This topic is the continuation and conclusion to “Temple of Zerubbabel (1) – the Building”.
The Temple of Zerubbabél in Jerusalem is also known as the Second Temple or Ezra’s Temple. Part 1 traced the building of this 2nd Temple, starting circa (c) 538 BC. The historical timeline seen in Part 1 is from the book of Ezra chapters 1–6. Prophecy from Haggai & Zechariah was interjected into the flow.
After 20 years, 2nd temple construction was completed in 516 BC. Ezr.6:15 in the 6th year of the reign of Darius, king of Persia. Historians indicate he was Darius I the Great, 522–486 BC.
However, the timing of the Ezr.4:6-23 passage is debatable. Bible commentators are divided in regards to dating it. Discussion of that passage was postponed in Part 1; it is now addressed here in Part 2.
Ezr.4:1-5 during the reign of Cyrus II the Great of Persia, Samaritans living in the Holy Land wanted to join the Jews in building the (Second) Temple. That was around 535–530 BC. But the Jews rejected them. As a result, Samaritans instead opposed the build. The Jews feared to continue. Construction was frustrated and halted. It wouldn’t resume, Ezr.4:5 “until the reign of Darius king of Persia”.
There are basically two options of interpretation for the Ezr.4:6-23 passage. Option #1 continues the chronological order. Option #2 relates it to a later Samaritan opposition, after several decades passed.
Option #1: Ezr.4:6 Samaritans wrote a letter to King Ahásuerus, accusing the Jews. Perhaps this king was Cámbyses II, 530–523 BC? Ellicott Commentary Ezr.4:6 “This Ahasuerus, another name for Cambyses, reigned 7 years.” Barnes Notes “Ahasuerus or Cambyses, son and successor of Cyrus [died 530 BC]. Persian kings had often two names.” Cambyses II succeeded Cyrus II chronologically.
Ezr.4:7-22 Samaritan nobility also wrote to King Artaxérxes. Gill Exposition Ezr.4:7 “Artaxerxes being a common name to the kings of Persia.” cf. the titles Pharaoh & Caesar. Was this Artaxerxes pseudo-Smérdis the magician posing as Cyrus’ younger son Bárdiya, 522 BC? Ellicott Commentary Ezr.4:7 “Artaxerxes – This must be Gomates, the Mágian priest who personated Smerdis [Greek name], dead son of Cyrus, and reigned only 7 months.” Pulpit Commentary “If Artaxerxes be the Pseudo-Smerdis…a usurper.” The identity is uncertain. Josephus Antiquities of the Jews 11:2:1 “To our Lord Cambyses [Ezr.4:11]…11:3:1 “The Mági, who, after the death of Cambyses, attained the government of the Persians for a year.” The Magian pseudo-Smerdis briefly reigned after Cambyses II.
Persian support ceased. Ezr.4:23-24 temple construction was stopped until the 2nd year (520 BC) of Darius’ reign. Ezr.6:15 building was then completed in Darius’ 6th year (516 BC).
Eric Lyons Kingly Chronology in the Book of Ezra “Since Persian kings frequently had two or more names, it is not unfathomable to think that Cambyses and Smerdis also may have gone by the names of Ahasuerus and Artaxerxes.” If that was the case, the king names in succession were: Cyrus II – Cambyses II/Ahasuerus – pseudo-Smerdis/Artaxerxes – Darius I.
Option #2: Ezr.4:6-23 isn’t in chronological order. Rather, this passage is a parenthetical insert. It flashes forward to times of opposition and work stoppage during the reigns of…Ahasuerus/Xérxes I 486–465 BC (Ezr.4:6), and Artaxerxes I/Longimánus 465-424 BC (Ezr.4:7-23). In Ezr.4:7-23, the work at issue is the rebuilding of Jerusalem and its walls; work on a temple project isn’t mentioned.
JFB Commentary Ezr.4:6 “Ahasuerus… successor of Darius, the famous Xerxes.” Gill Exposition Ezr.4:6 “According to Járchi, this was Ahasuerus the husband of Esther.” Cambridge Bible Ezr.4:6 “Ahasuerus. The well-known Xerxes, the son of Darius [I], who reigned 20 years (485–465). He is generally identified with the Ahasuerus of Esther.” Cambridge Bible Ezr.4:7 “Artaxerxes Longimanus succeeded his father Xerxes and reigned forty years (465–425). He is mentioned in Ezra 7:1, Neh.2:1.”
Lyons op. cit. “It is reasonable to conclude that…Ahasuerus and Artaxerxes (Ezr.4:6-7) are indeed the Ahasuerus (486–465) and Artaxerxes (465–424) of history (rather than the aforementioned Cambyses and Smerdis).” John Oakes Evidence For Christianity “Ezra 4:6-23 is an interlude involving events which happened quite a bit later, during the reign of Artaxerxes and possibly Xerxes as well. If you don’t know the chronology of the kings, then Ezra 4:24 definitely could be confusing.”
