Cyrus and Darius
As we study the books of Ezra-Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, Isaiah, and Dani’el, we encounter two kings, Cyrus and Darius. It is important to understand the differences and similarities between the two Persian kings. Cyrus was born around 590 BC, succeeded to the throne in 559 BC following his father’s death. However, Cyrus was not yet an independent ruler. Like his predecessors, Cyrus had to reorganize Median overlordship. He died in 529 BC. Darius was born in 550 BC, began to rule in 522 BC, seven years after Cyrus’ death, and died himself in 486 BC.
Cyrus was named and identified almost two hundred years before Isaiah prophesied that the Persian king would bring an end to the Babylonian Empire and give the Jews the right to return to Judah (see the commentary on Isaiah Ic – This is What the LORD says to Cyrus His Anointed).
In 539 BC, the first year of Cyrus (Dani’el 1:21) was the year in which the decree was issued that enabled the Jews to return home (see the commentary on Ezra-Nehamiah Ai – The Decree of Cyrus), some seventy years after the time when Dani’el and his friends were taken into exile. Also in 539 BC, Darius, viceroy to King Cyrus, captured Babylon without a fight. King Belshazzar was killed (see Dani’el Ct – Belshazzar was Killed) and Darius ruled over the province of Babylon, while Cyrus ruled over the entire Medo-Persian Empire. Later, Darius became king and endorsed the rebuilding of the Temple after it had been stopped for many years (see Ezra-Nehemiah Bc – King Darius Endorses the Rebuilding of the Temple). Dani’el served in his role of governor of the province of Babylon until he was at least about eighty-five years old.
538-515 BC First Return under Zerubbabel Ezra 1:1 to 6:22
538-537 BC Cyrus’ decree to begin construction of Temple Ezra 1:1-4
537 BC Return under Sheshbazzar Ezra 1:11
536 BC Zerubbabel returns with 49,897 Ezra 2:2
536 BC Zerubbabel began to build the altar Ezra 3:1-3
536 BC Zerubbabel begins building the Temple Ezra 3:8
536 BC Samaritan opposition during Cyrus’ reign Ezra 4:1-5a
522 BC Darius begins his reign
521 BC Opposition in the days of Darius Ezra 4:5b and 24
520 BC Haggai calls the people to build God’s House Haggai 1:1-2:9
520 BC Work resumed on the Temple Ezra 5:1-17
520 BC King Darius Endorses Rebuilding the Temple Ezra 6:1-12
518 BC Zechariah calls for obedience and observance Zechariah 7:1-8:23
515 BC The Temple is completed and dedicated Ezra 6:15
486 BC Cyrus died and was succeeded by his son Ahasuerus
486 BC Opposition in the days of Ahasuerus Ezra 4:6
A 57 year gap between the First and Second Return
480 BC Ahasuerus was defeated by the Greeks at the Battle of Hellespont
478 BC Esther becomes Queen between Ezra 6 and 7
478-474 BC Esther’s deliverance and Mordecai became Prime Minister
465 BC Accession of Artakh’shasta to the throne
458-457 BC The Second Return under Ezra Ezra 1:1 to 6:22
458 BC Artakh’shasta issues decree for Ezra to return Ezra 7:1-6
458 BC Ezra departs from Babylon Ezra 7:7
458 BC Ezra arrives in Jerusalem Ezra 7:8-9
458 BC The book of the Torah is read Nehemiah 8:1-12
458 BC Feast of Sukkot Nehemiah 8:13-18
445 BC The Israelites Confess Their Sins Nehemiah 9:1-37
458 BC The people are assembled Ezra 10:7-15
458-457 BC Ezra reforms carried out Ezra 10:16-44
A 12 year gap between the Second and Third Return
445 BC The twentieth year of King Artakh’shasta Nehemiah 1:1
445 BC Nehemiah approaches the King Artakhshasta Nehemiah 2:1
445-432 BC The Third Return under Nehemiah Nehemiah 7: 12-13
445 BC Artach’shashta issues decree for Nehemiah’s return Nehemiah 2:1
445 BC Nehemiah arrives in Jerusalem Nehemiah 2:11
445 BC Nehemiah appointed governor of Judah Nehemiah 5:14
445 BC The walls around Jerusalem were completed Nehemiah 6:15
433 BC Nehemiah returned to Persia Nehemiah 13:6
445-433 BC Malachi rebuked the Jews Malachi 1:1-2:17
432 BC Nehemiah returned to Tziyon and final reforms Nehemiah 13:7
400 years of silence until the coming of John the Immerser in Mark 1:4
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