What does the Bible say about medo-persian kingdom?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible presents the Medo-Persian kingdom as a mighty but temporary world empire, raised and governed under God’s sovereign purpose. Daniel foretells it as the inferior kingdom following Babylon, pictured as a bear and as a ram with two horns, explicitly identified as “the kings of Media and Persia” in Daniel 2:39, Daniel 7:5, and Daniel 8:3, 20. Esther depicts its vast dominion, extending over 127 provinces, and records Persian royal life and administration in Esther 1:1-2 and Esther 8:15. Ezra 6:2 shows Persia’s role in preserving the decree that enabled the rebuilding of God’s temple. These accounts remind believers that even powerful nations serve the Lord’s covenant purposes.
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- Extended from India to Ethiopia Esther 1:1
- Peopled by descendants of Eliam Genesis 10:22
- Illustrated by
- Silver part of image in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream Daniel 2:32; Daniel 2:39
- A bear Daniel 7:5
- A ram with two horns Daniel 8:3; Daniel 8:20
- Shushan a chief city of Esther 1:2; Esther 8:15
- Achmetha or Ecbatana a chief city of Ezra 6:2
- Divided into many provinces Esther 1:1; Daniel 6:1
- Laws of, unalterable Daniel 6:12; Daniel 6:15
- Ruled by, absolute kings Esther 3:8; Esther 3:11; Esther 7:9
- Kings of, mentioned in scripture
- Cyrus Ezra 1:1
- Ahasuerus or Cambyses Ezra 4:6
- Artaxerxes Smerdis (an usurper) Ezra 4:7
- Darius Hystaspes Ezra 6:1; Daniel 5:31
- Xerxes Daniel 11:2
- Artaxerxes Longimanus or Ahasuerus Ezra 6:14; Ezra 7:1; Esther 1:1
- Kings of
- Called kings of Assyria Ezra 6:22
- Called kings of Babylon Nehemiah 13:6
- Styled themselves king of kings Ezra 7:12
- Dwelt in royal palaces Esther 1:2; Esther 8:14
- Were exceeding rich Esther 1:4; Daniel 12:2
- Entertained magnificently Esther 1:3; Esther 1:5; Esther 1:7
- Held in their hand a golden sceptre Esther 5:2
- Put to death all who approached them without permission Esther 4:11; Esther 4:16
- Celebrated for wise men Esther 1:13; Matthew 2:1
- People of, warlike Ezekiel 27:10; Ezekiel 38:5
- Peculiar customs in Esther 1:8; Esther 2:12; Esther 2:13
- Babylon taken by the king of Daniel 5:20; Daniel 5:31
- The Jews delivered from captivity by means of 2 Chronicles 36:20; 2 Chronicles 36:22; 2 Chronicles 36:23; Ezra 1:1-4
- Predictions respecting
- Extensive conquest Daniel 8:4
- Conquest of Babylon Isaiah 21:1; Isaiah 21:2; Daniel 5:28
- Deliverance of the Jews Isaiah 44:28; Isaiah 45:1-4
- Invasion of Greece under Xerxes Daniel 11:2
- Downfall by Alexander Daniel 8:6; Daniel 8:7; Daniel 11:3
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