Darius I, also known as Darius the Great, reigned over the Persian Empire from 522 to 486 B.C.E. His reign is marked by significant administrative reforms, military conquests, and notable interactions with the Jewish people as recorded in the Bible. Darius was a member of the Achaemenid dynasty and traced his lineage to a common ancestor with Cyrus the Great, though from a different branch of the royal family.
The face of Darius I on Mount Bistun in Iran
Darius came to power following the death of Cambyses II and a brief period of chaos. According to the Behistun Inscription, Darius claimed to have overthrown a usurper named Gaumata, who had posed as Bardiya, the brother of Cambyses. Some modern scholars question this account, but the overwhelming evidence, including the inscription itself, supports Darius’s claims.
The lineage of Darius the Great according to the Behistun Inscription.
Darius I in the Biblical Record
The Bible provides a detailed account of Darius I, particularly in relation to the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. The events associated with Darius are recorded in Ezra, Haggai, and Zechariah, highlighting his involvement in the restoration of Jewish worship following the Babylonian exile.
The Halted Temple Work Resumes
The foundation of the temple in Jerusalem was laid in 536 B.C.E., during the reign of Cyrus the Great, who issued a decree allowing the Jews to return and rebuild their temple. However, the work faced opposition from neighboring peoples and was halted under Cambyses II (Ezra 4:4-5, 24).
The palace of Darius
In 520 B.C.E., the second year of Darius’s reign, the prophets Haggai and Zechariah encouraged the Jewish people to resume construction. Haggai 1:14-15 records: “And Jehovah stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and worked on the house of Jehovah of hosts, their God, on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.”
Tattenai’s Inquiry and Darius’s Response
The resumption of construction prompted Tattenai, the governor of the region west of the Euphrates, to question its legality. He wrote to Darius, requesting verification of the Jews’ claim that Cyrus had issued a decree permitting the reconstruction. Ezra 5:6-17 details this correspondence, and Ezra 6:1-12 describes Darius’s response. A search of the archives at Ecbatana confirmed Cyrus’s decree, and Darius ordered that the work not only continue but be supported with funds from the royal treasury.
Darius’s decree stated: “Moreover, I issue a decree concerning what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the rebuilding of this house of God: The full cost is to be paid to these people from the royal treasury out of the taxes of the provinces beyond the River, and that without delay” (Ezra 6:8). He further threatened severe punishment for anyone who violated this command.
Completion of the Temple
With Darius’s support and the continued encouragement of Haggai and Zechariah, the temple was completed in the sixth year of his reign, 515 B.C.E. Ezra 6:15 records: “And this house was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.” This event marked a significant milestone in the restoration of Jewish worship.
The Darius seal. Darius stands in a royal chariot below Ahura Mazda and shoots arrows at a rampant lion.
Administrative and Political Achievements
Darius I is renowned for his administrative genius, which helped stabilize and expand the Persian Empire. He divided the empire into satrapies, or provinces, each overseen by a governor. This system allowed efficient governance over a vast territory stretching from India to the Balkans. The Bible’s reference to the “satraps” and regional governors in Ezra 5:3 and Daniel 6:1 aligns with Darius’s administrative structure.
The Behistun Inscription
One of the most important historical records of Darius’s reign is the Behistun Inscription, a monumental trilingual carving on a cliff in modern-day Iran. Written in Old Persian, Elamite, and Babylonian, the inscription recounts Darius’s rise to power and his suppression of rebellions across the empire. It also lists the nations under his control, providing valuable corroboration of the vast extent of his rule.
Deposition plate of Darius I in Persepolis.
The inscription’s description of Darius as “a Persian, son of a Persian, an Aryan, of Aryan lineage” underscores his connection to the Achaemenid dynasty. The details of his military campaigns and administrative reforms in the Behistun Inscription support the biblical portrayal of Darius as a powerful and organized ruler.
The name of Darius I in Old Persian cuneiform on the DNa inscription of his tomb: Dārayavauš (𐎭𐎠𐎼𐎹𐎺𐎢𐏁)
Darius’s Religious Tolerance
Although Darius was a devotee of Ahura Mazda, the primary deity of Zoroastrianism, his policies reflect a degree of religious tolerance. This is evident in his support for the rebuilding of the Jewish temple, which served to maintain stability and loyalty within his empire. His actions were consistent with the Persian tradition of respecting local customs and religions, as demonstrated earlier by Cyrus’s decree recorded in Ezra 1:1-4.
Later Military Campaigns and the Battle of Marathon
In the later years of his reign, Darius turned his attention to the west, seeking to subdue Greece after several Greek city-states supported rebellions in Ionia. This led to the Persian invasion of Greece and the famous Battle of Marathon in 490 B.C.E., where his forces were decisively defeated. Despite this setback, Darius made extensive preparations for another campaign, though his death in 486 B.C.E. prevented its execution.
“Gaumata” being trampled upon by Darius the Great, Behistun inscription.
Archaeological Corroboration
Numerous archaeological discoveries confirm the historical accuracy of Darius’s reign as described in the Bible and secular sources. Excavations at Persepolis, the ceremonial capital of the Persian Empire, have uncovered inscriptions and artifacts bearing his name and titles. The Elephantine Papyri, a collection of documents from a Jewish settlement in Egypt, also reference Darius, illustrating the integration of Jewish communities within the Persian administrative system.
Darius’s Legacy in Biblical and Historical Context
Darius I stands as one of the most significant rulers of the ancient world, both in secular history and in the biblical narrative. His support for the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem demonstrates the providential alignment of his policies with God’s purposes, even though his actions were motivated by political and administrative considerations.
Gold foundation tablets of Darius I
The Bible portrays Darius as a key figure in the post-exilic restoration of Jewish worship, highlighting the interplay between divine sovereignty and human governance. His reign exemplifies how God can use secular rulers to accomplish his purposes, as Proverbs 21:1 affirms: “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of Jehovah; he turns it wherever he will.”
Conclusion: A Providential Ruler
Darius I’s reign serves as a testament to the reliability of the biblical record and the accuracy of historical accounts. From the rebuilding of the temple to the administrative reforms that stabilized the Persian Empire, Darius’s actions illustrate the intersection of history and theology. The archaeological and historical evidence corroborates the biblical narrative, affirming the trustworthiness of Scripture and the faithfulness of Jehovah in preserving his people.
EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).
Online Guided Bible Study Courses
SCROLL THROUGH THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES BELOW
BIBLE TRANSLATION AND TEXTUAL CRITICISM
BIBLICAL STUDIES / BIBLE BACKGROUND / HISTORY OF THE BIBLE/ INTERPRETATION
