Darius the Mede is also known as Cyrus the Great of Persia. This king plays a significant role in allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem, rebuild the walls, and restore the Temple. It is speculated that Daniel died about 530 BCE as he was still alive when Cyrus the Great conquered Persia in 538 BCE. This means that Daniel would have witnessed the first wave of Jews returning to Jerusalem as prophesied by Jeremiah, but would have died about age 93 before the Temple was restored.
Author: Yahulia
Chapter 5 – The Hand Writes on the Wall
The Babylonian kingdom is divided at this time between the Medes and the Persians. Esther was crowned Queen of Persia; however, she did not come to royal stature until sometime after 486 BCE. The Temple had been restored by that time and the first wave of Jews had been freed from captivity to live in Jerusalem. Many Jews were comfortable with their lives in Babylon and remained there until after the events in Esther when there was a second exodus from Persia back to Jerusalem.
Chapter 2 – The Dream of the Statue
This event was only two years into Nebuchadnezzar’s reign. The time of preparation for Daniel and the other boys was three years. Because of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, their time in preparation was cut short and they were given places of authority, and Daniel became a prominent member of the king’s court. Eunuchs were never made rulers over provinces or given authority over other men. This is where the controversy comes over whether or not these boys of noble birth were made eunuchs.
One, Unique – Hebrew: Echad
When Yeshua was at the Temple during Hanukkah, (the Feast of Dedication), he told the people that he and his Father are an ‘undivided oneness.’ They cannot be separated into two gods or persons. They are ‘uniquely one.’