Who was Artaxerxes in the Bible?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Artaxerxes, also known as Artaxerxes I Longimanus, was the King of Persia from 465 BC to 424 BC. He allowed Ezra (Ezra 7:11) to return to Jerusalem and reinstate biblical practices in their rebuilt temple, and he allowed Nehemiah (Nehemiah 13:6) to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the walls protecting the city with independent governance. Both accounts in Ezra and Nehemiah highlight that God was working in King Artaxerxes' heart to show such favor to God's people.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Artaxerxes’ father was King Xerxes (also called Ahasuerus) from the account of Esther, but his mother was Amestris, a wife from one of Xerxes' many political marriages.
• Due to his tolerance of differing people groups and diverse religions, Artaxerxes ruled over a relatively peaceful time of the Persian Empire and is remembered as a fairly good king (see the books of Ezra and Nehemiah).
• Prior to King Artaxerxes coming to the throne, the Babylonians had conquered the Israelites around 589 BC (2 Kings 24—25). In 539 BC, Babylonians were conquered by the Persians under Cyrus the Great. Cyrus allowed the Israelites to return to Jerusalem and begin rebuilding. Under the leadership of Zerubbabel, over 42,000 Jews returned to Jerusalem and began the restoration project (Ezra 3:8). After a brief pause due to political opposition, the temple in Jerusalem was completed in 516 BC under the Persian King Darius.
• About fifty years after the temple was completed, King Artaxerxes commissioned Ezra to return to the temple in Jerusalem. Artaxerxes commissioned Ezra to reinstate sacrificial worship and other biblical teaching and practices (Ezra 7:12–26).
• Ezra led the religious community of priests, Levites, temple workers, and scribes on a four-month journey from Babylon to Jerusalem (Ezra 7:8–9). Once there, Ezra led the Israelites in repentance, restoring biblical teaching and practices to the temple in Jerusalem (Ezra 9:5—10:17).
• Twelve or thirteen years after Ezra returned to Jerusalem (during Artaxerxes' twentieth year of reign), Nehemiah received word in Babylon that the outer walls of Jerusalem that would have protected the city and the temple were still in ruins. King Artaxerxes noticed Nehemiah's devastation in reaction to this news and gave him permission to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the protective walls (Nehemiah 2:1–8).
• Artaxerxes appointed Nehemiah as governor in the land of Judah for twelve years (Nehemiah 5:14). Nehemiah successfully oversaw the rebuilding of the walls in only fifty-two days (Nehemiah 6:15). Due to Nehemiah's loyalty and faithful rule in Judah, Artaxerxes allowed him to return to Jerusalem and continue as governor (Nehemiah 13:6–7).
• In Ezra 7:27, Ezra thanks God for the way He worked in Artaxerxes: "Blessed be the LORD, the God of our fathers, who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the LORD that is in Jerusalem."
• Nehemiah also recognized God’s hand in Artaxerxes’ favor upon the Israelites: "And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me" (Nehemiah 2:8).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Artaxerxes is not mentioned in the New Testament.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Ezra and Nehamiah both believed that God was at work giving the Israelites favor and moving King Artaxerxes’ heart to show the Israelites favor. They responded by acknowledging God’s hand and praising Him for what He had done. God’s sovereignty is clear throughout Scripture (Job 42:2 Isaiah 14:24). He is all-powerful and all-knowing (Psalm 147:5), outside of time (Exodus 3:14; Psalm 90:2), and knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). At minimum, we can say that nothing happens without God’s permission. Knowing that truth allows us to trust God while making plans for our lives. Proverbs 16:9 tells us that “the heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” Trusting in God’s sovereignty allows us to make plans, knowing that God will work all things out for His glory and our good (Romans 8:28).

UNDERSTAND

• King Artaxerxes ruled in Persia about seventy-five years after Persia conquered Babylon.
• King Artaxerxes allowed Ezra to return to Jerusalem and reinstate worship and biblical practices in the temple.
• King Artaxerxes allowed Nehemiah to return to Jerusalem and rebuild Jerusalem's walls.

REFLECT

• God was at work for Artaxerxes to show favor to the Israelites, but he still had a choice in doing so.
• God is always at work, even in matters that we think are impossible.
• Although God is always in control, people still are responsible for their decisions and actions. Without Ezra and Nehemiah asking Artaxerxes or making their desires to obey God and to rebuild known, Artaxerxes would have had nothing to which to respond.

ENGAGE

• Human responsibility and God’s sovereignty are not mutually exclusive. In what ways are these truths difficult for you to comprehend?
• How does trusting in God’s sovereignty allow us to faithfully follow God while making our own plans?
• Although Artaxerxes was not a believer, he still fulfilled God’s plans and brought good to the Israelites. How does that challenge or encourage you?