Ezra 6 · a question people ask
Why is Artaxerxes named in 6:14, when the house was finished under Darius?
6:14 names three kings: the house was finished "according to the decree of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia" (6:14). The next verse gives the time by Darius alone: "in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king" (6:15). Elsewhere the book names Artaxerxes in chapter 4 and in chapters 7 and 8. In chapter 4 a letter is written "to Artaxerxes king of Persia" (Ezra 4:7), and his answer says "that this city not be built until a decree is made by me" (Ezra 4:21). In chapter 7, "in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia" (Ezra 7:1), his letter to Ezra speaks of silver and gold, and of the people's and priests' free will offering "for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem" (Ezra 7:16), and says, "Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done exactly for the house of the God of heaven" (Ezra 7:23); and Ezra blesses the LORD "who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the LORD’s house which is in Jerusalem" (Ezra 7:27); and Ezra's company went up "in the reign of Artaxerxes the king" (Ezra 8:1). 6:14 doesn't say what Artaxerxes' decree was, and these notes don't say whether it is any of these. These notes bring in no history from outside the Bible to answer it, and quote the verses as they stand.
The verses
“The elders of the Jews built and prospered, through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They built and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the decree of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. This house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.”
“In the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in Syrian and delivered in the Syrian language.”
“Make a decree now to cause these men to cease, and that this city not be built until a decree is made by me.”
“Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,”