Ezra-Nehemiah Chronology

Chronology of the post exile: Ezra-Nehemiah

*Years are approximate based on traditional dating.

539 BC: Fall of Babylon; Daniel 5:30

539–538 BC: First year of Cyrus 539-530 BC ruling over Babylon; Ezra 1:1-4

538 BC: Zerubbabel and 1st return of the exiles; Ezra 1-6

537 BC: Building of Altar; Ezra 3:1-3; 7th month = Tishri, Sep/Oct

536 BC: Work on temple begins; Ezra 3:8

536–530 BC: Opposition during Cyrus’s reign; Ezra 4:1-5

530–520 BC Work on temple ceases: Ezra 4:24; Persian King: Cambyses 530-522

520 BC: Work begins again under Darius I 522-486; Ezra 5:2

520 BC: Events of book of Haggai; Haggai 1

520–518 BC: Events of book of Zechariah 1-8

516 BC: Temple completed; Ezra 6:15

483–471 BC: Events of Book of Esther under Xerxes I (Ahasuerus) 486-465

458 BC: Ezra and 2nd return of exiles; Ezra 7-10

445–444 BC: 20th year Artaxerxes I (Artahasta) 465-425; Nehemiah 1:1; Chislev= Nov/Dec

444 BC: Nehemiah approaches the King: Nehemiah 2:1; Nisan=Mar/Apr

444 BC: Nehemiah and 3rd return of exiles; Nehemiah 2:11

444 BC: Wall of Jerusalem completed; Nehemiah 6:15; Elul = Aug/Sep

444–432 BC: Nehemiah governor of Judah; Nehemiah 5:14

432 BC: Nehemiah goes to Babylon; Nehemiah 13:6

430 BC? Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem; Nehemiah 13:6