Recently

Recently I provided a chart of the ancient Kings who ruled in Israel and Judah. I did this to make it easier to read and understand scriptures that mention these kings. However, the Bible in the book of Daniel and elsewhere refers to non-Jewish Kings. Here is a chart that lists those kings and the years that they reigned beginning almost 1000 years before Christ. Out of this list, several kings stand out as important. Nebuchadnezzar, Darius, and Cyrus are just some examples. These three were used by God and may have been God’s servants used in important ways.

ASSYERIA

Assur-nasipal II 885  –  860

Shalmaneser II 860-825

Shamsi-adad  825 – 808

Adad-nirari  808 – 783

Shamaneser III  783 – 771

Assur-dayan 771 – 753

Assur-lush 753 – 747

Tiglath-pileser III  (Pul) 747 – 727

Shalmaneser IV 727 – 722

Sargon II 722 – 705

Sennacherib 705 – 681

Esar-haddon 681 – 668

Assur-banipal  (Sardanopalus, Osnapper) 668 – 626

Assur-etil-iliani and Sin-sar-iskun (Saracos)  626 – 607

BABYLON

Nabopalassar 625 – 604

Nebuchadbessar 606 – 561

Evil-merodach 561 – 560

Neriglissar 559 – 556

Labash-marduk 556

Nabonidus/Belshazzar 555 – 536

Jewish captivity 70 years – as prophesized

PERSIA

Cyrus 538 – 529  permitted Jews to return home Isaiah prophecy fulfilled

Cambyses (Artaxerxes) 529 – 522

Darius  I  (Hystaspes) 521 – 485 authorized completion of the previously sacked Temple

Xerxes (Ahasuerus) 485 – 465

Artaxexes I (Longimanus) 465 – 425 authorized Nehemiah to re-build Jerusalem

Xerxes II 424

Darius II (Nothius) 423 – 405

Artaxerxes II (Mnemon) 405 – 358

Artaxerxes III  (Ochus)  358 – 338

Arses 338 – 335

Darius III  (Codomanus) 335 – 331 (defeated by Alexander the Great)