Exercitations on the Epistle to the Hebrews

The account therefore before laid down being established, it is certain enough, that § 16 the Decree mentioned by Gabriel, from the going forth whereof, the seventy weeks are to be dated, was not that of the first of Cyrus, for the return of the Captivity and building of the Temple. For from thence, the period would ensue long before the just time allotted unto it, yea, before the beginning of the reign of Herod the great, where Eusebius would have them to expire. We must therefore enquire for some other Word, Decree or Commandment, from whence to date the four hundred and ninety years enquired after.

§ 17 The second Decree of the Kings of Persia in reference unto the Jews was that of Darius made in his second year, when the work of the building of the Temple was carried on through the Prophecy of Haggai and Zechariah. This is the Decree or Commandment mentioned in Ezra 6. granted by Darius, upon appeal made unto him from his neighbouring Governors; and it was a mere revival of the Decree of Cyrus, the Roll whereof was found in Achmetha in the Province of the Medes, v. 2. And this is that which Haggai and Zechariah relate unto, dating their Prophecies, from the second year of Darius, Hag. 1.2, 10. Zech. 1.1. Upon the Roll of the Kings of Persia, we find three called by the name of Darius, or Darianes, as the Jews term him. (1.) Darius Hystaspes who succeeded Cambyses, by the election of the Princes of Persia, upon the killing of Smordes Magus the Usurper. (2.) Darius Nothus who succeeded Artaxerxes Longimanus. (3.) Darius Codomanus in whom the Persian Empire had its period by Alexander the great. That the last of these can be no way concerned in the Decree, is notorious. The two others are disputed. Most learned men grant that it was Darius Hystaspes which was the Author of this Decree; and indeed that it was so, at least, that it can be ascribed unto no other Darius, we shall afterwards undeniably prove. And it is not unlikely that he was inclined unto this favour and moderation towards the Jews by his general design to relieve men from under the oppressions that were upon them during the reign of Cambyses, and to renew the Acts of Cyrus their first Emperor, who was renowned amongst them, to ingratiate himself unto Mankind, and confirm himself in that Kingdom whereunto he came not by succession. And it is not improbable, but that this was he; who was the Husband of Esther, though if so, it was not until after this Decree made in the second year of his reign, the putting away of Vashti happening in his third,