Ezra 7:3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

According to Josephus, the Artaxerxes under whom Ezra traveled from Babylon to Jerusalem is identified as Xerxes, the son of Darius, who succeeded him. Furthermore, the books of the Paralipomenon indicate that a descendant of this Xerxes is the one referred to, and he was also known by the name Artaxerxes among his contemporaries. Darius, who oversaw the construction of the temple, ruled for thirty-six years; following him, Xerxes reigned for twenty years. Artabanus then held the throne for seven months, though chroniclers may account this period as a year. After Artabanus, Artaxerxes governed for forty years.