Persian rule of the Jews
Carousel of images for this Bible Exhibit
The Baptism of Jesus
Jesus’ baptism is depicted in the 19th-century painting. John the Baptist is wearing traditional robes made of camel hair, pouring water over Jesus, who stands before him. The dove from heaven has descended on Jesus, representing the Holy Spirit's presence.
The Spirit Descending on Jesus
This painting from 1895 shows John the Baptist pouring water over Jesus, whose head is illuminated, representing his divine nature. The Holy Spirit, represented by the dove, is descending on Jesus.
The Baptism of Christ
This Renaissance painting from 1591 imagines the scene at the Jordan River where John the Baptizer is pouring water over Jesus as the dove descends from God the Father, pictured in the clouds.
The Baptism of Christ
This Baroque period painting from 1622-1623 imagines the scene of John pouring water over Jesus while the Spirit descends in the form of a dove.
The Baptism of Christ
This 19th-century painting depicts God’s light shining down on Jesus as he rises up out of the water.
Bethany Beyond the Jordan
The baptism site known as “Bethany Beyond the Jordan” ruins on the eastern side of the Jordan River across from Jericho. This location has been preserved as the place where John the Baptist baptized Jesus.
The Baptism Site of Jesus
This is a side view of Jesus’ baptism site, known as “Bethany Beyond the Jordan,” on the eastern side of the Jordan River, across from Jericho.
The Modern Jordan River
This picture is of the modern Jordan River near the traditional baptismal site. In Jesus' day, the river would have been significantly wider with a greater water flow.
A Monument Marking Jesus’ Baptism
A cross marking the area of Jesus' baptism site overlooking the Jordan River.
St. John The Baptist Greek Orthodox Church
This is one of several churches or chapels rebuilt in this area, marking Jesus’ baptism.
Listen to this Bible Exhibit
One hundred and fifty years before it happened, Isaiah prophesied that the Lord would use Cyrus to free his people from Babylonian exile and rebuild Jerusalem Isaiah 45:1-13. In 539 BC, the Persian ruler captured Babylon in the Battle of Opis and issued a decree that the Jews could return to Jerusalem and rebuild their capital city 2 Chronicles 36:22-23. God’s prophetic word, spoken through Isaiah long before Judah was taken into Babylonian captivity, was fulfilled through Cyrus, King of Persia.
Under Persian rule, the Jews were allowed to return home, rebuild, and govern themselves with a degree of autonomy but without a king from the line of David. This led to a revival of Jewish religious life and the restoration of Jewish worship in the rebuilt temple. The Persian kings, also known as the Achaemenid Dynasty, appointed Jewish governors to oversee the province of Judea, which included Jerusalem. Persia ruled over the Jews from when Cyrus captured Babylon in 539 BC until Alexander the Great began his conquest in 333 BC.
During the second year of the reign of Darius I, 520 BC, the prophets Haggai and Zechariah encouraged the Jews to complete the temple Haggai 1:1-8, Zechariah 1:1-8. Opposition from Judah’s enemies challenged the legality of rebuilding, which led to a search of the royal archives at Ecbatana for the initial ruling Ezra 5:6–17. The discovery of the decree of Cyrus enabled the Jews to complete the temple project, which was finished on March 12, 515 BC, the third day of the month of Adar in the sixth year of Darius Ezra 6:1–22.
The Book of Esther also occurred under Persian rule during the reign of King Ahasuerus, who is also known as Xerxes Esther 1:1-3. His second son, Artaxerxes I, followed Xerxes’ reign. It was during the reign of Artaxerxes I that Nehemiah sought to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem Nehemiah 2:1-20. The Old Testament closes with the Persian Empire ruling over the Promised Land. This empire would last about 208 years before being conquered by the Greek general Alexander the Great.
