When Ahasuerus's son, Darius II, became the King, by Daniel's
calculations, the 70 years Jeremiah prophesized the captivity would last was
about over.
Daniel 9
1. In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the
seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans;
2. In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the
years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would
accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.
3. And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications,
with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
4. And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord,
the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love
him, and to them that keep his commandments; ........ .
Yes, the 70 years were nearly over. It was time for
the Jews to return home. God had moved Cyrus II, King of Persia to
announce: 2 Chronicles 36:
22. Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the
word of the Lord spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the Lord
stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation
throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,
23. Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the Lord
God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in
Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The Lord
his God be with him, and let him go up.
Many Jews, unable or unwilling to make the nearly 1000 mile journey, chose to stay in Babylon, but more than 42,000 packed up their belongings to join the pilgrimage to the homeland led by Sheshbazzar and his two aides Zerubbabel and Jeshua.
After returning to Judah, job one is rebuilding the Holy City of Jerusalem.
At first the Samaritans Jews who had not been
exiled had volunteered to help with the rebuilding project. But the
returning Jews had a low opinion of the Samaritans who did not strictly follow
Mosaic Law, so they refused to accept their assistance. This snub
greatly upset the Samaritans and they complained loudly to the rulers of Persia
about this and other mistreatment they felt they received from the returning
exiles. The Persian leadership heard the Samaritans' complaints, and
to avoid civil war breaking out, an order was made that
construction be halted. The Prophets Haggai and Zechariah were
greatly disturbed by this turn of events and exhorted the people to resume
building. Aware of these pleas, a new ruler in Persia, Darius,
rediscovered the decree made by Cyrus and ordered that work resume on the Temple
which is then completed in 515 BC.
In the year 486 BC King of Persia Darius I's son, Xeres, takes the throne. Haman, an evil advisor to King Xeres,
hated the Jews - one in particular named Mordecai - and convinced the King that
it was the Jews refusal to worship Persian gods that was responsible for his
recent humiliating defeat in battle. Xeres's mind became so poisoned by
Haman that he put out
an edict for all Jews to be killed. What was unknown to Haman and Ahasuerus
(as Xeres is called in the Book of Esther) was that Ahasuerus's beautiful wife,
Esther, whom the King loved dearly, was herself a Jewess and the niece of Haman's
archenemy, Mordecai.
Haman's hatred for Mordecai was undoubtedly due to
jealously. Mordecai had once saved the King's life by revealing a death
plot against him, and King Ahasuerus had been forever grateful. So
grateful that he honored Mordecai for his service with a royal
procession around the city. At the right moment Queen Esther begged
the King to spare her life and the lives of her people. When the
baffled King realized the grave mistake he made listening to Haman, he became
enraged and had Haman hung on gallows Haman had prepared for Mordecai.
It was impossible for a King of Persia to reverse an edict once it had been
made, so instead, he made a new decree that permitted the Jews to obtain weapons
and defend themselves. He also promoted Mordecai to high office, and one of
Mordecai's first official acts was the establishment of the annual Feast of
Purim to celebrate the Jew's escape from Haman's death plot.
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Nehemiah
[444 BC commissioned to
rebuild wall]
One who didn't return with Ezra was King Artaxerses' cup bearer, Nehemiah,
who hears
about the sad state of disrepair in Jerusalem from his brother. He is so
distraught that for four months he grieves and prays about the situation.
Fourteen years after Ezra made the trip, Nehemiah returns to repair the wall protecting the city of Jerusalem.
Nehemiah completes the task in only six months. During construction enemies threatened attack and Nehemiah had to reassign half of
the workers as guards to protect those still building.
Once the wall was finished, Ezra had a
special pulpit built and called the people to come hear him read and explain the
Laws of Moses. The people repent and 3 weeks later they are called
together again to hear a 2nd reading and to recommit themselves to serve God.
The renewed commitment was put in written form and the leaders and priests
present affixed their seals.
2. And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.
3. Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.
4. Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it.
5. Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they should do according to this word. And they sware.
The new settlers in Jerusalem had high expectations of a quick return of greatness to Israel following the Temple's completion. Some even expected the Messiah's immediate appearance. The Prophet Malachi explains that although the people have dedicated a Temple to God they have not dedicated their lives to Him. Malachi urged them to repent and to be patient. The Messiah was coming! Malachi 3
1. Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.
2. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:
3. And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
4. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years.
Malachi continues, explaining how they have been robbing God.
8. Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
10. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
The Jews may not have liked being reminded of their obligation to tithe. They also probably did not appreciate nor fully understand another Malachi prophecy: chapter 1:11. For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts.
While the Lord answered Daniel's prayer by motivating Cyrus II to make his famous edict, He also sent the Angel Gabriel to reveal to Daniel the time of His coming.
Daniel 9
20. And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God;
21. Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.
22. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.
23. At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.
24. Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
25. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
Jesus would begin His earthly ministry in 483 years! (490 by some scholar's math).
