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Ezra 6:14 has this challenging statement..
14 And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
... those three Persian kings. How it fits together is the challenge.
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I have been doing some research to try and understand Ezra 4, 5, 6, - chapters which are about the opposition the Jews encountered when they came back and started rebuilding the temple.
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A quick narrative by me is that the Jews returned and started building the temple according to Cyrus's 537 bc decree. But some of the regional powers were against it and sent a letter to Dariius II (also known as Artaxerxes. Artaxerxes is a general title, like Pharaoh is for the ruler of Egypt.)
So,there are not actually 3 separate kings, in Ezra 6:14, but only 2 kings - with one of them, Darius II, also being known as Artaxerxes. The other king being Cyrus.
Darius II (Artaxerxes) said he would look into it, if the Jews really had permission from Cyrus who ruled right before him. For the meantime, Darius issued a restraining order for the Jews to suspend building. No work was done until the second year of Darius II reign, while Darius researched the records. (Ezra 4:23-24)
And in Chapter 5, Darius II ( the Great) who searched the records, and Darius II found that Cyrus had indeed instructed the Jews to go back and build the temple So in Chapter 6,the restraining order was lifted. And the Jews, worked on the temple and finished in the sixth year of Darius II's reign.
Ironically to the objectioners - Darius II also ordered them to help pay for the rebuilding from the taxes he levied on them.
Anyway, here is my chart. You may have to click on it to open it automatically in another window zoomed in. There is Cyrus, Artaxerxes, Darius II on the chart, one right after the other, the three Persian kings in Ezra 6:14. Note: the chart is a work in progress. I have some things to work on the right hand side, and the 7wks- 49 years.
Note: please go to my latest post(s) in this thread - as the chart is a work in progress and I am refining it as I go.
14 And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
... those three Persian kings. How it fits together is the challenge.
------------------------------------------------------------------
I have been doing some research to try and understand Ezra 4, 5, 6, - chapters which are about the opposition the Jews encountered when they came back and started rebuilding the temple.
------------------------------------------------------------------
A quick narrative by me is that the Jews returned and started building the temple according to Cyrus's 537 bc decree. But some of the regional powers were against it and sent a letter to Dariius II (also known as Artaxerxes. Artaxerxes is a general title, like Pharaoh is for the ruler of Egypt.)
So,there are not actually 3 separate kings, in Ezra 6:14, but only 2 kings - with one of them, Darius II, also being known as Artaxerxes. The other king being Cyrus.
Darius II (Artaxerxes) said he would look into it, if the Jews really had permission from Cyrus who ruled right before him. For the meantime, Darius issued a restraining order for the Jews to suspend building. No work was done until the second year of Darius II reign, while Darius researched the records. (Ezra 4:23-24)
And in Chapter 5, Darius II ( the Great) who searched the records, and Darius II found that Cyrus had indeed instructed the Jews to go back and build the temple So in Chapter 6,the restraining order was lifted. And the Jews, worked on the temple and finished in the sixth year of Darius II's reign.
Ironically to the objectioners - Darius II also ordered them to help pay for the rebuilding from the taxes he levied on them.
Anyway, here is my chart. You may have to click on it to open it automatically in another window zoomed in. There is Cyrus, Artaxerxes, Darius II on the chart, one right after the other, the three Persian kings in Ezra 6:14. Note: the chart is a work in progress. I have some things to work on the right hand side, and the 7wks- 49 years.
Note: please go to my latest post(s) in this thread - as the chart is a work in progress and I am refining it as I go.
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