The Return from Exile 538-515 BC
a tribal people in Iran along with Babylon, brought down the Assyrian Empire dominant in the region from 612-549 BC when they were defeated by Cyrus and incorporated into his Medio-Persian Empire many Medes were officials and rulers in that empire
The Persians became dominant over the Medes in 549. They were the major power in the Middle East from 549 333 BC in 333, they were defeated by Alexander the Great.
The last books of the OT were written during the Persian period. These include: Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther historical books Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi prophetic books
Cyrus II, also known as Cyrus the Great ruled 559-530 BC inherited the small territory of Pars, in southern Iran subdued the Medes and added them to his kingdom defeated Babylon in 539 BC, thereby gaining control of Bablylon, Mesopotamia, Syria, and Judah also conquered Lydia (Turkey) and territories to the East created the Persian Empire Cyrus Relief at Pasargadae
Founded by Cyrus after he defeated the Medes located in Iran Capital of the Persian Empire under Cyrus and his son Cambyses both had palaces there and both were buried there Cyrus tomb venerated by Alexander the Great when he passed through the area in 324 BC. Cyrus tomb at Pasargadae
this inscription documents Cyrus policy of resettling exiles, and of restoring their temples Babylonian written in cuneiform script declared Cyrus to be a great king and the beloved of the gods Bel, Nebo, and Marduk The Cyrus Cylinder in the British Museum
I collected together all of their people and returned them to their settlements, and the gods of the land of Sumer and Akkad I returned them unharmed to their cells, in the sanctuaries that make them happy. May all the gods that I returned to their sanctuaries, every day before Marduk and Nabu, ask for a long life for me, and mention my good deeds The Cyrus Cylinder in the British Museum
The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a Temple at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Any of you who are his people may go to Jerusalem in Judah to rebuild this Temple of the LORD, the God of Israel, who lives in Jerusalem. And may your God be with you! Wherever this Jewish remnant is found, let their neighbors contribute toward their expenses by giving them silver and gold, supplies for the journey, and livestock, as well as a voluntary offering for the Temple of God in Jerusalem. Ezra 1; 2 Chron 36
led by Sheshbazzar (Ezra 1:8) Persian-appointed governor of Judah (Ezra 5:14) who laid the foundation of the Temple of God (5:16) about 50,000 people went back to Judah with almost 7000 donkeys (Ezra 2:64-67) the trip took 4 months Temple vessels returned (Ezra 1:9-11) gold and silver vessels that Nebuchadnezzar had taken similar lists in 1 Esdras (Apocrypha), Josephus (a Jewish historian) many Jews stayed behind in Babylon had homes, relatives, businesses a thriving intellectual and religious center of Judaism right into the Christian Era
Zerubbabel a Babylonian-born Jew led one of the groups of returning exiles (Ezra 2:2) a grandson of King Jehoiachin (1 Chron 3:17) of the dynasty of David governor of Judea under the Persians (Haggai 1:1) Messianic hopes? the LORD says: I will honor you, Zerubbabel, my servant. I will make you like a signet ring on my finger, for I have chosen you. (Haggai 2:23) the LORD says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit. Nothing will stand in Zerubbabel s way! And when he sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: May God bless it! (Zechariah 4:6-7) ancestor of Jesus (Mt 1:12)
settled in their towns all assembled in Jerusalem with a unified purpose Zerubbabel and Jeshua (high priest) rebuilt the altar of the God of Israel they wanted to sacrifice burnt offerings the way to become right with God wanted to obey God s law so they could stay in the land! celebrated the Festival of Booths (Tabernacles, Sukkoth) reminded them of God s care during the 40 years in the desert when they were coming out of Egypt began building the Temple hired workers, bought cedar logs, came together to work completed the foundation of the Temple celebrated with trumpets, cymbals, and songs to God! but those who had seen the glory of Solomon s Temple wept
the local residents discouraged and frightened them to keep them from their work all through Cyrus reign and into the reign of Darius (Ez 4:4-5) the work on the Temple stopped (Ezra 4:24) the governor of the province west of the Euphrates River came to the Temple site and asked them who gave them permission to build (Ezra 5) They told him they had permission from Cyrus. He sent a letter to King Darius to ask if the Temple rebuilding was approved. He suggested the king search to see if Cyrus had really given them permission. (Ezra 5)
no biographical info on Haggai, named in Ezra 6:14 spoke to the Judeans in 520 BC specifically addressed Zerubbabel (governor) and Jeshua (high priest) short book (2 chapters!) a call to rebuild the Temple God said their land has not been blessed because they did not build Temple first encouragement the land will be blessed as soon as you start building The Lord is with you!
