Chronology of the post exile: Ezra-Nehemiah
| Approx. Year | Event(s) | Reference | Notes |
| 539 BC | Fall of Babylon | Dan 5:30 | Cyrus 550-530BC in Persia |
| 539 – 538 | First year of Cyrus in Babylon | Ezra 1:1-4 | Cyrus 539-530BC over Babylon |
| 538 | Zerubbabel and 1st return of the exiles | Ezra 1-6 | . |
| 537 | Building of Altar | Ezra 3:1-3 | 7th month = Tishri – Sep/Oct |
| 536 | Work on temple begins | Ezra 3:8 | . |
| 536 – 530 BC | Opposition during Cyrus’s reign | Ezra 4:1-5 | . |
| 530 – 520 BC | Work on temple ceases | Ezra 4:24 | Persian Kings: Cambyses 530-522 Smerdis 522 |
| 520 | Work begins again under Darius | Ezra 5:2 | Darius I 522-486 |
| 520 | Events of book of Haggai | Hag 1 | . |
| 520 – 518 BC | Events of book of Zechariah 1-8 | Zec 1 | . |
| 516 | Temple completed | Ezra 6:15 | . |
| 483 – 471 BC | Events of Book of Esther | Esther | Xerxes I (Ahasuerus) 486-465 |
| 458 | Ezra and 2nd return of exiles | Ezra 7-10 | . |
| 445 – 444 BC | 20th year Artaxerxes 1 | Neh 1:1 | Artaxerxes I (Artahasta) 465-424; Chislev= Nov/Dec |
| 444 | Nehemiah approaches King | Neh 2:1 | Nisan=Mar/Apr |
| 444 | Nehemiah and 3rd return of exiles | Neh 2:11 | . |
| 444 | wall complete | Neh 6:15 | Elul = Aug/Sep |
| 444 – 432 BC | Nehemiah governor of Judah | Neh 5:14 | . |
| 432 | Nehemiah goes to Babylon | Neh 13:6 | . |
| 430? | Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem | Neh 13:6 | Xerxes II 424; Darius II 423-404 |
Series: Nehemiah: Restoration & Redemption
List of the Kings of Persia
Photo by Marten Bjork on Unsplash
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