Artaxerxes is an important biblical figure who was the Persian king during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. He ruled over the Persian Empire from around 465 BC to 424 BC. There are three Artaxerxes mentioned in the Bible:
Artaxerxes I
Artaxerxes I, who reigned from about 465 BC to 424 BC, is the most well-known Artaxerxes in the Bible. He was the son and successor of Xerxes I and appears in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Some key events involving Artaxerxes I in the Bible include:
- In Ezra 7, Artaxerxes allows Ezra the priest and scribe to return to Jerusalem with exiles and grants him substantial resources to rebuild the temple. Ezra praises God for putting it in the king’s heart “to beautify the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem” (Ezra 7:27).
- In Nehemiah 2, Nehemiah, the cupbearer to Artaxerxes, receives permission from the king to return to Jerusalem to rebuild its walls and gates. The king provides Nehemiah with letters authorizing safe passage and ordering timber for the gates.
- Later in Nehemiah, when the enemies of Judah oppose the rebuilding project, Nehemiah appeals to Artaxerxes who provides support. Artaxerxes issues a decree demanding that the work on the walls be stopped (Nehemiah 4:7-23)
- After the walls are rebuilt, Artaxerxes is mollified by Nehemiah and allows the work to be completed (Nehemiah 6:1-9).
From these accounts, we see that Artaxerxes I was instrumental in supporting both Ezra and Nehemiah in their work to rebuild Jerusalem and restore the Jewish community. His decrees and provision of resources furthered the fulfillment of prophecies about the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
Artaxerxes II
Artaxerxes II, reigned from 404 BC to 358 BC. He was the grandson of Artaxerxes I. He is briefly referenced in Nehemiah and the apocryphal book of 1 Esdras. We learn the following about him:
- Artaxerxes II sends a letter stopping the reconstruction of Jerusalem, forcing it to cease (Ezra 4:7-23).
- He permits Ezra, a Jewish scribe and priest, to return to Jerusalem with others from Babylon (1 Esdras 8:1-24).
- He may have been involved with events surrounding Nehemiah as cupbearer, as Artaxerxes is referenced without specification in Nehemiah 1:1.
While less is known about his direct role, it appears Artaxerxes II maintained policies towards Jerusalem and the Jews similar to his predecessors. The temple reconstruction previously permitted eventually ceased under his reign.
Artaxerxes III
Artaxerxes III reigned from 358 BC to 338 BC. He was the son of Artaxerxes II. The only biblical reference to him is in 1 Esdras, where he is said to have stopped the reconstruction of the temple:
And in the reign of Artaxerxes king of the Persians, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, Rehum, Beltethmus, Shimshai, the rest that were in council wrote unto him against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem these letters…Then ceased the work of the house of God (1 Esdras 2:16, 24)
So Artaxerxes III opposed the rebuilding of the Jewish temple, forcing it to stop, similar to the actions of Artaxerxes II. Beyond this, very little is known about him biblically.
Key Facts about Artaxerxes
In summary, a few key facts we can highlight about the Artaxerxes figures in the Bible:
- There were three Persian kings named Artaxerxes who interacted with the Jewish people in some form.
- Artaxerxes I (reigned 465-424 BC) was the most significant, allowing Ezra and Nehemiah to return and rebuild Jerusalem.
- Artaxerxes II (reigned 404-358 BC) and Artaxerxes III (reigned 358-338 BC) later opposed the reconstruction of Jerusalem and paused it.
- God used the decrees of Artaxerxes I to fulfill His prophecies about the rebuilding of Jerusalem (Isaiah 44:28, Daniel 9:25).
- The later Artaxerxes briefly stopped the work before it resumed again as God had willed it.
So while later Persian kings opposed Jerusalem’s resettlement, God provided favor with Artaxerxes I at the crucial time to allow Ezra and Nehemiah to carry out their mission. This demonstrated God’s sovereignty over earthly rulers to fulfill His divine plans.
Artaxerxes in Ezra
The book of Ezra provides the most detail about Artaxerxes I and his support for Ezra’s mission to Jerusalem. Some key details include:
- Artaxerxes ensures the treasuries of Babylon provide silver and gold for Ezra’s mission and gifts for purchasing offerings (Ezra 7:15-17).
- He provides a decree exempting priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers, temple servants, and other Israelites from taxes (Ezra 7:24)
- He charges Ezra with appointing magistrates and judges for “all the people beyond the river” to uphold the law of God (Ezra 7:25-26).
- He provides a military escort for safety and letters to provide aid from the king’s forest for temple reconstruction (Ezra 7:21-22; 8:36).
- Ezra praises God for moving the king’s heart and “granting him favor” in the king’s sight (Ezra 7:27-28).
So Artaxerxes provided extensive aid to support Ezra’s religious and reconstruction efforts. The decrees gave legal authority and protection for their mission. And the substantial material resources supplied allowed the work to progress.
Artaxerxes in Nehemiah
The book of Nehemiah provides details on Artaxerxes I’s aid to Nehemiah. Some highlights include:
- Artaxerxes permits Nehemiah to return to Jerusalem after seeing his sadness about its ruined state (Nehemiah 2:1-6).
- He provides letters to governers authorizing safe passage, materials, and lodging (Nehemiah 2:7-10).
- He orders Asaph, keeper of the royal forest, to provide timber for the gates and walls (Nehemiah 2:8).
- His letters intimidate Israel’s enemies from attacking Nehemiah outright (Nehemiah 2:10; 4:1-3; 6:1-4).
