If anyone does not keep the law of your God and the law of the king, let a strict judgment be executed against him, whether death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment. Whoever does not complyThis phrase sets a clear expectation of obedience to the law. In the context of Ezra, the return of the Israelites to Jerusalem was not just a physical journey but a spiritual reformation. The Hebrew root for "comply" suggests a deep adherence and commitment, indicating that the law was not merely a set of rules but a covenantal relationship with God. Historically, this reflects the post-exilic period's emphasis on re-establishing religious identity and purity. with the law of your God
The "law of your God" refers to the Torah, the divine instructions given to the Israelites. This highlights the centrality of God's law in guiding the community's moral and spiritual life. The phrase underscores the personal relationship between the Israelites and God, emphasizing that the law is not just a national mandate but a personal commitment to divine will. and the law of the king
This phrase indicates the dual authority under which the Israelites lived. The "law of the king" refers to the Persian king's decrees, showing the political reality of the time. The historical context here is significant; the Persian Empire allowed the Jews to return and rebuild, but they were still under Persian rule. This duality required the Israelites to navigate their identity as God's people while respecting earthly authority. let judgment be executed upon him
This phrase speaks to the seriousness of the law and the consequences of disobedience. The Hebrew concept of "judgment" involves not just punishment but the restoration of justice and order. It reflects the biblical principle that God's laws are not arbitrary but are designed to maintain holiness and righteousness within the community. promptly
The urgency implied by "promptly" suggests that justice should not be delayed. In the biblical context, swift justice was seen as a deterrent to sin and a means to uphold the community's integrity. This reflects the broader biblical theme that God's justice is both immediate and inevitable. whether by death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment
This list of potential punishments illustrates the range of consequences for disobedience. Each form of punishment reflects the severity of breaking God's law and the need to maintain communal holiness. Historically, these were common forms of punishment in ancient Near Eastern societies, emphasizing the seriousness with which the law was to be taken. Theologically, it underscores the gravity of sin and the need for repentance and restoration. Persons / Places / Events 1. EzraA scribe and priest, Ezra was a leader among the Jewish exiles returning from Babylon to Jerusalem. He was tasked with teaching and enforcing the Law of God. 2. ArtaxerxesThe Persian king who issued a decree allowing Ezra to return to Jerusalem and enforce the laws of God and the king. 3. JerusalemThe city to which Ezra and the exiles returned, where the temple had been rebuilt, and where Ezra was to teach and enforce the law. 4. The Law of GodRefers to the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, which contain the commandments and instructions given by God to the Israelites. 5. The Law of the KingThe civil laws established by King Artaxerxes, which were to be upheld alongside the Law of God. Teaching Points The Importance of ObedienceEzra 7:26 underscores the necessity of obeying both divine and civil laws. As Christians, we are called to respect and adhere to the laws of our land, provided they do not contradict God's commandments. The Role of LeadershipEzra's role as a leader highlights the responsibility of those in authority to enforce laws justly and to ensure that God's commandments are upheld in society. Consequences of DisobedienceThe verse outlines severe consequences for disobedience, reminding us of the seriousness with which God views adherence to His laws and the laws of the land. Integration of Faith and GovernanceThe passage illustrates the integration of faith into governance, encouraging believers to seek leaders who respect and uphold godly principles. Justice and MercyWhile the verse speaks of strict judgment, it also calls us to consider the balance of justice and mercy in our own lives and communities. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Ezra's role as a leader in enforcing the law compare to the responsibilities of Christian leaders today? 2. In what ways can we ensure that our obedience to civil laws does not conflict with our obedience to God's laws? 3. How do the consequences outlined in Ezra 7:26 reflect the seriousness of disobedience, and how should this influence our daily lives? 4. What can we learn from Ezra's example about integrating our faith into our roles in society, whether in leadership or as citizens? 5. How do the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament complement the principles found in Ezra 7:26 regarding obedience to both divine and earthly authorities? Connections to Other Scriptures Deuteronomy 17:18-20This passage emphasizes the importance of the king writing and reading the Law of God, highlighting the integration of divine law into governance. Romans 13:1-7Paul discusses the role of government authorities and the Christian's responsibility to obey both divine and civil laws, echoing the dual obedience seen in Ezra 7:26. Matthew 22:21Jesus' teaching on rendering to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's reflects the balance of obeying both divine and earthly authorities. People Aaron, Abishua, Ahitub, Amariah, Artaxerxes, Azariah, Bukki, Eleazar, Ezra, Hilkiah, Israelites, Levites, Meraioth, Phinehas, Seraiah, Shallum, Uzzi, Zadok, ZerahiahPlaces Babylonia, Beyond the River, Jerusalem, PersiaTopics Anyone, Banishment, Bonds, Care, Confiscation, Death, Diligence, Diligently, Driving, Executed, Goods, Imprisonment, Judgment, Law, Obey, Observe, Prison, Property, Punished, Punishment, Putting, Riches, Speedily, Strictly, Surely, Taking, WhetherDictionary of Bible Themes Ezra 7:26 5255 citizenship
5257 civil authorities
5277 criminals
5326 government
5344 imprisonment
5461 prisoners
5485 punishment, legal aspects
6112 banishment
8304 loyalty
8703 antinomianism Library Appendix. The Apocryphal Books of the Old Testament.
