DOC PREVIEW
Persian Period

This preview shows page 1 out of 4 pages.

Save
View full document
View full document
Premium Document
Do you want full access? Go Premium and unlock all 4 pages.
Access to all documents
Download any document
Ad free experience
Premium Document
Do you want full access? Go Premium and unlock all 4 pages.
Access to all documents
Download any document
Ad free experience

Unformatted text preview:

THE PERSIAN PERIOD (539-331 BC)I. PRELUDE: THE BABYLONIAN EXILE (587-539 BC)A. Deported Jews Settled as Communities around Babylon1. Jehoiachin In Exile (2 Ki 25:27-30; Jer 52:31-34)2. The Prophets of the Early Exilea. Daniel (Taken to Babylon in 604 BC; Dan 1:1)b. Ezekiel, Ministered 593-563 BC (Ezek 1:1-2)B. Kings of the Neo-Babylonian Empire1. Nabopolassar (626-605 BC)2. Nebuchadnezzar (605-562 BC)3. Awel-Marduk (= Evil Merodach [562-560 BC]; 2 Ki 25:27)4. Neriglissar (560-556 BC)5. Labashi-Marduk (3 months in 556)6. Nabonidus (556-539 BC)a. Ineffective Rulerb. Forsook Babylonian god Marduk; Promoted Worshipof Moon-god Sin: Temples at Ur, Haranc. Spent 10 Years in Arabian Wilderness at Teimahd. Belshazzar; Regent in Babylon under Naboniduse. Babylon under Presure from Medes and PersiansII. THE RISE OF THE PERSIAN EMPIREA. The Medes & Persians: Indo-European Groups1. Medesa. Became United in 7th Cent BC: Dominated Persiansb. Cyaxares (625-585 BC)1) Greatest King of Medes2) Allaiance with Babylon vs. Assyria3) Expanded West into Asia Minorc. Astyages (585-550 BC)2. Persians: Dominated by Medesa. Achaemenes (ca 700-675 BC)b. Cyrus I (ca 640-600 BC)c. Cambyses I (ca 600-559): Married Astyages' daughterB. Cyrus the Great (559-530 BC), 1st King of Persian Empire1. Half Persian/Half Median2. 559 BC: Became King of Persia/Anshan3. 550 BC: Defeated and Became King of the Medes4. 539 BC: Babylon Surrendered Without Fight, Oct 12a. Babylonian Gen. Ugbaru/Gubaru Defected to Persiansb. Cyrus Hailed as Liberator, Oct 29C. Darius the Mede (Dan 5:31; 6:1-2; 9:1-2; 11:1)1. = Cyrus?2. Confusion with Later Darius?3. = Gubaru (Greek Gobryas), Conqueror of BabylonThe Persian Period page 24. = Gubaru, Governor of BabylonIII. THE RESTORATION OF THE JEWSA. 538 BC: The Edict of Cyrus (Ez 1:1-4; 6:3-5)1. Jews Allowed to Return to Judah2. Temple in Jerusalem Could be Rebuilt3. Cyrus Cylindera. Clay Cuneiform Inscription Discovered in Babylonb. Reflects Religious Toleration, RestorationB. The Initial Returns/Leaders1. Sheshbazzar (Ez 1:5-11) Prob. Led Small 1st Group2. Zerrubbabel (Ez 2:2; 5:2) Successor of SheshbazzarC. The Rebuilding of the Temple1. Foundations Laid (Ez 3) by Sheshbazzar? (Ez 5:16)2. Opposition; Work Stopped (Ez 4:1-5 [vs 6, 7-23 = later])3. Revival Under Haggai, Zechariah c. 520 BC (Ez 5:1-2)4. Rebuilding Continued; Complaints to Darius (Ez 5:3-17)5. The Decree of Darius (Ez 6:1-12)6. 515 BC: Temple Completed Under Zerrubbabel (Ez 6:13-22)IV. THE EARLY PERSIAN EMPIREA. Persia (= Iran): Ruled Most of the Near East Until 333 BC1. Also Called Achaemenid Empire2. Persian Royal Cities: Ecbatana, Susa, Persepolis3. Sources: Archaeology; Bible; Classical Writers: HerodotusB. Cyrus the Great (550-530 BC): See AboveC. Cambyses II (529-522 BC): Killed His Brother Bardiya1. Conquered Egypt in 525 BC; An Army Lost in Sahara Desert2. In Persia, Gaumata Takes Throne Posing as Bardiya/Smerdis3. Tragic Figure; Stabbed Self on way to Remove GaumataD. Darius I (521-486 BC): Ez 4-6; Hag 1:1; 2:1; Zech 1:1; 7:11. Behistun Inscription: Trilingual Relief on Persian Cliffa. Records Darius' Royal Lineage & Rise, Fall of Gaumatab. Elamite/Old Persian/Akkadian: Key to Cuneiform2. Administrative Reform: Empire Divided into Satrapiesa. Provinces Ruled by Satraps; Army under Royal Officersb. Inspectors, "King's Eyes" and "King's Ears," Kept Tabs3. Began Building Persepolis4. Standard Coinage; Royal Susa-Sardis Road; Postal Service5. Began Wars with Greecea. 