PERSIAN PERIOD539-334 BC

YHD Coin 333 BC

First Coin from JerusalemMaterial: Silver

Silver: ¼ inch in Diameter

I. Synopsis of this PeriodII. Scriptural synopsis of this PeriodIII. Persia in scriptureIV. Discussion on the Persians and Persian Era:

A. The Collapse of Babylon and rise of Persia.a. Nabonidus

1. His own inscription of his deeds (ANET, pg. 308)

2. Was a fanatic of the moon god, Sin.3. Was despised by the Priests of Marduk

and the people of Babylon4. His last days as King and first days as

POW

Nabonidus cylinder with prayer for himself and son Belshazzar

IV. Discussion on the Persians and Persian Era:A. The Collapse of Babylon and rise of Persia.

a. Nabonidusb. Cyrus the Great

i. Biblical References1. Daniel 1:21; 6:28; 10:12. 2 Chronicles 36:22-23; Ezra 1:1-4; 6:3-53. Isaiah 41:2-3, 25-26; 45:13; 46:11

IV. Discussion on the Persians and Persian Era:A. The Collapse of Babylon and rise of Persia.

a. Nabonidusb. Cyrus the Great

i. Biblical Referencesii. Controversy over Biblical references to

Cyrus the Great (Cyrus II)1. Hard to accept2. Rabbis of the Talmudic age

b. Cyrus the Greati. Biblical Referencesii. Controversy over Biblical references to

Cyrus the Great (Cyrus II)iii. Possible solutions to this controversyiv. Extra-Biblical References

1. Cyrus Cylinder:

Cyrus Cylinder

b. Cyrus the Greati. Biblical Referencesii. Controversy over Biblical references to

Cyrus the Great (Cyrus II)iii. Possible solutions to this controversyiv. Extra-Biblical References

1. Cyrus Cylinder: 2. An inscribed brick of Uruk3. Herodotus: 4. Xenophon, a disciple of Socrates: 5. Aeschylus Greek soldier and playwright: 6. Ctesias, Greek Physician of Artaxerxes II.

IV. Discussion on the Persians and Persian Era:A. The Collapse of Babylon and rise of Persia.

a. Nabonidusb. Cyrus the Great

i. Biblical Referencesii. Controversy over Biblical references to

Cyrus the Great (Cyrus II)iii. Possible solutions to this controversyiv. Extra-Biblical References v. The Capture of Babylonvi. The Return of the Jews

IV. Discussion on the Persians and Persian Era:A. The Collapse of Babylon and rise of Persia.

a. Nabonidusb. Cyrus the Greatc. Cambysesd. Darius I

a. Nameb. Biblical Referencesc. Extra-Biblical References

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

IV. Discussion on the Persians and Persian Era:A. The Collapse of Babylon and rise of Persia.

a. Nabonidusb. Cyrus the Greatc. Cambysesd. Darius I

a. Nameb. Biblical Referencesc. Extra-Biblical Referencesd. Battle of Marathon

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fa/Persian_warriors_from_Berlin_Museum.jpg

IV. Discussion on the Persians and Persian Era:A. The Collapse of Babylon and rise of Persia.

a. Nabonidusb. Cyrus the Greatc. Cambysesd. Darius Ie. Xerxes

IV. Discussion on the Persians and Persian Era:A. The Collapse of Babylon and rise of Persia.

a. Nabonidusb. Cyrus the Greatc. Cambysesd. Darius Ie. Xerxes

a. Nameb. Biblical Refernencesc. Extra Biblical References

IV. Discussion on the Persians and Persian Era:A. The Collapse of Babylon and rise of Persia.

a. Nabonidusb. Cyrus the Greatc. Cambysesd. Darius Ie. Xerxes

a. Nameb. Biblical Refernencesc. Extra Biblical Referencesd. The Mane. His Campaigns of War

THERMOPYLAE “Hot Gates”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Greek_Phalanx.jpg

Goat Pass to Thermopylae

IV. Discussion on the Persians and Persian Era:A. The Collapse of Babylon and rise of Persia.B. Jews in Judea in the fourth century.

a. Textual Evidenceb. Archaeological Evidence

IV. Discussion on the Persians and Persian Era:A. The Collapse of Babylon and rise of Persia.B. Jews in Judea in the fourth century.

a. Textual Evidenceb. Archaeological Evidencec. The return of Exiles to Judah and the

Rebuilding of the Temple.d. Symptoms of the disintegration of the

Persian empire:

THE ELEPHANTINE LETTERS

WALL OF NEHEMIAH

Escavated by Kathleen Kenyon