Who is…
Artaxerxes

This is the Greek form of the name of several Persian kings.

It is the name of 2 biblical kings.

1. Artaxerxes, the king who obstructed the rebuilding of the temple (Ezra 4:7)

   He was probably the Smerdis of secular history.

2. Artaxerxes, the king mentioned in Ezra 7, in the 7th year (458 BC) of whose reign Ezra led a second colony of Jews back to Jerusalem

   Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, there went up Ezra son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, —Ezra 7:1

   This was probably Artaxerxes Longimanus, who reigned for 40 years (464-425 BC), the grandson of King Darius, who, 14 years later, permitted Nehemiah to return and rebuild Jerusalem.

More information

• Persia (Iran)—What is its significance in the Bible?
• Who is Darius?
• Have archaeologists confirmed the existence of Darius the Great? Has his tomb been found?
• What is the Kingdom of Judah (aka Judea)?
• Who is governor Nehemiah?
• What is Jerusalem, and why is it highly significant in world history and future events?
• What is the book of Nehemiah?
• Who is Ezra?
• What is the Book of Ezra?
• What is Solomon’s Temple?
• About the post-Exile repair of Jerusalem’s walls and temple
• Who are the kings of the Bible?
• Answers about men of the Bible