Lexical Definition

‎דָּֽרְיָוֵשׁ‎ Dârᵉyâvêsh (daw-reh-yaw-vaysh') Darius ^N:N-M-P
of Persian origin

Darius.

• § Darius = "lord"
• Darejavesh, a title (rather than name) of several Persian kings

1) Darius the Mede, the son of Ahasuerus, king of the Chaldeans, who succeeded to the Babylonian kingdom on the death of Belshazzar; probably the same as "Astyages" the last king of the Medes (538 BC)
2) Darius, the son of Hystaspes, the founder of the Perso-Arian dynasty (521 BC)
3) Darius II or Darius III
3a) Darius II, Nothus (Ochus) was king of Persia during the time of Nehemiah (424/3-405/4 BC). Darius II is the most probable because he is mentioned by Nehemiah and ruled during the time of Nehemiah
3b) Darius III, Codomannus was king of Persia during its last years at the time of Alexander the Great and was his opponent (336-330 BC)

Extended Information

• A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezr.4.5
• Also named: dar.ya.vesh (‎ד‎ָּֽ‎ר‎ְ‎י‎ָ֫‎ו‎ֶ‎ש‎ׁ "Darius" דָּֽרְיָוֵשׁ)

Brown-Driver-Briggs

Aramaic form: דָּֽרְיָוֵשׁ
‎דָּֽרְיָ֫וֶשׁ‎ proper name, masculine Darius (Old Persian Dârayaua'ush compare Spieg^{APK 81}) —

1. Darius Hystaspis, 522-485 Ezra 4:5; Hag 1:1; Hag 1:15; Hag 2:10; Zech 1:1; Zech 1:7; Zech 7:1.

2. Darius Codomannus, 336-332 Neh 12:22.

3. 'Darius the Mede,' Dan 9:1; Dan 11:1, compare Bev^{Dan. p. 19}.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Profile

Male • Persian emperor • Persian king who decreed the rebuilding of the Temple

Emperor Darius I, 'the Great', living at the time of Exile and Return

Darius, king of Persia, issued a decree allowing the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. (Ezr.4.5; Hag.1.1,15; 2.10; Zec.1.1,7; 7.1; Ezr.4.24; 5.5,6,7; 6.1,12,13,14,15)

• A Persian emperor living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezr.4.5;
• referred to as Darius דָּֽרְיָוֵשׁ, or Darius דָּֽרְיָוֵשׁ;
• father of Ahasuerus אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ i.e. Xerxes I.

Darius, mentioned in the books of Ezra, Haggai, and Zechariah, was a king of Persia who played a significant role in the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. He is often referred to as Darius I, also known as Darius the Great, who ruled the Persian Empire from 522 to 486 BC.

During the early years of Darius' reign, the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem had been halted due to opposition from the neighboring peoples (Ezra 4:5). However, in the second year of Darius' reign, the prophets Haggai and Zechariah began to prophesy to the Jews, encouraging them to resume the Temple construction (Haggai 1:1, 15; Zechariah 1:1, 7).

When the Persian officials questioned the Jews' authority to rebuild the Temple, they appealed to the decree issued by Cyrus years earlier (Ezra 5:5-7). Darius then ordered a search of the archives, and Cyrus' decree was found (Ezra 6:1). Darius issued a new decree, confirming Cyrus' original order and providing support for the Temple's reconstruction (Ezra 6:12-14).

With Darius' backing, the Jews completed the Temple reconstruction in the sixth year of his reign (Ezra 6:15). This event was a significant milestone in the restoration of Jewish worship in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile.

The mention of Darius in these biblical books demonstrates the Persian Empire's role in the history of Israel and the fulfillment of God's plan for His people.

All entries for Darius: דָּֽרְיָוֵשׁ ☩ דָּֽרְיָוֵשׁ

Related Profiles:

• Ahasuerus (child)