Ezra 7:9

9 He had arranged to leave Babylon on April 8, the first day of the new year, and he arrived at Jerusalem on August 4, for the gracious hand of his God was on him.

Ezra 7:9 Meaning and Commentary

Ezra 7:9

For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up
from Babylon
The month Nisan, answering to part of March and part of April; this was New Year's day:

and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem;
the first of the month Ab, as in the preceding verse; so that he was just four months on his journey:

according to the good hand of his God upon him;
his power and providence, which gave him and his company health and strength, supplied them with everything necessary, directed, protected, and defended them, and brought them in safety to their journey's end.

Ezra 7:9 In-Context

7 Some of the people of Israel, as well as some of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and Temple servants, traveled up to Jerusalem with him in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes’ reign.

8 Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in August of that year.

9 He had arranged to leave Babylon on April 8, the first day of the new year, and he arrived at Jerusalem on August 4, for the gracious hand of his God was on him.

10 This was because Ezra had determined to study and obey the Law of the LORD and to teach those decrees and regulations to the people of Israel.

11 King Artaxerxes had given a copy of the following letter to Ezra, the priest and scribe who studied and taught the commands and decrees of the LORD to Israel:

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew on the first day of the first month, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. This day was April 8, 458 ; also see note on 6:15 .
• [b]. Hebrew on the first day of the fifth month, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. This day was August 4, 458 ; also see note on 6:15 .