Chronology of Ezra 1-6
The table below is from The Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas L. Constable.
| Chronology of Ezra 1-6 | |
| 605 | In 605 BC,1www.robertjmorgan.com/uncategorized/jeremiahs-seventy-years/ the prophet Jeremiah predicted the nation of Judah would fall to the Babylonian Empire. Approximately 70 years later – long after Jeremiah’s death in 570 BC2https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jeremiah-Hebrew-prophet – the prophet Daniel studied Jeremiah 25:11 and 29:10. He realized the time had come for the fulfillment of these promises (Dan. 9:2), and he claimed them in prayer in Daniel 9:3-19. |
| 539 | King Cyrus II (born 559-died 530)conquered Babylon and took over the Babylonian Empire. See Persian Kings |
| 538 | Cyrus’ first year. He issued his decree to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem (Ezra 1:1-4). |
| 537 | Zerubbabel returned with almost 50,000 Jews (Ezra 2). The returnees rebuilt the altar in Jerusalem, offered sacrifices, and celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles (Ezra 3:2 ). [Note: Andrew E. Steinmann, “A Chronological Note: The Return of the Exiles under Sheshbazzar and Zerubbabel (Ezra 1-2),” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 51:3 (September 2008):513-22, argued that Sheshbazzar arrived in Jerusalem in 533 B.C., and in the same year the Jews completed the altar in Jerusalem and offered the first sacrifices on it. He believed the Jews began rebuilding the temple the following year, 532 B.C., and that work on the temple halted in 531 B.C.] |
| 536 | The returnees laid the temple foundation (Ezra 3:8-10 ). Reconstruction ceased due to opposition (Ezra 4:1-5; 4:24 ). |
| 535 | |
| 534 | |
| 533 | |
| 532 | |
| 531 | |
| 530 | Cyrus died and Cambyses II began reigning. |
| 529 | |
| 528 | |
| 527 | |
| 526 | |
| 525 | Cambyses conquered Egypt. |
| 524 | |
| 523 | |
| 522 | Cambyses died and Darius I (Hystaspes) began reigning. |
| 521 | |
| 520 | Haggai urged the people to resume temple construction, and they did so. Darius confirmed Cyrus’ decree. Zechariah began ministering. |
| 519 | |
| 518 | |
| 517 | |
| 516 | The people completed temple construction and celebrated the feasts of Passover and Unleavened Bread (Ezra 6:15 ). |
The table above is from Dr. Thomas L. Constable with some modifications. Compare Chronology of the Restoration Period
References[+]
| ↑1 | www.robertjmorgan.com/uncategorized/jeremiahs-seventy-years/ |
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| ↑2 | https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jeremiah-Hebrew-prophet |