Ezra 7:1-10
Many years later, during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, there was a man named Ezra. He was the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth, son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the high priest. This Ezra was a scribe who was well versed in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given to the people of Israel. He came up to Jerusalem from Babylon, and the king gave him everything he asked for, because the gracious hand of the LORD his God was on him. 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. Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in August of that year. 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. 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.
I find that when a list of names is given, there’s a meaning to the list. Here are the definitions and what they mean.
Artaxerxes = “I
will make the spoiled to boil: I will stir myself (in) winter”
Shallum = “retribution”
Zadok = “righteous”
Ahitub = “my brother is good (goodness)”
Amariah = “Jehovah speaks” or “Yah(u) has promised”
Meraioth = “rebellious”
Zerahiah = “Jehovah has risen”
Uzzi = “strong”
Bukki = “wasting”
Abishua = “my father is rescue (safety), or is opulence”
Phinehas = “mouth of brass”
Eleazar = “God has helped”
Aaron = “light bringer”
Here is how I read the names. It’s not authoritative, just some thoughts.
Jesus brought the light to the world (John 8:12) through God’s help (John 3:17). He spoke judgement (Matt 12:34). My father rescued Him from wasting (corruption in the grave) (Psa 16:10, Acts 2:27), and made Him strong (Psa 118:14) rising Him from the dead (Acts 5:30) and defeated the rebellious (Psa 82:6-7) and the Father spoke (Matt 17:5) and promised us to be counted good and righteous (John 3:16) while taking retribution against the enemy and spoiling (Col 2:15) them into a frenzy.