When the Bible mentions Persia, it refers to the Achaemenid [uh-KEE-muh-nid] Empire 阿契美尼德帝國 {a1-qi4-mei3-ni2-de2-di4-guo2}, a.k.a Medo-Persian Empire 瑪代波斯帝國 {mai3-dai4-bo1-si1-di4-guo2} (the latter emphasizing the two peoples that constitute the empire, Medes and Persians. It’s complicated since Persia subsumed Media first, then Lydia, then Babylon, so let’s just stick to Persia).
Persia took over all the dominions of Babylon, including the Hebrew exiles, hence starting a new series of entanglement between God, His people, and foreign powers. From these stories, we again hear about plenty of foreign kings whose names make our heads spin.
The particular difficulty with Persian kings’ names is that many of them reuse names, just like King Charles, Louis, and George in Europe. Within this one dynasty, there were 2 Xerxes, 3 Darius, and 5 Artaxerxes. That’s why some may find Ezra a little confusing when Artaxerxes stopped the temple rebuild, after which Darius resumed the rebuild, then Artaxerxes sent more exiles back after the rebuild was complete. They were two different Artaxerxeses!
We read about a total of 5 Persian Kings in Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther, starting with King Cyrus 古列 {gu3-lie4}, whose heart was moved by God to send back the Hebrew exiles to rebuild the temple, thereby fulfilling the prophecy by Jeremiah. He was known historically as Cyrus the Great.
The rebuild project was later opposed by other inhabitants around Judea during the reign of Xerxes and Artaxerxes. That Xerxes [ZURK-seez], also known as Ahasuerus [a-ha-su-EH-ruhs] 亞哈隨魯 {ya3-ha1-sui2-lu3}, was also believed to be the Persian king involved in the Book of Esther. He was likely Xerxes I in the Achaemenid Dynasty.
Artaxerxes [ahr-tuh-ZURK-seez] 亞達薛西 {ya3-da2-xue1-xi1} (likely Artaxerxes I) decreed to halt the temple rebuild, thereby delaying God’s work until King Darius 大利烏 {da4-li4-wu1} (likely Darius II). Darius, out of his fear of God, not only resumed the rebuild but also paid out of his pocket. With his support, the rebuild was completed during his reign.
After all this, a different Artaxerxes (not sure which one) played the instrumental role of returning the Jewish exiles to populate Jerusalem and rebuild its walls. He was also the one who sent back Ezra and Nehemiah.
It’s amazing how many Persian kings acted as agents of God to fulfill His promises and purposes. But then again, is it really that surprising? God can, does, and will move the hearts of all creations, kings or not, so that His will is done. Israel found itself along or against His will time and time again. What about us?