7:28 extended to me his steadfast love. “Steadfast love” represents the Hebrew word h. esed which refers to God’s covenant loyalty. The same word occurs in 9:9. Artaxerxes’ favor toward Ezra is owing to God’s covenant loyalty to His people.

to me. The first reference to Ezra in the first person and the beginning of the Ezra’s “memoirs” (Introduction: Author).

the hand of the Lord. Ezra’s awareness of God’s providential control was a source of encouragement for the tasks that lay ahead.