Early Persian Period

(538-ca 400BC)

I. Cyrus, king of Persia (538-530BC)

· 2 Chronicles 36:22-23

· Ezra 1:1-8

· “2^nd” Isaiah? (Isa 40-55; cf. 45:1)

· Sheshbazzer? (Ezra 1:11)

· deuteronomistic history finished? many prophets?

II. Cambyses (530-522BC)

III. Darius (522-486BC)

• Zerubbabel and Joshua (Ezra 5:2)
• Haggai (e.g 1:1-15)
• Zechariah (Zech 1:1,7; 3:1; 4:4-6,12-14; 6:12 [cf. Isa 11:1]; 8:3; 9:9-10; 12:10)
• temple finished in 516BC (second temple)

IV. Xerxes (Ahasuerus—486-465BC)

• Esther

V. Artaxerxes (465-424BC)

• “3^rd” Isaiah? (Isa 56-66; cf. 58:12; 61:4)
• Malachi?
• Ezra (e.g. Ezra 10:11)—Law enacted (some liberal—Law finished, perhaps priestly editor [P])
• Nehemiah (445BC)—wall rebuilt

VI. Darius II (423-404BC)