PERSIAN PERIOD 539-334 BC

1. PERSIAN PERIOD539-334 BC

2. YHD Coin 333 BC First Coin from Jerusalem Material: Silver Silver: ¼ inch in Diameter

3. I. Synopsis of this Period • II. Scriptural synopsis of this Period • III. Persia in scripture • IV. Discussion on the Persians and Persian Era: • A. The Collapse of Babylon and rise of Persia. • Nabonidus • His own inscription of his deeds (ANET, pg. 308) • Was a fanatic of the moon god, Sin. • Was despised by the Priests of Marduk and the people of Babylon • His last days as King and first days as POW

4. Nabonidus cylinder with prayer for himself and son Belshazzar

5. IV. Discussion on the Persians and Persian Era: • A. The Collapse of Babylon and rise of Persia. • Nabonidus • Cyrus the Great • Biblical References • Daniel 1:21; 6:28; 10:1 • 2 Chronicles 36:22-23; Ezra 1:1-4; 6:3-5 • Isaiah 41:2-3, 25-26; 45:13; 46:11

6. IV. Discussion on the Persians and Persian Era: • A. The Collapse of Babylon and rise of Persia. • Nabonidus • Cyrus the Great • Biblical References • Controversy over Biblical references to Cyrus the Great (Cyrus II) • Hard to accept • Rabbis of the Talmudic age

7. Cyrus the Great • Biblical References • Controversy over Biblical references to Cyrus the Great (Cyrus II) • Possible solutions to this controversy • Extra-Biblical References • Cyrus Cylinder:

8. Cyrus Cylinder

9. Cyrus the Great • Biblical References • Controversy over Biblical references to Cyrus the Great (Cyrus II) • Possible solutions to this controversy • Extra-Biblical References • Cyrus Cylinder: • An inscribed brick of Uruk • Herodotus: • Xenophon, a disciple of Socrates: • Aeschylus Greek soldier and playwright: • Ctesias, Greek Physician of Artaxerxes II.

10. IV. Discussion on the Persians and Persian Era: • A. The Collapse of Babylon and rise of Persia. • Nabonidus • Cyrus the Great • Biblical References • Controversy over Biblical references to Cyrus the Great (Cyrus II) • Possible solutions to this controversy • Extra-Biblical References • The Capture of Babylon • The Return of the Jews

11. IV. Discussion on the Persians and Persian Era: • A. The Collapse of Babylon and rise of Persia. • Nabonidus • Cyrus the Great • Cambyses • Darius I • Name • Biblical References • Extra-Biblical References

12. The Behistun “Place of the God” Darius I 520 BC, Esther 1:21-22

15. IV. Discussion on the Persians and Persian Era: • A. The Collapse of Babylon and rise of Persia. • Nabonidus • Cyrus the Great • Cambyses • Darius I • Name • Biblical References • Extra-Biblical References • Battle of Marathon

19. IV. Discussion on the Persians and Persian Era: • A. The Collapse of Babylon and rise of Persia. • Nabonidus • Cyrus the Great • Cambyses • Darius I • Xerxes

20. IV. Discussion on the Persians and Persian Era: • A. The Collapse of Babylon and rise of Persia. • Nabonidus • Cyrus the Great • Cambyses • Darius I • Xerxes • Name • Biblical Refernences • Extra Biblical References

23. IV. Discussion on the Persians and Persian Era: • A. The Collapse of Babylon and rise of Persia. • Nabonidus • Cyrus the Great • Cambyses • Darius I • Xerxes • Name • Biblical Refernences • Extra Biblical References • The Man • His Campaigns of War

24. THERMOPYLAE “Hot Gates”

26. Goat Pass to Thermopylae

27. IV. Discussion on the Persians and Persian Era: • The Collapse of Babylon and rise of Persia. • Jews in Judea in the fourth century. • Textual Evidence • Archaeological Evidence

31. IV. Discussion on the Persians and Persian Era: • The Collapse of Babylon and rise of Persia. • Jews in Judea in the fourth century. • Textual Evidence • Archaeological Evidence • The return of Exiles to Judah and the Rebuilding of the Temple. • Symptoms of the disintegration of the Persian empire:

32. THE ELEPHANTINE LETTERS

33. WALL OF NEHEMIAH Escavated by Kathleen Kenyon