The Persian or Achaeménid Empire lasted for 220 years (550–330 BC). Following are its kings’ reigns: Cyrus II the Great (559–530 BC), Cambyses II (530–523 BC), pseudo-Smerdis/Bardiya (522 BC), Darius I the Great (522–486 BC), Ahasuerus/Xerxes I (486–465 BC), Artaxerxes I/Longimanus (465–424 BC), Xerxes II (424 BC), Darius II (423–404 BC), Artaxerxes II (403–359 BC), Artaxerxes III (359–338 BC), Árses (338–336 BC), Darius III (336–330 BC). The Empire ends.
Most historians feel certain that Darius II and Artaxerxes II and their successors cannot be the kings in the book of Ezra…they lived too late.
Kings of Persia names in the KJV, Green’s Literal Translation, and the Jewish Tanakh: Ezr.4:5 Cyrus. Ezr.4:6 Ahasuerus. Ezr.4:7-23 Artaxerxes (as a common name for Persian kings?). Ezr.4:24 Darius. Ezr.7:1–8:1 Artaxerxes. Ne.2:1 Artaxerxes. Ne.5:14 Artaxerxes. Est.1–10 Ahasuerus.
Kings of Persia names in the Greek Septúagint/LXX: Ezr.4:5 Cyrus. Ezr.4:6 Assuérus. Ezr.4:7-23 Árthasastha (as a common name for Persian kings?). Ezr.4:24 Darius. Ezr.7:1–8:1 Arthasastha. Ne.2:1 Arthasastha. Ne.5:14 Arthasastha. Est.1–10 Artaxerxes.
Kings of Persia names in Josephus’ Antiquities of the Jews 11:1–6: Ezr.4:5 Cyrus. Ezr.4:6 the Magi? Ezr.4:7-23 Cambyses. Ezr.4:24 Darius. Ezr.7:1–8:1 Xerxes. Ne.2:1 Xerxes. Ne.5:14 Xerxes. Est.1–10 Artaxerxes. (The ancient Greek historians Heródotus and Thúcydides also noted Persian kings.)
Wikipedia: Ezra “Josephus – He uses the name Xerxes for Artaxerxes I, reserving the name Artaxerxes for the later Artaxerxes II whom he identifies as the Ahasuerus of Esther, thus placing Ezra before the book of Esther. Josephus’ account of the deeds of Ezra derives entirely from 1Ésdras, which he cites as the ‘book of Ezra’. Contrariwise, Josephus does not appear to recognize Ezra–Nehemiah [then written as one scroll] as a biblical book, and relies on other traditions in his account of the deeds of Nehemiah.”
As we’ve seen, the Persian king names found in Bible versions and historical sources differ.
Option #1 and Option #2 for Ezr.4:6-23 both have their proponents. I leave the choice to the reader.
The Temple of Zerubbabel, the 2nd Temple, would stand for 500 years…until 20 BC! Part 2 now continues to trace the period of its history.
Paul J. Bucknell Ezra Overview “There were at least three waves of returning [Jewish] exiles. Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah all led groups back. Ezra and Nehemiah then worked together. The book of Nehemiah focuses on the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s wall.”
The group of Jews led by Zerubbabel the governor returned c 538 BC. (see Part 1.) After the Temple was completed (Ezr.6:15), most Bible historians say there is a 58-year gap between Ezra 6 and Ezra 7.
Ezra was a Levitical priest and a scribe (Ezr.7:1-6). As a royal commissioner of the Persian Empire, he was sent to Judea with authority to administer God’s Law/Toráh to Jewish returnees. Ezr.7–10 is about Ezra himself and the group he led back from Babylon. Ezr.7:7-8 “They went up to Jerusalem in the 7th year of King Artaxerxes [465–424 BC?].” The date most historians give for this return is 458/457 BC (although a few disagree with this date). Ezra led reforms, and established the ‘Men of the Great Assembly’ legislative body. The synagogue system was eventually set up to teach the people.
Nehemiah was the king’s cupbearer at the palace in Súsa, Persia (Ne.1:1, 11b). The generally accepted date for the return of Nehemiah’s group is 445/444 BC. Ne.2:1, 11 “In the 20th year of King Artaxerxes (465–424 BC)….I came to Jerusalem.” He joined Ezra there (ref Ne.8). Nehemiah became governor of Judea (Ne.5:14), under Persian control. During his tenure the walls of Jerusalem were repaired & built (Ne.2:12– 6:15), in spite of Samaritan opposition. Nehemiah also abolished usury (Ne.5:1-13). The final verse of his book, Ne.13:31b reads, “Remember me, O my God, for good”.
