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ARTAXERXES is the Greek form of the Old Persian Artakhshatra, the Hebrew being Artachshast (â). The Artaxerxes of the Bible is Artax. Longimanus (b.c. 465–424), son of Xerxes (Bibl. Ahasuerus). By him Ezra was permitted to go to Jerusalem from Babylon and restore the affairs of the Jewish community (Ezr_7:1 ff; Ezr_8:1). He also favoured the similar mission of his cup-bearer Nehemiah thirteen years later (Neh_2:1; Neh_5:14; Neh_13:6). The events narrated in Ezr_4:7 ff. and said to have occurred in the time of Artaxerxes must have taken place during an earlier reign, probably that of Cambyses, unless, indeed, they are to be regarded as unhistorical. His regime was more important for Israel than that of any other king of Persia except Cyrus the Liberator.
J. F. McCurdy.