| Event |
Year |
Reference |
| Cyrus king of Persia captures Babylon |
539 b.c. |
Dan. 5:30–31 |
| First year of King Cyrus; issues proclamation freeing Jewish exiles to return |
538–537 |
Ezra 1:1–4 |
| Jewish exiles, led by Sheshbazzar, return from Babylon to Jerusalem |
537? |
Ezra 1:11 |
| Altar rebuilt |
537 |
Ezra 3:1–2 |
| Temple rebuilding begins |
536 |
Ezra 3:8 |
| Adversaries oppose the rebuilding |
536–530 |
Ezra 4:1–5 |
| Temple rebuilding ceases |
530–520 |
Ezra 4:24 |
| Temple rebuilding resumes (2nd year of Darius) |
520 |
Ezra 5:2; cf. Hag. 1:14 |
| Temple construction completed (6th year of Darius) |
516 |
Ezra 6:15 |
| Ezra departs from Babylon to Jerusalem (arrives in 7th year of Artaxerxes) |
458 |
Ezra 7:6–9 |
| Men of Judah and Benjamin assemble at Jerusalem |
458 |
Ezra 10:9 |
| Officials conduct three-month investigation |
458–457 |
Ezra 10:16–17 |