Ezra 7:12

“Artaxerxes, king of kings, etc.] Having many kings and kingdoms subject and tributary to him; for this was not merely a proud haughty title which the eastern kings f74 assumed, particularly the Persians; for after Cyrus they were so in fact, who took this title also, and had it put on his sepulchral monument, “Here I lie, Cyrus, king of kings f75;” this title was given to Grecian kings, particularly Agamemnon is called king of kings f76, he being general at the siege of Troy, under whom the rest of the kings fought; if this was Darius Hystaspis, of him Cyrus dreamed that he had wings on his shoulders, with one he covered Asia, and with the other Europe f77: unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of…”

“Artaxerxes, king of kings--That title might have been assumed as, with literal truth, applicable to him, since many of the tributary princes of his empire still retained the name and authority of kings. But it was a probably a mere Orientalism, denoting a great and powerful prince, as the heaven of heavens signified the highest heaven, and vanity of vanities, the greatest vanity. This vainglorious title was assumed by the kings of Assyria, from whom it passed to the sovereigns of Persia. unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven--The appointment of Ezra to this influential mission was of the highest importance to the Hebrew people, as a large proportion of them were…”

“The title, “king of kings,” is assumed by almost all the persian monarchs in their inscriptions. Perfect peace - “Peace” is not in the original, and the word translated “perfect” occurs only in this place. Some prefer to take it as an adjective descriptive of Ezra (see margin); others (Septuagint) as the opening word of the first paragraph of the letter, and give it the meaning, “it is completed.” return to 'Top of Page'”

“Artaxerxes: The title of the king would, in Persian, run thus: Ardsheer shahinshah, or padshah, "Ardsheer, king of kings," i.e., great or supreme king or emperor. Kg1 4:24, Kg1 20:1; Isa 10:8; Eze 26:7; Dan 2:37, Dan 2:47; Ti1 6:15; Rev 17:14; Rev 19:16 unto Ezra: etc. or, to Ezra the priest, a perfect scribe of the law of the God of heaven, peace, etc. and at such a time. Ezr 4:10, Ezr 4:11, Ezr 4:17 Ezra 7:13”