499-494 BC: Ionian Cities of Western Asia Minor Revoltb. 492: Punitive Expedition Shipwrecked at Mt. Athosc. 490 BC: Darius Crosses Hellespont; Battle of MarathonE. Xerxes I (485-465 BC)The Persian Period page 31. = "Ahasuerus" of Esther, Ez 4:62. 480 BC: War with Greece Stepped Up (Dan 11:2?)a. Battle of Thermopylae; Athens Burnedb. Battle of Salamis: Persians Defeated in Naval Battle3. Killed in Palace RevoltF. Artaxerxes I Longimanus (465-425 BC)1. 460 BC: Revolt in Egypt Aided by Athensa. Megabysus: Persian General who Quelled Revoltb. Megabysus Began Satrap, Revolted; Later Restored2. 449 BC: Peace of Callias with Greece3. Arrival of Ezra and Nehemiah in JerusalemV. EZRA AND NEHEMIAHA. The Chronological Problem1. Traditional Datinga. Ezra: Ez 7:7 - 7th Year of Artaxerxes (I?) = 458 BCb. Nehemiah: Neh 2:1 - 20th Year of Artaxerxes I1) Only Artaxerxes I had 20 Years2) Therefore Firm = 445/444 BC2. Alternative Datinga. Nehemiah Preceded Ezrab. Ez 7:7 = 7th Year of Artaxerxes II, i.e., 398 BCB. Ezra (Ez 7:1-10:16; Neh 8:1-10:36)1. Ezra: Priest and Scribe (Ez 7:1-5; Neh 12:26)2. The Return to Jerusalem Under Ezra (Ez 7-8)3. Religious Reform (Ez 9-10); Reading of Law (Neh 8-10)C. Nehemiah (Neh 1:1-7:4; 11:1-13:30)1. Commissioned Governor by Artaxerxes: 445 BC (Neh 1:1-2:10)2. Rebuilds the Walls of Jerusalem (Neh 2:11-7:4; 11-12)3. Nehemiah's 2nd Visit/Administration in Jerusalem (13:1-30)VI. THE LATER PERSIAN EMPIREA. Darius II Nothus (424-407 BC): Contact with Elephantine JewsB. Artaxerxes II (407-361 BC)1. Major Egyptian Revolt2. Failed Rebellion by Younger Brother Cyrusa. Used 10,000 Greek Mercenariesb. Recounted in Xenophon's AnabasisC. Artaxerxes III (361-338 BC)1. Put Down Many Local Rebellions2. Judith may Relect Palestine During Egyptian CampaignD. Darius III (338-331 BC): Last Achaemenid KingThe Persian Period page 4VII.PERSIAN RELIGIONA. Zoroastrianism1. Indo-Aryan Roots; Related to Hinduism2. Zoroaster (Greek spelling)/Zarathushtra (Avestan name)a. 7th Century BC?b. Preached Worship of Ahuramazda, "the Wise Lord"1) Opposed by Angra Mainyu & Host = Daevas2) Helped by Angelsc. Revealed to Zoroaster through Angeld. Ethical Demands3. Theological Ideasa. Resurrection and Judgement After Deathb. Trial by Fire; Apocalypticismc. Heaven and Helld. Satan/Demons vs. Angels4. Devolved to Complex Dualism & Polytheism in Persian Period5. Avesta = Main Body of Zoroastrian ScripturesB. Mithras (= Hindu Mitras)VIII. JUDAISM IN THE PERSIAN PERIODA. Jews in Egypt: The Elephantine Papyri1. Aramaic Documents from Island in Nile Near 1st Cataract2. Archives of Jewish Garrison There in 5th-4th cents BC3. Contracts, Deeds, Letters Show Economic, Religious Lifea. Reveal the Existence of a Jewish Temple to "Yaho"1) Destroyed in 411 BC by Fanatical Egyptians2) Letter Requested Permission to Rebuild, 407 BCb. Show Mixed Marriages and Religious Syncretismc. Ostraca Mention Sabbath Observance and PassoverB. Religious Developments in Judaism in Persian Period1.


Persian Period

Download Persian Period
Our administrator received your request to download this document. We will send you the file to your email shortly.
Loading Unlocking...
Login

Join to view Persian Period and access 3M+ class-specific study document.

or
We will never post anything without your permission.
Don't have an account?
Sign Up

Join to view Persian Period 2 2 and access 3M+ class-specific study document.

or

By creating an account you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use

Already a member?