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Darius (Medo-Persian Kings)
Meaning
There were several Medo-Persian kings by the name of Darius. And they all played an important role in Bible history. The Medo-Persian Empire overthrew the Babylonian Empire later killing Belshazzar, who we read about in the book of Daniel chapter five. The first king with this name was “Darius the Mede” and he appears in the book of Daniel. Darius was ruling when the Medo-Persian Empire overtook Babylon and defeated Belshazzar without a battle. Darius installed 120 satraps. These were governors to oversee his kingdom. And it was this Darius, who is mentioned in the historical account of Daniel and the lions den. Initially the Medes were stronger than the Persians in the Medo-Persian alliance. However, over time the Persians prospered and grew while the Medes declined.
The second Darius was “Darius I” also called “Darius the Great.” He ruled from 521 to 486 BC. This is the Darius who allowed the Jewish people to return and rebuild the Temple. And we can read about him the books of Ezra, Haggai and Zechariah. It was under Darius the Great that the Persian Empire grew and was expanded toward the west. And it was this Darius, who leads the Persians in the famous battle of Marathon in 490 BC. And it’s from this battle we get the story of the 300 Spartans.
And lastly, we have “Darius the Persian” whom scholars think is either Darius II or Darius III. And this was the king we read about in the book of Nehemiah. He was the king who let Nehemiah his cupbearer return to Jerusalem as governor of the region. And it was Nehemiah, who rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem and helped restore the Temple and the people. And it was this Darious who later helped Sparta to win the Peloponnesian War.
“During the reign of Darius the Persian, a record was also kept of the Levites and priests who had been heads of their fathers’ houses in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua.” (Book of Nehemia 4:22)
“It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss. Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.” (Book of Daniel 6:1-3)
“Then King Darius wrote: To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, And steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall endure to the end. He delivers and rescues, And He works signs and wonders In heaven and on earth, Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.” (Book of Daniel 6:1-3)
“Then the people of the land tried to discourage the people of Judah. They troubled them in building, and hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.” (Book of Ezra 4:4-5)