Chapter IX: The Age of Ezra, Nehemiah, and the Scribes

(516-332 B. C. E.)

PERSIAN KINGS.

521. Darius I Hystaspis,
486. Xerxes I,
465. Artaxerxes I Longimanus,
425. Xerxes II,
425. Sogdianus,
425. Darius II Nothus,
405. Artaxerxes II Mnemon,
359. Artaxerxes III Ochus,
338. Arses,
336. Darius III Codomannus.

The Samaritans accuse the Judæans of disloyalty to
Persia.

The Judæans contract marriages with their heathen
neighbors.

459. EZRA LEADS THE SECOND RETURN with the permission
of Artaxerxes I Longimanus.

457(about). _Ezra prevails upon the people to repudiate their
heathen wives._

The Samaritans under Sanballat engage in
hostilities against the Judæans.

444. NEHEMIAH LEADS THE THIRD RETURN.

The Samaritans intrigue against Nehemiah.

Internal reforms by Nehemiah.

_Ezra reads the Law to the people at Jerusalem._

The wall of Jerusalem rebuilt.

Beginnings of the GREAT ASSEMBLY (Keneseth
ha-Gedolah).

432. Nehemiah returns to Persia.

MALACHI THE LAST OF THE PROPHETS.

430-424. Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem, and continues his
reforms.

420(about). The Samaritan Temple built on Mount Gerizim.

_Synagogues established_; _the Law studied_, and the
_present form of divine service introduced_,
probably by the Council of Seventy (Synhedrion)
(_Dibre Sopherim_).

361-360. Artaxerxes II banishes Judæans to Hyrkania.

338(about). Bagoas, general of Artaxerxes III, lays the Judæans
under tribute.

The Books of Chronicles written.

332. _Alexander the Great in Judæa._