Zechariah was possibly a priest (Neh 12:1, 16) the Lord gave him messages and visions specifically addressed to Zerubbabel (governor) (Zech 4) and to Jeshua (high priest) (Zech 3) encouragement to finish the Temple promise of blessings on Jerusalem apocalyptic literature riders patrolling the earth horns and blacksmiths a man measuring Jerusalem cleansing the high priest lampstand and 2 olive trees a flying scroll a woman in a basket
an army general, succeeded Cambyses II (530-522), Cyrus son ruled the Empire of Persia from 521-486 BC expanded it in all directions, making it the largest empire in the world centralized the administration, improved legal and judicial system, made a postal service! linked the Nile River and Red Sea by a canal invaded Greece, defeated at the Battle of Marathon (490 BC)
Darius told how he came to power, who he had defeated located in Iran, carved into a mountain written in 3 different languages Old Persian Elamite Babylonian all in cuneiform helped in deciphering these ancient languages and cuneiform script
So King Darius issued orders that a search be made in the Babylonian archives, which were stored in the treasury. But it was at the fortress at Ecbatana in the province of Media that a scroll was found. This is what it said: In the first year of King Cyrus's reign, a decree was sent out concerning the Temple of God at Jerusalem. Let the Temple be rebuilt on the site where Jews used to offer their sacrifices, using the original foundations. Its height will be ninety feet, and its width will be ninety feet. All expenses will be paid by the royal treasury. Furthermore, the gold and silver cups, which were taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar from the Temple of God in Jerusalem, must be returned to Jerusalem and put back where they belong. Let them be taken back to the Temple of God. (Hurray for librarians and archivists!!)
Now therefore, officials west of the Euphrates River stay away from there! Do not disturb the construction of the Temple of God. Let it be rebuilt on its original site, and do not hinder the governor of Judah and the elders of the Jews in their work. Moreover, I hereby decree that you are to help these elders of the Jews as they rebuild this Temple of God. You must pay the full construction costs, without delay, from my taxes collected in the province west of the Euphrates River so that the work will not be interrupted. Give the priests in Jerusalem whatever is needed in the way of young bulls, rams, and male lambs for the burnt offerings presented to the God of heaven. And without fail, provide them with as much wheat, salt, wine, and olive oil as they need each day. Then they will be able to offer acceptable sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the welfare of the king and his sons.
So the locals obeyed Darius and provided help to the Temple building project Haggai and Zechariah continued to encourage the people The Temple was finished during the 6 th year of Darius reign (515 BC) It was dedicated with joy and many sacrifices The priests and Levites were organized to serve in the Temple They all celebrated Passover together and the Festival of Unleavened Bread 20 years after they had laid the foundations
The Second Temple was finished in 515 BC It was enlarged and expanded by Herod the Great in 20-10 BC Herod may have torn down part of the Temple constructed under Zerubbabel He filled in surrounding valleys and built massive retaining walls to hold a flat courtyard This Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD A bust of Herod found during excavations in Jerusalem
Western Wall Not a wall of the Temple itself: one of Herod s retaining walls Robinson s Arch supported an arch which passed over a street below
Trumpeting Place Inscription Where the priests stood to sound the trumpet Warning Inscription Gentiles should not pass this point
Ezra 3 The Altar is Rebuilt, the Temple is begun What signs of unity does this text reveal? How is the work organized? What instructions are they following? Why did they praise the Lord? Why were the older ones weeping? Zechariah 8 Promised Blessings for Jerusalem What did God promise to do for them? What were they exhorted to do: religiously? morally? Why will the nations come to Jerusalem? What are they seeking?
This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty. (Zechariah 4:6)
I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. (Gen 12:2-3)
Ezra returned from Babylon in 458 BC taught the law to the people Ezra 7-10, Nehemiah 8 Nehemiah returned from Babylon in 445 BC governed the people rebuilt the city wall of Jerusalem Nehemiah 1-13