1. The Greek word Apocrypha, hidden, that is, hidden or secret books, was early applied by the fathers of the Christian church to anonymous or spurious books that falsely laid claim to be a part of the inspired word. By some, as Jerome, the term was extended to all the books incorporated by the Alexandrine Jews, in their Greek version, into the proper canon of the Old Testament, a few of which books, though not inspired, are undoubtedly genuine. Another designation of the books in question …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the BibleReading the Law with Tears and Joy
'And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel. 2. And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. 3. And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate, from the morning until midday, before …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Rome and Ephesus
Corinth as portrayed in the Epistles of Paul gives us our simplest and least contaminated picture of the Hellenic Christianity which regarded itself as the cult of the Lord Jesus, who offered salvation--immortality--to those initiated in his mysteries. It had obvious weaknesses in the eyes of Jewish Christians, even when they were as Hellenised as Paul, since it offered little reason for a higher standard of conduct than heathenism, and its personal eschatology left no real place for the resurrection …
Kirsopp Lake—Landmarks in the History of Early Christianity Authorship of the Pentateuch.
The term Pentateuch is composed of the two Greek words, pente, five, and teuchos, which in later Alexandrine usage signified book. It denotes, therefore, the collection of five books; or, the five books of the law considered as a whole. 1. In our inquiries respecting the authorship of the Pentateuch, we begin with the undisputed fact that it existed in its present form in the days of Christ and his apostles, and had so existed from the time of Ezra. When the translators of the Greek version, …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible Of Antichrist, and his Ruin: and of the Slaying the Witnesses.
BY JOHN BUNYAN PREFATORY REMARKS BY THE EDITOR This important treatise was prepared for the press, and left by the author, at his decease, to the care of his surviving friend for publication. It first appeared in a collection of his works in folio, 1692; and although a subject of universal interest; most admirably elucidated; no edition has been published in a separate form. Antichrist has agitated the Christian world from the earliest ages; and his craft has been to mislead the thoughtless, by …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 Brave Encouragements
'In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the Lord by the prophet Haggai, saying, 2. Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying, 3. Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing? 4. Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord; and be strong, O Joshua, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture General Account of Jesus' Teaching.
^A Matt. IV. 17; ^B Mark I. 14, 15; ^C Luke IV. 14, 15. ^a 17 From that time Jesus began to preach [The time here indicated is that of John the Baptist's imprisonment and Jesus' return to Galilee. This time marked a new period in the public ministry of Jesus. Hitherto he had taught, but he now began to preach. When the voice of his messenger, John, was silenced, the King became his own herald. Paul quoted the Greeks as saying that preaching was "foolishness," but following the example here set by …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel The Section Chap. I. -iii.
The question which here above all engages our attention, and requires to be answered, is this: Whether that which is reported in these chapters did, or did not, actually and outwardly take place. The history of the inquiries connected with this question is found most fully in Marckius's "Diatribe de uxore fornicationum," Leyden, 1696, reprinted in the Commentary on the Minor Prophets by the same author. The various views may be divided into three classes. 1. It is maintained by very many interpreters, …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Formation and History of the Hebrew Canon.
1. The Greek word canon (originally a straight rod or pole, measuring-rod, then rule) denotes that collection of books which the churches receive as given by inspiration of God, and therefore as constituting for them a divine rule of faith and practice. To the books included in it the term canonical is applied. The Canon of the Old Testament, considered in reference to its constituent parts, was formed gradually; formed under divine superintendence by a process of growth extending through …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible Appendix v. Rabbinic Theology and Literature
1. The Traditional Law. - The brief account given in vol. i. p. 100, of the character and authority claimed for the traditional law may here be supplemented by a chronological arrangement of the Halakhoth in the order of their supposed introduction or promulgation. In the first class, or Halakhoth of Moses from Sinai,' tradition enumerates fifty-five, [6370] which may be thus designated: religio-agrarian, four; [6371] ritual, including questions about clean and unclean,' twenty-three; [6372] concerning …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah The Historical Books.
1. In the Pentateuch we have the establishment of the Theocracy, with the preparatory and accompanying history pertaining to it. The province of the historical books is to unfold its practiced working, and to show how, under the divine superintendence and guidance, it accomplished the end for which it was given. They contain, therefore, primarily, a history of God's dealings with the covenant people under the economy which he had imposed upon them. They look at the course of human events on the …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible Influences that Gave Rise to the Priestly Laws and Histories
[Sidenote: Influences in the exile that produced written ceremonial laws] The Babylonian exile gave a great opportunity and incentive to the further development of written law. While the temple stood, the ceremonial rites and customs received constant illustration, and were transmitted directly from father to son in the priestly families. Hence, there was little need of writing them down. But when most of the priests were carried captive to Babylonia, as in 597 B.C., and ten years later the temple …
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament Ezra-Nehemiah
Some of the most complicated problems in Hebrew history as well as in the literary criticism of the Old Testament gather about the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Apart from these books, all that we know of the origin and early history of Judaism is inferential. They are our only historical sources for that period; and if in them we have, as we seem to have, authentic memoirs, fragmentary though they be, written by the two men who, more than any other, gave permanent shape and direction to Judaism, then …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Ezra 7:26 NIVEzra 7:26 NLTEzra 7:26 ESVEzra 7:26 NASBEzra 7:26 KJV
Ezra 7:26 Commentaries
Bible Hub |
