The Persian Empire, under the rule of its kings, played a significant role in the history of Israel and the Jewish people during the post-exilic period. The Bible mentions several Persian kings who interacted with the Jewish people, particularly in the context of the return from Babylonian exile and the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. Three notable kings of Persia mentioned in the Bible are Cyrus the Great, Darius I, and Artaxerxes I.

Cyrus the Great

Cyrus the Great, also known as Cyrus II, is one of the most prominent figures in biblical history due to his decree that allowed the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. His reign began around 559 BC, and he is credited with founding the Achaemenid Empire. The Bible regards Cyrus as a divinely appointed instrument for the liberation of the Jewish people. In Isaiah 45:1, the Lord refers to Cyrus as "His anointed," saying, "This is what the LORD says to Cyrus His anointed, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him, to disarm kings, to open the doors before him so that the gates will not be shut." Cyrus's decree is recorded in Ezra 1:2-4, where he proclaims, "The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and has appointed me to build a house for Him at Jerusalem in Judah."

Darius I

Darius I, also known as Darius the Great, ruled from 522 BC to 486 BC. He is noted for his administrative genius and for consolidating the Persian Empire. In the biblical narrative, Darius is significant for his support of the Jewish efforts to rebuild the Temple. After the work on the Temple had been halted due to opposition, the prophets Haggai and Zechariah encouraged the people to resume construction. The local authorities questioned this renewed effort, leading to an inquiry sent to Darius. In response, Darius issued a decree that not only confirmed Cyrus's original decree but also provided resources for the construction. Ezra 6:12 records Darius's decree: "May God, who has caused His Name to dwell there, overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to alter this decree or to destroy this house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued the decree; let it be carried out with diligence."

Artaxerxes I

Artaxerxes I reigned from 465 BC to 424 BC and is known for his interactions with Ezra and Nehemiah, two key figures in the restoration of Jerusalem. Artaxerxes granted Ezra permission to return to Jerusalem with a group of exiles and provided him with resources to beautify the Temple and enforce the Law of Moses. Ezra 7:27-28 reflects Ezra's gratitude: "Blessed be the LORD, the God of our fathers, who has put it into the king’s heart to bring honor to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem in this way and who has shown me favor before the king and his counselors and all his powerful officials." Later, Artaxerxes also authorized Nehemiah to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the city's walls, as recorded in Nehemiah 2:8, where Nehemiah states, "And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests."

These three kings of Persia, through their decrees and support, played pivotal roles in the fulfillment of God's promises to restore His people and their place of worship in Jerusalem. Their actions, as recorded in the Bible, underscore the sovereignty of God in using even foreign rulers to accomplish His divine purposes.