Return of the Jews and administration of Yehud under Persian rule (538–332 BCE)

1. Cyrus captures Babylon and issues restoration decree

   Oct 12, 539 BCELabels: Cyrus II, Babylon, Restoration Decree

   • British Museum
   • Cyrus Cylinder

2. Initial return to Judah authorized under Cyrus

   Jan 1, 538 BCELabels: Return Migration, Yehud, Persian Authorization

   • Britannica
   • Cyrus Cylinder

3. Second Temple altar established and foundations begun

   Jan 1, 536 BCELabels: Second Temple, Altar, Foundation Laying

   • Second Temple
   • Yehud

4. Temple rebuilding resumes under Haggai and Zechariah

   Jan 1, 520 BCELabels: Haggai, Zechariah, Temple Reconstruction

   • Second Temple
   • Book of Ezra

5. Darius I confirms and funds the Temple project

   Jan 1, 519 BCELabels: Darius I, Royal Decree, Temple Funding

   • Book of Ezra
   • Second Temple

6. Second Temple completed in Darius I’s reign

   Jan 1, 516 BCELabels: Second Temple, Darius I, Jerusalem

   • Second Temple
   • Book of Ezra

7. Ezra’s mission to Jerusalem under Artaxerxes I

   Jan 1, 458 BCELabels: Ezra, Artaxerxes I, Religious Reform

   • Book of Ezra
   • Ezra

8. Nehemiah arrives to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls

   Jan 1, 444 BCELabels: Nehemiah, Jerusalem Walls, Fortification

   • Britannica
   • Nehemiah

9. Nehemiah serves as Persian-appointed governor of Yehud

   Jan 1, 444 BCELabels: Nehemiah, Governor of, Administrative Reform

   • Britannica
   • Nehemiah 5

10. Elephantine community petitions Bagohi, governor of Yehud

    Jan 1, 407 BCELabels: Elephantine, Bagohi, Petition Papyrus

    • COJS
    • Elephantine Papyri

11. Yehud provincial coinage begins in mid-4th century BCE

    Jan 1, 350 BCELabels: Yehud Coinage, Silver Shekel, Provincial Mint

    • Yehud coinage
    • COJS

12. Alexander’s Levant campaign ends Achaemenid rule in Judah

    Oct 1, 332 BCELabels: Alexander the, Levant Campaign, Achaemenid End

    • Siege of Gaza
    • Yehud