Questions to Ask Regarding Daniel 9:

The Bible presents four possible decrees that might fulfill this description:

  • Cyrus made a decree giving Ezra and the Babylonian captives the right to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple in 538 B.C. (Ezra in 1:1-4 and 5:13-17)
  • Darius made a decree giving Ezra the right to rebuild the temple in 517 B.C. (Ezra 6:6-12)
  • Artaxerxes made a decree giving Ezra permission, safe passage, and supplies to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple in 458 B.C. (Ezra 7:11-26)
  • Artaxerxes made a decree giving Nehemiah permission, safe passage and supplies to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the city and the walls in 445 B.C. (Nehemiah 2:1-8)Note That Ezra 4:12 and Ezra 9:9 the city was already being build and exitingThe years of the 3 Exiles were:
          1. 606 B.C.
          2. 597 B.C.
          3. 586 B.C

+ 70 years in Babylon = which is the closest date?