Dictionary Home / A

Artaxerxes

biblical_historical_figure theological_term standard

The throne name of Persian kings mentioned in Ezra and Nehemiah during the postexilic period, especially in connection with Jerusalem’s restoration.

At a Glance

A Persian royal throne name used in the period after the exile; in Scripture it is associated with official decisions affecting Jerusalem, its walls, and the returning Jewish community.

Key Points

Description

Artaxerxes is the throne name of Persian kings referred to in the postexilic history of God’s people, especially in Ezra and Nehemiah. In the biblical narrative, Artaxerxes is tied to key events involving Jerusalem, including official correspondence about rebuilding and the later mission of Nehemiah to restore the city’s walls. Most evangelical interpreters identify the Artaxerxes of Nehemiah with Artaxerxes I, while some chronological questions remain for the Ezra references. This entry should therefore present Artaxerxes primarily as a Persian king name important to the history of the return from exile, without overclaiming on debated details.

Biblical Context

Artaxerxes appears in the Persian-period narratives of Ezra and Nehemiah, where royal permission, letters, and administrative decisions directly affect the restoration of Jerusalem and the life of the returnee community.

Historical Context

The name belongs to the Achaemenid kings of Persia. In the biblical setting, imperial policy and local governance shaped the rebuilding of the temple, the walls of Jerusalem, and the reorganization of Jewish life after the exile.

Jewish and Ancient Context

For the postexilic Jewish community, Persian rule provided the political framework within which covenant restoration, city rebuilding, and public worship resumed. Artaxerxes therefore belongs to the larger context of Jewish life under imperial oversight.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

Hebrew אַרְתַּחְשַׁשְׂתְּא (Artakhshasta), a Persian throne name rendered in English as Artaxerxes.

Theological Significance

Artaxerxes illustrates God’s providence over kings and empires. Even a pagan ruler can become an instrument in preserving God’s people and advancing the restoration of Jerusalem.

Philosophical Explanation

A throne name may refer to more than one historical ruler, so biblical readers should distinguish the royal title from each specific king when the context requires it. The text is historically grounded, but some identifications remain inferential rather than explicit.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not assume every appearance of the name refers to the same individual without considering the literary and historical context. Avoid dogmatism where chronology is debated, especially in relation to Ezra.

Major Views

Most evangelical interpreters identify the Artaxerxes of Nehemiah with Artaxerxes I Longimanus. The Ezra references are usually placed within the Persian-period framework, though exact chronological sequencing is discussed by scholars.

Doctrinal Boundaries

This is a historical and biblical-person entry, not a doctrinal term. Its significance is providential and historical rather than dogmatic.

Practical Significance

The entry helps readers follow the flow of Ezra-Nehemiah and see how God used imperial authority to protect, permit, and advance the restoration of his people.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Artaxerxes

↑ Top