1. The Persian Empire in the Old Testament

2. Location

3. History Down from Central Asia ca. 1000 BC

4. History Down from Central Asia ca. 1000 BC Displaced the Elamites

5. History Down from Central Asia ca. 1000 BC Displaced the Elamites Conquers the Medes in 550 BC

6. Cyrus the Great (rules 559-530 BC)

7. Cyrus the Great Invades Asia Minor

8. Cyrus the Great Invades Asia Minor Lydia (King Croesus), an ally of Babylon

9. Cyrus the Great

10. Invades Asia Minor Lydia (King Croesus), an ally of Babylon Cyrus withdraws; attacks Babylon 539

11. Cyrus the Great

12. History

13. Nabonidus of Babylon (556-539)

14. Interests in history, archaeology

15. Nabonidus of Babylon (556-539) Interests in history, archaeology Devoted to goddess Sin (“Angers Marduk”)

16. Nabonidus of Babylon (556-539) Interests in history, archaeology Devoted to goddess Sin 10-year absence (Belshazzar, co-regent)

17. Cyrus conquers Babylon (539)

18. Conquest of Babylon Conquers nearby Opis & Sippar Sends a detachment to Babylon Takes the city without a fight

19. Cyrus in Scripture 41:2, 25 “one from the east…one from the North”

20. Cyrus in Scripture 41:2, 25 44:28-5:7 This is what the LORD says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of…

21. A Zoroastrian?

22. The Cyrus Cylinder

23. On account of their complaints, the lord of the gods became furiously angry…

24. The Cyrus Cylinder [Marduk]…sought a righteous prince after his own heart, whom he took by the hand.

25. The Cyrus Cylinder He called Cyrus, king of Anshan, by name; he appointed him to lordship over the whole world.

26. The Cyrus Cylinder I am Cyrus, king of the world, the great king, the powerful king, king of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, king of the four quarters of the world.

27. The Cyrus Cylinder Marduk, the great lord, moved the noble heart of the residents of Babylon to me, while I gave daily attention to his worship.

28. The Cyrus Cylinder The gods of Sumer and Akkad—whom Nabonidus, to the anger of the lord of the gods, had brought to Babylon--

29. The Cyrus Cylinder --by the command of the Marduk, the great lord, I caused them to take up their dwelling in residences that gladdened the heart.

30. The Cyrus Cylinder

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