So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "he was entreated of us" goes beyond simply saying God heard them; it signifies that God gave them an assurance, a deep sense that their prayers for a safe journey were not only heard but also graciously answered before the journey even began. This wasn't just hope, but a felt reassurance from God Himself that He was on their side.
So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Ezra and the returning exiles were facing a dangerous journey back to Jerusalem, and Ezra had refused a military escort from the Persian king, choosing instead to rely on God. So, they gathered at the river Ahava to fast and pray, humbling themselves before God to seek His protection and guidance for their perilous trek. God heard their prayers, assuring them of His presence and safety on the road ahead.
Ezra and his people faced a perilous journey. Instead of seeking human protection, they turned to God through fasting. What does this teach us about their priorities?
A Path of Faith, Not Force
When Ezra and the Israelites prepared for their return to Jerusalem, they faced significant dangers. The journey from Babylon to Judah was fraught with peril from bandits and hostile tribes. While they could have requested a military escort from the Persian king, Ezra chose a different path.
He proclaimed a fast, a time of intense prayer and self-denial, specifically 'to seek of him a right way for us.' This wasn't just about asking for safety; it was about aligning their journey with God's will. They humbled themselves, acknowledging their need for divine guidance and protection above all else.
This act shows a profound trust. They understood that true security and a 'right way' come not from visible armies, but from an unseen, all-powerful God.
They fasted, they prayed, and then what? This verse reveals a powerful response from God. What does it mean that 'he listened to our entreaty'?
The Assurance of an Answered Prayer
The core of this verse is God's response: 'he listened to our entreaty.' This wasn't a passive hearing; it was an active engagement with their prayers.
This phrase, appearing in various contexts in Scripture, often signifies more than just God hearing. It suggests God was moved by their sincerity and responded favorably. They received an assurance, a sense of God's gracious attention to their plea.
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This assurance wasn't necessarily a booming voice from the heavens, but a deep inner conviction that God was with them, that their prayers were accepted, and that He would act on their behalf. The 'entreaty' was met with divine favor, leading to their safe arrival.
Understand the original words
baqash · Hebrew Verb
To make a desperate or earnest request to God, often involving deep humility and persistence in prayer to secure His favor.
techinnah · Hebrew Noun
A plea or a desperate petition brought before God, acknowledging one's total dependence on His mercy for the request to be granted.
Ezra's declaration that God 'listened to our entreaty' after they fasted highlights the deep trust he placed in God's protection, choosing prayer over military might for a perilous journey back to Jerusalem after decades of exile.
c. 597 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Jehoiachin and many Judean nobles and skilled workers are taken captive to Babylon, marking the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Destruction of the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling more of the population to Babylon. This event profoundly impacts Jewish identity and worship.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great Conquers Babylon
The Persian king Cyrus the Great takes Babylon, soon after issuing a decree allowing exiled peoples, including the Jews, to return to their homelands.
538 BC
Cyrus's Decree for Return
Cyrus permits the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. This marks the beginning of the return and restoration period.
c. 458 BC— this verse
Ezra's Commission and Journey
Ezra, a scribe knowledgeable in the Law of Moses, receives permission and resources from King Artaxerxes I to lead a group of exiles back to Jerusalem. He famously chooses not to request a military escort due to his faith.
c. 458 BC
Arrival and Ministry in Jerusalem
Ezra and his group arrive in Jerusalem, where Ezra begins his work of teaching the Law and reforming religious practices.
This passage describes a similar act of fasting and prayer by the Israelites who confessed their sins and sought God's deliverance, highlighting the consistent pattern of fasting as a means to seek God's ear in times of need.
2 Chronicles 33:13Manasseh, after being humbled and praying, was 'entreated of him' and restored to his kingdom, demonstrating God's willingness to hear and respond to sincere repentance and prayer, even after great sin.
Nehemiah 1:11Nehemiah's prayer for his people, asking for success and mercy before the king, mirrors Ezra's plea for divine protection and favor on their journey.
Psalm 34:17-18This psalm speaks of the Lord hearing the cries of the righteous and delivering them from their troubles, reinforcing the assurance that God listens to those who call on Him, especially when they humble themselves.
Isaiah 58:9This prophetic passage promises that if people humble themselves through fasting and seek the Lord, 'then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, Here I am,' directly linking fasting and prayer with divine response.
bensonEzra 8:23: "So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us."
Ezra 8:23 . And he was entreated of us — They had some comfortable assurance in their own minds that their prayers were answered; and the event showed that they were, for they escaped all the dangers they had been afraid of, and in due time arrived safe in Judea.
pooleEzra 8:23: "So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us."
He gave us some assurance of his gracious answer to our request.
The phrase "he was entreated of us" goes beyond simply saying God heard them; it signifies that God gave them an assurance, a deep sense that their prayers for a safe journey were not only heard but also graciously answered before the journey even began. This wasn't just hope, but a felt reassurance from God Himself that He was on their side.
Ezra and the returning exiles were facing a dangerous journey back to Jerusalem, and Ezra had refused a military escort from the Persian king, choosing instead to rely on God. So, they gathered at the river Ahava to fast and pray, humbling themselves before God to seek His protection and guidance for their perilous trek. God heard their prayers, assuring them of His presence and safety on the road ahead.
Ezra and the returning exiles were facing a dangerous journey back to Jerusalem, and Ezra had refused a military escort from the Persian king, choosing instead to rely on God. So, they gathered at the river Ahava to fast and pray, humbling themselves before God to seek His protection and guidance for their perilous trek. God heard their prayers, assuring them of His presence and safety on the road ahead.
"So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty." — The phrase "he was entreated of us" goes beyond simply saying God heard them; it signifies that God gave them an assurance, a deep sense that their prayers for a safe journey were not only heard but…
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Last reviewed October 2026