In 516 BCE, 70 years after the Babylonian destruction of the 1st Temple in Jerusalem and the exile of the Judeans, it was the Persian King Cyrus, described as 'messiah' in the Bible, who allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem, permitted, encouraged and even supported the building of the 2nd Temple. The Jewish community of Persia, modern-day Iran, is one of the oldest in the Diaspora, and its historical roots each back to the 6th century BCE, the time of 1st Temple. The books of Esther, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Daniel give a favorable description of the relationship of the Jews to the court of Achaemids at Susa.
Author: Alex Rose
Published at: 2025-07-02 21:21:36
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