Jewish Encyclopedia: Temple, The Second “From the time of Zerubbabel to the time of Antíochus Epíphanes [160s BC] the history of the Temple was comparatively uneventful.”
Alexander the Great (356–323 BC) conquered the Persian Empire in 330 BC. This began the Grecian or Macedonian Empire. Ancient Greece was called Héllas. The Hellenistic Period of Greek ideas and Greek way of life was 323 – 31 BC. Hellenism spread into Judea and Jerusalem.
Upon Alexander’s death, the territory of his Empire divided into four kingdoms ruled by his four generals: Cassánder (Greece), Lysimachus (Asia Minor), Ptólemy (Egypt/Africa), Seleúcus (Syria/Near East). In Daniel 11, Ptolemy is the “King of the South” and Seleucus is “King of the North”.
Wikipedia: Temple in Jerusalem “The Ptolemies came to rule over Judea and the Temple. The Jews were given many civil liberties and lived content. However, when the Ptolemáic army was defeated at Panium [near Mt. Hermon] by Antiochus III of the Seleucids in 198 BCE, this policy changed. Antiochus wanted to Hellenize the Jews, attempting to introduce the Greek Pantheon into the temple.”
Wikipedia: Second Temple “Following the conquest of Judea by Alexander the Great, it became part of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt until 200 BCE, when the Seleucid king Antiochus III of Syria defeated Pharaoh Ptolemy V. Judea became at that moment part of the Seleucid Empire. When the Second Temple in Jerusalem was looted and its religious services stopped, Judaism was effectively outlawed. In 167 BCE, Antiochus IV Epiphanes ordered an altar to Zeus erected in the Temple. He also banned circumcision and ordered pigs to be sacrificed at the altar of the Temple. Following the [Jewish] Maccabéan Revolt [167–160 BC] against the Seleucid Empire, the Second Temple was rededicated and became the religious pillar of the Jewish Hasmónean Kingdom, as well as culturally associated with the Jewish holiday of Hánukkah.” (Hanukkah was the “Feast of Dedication”, ref Jn.10:22-23.)
Antiochus IV defiled the 2nd Temple with an “abomination of desolation” (Da.11:31)…he set up an altar to a heathen god and offered swine’s flesh! The Jewish priest Judas Maccabéus (called ‘the Hammer’) cleansed the sanctuary in 164 AD, and the custom of Hanukkah became celebrated (ref 1Mac.4:36-61). At that time he rebuilt the city with high walls and towers around the temple, a citadel.
The Roman Republic and Roman Empire would become dominant. In 63 BC, Roman general Pómpey conquered Jerusalem and desecrated the temple by entering the Most Holy Place (though the temple remained intact).
Kevin J. Conner The Temple of Solomon, p.212 “The Temple [the 2nd, Zerubbabel’s] was taken by Pompey on the Day of Atonement after a 3-month siege, and then later on by Herod the Great [37 BC].” Rome appointed the Edomite Herod ‘King of Judea’, ending 100 years of Jewish Hasmonean rule (from 140 BC). Herod himself had been raised as a Jew.
The Temple of Zerubbabel existed for 500 years, until 20 BC…when Herod tore it down and removed its foundation. He proceeded to build a splendid new temple on an expanded Temple Mount (cf. Jn.2:20).
Back around 520 BC when God’s “house” or 2nd Temple was being built, Haggai had prophesied about the Lord’s temple. Hag.2:9 “The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former.” The splendor of Herod’s Temple (the “latter”) was even greater than that of Solomon’s Temple (the “former”, built c 990s BC). But not only because of its magnificence and outward physical beauty….
Easton’s Bible Dictionary “The temple, during the different periods of its existence, is regarded as but one house, the one only house of God. The glory here predicted is spiritual glory and not material splendor. Christ Himself, present bodily.” Haggai’s prophecy was fulfilled by Jesus’ incarnation in the Holy Land.
Missing from Zerubbabel’s Temple was the Shekínah glory Presence and the Ark of the Testimony. (see Part 1 and the topic “Ark of the Testimony – Journeys”.) But c 425 BC the prophet Malachi foretold that the Lord would indeed come to His temple (Mal.3:1)!
Christ, the Lord Himself, was present at Herod’s Temple (“the latter”) complex! e.g. Lk.2:46, 21:37. Jesus said of Himself in Mt.12:6 KJV, “In this place is one greater than the temple”. Jesus is greater than Moses’ Tabernacle, Solomon’s Temple, Zerubbabel’s Temple, and Herod’s Temple! The King is greater than His house. And God is now rebuilding the…Tabernacle of David (Ac.15:16, Am.9:11. see “Tent/Tabernacle of David”.) To God, the Master Builder, be the glory!
Bible Topic Exposition 