Kings of Persia in Biblical Times

by Krisan Marotta | May 21, 2021 | 02 Library, Background & History, Chart, Charts OT, Download

Updated September 2026

The Persian Empire provides the historical background for the final chapters of 2 Chronicles and for the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Haggai, Zechariah, and parts of Daniel.

In 539 BC, Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon and brought the Babylonian Empire to an end. The following year, he permitted the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. This decree fulfilled what the Lord had announced through the prophet Jeremiah and what Isaiah had specifically foretold about Cyrus.

Several later Persian kings also appear in the biblical story. The temple was completed during the reign of Darius I. The events of Esther took place during the reign of Xerxes I, who is called Ahasuerus in the Bible. Artaxerxes I later authorized Ezra and Nehemiah to return to Jerusalem.

Understanding the order of these kings helps us follow the events recorded in Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Daniel, Haggai, and Zechariah.

Quick Notes

The Persian Empire was founded by Cyrus the Great who conquered Babylon in 539 BC. Cyrus issued the decree for the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple.
Under Darius, the second Temple of Zerubbabel was completed.
Under Xerxes (Ahasuerus), the events recorded in the Book of Esther happened.
Under Artaxerxes, the Jewish state was reformed by Ezra, and the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt by Nehemiah.
The capital of the Persian Empire was Shushan. The Empire lasted a little more than 200 years, and came to an end in 330 BC.

Download a free PDF of the Persian Kings as a chart

Persian Kings and the Bible

Persian King	Reign	Biblical name or connection	Importance in biblical history
Cyrus II the Great	559–530 BC	Cyrus	Conquered Babylon in 539 BC and authorized the Jewish exiles to return and rebuild the temple
Cambyses II	530–522 BC	Not clearly named	Conquered Egypt; the work on Jerusalem’s temple remained stalled during much of this period
Bardiya or Gaumata	522 BC	Not clearly named	Ruled briefly before Darius I took the throne
Darius I the Great	522–486 BC	Darius	Confirmed Cyrus’s decree; the second temple was completed in 516 BC
Xerxes I	486–465 BC	Ahasuerus	The Persian king in the book of Esther
Artaxerxes I	465–424 BC	Artaxerxes	Authorized Ezra’s mission in 458 or 457 BC and Nehemiah’s mission in 445 or 444 BC
Xerxes II	424 BC	Not named	Ruled only briefly before being assassinated
Sogdianus	424–423 BC	Not named	Seized the throne briefly before Darius II defeated him
Darius II	423–404 BC	Possibly “Darius the Persian” in Nehemiah 12:22	Ruled during the later Persian period
Artaxerxes II	404–359 BC	Not named	Ruled after the principal events recorded in Ezra and Nehemiah
Artaxerxes III	359–338 BC	Not named	Reestablished Persian control over Egypt
Artaxerxes IV, also called Arses	338–336 BC	Not named	Ruled briefly before Darius III
Darius III	336–330 BC	Not named	Defeated by Alexander the Great; his death marked the end of the Achaemenid Persian Empire

Cyrus the Great and the Return from exile

Cyrus II founded the Achaemenid Persian Empire and conquered Babylon in 539 BC. The Cyrus Cylinder, an ancient inscription commissioned after the conquest, describes Cyrus’s policy of restoring displaced peoples and their religious practices. It does not mention the Jews specifically, but it fits the broader policy described in Ezra.

In the first year of his rule over Babylon, Cyrus issued a decree permitting the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem:

“The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah” (Ezra 1:2 ESV).

Second Chronicles 36:22–23 records the same decree. Isaiah had even named Cyrus long before his birth as the ruler God would use to restore Jerusalem and lay the foundation of the temple:

Isaiah 44:28
Isaiah 45:1
Ezra 1:1–4
2 Chronicles 36:22–23

Cyrus was not necessarily a believer in Israel’s God. Persian policy generally allowed conquered peoples to worship their own gods. Yet Scripture presents Cyrus as an instrument in God’s hands. God used a pagan ruler to accomplish his purposes and restore his people.

Darius I and the Rebuilding of the Temple

Opposition and discouragement delayed the rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple. During the reign of Darius I, the prophets Haggai and Zechariah urged the returned exiles to resume the work.

When Persian officials questioned whether the Jews had permission to rebuild, Darius ordered a search of the royal archives. Cyrus’s original decree was found, and Darius confirmed it. He also ordered regional officials not to interfere with the work and required them to provide financial support.

The temple was completed in 516 BC, during the sixth year of Darius’s reign.

Key passages include:

Ezra 4:24
Ezra 5:1–17
Ezra 6:1–15
Haggai 1:1
Zechariah 1:1

Xerxes I and the Book of Esther

Xerxes I is generally identified with Ahasuerus, the Persian king in the book of Esther. He ruled from 486 to 465 BC.

The events of Esther therefore occurred between the completion of the temple and the missions of Ezra and Nehemiah. Esther became queen in the seventh year of Xerxes’s reign, around 479 BC.

The royal court was located at Susa, called Shushan in some Bible translations. Susa was one of several important Persian capitals and royal residences. The empire also had centers at Babylon, Ecbatana, Pasargadae, and Persepolis.

Esther explains how God preserved the Jewish people from a plot to destroy them throughout the Persian Empire. Although God is never explicitly named in the book, his providence can be seen throughout the story.

Artaxerxes I, Ezra, and Nehemiah

Artaxerxes I ruled from 465 to 424 BC. Two important returns to Jerusalem took place during his reign.

In the king’s seventh year, approximately 458 or 457 BC, Artaxerxes authorized Ezra to travel to Jerusalem. Ezra went to teach God’s law and reform the religious life of the returned exiles.

In the king’s twentieth year, approximately 445 or 444 BC, Artaxerxes gave Nehemiah permission to return. Nehemiah rebuilt Jerusalem’s walls despite strong opposition.

See:

Ezra 7:1–28
Nehemiah 2:1–8

Chronology of Ezra-Nehemiah

Was Susa the Capital of Persia?

Susa, or Shushan, was an important administrative capital and royal residence. It is the primary setting of Esther and is also mentioned in Daniel 8:2 and Nehemiah 1:1.

However, the Persian Empire did not have only one capital. Different Persian kings used several royal and administrative centers, including:

Pasargadae
Susa
Persepolis
Babylon
Ecbatana

For Bible readers, Susa is especially significant because Esther served in the royal court there and Nehemiah received the report about Jerusalem while serving at the citadel of Susa.

How did the Persian Empire end?

The Achaemenid Persian Empire lasted from approximately 550 to 330 BC.

Alexander the Great invaded the empire and defeated Darius III at the Battle of Gaugamela in 331 BC. Darius fled but was killed in 330 BC. Alexander then took control of the Persian Empire.

This transfer of power from Persia to Greece provides part of the historical background for Daniel’s visions, particularly Daniel 8, where the ram represents “the kings of Media and Persia” and the goat represents Greece.

Persia in Scripture

The principal biblical books connected with the Persian period are:

2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Daniel
Haggai
Zechariah

Old Testament Books in Chronological Order

The most important Persian rulers for following the biblical timeline are:

Cyrus, who allowed the exiles to return.
Darius I, under whom the temple was completed.
Xerxes I or Ahasuerus, the king in Esther.
Artaxerxes I, who authorized the missions of Ezra and Nehemiah.

Together, these kings provide the political setting for Israel’s return from exile, the rebuilding of the temple and Jerusalem, and God’s preservation of his people throughout the Persian Empire.

6 Empires That Shaped the Biblical World