylon. After nine days of travel from Babylon, the entourage stopped outside a community of Levites and Nethinim -- the latter a class of servants attached to the Levites arising from the old treaty with the Gibeonites as "hewers of wood and carriers of water" for the Temple. While there, Ezra requested the community leadership find men of known lineage to go with him and serve in the Temple. Recall that, while some 4,000 priests came back in the original return party with Zerubbabel, only a handful of Levites came. While there Ezra also proclaimed a three-day fast and prayer asking God's protection. All that treasure and there was no armed escort. Roving bands of raiders were known to work the open portions of the road between cities. After all his boasting in his God, he felt it would diminish that testimony to ask the Emperor for soldiers.
Having received a good word from God on their request, the caravan set out on 8 April 457 BC. They arrived in Jerusalem on 24 July the same year, making 900 miles (1450 km) in four months at an average of seven miles (11 km) per day. This was fairly fast for large civilian groups with families, wagons and such. Ezra testifies the Lord protected and prospered their journey. They delivered the offerings and published the decree with the authorities throughout the Syrian Satrapy. For three days they camped near the city of Jerusalem and celebrated joyously the opportunity to stand in the Temple of Jehovah before His altar.
9 -- The mood of celebration was short-lived, however. No doubt Ezra spoke in terms of strict adherence to the Law of Moses. In the months that followed his arrival, it's hard to imagine he didn't begin to review compliance with the Law as he prepared to commission judges and teachers. In this context, the local rulers mentioned the intermarriage with pagans among the Jews. Were this a matter of Gentiles converting to be married, we'd not hear about it. Rather, the marriages involved the pagans bringing their idols and ritual items into Jewish homes with them. Jewish girls were married off to pagan householders. This was in December of that same year.
Fully knowing how unfaithfulness had led to the destruction of the Holy City and the exile of his people, Ezra made it clear this was no minor issue. Tearing the garment was bad enough, but to pull out hair signals wrath bearing destruction. He spent the rest of the day in stunned horror at how quickly the nation had returned to such deep sin. God had granted a new anchor for Jewish identity, and in just 80 years they had forsaken the Covenant. The rulers trembled at the thought of renewed wrath from God. After the evening sacrifice, Ezra went to the Temple and prayed with his face to the pavement. He was joined by everyone who cared in the least.
10 -- While Ezra and the others were praying thus, the leaders got to work and agreed to propose a renewal of the Covenant. They asked Ezra to take charge and do what seemed best to him as they were behind him completely. Ezra rose up and took counsel with them. First, he extracted an oath from them they would obey the Law, plain and simple. When that was done, he had them publish a decree that all Israel must assemble in Jerusalem within three days or risk severe punishment. During the wait, Ezra stayed in seclusion in the High Priest's chambers in the Temple, fasting and mourning.
It was 8 December 457 BC. The full assembly of Judah and Benjamin was more than the city could hold. While the leadership huddled in the Temple plaza, the masses were forced to stand outside the city in the Kidron Valley. It was the season for rain, but the cold was not their only reason for shivering; they feared the wrath of God. It was the turn of the elders from the outlying areas to speak, and ask that the crowd be released on a declaration to obey in advance. It was noted this problem of pagan intermarriage was widespread and could not be resolved in short time. Having the full assembly continue standing in the open was cruel and unnecessary. They got the message already. They arranged to send their leaders by district, one at a time, allowing Ezra to investigate and rule on each case.
So it was done, and Ezra painstakingly listed each of the offending families. He also recorded the few who rejected the whole idea, including a couple of Levites. The narrative ends here, but we may safely assume similar efforts to recover holiness were maintained for quite some time.
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Ed Hurst
30 July 2005
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