Before I read our sermon text, I need to explain a little about what you are going to hear! You might call this the "government documents" section of the book of Ezra!
The author is very clear that this material comes from a wide chronological range. Verses 1-3 are from the time of Zerubbabel and King Cyrus (Cyrus reigned from 539-530 BC). Verse 4 speaks of King Darius (r. 522-486). Verse 6 speaks of accusations during the reign of Ahasuerus (Xerxes, 486-464). Verse 7 speaks of letters in the days of Artaxerxes (464-423). So these verses cover a span of 100 years!
And when you look at the content of the letters, the letters in verses 7-23 are talking about rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem (which we'll hear about in the book of Nehemiah). And then chapters 5 and 6 return to the theme of building the temple in the days of Darius!
In other words, the letter to Artaxerxes comes from a hundred years later (and the author tells us this – because back then everyone knew that Artaxerxes lived a hundred years after Cyrus!).
That's why I call this the "government documents" section of the book of Ezra! "Here are various imperial decrees and correspondence that are relevant to my story."
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