After Cyrus Decree

 

After Cyrus the Great allowed the Jewish return from Babylonian exile (c. 538 BCE), Jerusalem was ruled by Persian-appointed governors, initially 

Sheshbazzar, the first governor, who began rebuilding the Second Temple, followed by leaders like Zerubbabel and the High Priest Joshua, with later key figures including Ezra (a priest/scribe) and Nehemiah(governor), all under the overarching authority of the Persian Empire, forming a semi-autonomous Jewish province called Yehud. 

Key Figures & Periods:

• Cyrus the Great (Persian King): Conquered Babylon and issued the decree allowing the return and Temple reconstruction (c. 539-538 BCE).
• Sheshbazzar: Led the first wave of returnees and laid the foundation for the Second Temple.
• Zerubbabel & Joshua: Led a larger return and reconstruction effort (c. 520-515 BCE), completing the Temple.
• Darius I (Persian King): Reissued decrees encouraging the rebuilding after initial setbacks.
• Ezra: A scribe and priest who returned later (c. 457 BCE) to reintroduce the Torah and establish a judicial system under Persian authority.
• Nehemiah: A governor (c. 445 BCE) who focused on rebuilding Jerusalem's walls and community, working alongside Ezra. 

Nature of Rule:

• Judea (Yehud) became a small, self-governing province (a satrapy) within the vast Persian Empire, known as Eber-Nari.
• Leadership alternated between Persian-appointed governors (often Jewish) and hereditary High Priests, creating a theocracy.