The kings of Persia mentioned in the Bible play significant roles in the history and narrative of the Israelites, particularly during the periods of exile and return. Understanding these kings helps to contextualize the events that shaped the Jewish people during these tumultuous times. The primary Persian kings mentioned in the Bible include Cyrus the Great, Darius the Great, Xerxes I (also known as Ahasuerus), and Artaxerxes I.
Cyrus the Great
Cyrus the Great, also known as Cyrus II, is perhaps the most well-known Persian king in the Bible. He is renowned for his decree that allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple after the Babylonian exile. This event is recorded in several books of the Old Testament, including 2 Chronicles 36:22-23 and Ezra 1:1-4:
"In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing: 'This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up, and may the Lord their God be with them.'" (2 Chronicles 36:22-23, NIV)
Cyrus's decree is significant because it marks the end of the Babylonian captivity and the beginning of the restoration of Jerusalem. His actions are seen as a fulfillment of God's promise through the prophet Jeremiah that the exile would last seventy years (Jeremiah 29:10).
Cyrus is also mentioned in the Book of Isaiah, where he is referred to as God's anointed, a term usually reserved for Israelite kings. Isaiah 45:1-3 speaks of Cyrus as God's chosen instrument to subdue nations and free the exiles:
"This is what the Lord says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut: I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name." (Isaiah 45:1-3, NIV)
Darius the Great
Darius I, also known as Darius the Great, is another Persian king mentioned in the Bible. His reign is noted for the continuation of the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem, which had faced opposition from surrounding peoples. The book of Ezra records that Darius issued a decree that reaffirmed Cyrus's original decree and provided support for the rebuilding efforts:
"Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written: In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits." (Ezra 6:1-3, KJV)
Darius's support was crucial in the completion of the Temple, which was finished in the sixth year of his reign (Ezra 6:15). His reign thus represents a period of relative stability and support for the Jewish community in Jerusalem.
Xerxes I (Ahasuerus)
Xerxes I, known in the Bible as Ahasuerus, is most prominently featured in the Book of Esther. He is the king who chose Esther, a Jewish woman, to be his queen. The Book of Esther recounts how Esther and her cousin Mordecai thwarted a plot by Haman, one of the king's advisors, to annihilate the Jewish people. This narrative highlights the providence of God in protecting His people even in a foreign land.
The story of Esther is celebrated in the Jewish festival of Purim, which commemorates the deliverance of the Jews from Haman's plot. The Book of Esther emphasizes the themes of God's sovereignty and the courage of individuals who stand up for their faith and people.
Artaxerxes I
Artaxerxes I is another Persian king mentioned in the Bible, particularly in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. He played a significant role in the restoration of Jerusalem and its walls. Artaxerxes issued a decree allowing Ezra, a scribe and priest, to lead a group of exiles back to Jerusalem and to teach the laws of God:
"This is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes had given to Ezra the priest and scribe, a man learned in matters of the commandments of the Lord and his statutes for Israel: 'Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven. Peace. And now I make a decree that anyone of the people of Israel or their priests or Levites in my kingdom who freely offers to go to Jerusalem may go with you.'" (Ezra 7:11-13, ESV)
Artaxerxes also granted Nehemiah, his cupbearer, permission to return to Jerusalem and rebuild its walls. This is recorded in the Book of Nehemiah, where Nehemiah describes his request to the king and the king's favorable response:
"And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence. Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid, and said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire? Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it." (Nehemiah 2:1-5, KJV)
Artaxerxes's support was instrumental in the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls, which was completed despite opposition from surrounding peoples. Nehemiah's leadership and Artaxerxes's backing ensured the physical and spiritual restoration of the Jewish community in Jerusalem.
Conclusion
The Persian kings mentioned in the Bible—Cyrus the Great, Darius the Great, Xerxes I (Ahasuerus), and Artaxerxes I—each played pivotal roles in the history of the Jewish people during the periods of exile and return. Their decrees and support facilitated the rebuilding of the Temple and the walls of Jerusalem, fulfilling God's promises and demonstrating His sovereignty over the affairs of nations. These narratives underscore the themes of divine providence, faith, and perseverance that are woven throughout the biblical text.
