Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Peter Kirk <peterkirk AT qaya.org>]

On 24/09/2004 05:23, Yigal Levin wrote:

> Where did all this come from? ...

From the book of Daniel, obviously. Karl prefers to trust that 
historical source more than the sources you are using. And it is far 
from certain that your sources are telling the full story.

> ... Cyrus II (The Great) became king of the
> Persians in 559, and conquered Babylon in 539. His proclamation was issued
> in that year or the next. He died in 530 and was succeeded by his son
> Cambyses. Cambyses stabbed himself to death under strange circumstances in
> 522, which is when Darius took over. "Darius the Mede" is an invention of
> Daniel - there was no such king.
>  

The difficulties are not just in Daniel. 2 Chronicles 36:22 and Ezra 1:1 
(cf. Daniel 10:1) both date the order for the return to Jerusalem in the 
*first* year of Cyrus. In 2 Chronicles this verse immediately follows 
the statement that the land (not the city or the temple) had enjoyed 70 
years of desolation. Perhaps the point is (as in NIV Study Bible notes) 
that the biblical regnal years of Cyrus were counted from his capture of 
Babylon, so this refers to the first year of his reign over Babylon. But 
the text doesn't say so.

As for your "there was no such king", arguments from silence are 
dangerous. This Darius (son of Ahasuerus, 62 years old, according to 
Daniel 5:30, 9:1), could have been Cyrus' co-regent or governor of 
Babylon - perhaps to be identified with the Gubaru, governor of Babylon, 
known from ancient records.

--
Peter Kirk
peter AT qaya.org (personal)
peterkirk AT qaya.org (work)
http://www.qaya.org/