The Near East at the Time of Isaiah
c. 740 b.c. The prophecies of Isaiah are set against the backdrop of a rising Assyrian Empire. This resurgent ancient nation posed a great threat to… Read More »The Near East at the Time of Isaiah
c. 740 b.c. The prophecies of Isaiah are set against the backdrop of a rising Assyrian Empire. This resurgent ancient nation posed a great threat to… Read More »The Near East at the Time of Isaiah
c. 479 b.c. Long before Esther’s time, the people of Israel and Judah (later called Jews) had been dispersed throughout the Near East by the Assyrians… Read More »The Persian Empire at the Time of Esther
c. 445 b.c. Though Nehemiah gives a careful listing of the sections of Jerusalem’s walls that were rebuilt, it is difficult to be certain exactly which… Read More »Jerusalem at the Time of Nehemiah
c. 450 b.c. During the time of Nehemiah, the Persian Empire had reached its greatest extent, engulfing nearly the entire Near East. In 539 b.c. the Persians under… Read More »The Persian Empire at the Time of Nehemiah
538–515 b.c. Among the first tasks undertaken upon the exiles’ return was the rebuilding of the altar and the temple. Almost immediately the altar was set… Read More »Jerusalem at the Time of Zerubbabel
538–332 b.c. Under Persian rule, the lands of Israel (now called Samaria) and Judah (now called Judea) were minor provinces within the satrapy called Beyond the… Read More »Judea under Persian Rule
c. 458 b.c. During the time of Ezra the Persian Empire had reached its greatest extent, engulfing nearly the entire Near East. In 539 b.c. the Persians under… Read More »The Persian Empire at the Time of Ezra
c. 702 b.c. In anticipation of an Assyrian attack, King Hezekiah of Judah fortified Jerusalem, repairing broken sections of the wall and redirecting the flow of… Read More »Hezekiah Fortifies Jerusalem
c. 722 b.c. During the reign of King Ahaz of Judah, both Israel and Judah had become vassals (semi-independent subjects) of Assyria. Later, however, King Hoshea… Read More »Judah after the Fall of Israel
c. 767–740 b.c. A power vacuum created by Assyria’s attack and withdrawal from Syria allowed King Azariah (also called Uzziah) of Judah to recover land that… Read More »Judah’s Resurgence during Uzziah’s Reign
848 b.c. Perhaps emboldened by Moab’s rebellion from Israel a few years earlier, Edom revolted against the rule of King Jehoram (also called Joram) of Judah.… Read More »Edom and Libnah Revolt
Early in Jehoshaphat’s reign over Judah, the Moabites rebelled and gained independence from Israel. Soon after this they formed a coalition with the Ammonites and… Read More »The Moabite Alliance Attacks Judah