Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezra 7:12
Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect [peace], and at such a time.
12. king of kings ] title common in inscriptions of Persian monarchs. (Cf. of Nebuchadnezzar, Eze 26:7; Dan 2:37.) No mere hyperbole, when the great empire included so many subject kingdoms.
a scribe ] R.V. the scribe.
the God of heaven ] See note on Ezr 1:2.
perfect peace, and at such a time ] R.V. perfect and so forth. The Aramaic word ‘perfect’, ‘g’mir’, occurs only here. The salutation, probably a lengthy affair, is here condensed and the sentence breaks off abruptly. The word ‘perfect’ refers to ‘the scribe’ Ezra and was probably the first of a series of complimentary epithets. So the Vulgate ‘doctissimo’. The A.V. understands the words of salutation, cf. 1 Esdras, ‘hail’ ( ). The LXX. ‘the word has been ended and the answer’ ( ) is completely at fault. Others render the word as an adverb (= ‘completely’), to be connected either with ‘the scribe’, or with the omitted words of salutation, i.e. the completely (learned) scribe’, or ‘full greetings’.
‘and so forth’, as in Ezr 4:10-11.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
12 26. The contents of the letter are given in Aramaic.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The title, king of kings, is assumed by almost all the persian monarchs in their inscriptions.
Perfect peace – Peace is not in the original, and the word translated perfect occurs only in this place. Some prefer to take it as an adjective descriptive of Ezra (see margin); others (Septuagint) as the opening word of the first paragraph of the letter, and give it the meaning, it is completed.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 12. Artaxerxes, king of kings] This letter, from the beginning of this verse to the end of Ezr 7:12-26, is in the Aramitic or Chaldee language.
This title of the king would, in Persian, run thus: [Persian] Ardsheer shahinshah, or [Persian] padshah, “Ardsheer, king of kings;” “great or supreme king, or emperor.”
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
12. Artaxerxes, king of kingsThattitle might have been assumed as, with literal truth, applicable tohim, since many of the tributary princes of his empire still retainedthe name and authority of kings. But it was a probably a mereOrientalism, denoting a great and powerful prince, as the heaven ofheavens signified the highest heaven, and vanity of vanities, thegreatest vanity. This vainglorious title was assumed by the kings ofAssyria, from whom it passed to the sovereigns of Persia.
unto Ezra the priest, ascribe of the law of the God of heavenThe appointment of Ezrato this influential mission was of the highest importance to theHebrew people, as a large proportion of them were become, in a greatmeasure, strangers both to the language and the institutions of theirforefathers.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Artaxerxes, king of kings,…. Having many kings and kingdoms subject and tributary to him; for this was not merely a proud haughty title which the eastern kings p assumed, particularly the Persians; for after Cyrus they were so in fact, who took this title also, and had it put on his sepulchral monument,
“Here I lie, Cyrus, king of kings q;”
this title was given to Grecian kings, particularly Agamemnon is called king of kings r, he being general at the siege of Troy, under whom the rest of the kings fought; if this was Darius Hystaspis, of him Cyrus dreamed that he had wings on his shoulders, with one he covered Asia, and with the other Europe s:
unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven; of which titles see Ezr 7:11:
perfect [peace], and at such a time; the word “perfect” belongs to Ezra’s title as a scribe, signifying that he was a most learned and complete scribe or teacher of the law of God; “peace” is not in the text, and the phrase “at such a time” respects the date of the letter, though not expressed, or is only an “et cetera”, [See comments on Ezr 4:10].
p See the Universal History, vol. 5. p. 16, 137. & vol. 11. p. 7, 8. margin, & p. 66. q Strabo, Geograph. l. 15. p. 502. r Vell. Patercul. Hist. Roman. l. 1. in initio. s Herodot. Clio, sive, l. 1. c. 209.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(12) Artaxerxes, king of kings.Artachshatra in Persian, Artachshasta in Hebrew. The Persian monarchs inherited the title here given from the Babylonians (Dan. 2:37). It is not used by the historian, only by the king himself.
Perfect peace, and at such a time.Literally, perfect, and so forth. The expression occurs only here, and is a difficult one. Our translation follows the apocryphal Esdras, and is on the whole to be accepted, a salutation being implied.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Ezr 7:12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect [peace], and at such a time.
Ver. 12. Artaxerxes, king of kings ] This is a very high style for any mortal wight; yet ambitiously assumed by monarchs and emperors. It is indeed the proper title of Jesus Christ, who hath upon his vesture and upon his thigh a name written, King of kings, and Lord of lords; kings and captives, lords and lowlies, are all his underlings and vassals, as those good emperors, Constantine, Theodosius, and Valentinian usually called themselves (Socrates). This name of the Lord Christ is said to be written, 1. On his vesture, that all may see it and submit to it. 2. On his thigh, where hangs his sword, to show his absolute and unlimited empire, got out of the hands of his enemies with his sword and with his bow, Psa 45:5 . “By me king’s reign,” saith he, Pro 8:15 . And Nebuchadnezzar is made to know as much, Dan 4:35 , who once vain gloriously vaunted that his princes were altogether kings, Isa 10:8 . Maximilian, emperor of Germany, also said of himself, that he was a king of kings, but in another sense; for every one of my subjects (quoth he) will be a king; and say I what I can, they will do what they wish (Johan. Manl. loc. com. p. 586).
Of the God of heaven See Trapp on “ Ezr 5:11 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
GOD Chaldee. ‘eldh. Same as Hebrew Eloah. App-4.
GOD of heaven. See note on 2Ch 36:23.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Artaxerxes: The title of the king would, in Persian, run thus: Ardsheer shahinshah, or padshah, “Ardsheer, king of kings,” i.e., great or supreme king or emperor. 1Ki 4:24, 1Ki 20:1, Isa 10:8, Eze 26:7, Dan 2:37, Dan 2:47, 1Ti 6:15, Rev 17:14, Rev 19:16
unto Ezra: etc. or, to Ezra the priest, a perfect scribe of the law of the God of heaven, peace, etc. and at such a time. Ezr 4:10, Ezr 4:11, Ezr 4:17
Reciprocal: 2Ki 18:28 – the king of Assyria Ezr 7:1 – Artaxerxes Ezr 7:6 – a ready Ezr 7:7 – Artaxerxes Ezr 7:21 – Artaxerxes Isa 13:3 – them that Isa 60:10 – their kings Dan 6:26 – make Jon 1:9 – the God Mat 2:4 – scribes Act 18:24 – mighty Rev 16:11 – the God
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Ezr 7:12. Unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven Or, as the Hebrew may be rendered, a perfect scribe of the law, &c., a title which, it seems, Ezra delighted in, and desired no other; no, not when he was advanced to the proconsular dignity, and made the governor of a province. He reckoned it more to his honour to be a scribe of Gods law than to be a peer or prince of the empire.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
7:12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect [peace], and {f} at such a time.
(f) Some take this for the name of a people, some for time or continuance, meaning that the king wished him long life.