Artaxerxes gave Ezra authority to go to Jerusalem, inquire about Judah and Jerusalem according to God's law, carry royal and voluntary gifts for the temple, supply worship needs, appoint magistrates and judges, teach God's law, and enforce both God's law and the king's law (Ezra 7:13-26).
Ezra is introduced in the letter as a priest and a scribe of the law of the God of heaven (Ezra 7:11-12). The king's authorization is not only permission to travel. It is a broad commission for temple support, community order, and instruction in the law.
The letter provides resources for sacrifices and temple service (Ezra 7:15-20), commands treasurers beyond the River to supply what is needed (Ezra 7:21-23), exempts temple workers from taxes (Ezra 7:24), and authorizes Ezra to appoint judges and teach those who do not know God's laws (Ezra 7:25).
The letter is not just a financial grant. It gives Ezra a public role in restoring a law-shaped community after exile. Temple worship and instruction belong together.
Ezra 7 shows God's providence working even through imperial channels. A Persian king's decree becomes part of the story of restoration, worship, teaching, and ordered life among God's people.
11Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, even the scribe of the words of the commandments of Yahweh, and of his statutes to Israel:
12Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect and so forth.
13I make a decree, that all those of the people of Israel, and their priests and the Levites, in my realm, who are minded of their own free will to go to Jerusalem, go with you.
14Because you are sent of the king and his seven counselors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your God which is in your hand,
15and to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,
16and all the silver and gold that you shall find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill-offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem;
17therefore you shall with all diligence buy with this money bulls, rams, lambs, with their meal-offerings and their drink-offerings, and shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.
18Whatever shall seem good to you and to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do you after the will of your God.
19The vessels that are given you for the service of the house of your God, deliver you before the God of Jerusalem.
20Whatever more shall be needful for the house of your God, which you shall have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king`s treasure-house.
21I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers who are beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done with all diligence,
22to one hundred talents of silver, and to one hundred measures of wheat, and to one hundred baths of wine, and to one hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.
23Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done exactly for the house of the God of heaven; for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?
24Also we inform you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, the singers, porters, Nethinim, or servants of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll, on them.
25You, Ezra, after the wisdom of your God who is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges, who may judge all the people who are beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God; and teach you him who doesn`t know them.
26Whoever will not do the law of your God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed on him with all diligence, whether it be to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.