Jews Return to Jerusalem

Seventy years after Daniel and other choice captives were taken to Babylon, the Persian king who had recently conquered Babylonia released the Jews to go home to rebuild their temple.

Remember Jeremiah’s prediction that God would punish Babylon and end Judah’s exile, returning them to their land after 70 years? Follow the amazing story on this timeline.

c. 722 B.C. The king of Assyria conquers Israel and brings people from the north to live in and around Samaria. Over time, they become known as Samaritans. These people are taught to worship the LORD God but continue to make their own idols and worship them. They join their previous belief system with Judaism, forming a syncretistic counterfeit religion.

c. 700 B.C. Isaiah records God’s declaration that “I, your Redeemer who made you, announce, ‘Jerusalem shall be inhabited, the towns of Judah built; I will restore their ruins.’ Cyrus, my shepherd, will do what I desire and say, ‘Rebuild Jerusalem! Lay the foundations of the temple!’” This prophecy is given even before Jerusalem is destroyed and Judah is conquered.

605 B.C. Judah is conquered by Babylon

597, 586 B.C. Judah’s nobles taken captive to Babylon (including Daniel and Ezekiel).

580 B.C. Cyrus is born to Cambyses 1, king of Persia. Astyages, king of Media, attempts to murder Cyrus by ordering his steward to kill the baby. Unable to do so, the steward hires a shepherd to leave the baby in the desert to die. The shepherd and his wife take pity on Cyrus and rear him as their own.

539 B.C. Cyrus, now king of Persia, conquers Babylon.

539 B.C. God moves Cyrus’ heart to make a proclamation: “The LORD, the God of Heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and assigned me to build His temple in Jerusalem. If you belong to His people—God be with you—go back to Jerusalem and build!” At this point, the “Israelites” became known as “Jews” because they were from Judah.

536 B.C. Zerubbabel leads 49,697 Jews from Babylon back to Judah with 5,400 gold and silver articles which had been taken from the temple by Nebuchadnezzar. Cyrus gave them back! When they arrive in Jerusalem, the people give offerings of more than 1,000 pounds of gold and about 3 tons of silver, plus 100 priestly garments.

535 B.C. Zerubbabel and fellow priests begin the work of rebuilding the temple (70 years after exile had Begun) accompanied by vibrant worship with trumpets and cymbals, singing and shouting praise to the LORD. The Samaritans try to join in the building of the temple. The Jews refuse, recognizing the inherent danger of worshiping with their syncretistic neighbors. The Samaritans then seek to discourage and frustrate the Jews’ plans to rebuild the temple throughout the reign of Cyrus and into the reign of King Darius of Persia.

515 B.C. The Jewish leaders finish the temple under the leadership of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, dedicating it in joyful celebration.