Page 272 - Daniel

Jerusalem, and this has caused some confusion. In 4:4–5 Ezra notes there
was opposition during the reigns of Cyrus (559–530 B.C.) and Darius I
(522–486 B.C.). He then described additional incidents of opposition (4:6–

23) that occurred during the reigns of Xerxes (486–465 B.C.) and
Artaxerxes I (465–424 B.C.). These specific events took place years after

the completion of the temple. Then in 4:24 Ezra returned to the
historical narrative regarding the rebuilding of the temple.

In the middle of the narrative on the temple Ezra did record one
command issued by the Persians regarding the city of Jerusalem. In 464
B.C. the enemies of the Jews wrote to King Artaxerxes accusing the Jews
of “rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are finishing the

walls and repairing the foundations” (Ezra 4:12). Artaxerxes then issued
a decree “that these men be made to cease” (4:21). The temple had been
completed by this time, but no permission had yet been given to rebuild
the city. This command specifically prohibited the Jews from rebuilding
the city of Jerusalem. And in light of the city’s continued state of
disrepair twenty years later (Neh. 1:3) it is likely the charges made to
the king that the Jews were “finishing the walls” had been wildly

exaggerated.
3. Ezra 5:1–6:15. In 520 B.C. the Jews began rebuilding the temple.

The governor of the region sent a letter of inquiry to King Darius asking
if a decree had been issued allowing the work to go forward. Darius
responded by reaffirming the earlier decree of Cyrus: “Let the work on
this house of God alone. Let the governor of the Jews and the elders of
the Jews rebuild this house of God on its site” (Ezra 6:7). There is no
mention in the correspondence regarding any command to rebuild the

city itself.
4. Ezra 7:13–26. In 457 B.C. King Artaxerxes sent Ezra to Jerusalem “to

make inquiries about Judah and Jerusalem according to the Law of your
God” (Ezra 7:14), but the remainder of the decree focused specifically on
the temple and service of worship. Ezra was to use royal funds to
purchase sacrifices and to deliver additional vessels “for the service of
the house of your God” (7:19). Though the king’s edict does mention

Jerusalem, there seems to be insufficient evidence to relate this directly
to the prediction of Daniel 9. 51