- Nehemiah leverages his letters to combat opposition from Sanballat and Tobiah (Nehemiah 2:19-20; 6:5-9)
- Artaxerxes responds to misinformation about Jerusalem’s rebuilding by issuing a temporary pause (Nehemiah 4:7-23).
- After the walls are rebuilt, Nehemiah returns to report to Artaxerxes who is pleased with the progress (Nehemiah 6:15-16).
Again, Artaxerxes’ official sanction, resources, and protection were instrumental in enabling Nehemiah to successfully rebuild Jerusalem’s walls. While opposition occasionally slowed work, the king’s overall support allowed completion of the walls in just 52 days (Nehemiah 6:15).
Significance and Legacy
The reign of Artaxerxes I marked a crucial turning point in Jewish history. His assistance to Ezra and Nehemiah allowed the fulfillment of prophecies about the restoration of Jerusalem. Some key implications include:
- Temple Reconstruction – The temple was rebuilt during Artaxerxes’ reign, restoring Mosaic sacrificial worship.
- Jerusalem Resettled – Many Jewish exiles returned and repopulated the city under the king’s decrees.
- Walls Rebuilt – Walls and gates were reconstructed under Nehemiah’s supervision.
- Jewish Community Revived – The struggling Jewish community was strengthened and revitalized.
- Mosaic Law Restored – Ezra’s mission reestablished adherence to God’s laws.
- Prophecies Fulfilled – Actions sanctioned by Artaxerxes fulfilled prophecies about Jerusalem’s restoration (Isaiah 44:28; Daniel 9:25).
So while later Persian rulers temporarily halted Israel’s progress, Artaxerxes I’s assistance ensured that Jerusalem was rebuilt and the Jewish nation reestablished. This providential aid fulfilled what God had declared through the prophets centuries earlier. The legacy of Artaxerxes’ support continued to bless Israel for centuries.
Artaxerxes’ Character
Artaxerxes I demonstrated several admirable traits in his dealings with Ezra and Nehemiah:
- Humility – He listened to requests and trusted his servants’ initiatives.
- Decisiveness – He made bold decrees backing Ezra and Nehemiah’s missions.
- Generosity – He provided ample aid and resources for rebuilding the temple and walls.
- Mercy – He showed leniency when initially halting rebuilding efforts.
- Flexibility – He adapted decrees based on new developments.
Considering Persian kings’ typical absolutism and egoism, Artaxerxes displayed unusual wisdom and virtue. His sound decisions strengthened Israel and maintained order in his kingdom. While later swayed by opponents, overall he operated justly and generously towards Jerusalem.
The Bible credits God for moving Artaxerxes’ heart to commission the rebuilding initiatives (Ezra 7:27). This highlights how God directs all earthly authorities, even pagan kings, to accomplish His divine will. Through His providence, Artaxerxes played a pivotal part in restoring Israel and preparing the way for the coming of Christ.
Cultural and Historical Background
To better understand Artaxerxes and his role, it is helpful to consider the historical context:
- Persia had conquered the Babylonian empire by 539 BC.
- Cyrus (ruled 539-530 BC) allowed Jews to return to Jerusalem.
- Cambyses (530-522 BC) and pseudo-Smerdis (522 BC) continued Jewish resettlement.
- Darius I (522-486 BC) funded the rebuilding of the temple.
- Xerxes I (486-465 BC), father of Artaxerxes I, opposed the Jews.
- The early Persian kings hoped to integrate Jerusalem into their empire through economic aid and religious tolerance.
- Frequent insurrections by Egypt and Babylon often distracted Persian kings from Jerusalem’s affairs.
Artaxerxes I ascended the throne in the midst of Jewish hopes to rebuild Jerusalem and Persian efforts to consolidate their vast empire. His sympathetic policies aligned with Persia’s model of religious pluralism for subject nations. While uprisings and political dynamics shifted some policies over the years, on the whole Artaxerxes I chose to support the Jews in a manner few other ancient rulers matched.
Meaning of His Name
The name Artaxerxes comes from Old Persian and is a combination of several elements:
- Arta – “great”, “honorable”, or “righteous”
- Xerxes – likely derived from Xšayāršā which meant “ruling over heroes”
So his name has the meaning of “[the] great, honorable, or righteous ruler over heroes.” This aptly describes the honorable leadership Artaxerxes displayed towards Ezra and Nehemiah.
The uniqueness and meaningfulness of the name Artaxerxes may partially explain its repetition across several Persian kings. It conveyed ideals of righteousness and strength the rulers hoped to project.
Summary of Artaxerxes in the Bible
In summary, Artaxerxes was a title held by three Persian kings who interacted with the Jewish people:
- Artaxerxes I, the most significant, supported rebuilding Jerusalem through Ezra and Nehemiah.
- Artaxerxes II and III later briefly halted reconstruction.
- God used Artaxerxes I to fulfill His will to restore Israel.
- Artaxerxes provided leadership, resources, and legal sanction for rebuilding projects.
- He demonstrated wisdom, decisiveness, and religious tolerance as a ruler.
- His name indicated righteousness and strength.
While a pagan ruler, Artaxerxes played an important part in the history of Israel and God’s redemptive plans. His reign marked a pivot point for the Jews, allowing prophecies about Israel’s restoration to be accomplished against all odds. The legacy of God’s people returning under this Persian king continued to shape Jewish life and hopes for centuries.