Page 79 - Biblical Backgrounds student textbook

In another quest to mold his empire, Darius made Aramaic the official language of the vastly expanded
empire (though it had already been present in the Persian and Babylonian empires [Kings 18:26]). He
also introduced a common weights and measurement system and opened many trade routes. (To be
discussed more under trade and economics).

Darius played a key role in the second stage of the restoration of the Jews, namely, the completion of
the temple. In the second year of the Jews’ return to Palestine, the foundation of the temple was laid.
However, due to intense opposition from local groups of people (Ezra 4:1–5), the work was forced to
stop and was abandoned. While the prophets in Jerusalem encouraged the people to resume the work
(Haggai 1:1; Zechariah 1:1; Ezra 5:1–2), the Jewish leaders consulted with Darius concerning Cyrus’
previous decree which allowed the Jews to rebuild the Temple. “As previously mentioned, they located
the decree. They did not find the decree in Babylon, where Jewish leaders thought it would be. Instead,
they found it at Ecbatana in Media. Hence the decree must have been issued when the court was there
during the summer of the year 539–538. Darius fully honored the decree and ordered that the costs of
construction should be paid out of the royal treasury (Ezra 6:1–15). The temple was completed in the
sixth year of Darius (Ezra 6:15), on the third day of the month Adar, which would have been March 12,
515 BCE” 115

Darius died around November 486 BCE Not long before his death, specifically from 492-490 BCE he
experienced a series of revolts from Greeks in Asia Minor and across the Aegean Sea from warring
factions who increasingly opposed his invasions.

Darius was succeeded by his son Xerxes (485–465). Xerxes was the king’s Greek name. In the Old
Testament he is known as Ahasuerus (Ezra 4:6; Esther 1:1; etc.), a rough equivalent of his Persian name.
As Ahasuerus he appears as the husband of Esther. Xerxes inherited major challenges as king of Persia.
First, he had to suppress a revolt in Egypt, which sparked just before his father’s death, and then he had
to deal with Greek revolts. Within about a year he thoroughly stopped the Egyptian rebellion.

Xerxes wanted to make sure he was ready to deal effectively with the Greeks. He sent his agents to buy
off the city-states of northern Greece, which left Athens and Sparta and her allies in southern Greece to
stand alone. Extensive military preparations took place in 483–81 for the great march into Greece. After
a series of battles, the Greeks managed to hold off Xerxes and his army. Warding off Persia was probably
a huge step for the Greeks, leading up to their glorious days ahead. Disappointed with his failure, Xerxes
returned home and concentrated on furnishing Susa and finishing Persepolis. Many sources agree that
after this point, Xerxes’ character weakened as expressed in his fierce temper and lack of self-control in
his relations with women.

According to Vos H.F., after this catastrophe in Greece, Xerxes completed his search for a new queen. He
chose Esther in the seventh year of his reign (Esther 2:16) in 479. At this point the Bible begins the story
116
of Esther.

In 465 BCE Xerxes was assassinated by conspirators amongst his trustees. The next son in line was killed
by the younger son who ascended the throne.

115 Vos, H. F. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible manners & customs: how the people of the Bible really lived (p.
327). Nashville, TN: T. Nelson Publishers.
116 Ibid., p. 340.

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