The Medo-Persians, led by King Cyrus II, invaded Babylonia from the east in June 539 BC and captured its capital, Babylon (1), in July of the same year. In biblical chronology (2), this occurred near the end of the Babylonian Exile (3). Within a short time, Daniel (4) became a trusted adviser to the new Medo-Persian Empire. This kingdom of the Medes (5) and the Persians (6) was later ruled by Artaxerxes II, or Ahasuerus, who married Esther (7).
 
Today, Persia is essentially synonymous with modern Iran, and this was not so different in ancient times. However, Persia as an ancient kingdom, especially when referenced along with Media, encompassed Egypt in the west to parts of India in the east, and included Asia Minor from the eastern border of Greece to Tajikistan.
 
The Medo-Persian Empire Foretold
Isaiah (8), Jeremiah (9) and Daniel all prophesied that the Medes and the Persians would overtake the Babylonian Empire. Isaiah quoted God (10) as saying, “See, I will stir up against them the Medes. . . . Their bows will strike down the young men” (Isaiah 13:17-18). Another prophecy said that the Medes would expand beyond Babylonia and affect all nations (Jeremiah 51:28). Jeremiah also provides the reason for the Medo-Persian ascendancy: “to destroy Babylon” and gain “vengeance for [God’s] temple” (Jeremiah 51:11). Daniel interpreted a dream (11) which also foretold the fall of Babylon.
 
The Writing on the Wall
Daniel also warned of Babylon’s demise on the eve of its fall, as recorded in Daniel 5:1-31. King  Belshazzar (12), called “king” because he was left in charge of political affairs while his father (Nabonidus) was away at war, was using the gold and silver utensils from the (First) temple (13) as drinking vessels in a night of debauchery. “Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall." The frightened king summoned Daniel to the banquet hall to interpret the writing. Daniel’s inspired interpretation was dire: God had pronounced judgment on Babylon, and the kingdom would be divided. By morning, “Belshazzar, king of the  Babylonians (14), was slain, and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom."
 
End of the Exile
Before the Babylonian exile even began, God told Jeremiah that Judah (15) would “become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years” (Jeremiah 25:11). Ezra (16) and others recorded that “in the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia [539 BC], in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus” (Ezra 1:1), and Cyrus allowed all the Jews (17) to return to Judah. Not only did Cyrus release the Jews, but he also returned the stolen temple articles and paid for the Jews’ rebuilding efforts from the royal treasury (Ezra 6:4-5). This was a monumental time in Israel’s history, as Jerusalem and the (Second) Temple (18) were rebuilt and The Law (19) was reinstituted. (a)
 

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The Achaemenid Empire came to a close circa 330 BC after suffering a string of military defeats at the hands of the Macedonians (20) and Alexander the Great (21).
 

For a listing of Achaemenid Dynasty Kings and info from their respective reigns,
explore www.marionmannaproject.com/kings-of-persia

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The narrative (a) offered above has been published with permission (b) and no monetary gain is being sought. Footnotes within the narrative have been inserted by The Marion County Manna Project and re-direct to our webpages (unless otherwise noted) for additional spiritual insight and reflection.
 

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If you're seeking additional info about Christianity on a more personal level, consider visiting a Christian Church here in Marion County (22). Introduce yourself to members and ask to speak with someone to learn more about Jesus. Surrendering your life to Christ (23) (c) is the most rewarding, everlasting decision you'll ever make, and it's comforting to have someone guide you as you begin your new life as a child of the Most High! May God shower you with great favor in this endeavor!
 

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Footnotes, Page Credits and External Resources appear below. Consider printing and sharing the offered PDF narrative and other listed resources with family, friends and strangers alike for use in Bible Studies (24), Home/Church Faith Sharing Groups (25), Discipleship Encounters (26) and/or Personal Faith Enrichment!
 
Modifications are welcome at [email protected].
 

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FOOTNOTES:
  (1) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/babylon
  (2) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/bible-timeline
  (3) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/exile
  (4) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/daniel-1
  (5) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/medes
  (6) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/persians
  (7) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/esther-1
  (8) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/isaiah-1
  (9) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/jeremiah-1
(10) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/God-of-the-Bible
(11) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/dreams-of-the-bible
(12) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/belshazzar
(13) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/temple-first
(14) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/babylonians
(15) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/judah
(16) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/ezra-1
(17) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/israelites
(18) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/temple-second
(19) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/the-law
(20) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/macedonians
(21) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/Alexander-the-Great
(22) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/listing-by-city
(23) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/the-gracious-visitor
(24) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/bible-studies
(25) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/christian-education
(26) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/discipleship
 
PAGE CREDITS:
  (a) "What is the Significance of the Medo-Persian Empire in Biblical History?", Got Questions Ministries, accessed September 19, 2020
https://www.gotquestions.org/Medo-Persian-empire.html
 
EXTERNAL RESOURCES
  (b)  How Do I Convert to Christianity?, Got Questions Ministries, accessed January 12, 2020    https://www.gotquestions.org/convert-to-Christianity.html
  (c) "Darius the Mede", Bible Gateway, accessed September 19, 2020
https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Darius-Mede
  (d) Bible Gateway, New International Version (NIV) Bible, accessed September 18, 2020
https://www.biblegateway.com/
  (e) "The Genealogy of the Persian Kings", The Rain, accessed September 18, 2020
https://www.therain.org/appendixes/app57.html