Who Was King Artaxerxes in the Bible?

Artaxerxes I Longimanus reigned over the Persian Empire from 465 to 424 BC. He plays a pivotal role in the post-exilic books of Ezra and Nehemiah. In the seventh year of his reign, Artaxerxes granted Ezra the scribe a remarkable decree, allowing any Israelite who wished to return to Jerusalem, providing silver and gold from the king's treasury for the temple, exempting Levites and priests from taxation, and authorizing Ezra to appoint magistrates and judges to teach the laws of God (Ezra 7). 'And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him.' Ezra blessed the Lord 'which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem.' In the twentieth year of Artaxerxes, his cupbearer Nehemiah heard of Jerusalem's broken walls and fasted and prayed. When the king noticed his sad countenance and asked why, Nehemiah requested permission to return and rebuild. Artaxerxes granted it, even providing letters to the governors and timber from the king's forest (Nehemiah 2). Earlier, however, Artaxerxes had also been the king who, upon receiving a letter from the enemies of Judah, had halted the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls until his decree was reversed (Ezra 4:7-23). His later support of Ezra and Nehemiah shows God's sovereign hand turning the king's heart 'whithersoever he will' (Proverbs 21:1). Artaxerxes also is the king who married Esther, according to many scholars who identify him with Ahasuerus. Whether or not that identification is correct, Artaxerxes stands as a memorable example of a pagan monarch whom God used to restore His people's worship and city after exile.