Artaxerxes
Summary
The name of several Persian kings mentioned in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, particularly Artaxerxes I Longimanus who authorized both Ezra's mission and Nehemiah's rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls.
☩Artaxerxes I Longimanus
Artaxerxes I, surnamed Longimanus ('long-handed'), reigned from approximately 465-424 BC. In the seventh year of his reign (458 BC), he issued a decree permitting Ezra the scribe to lead a group of Jewish exiles back to Jerusalem with authority to appoint judges and teach the law. Later, in his twentieth year (445 BC), he granted permission to his cupbearer Nehemiah to return to Jerusalem and rebuild its walls. The king showed remarkable favor to the Jewish people during a critical period of their restoration.
☩Historical Context
Artaxerxes succeeded his father Xerxes I (the Ahasuerus of the book of Esther) after Xerxes was assassinated. His long reign provided stability that benefited the Jewish restoration efforts. Queen Esther, as the wife of Xerxes, may have used her influence to dispose this king favorably toward the Jews. The decrees of Artaxerxes were crucial for the rebuilding of both the Jewish community and the city of Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile.
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Artaxerxes," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Artaxerxes," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).