Why the Ezra 7 Decree Alone Fulfills Daniel 9:25 and Why Nehemiah 2 Does Not

[Phoneman777]

"Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto Messiah the prince..." - Daniel 9:25 KJV​

There are three decrees in the book of Ezra (and a supposed "decree" in Nehemiah) to which people point as the fulfillment of this most significant Messianic prophecy of Scripture. The Ezra 7 decree alone is comprehensive enough to fulfill Gabriel's words to Daniel - the rest are too limited in scope to qualify:

I. DECREE OF CYRUS (Ezra 1:2-4 KJV) It's limited scope provided for:

• release of Israelite captives
• return of sacred temple vessels
• restoration of Jerusalem temple and its services
• material and monetary subsidy for temple construction/services
• no mention of any command to "restore and to build Jerusalem"

II. DECREE OF DARIUS (Ezra 6:6-12 KJV) It's limited scope provided for:

• authorization to continue temple restoration after work was previously ordered halted
• material and monetary subsidy for temple construction and services
• no mention of any command to "restore and to build Jerusalem"

III. DECREE OF ARTAXERXES (Ezra 7:12-26 KJV) This comprehensive decree provided for:

• release of Israelite captives
• monetary offerings from the king and his counselors
• additional monetary offerings to Ezra as needed from the king's treasury
• all the silver and gold in the region of Babylon for the temple and its services
• permission to utilize any surplus at their discretion
• return of sacred temple vessels (not given previously to Sheshbazzar)
• directive for king's treasurers to honor Ezra's royal blank check
• toll free travel for Ezra and company
• re-establishment of Department of Education
• re-establishment of Department of Justice
• re-establishment of Department of Police
• re-establishment of Department of Penal Corrections
• "a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem" *

* Following the decree of Ezra 7, Ezra gives thanks to God in Ezra 9:9 KJV for "extending mercy in the sight of the kings of Persia" in full view and knowledge of the kings by giving Israel a "reviving" and by giving Israel the "house of our God" and by giving Israel "a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem" which by that proves the construction of a wall was part of the decree, though not specifically recorded.

REGARDING NEHEMIAH 2:
The prophecy does not say, "From the going forth of Nehemiah's wish list..." It's says, "From the going forth of the commandment..." In Nehemiah, the king made no "command" for anyone to "restore and to build" anything. The king merely:

• granted Nehemiah's request for a leave of absence to go and build the city.
• granted Nehemiah's request for safe passage to Jerusalem
• granted Nehemiah's request for timber with which to build the gates and the wall

It must be understood that granting a request to go and build a thing IS NOT THE SAME THING as commanding the construction of the thing being built.

 

[Randy Kluth]

Not only does the 7th year of Artaxerxes (457 BC) work, math-wise, to lead to the start of Christ's ministry in 26 AD, but Artaxerxes is the one who, after his decree, set about to complete both the temple worship and the building of Jerusalem. Earlier kings largely just built and furnished the temple.

Artaxerxes not only made reforms to purify the temple worship, but he also later commissioned Nehemiah to build the walls of the city, laying the groundwork for completing the city. And he began the city construction by appointing city leaders to oversee operations.

I agree that the 20th year of Artaxerxes would not start a 49 year period (7 Weeks) that would cover all of these things. And it would not lead precisely to the start of Jesus' ministry.