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Jewish Population: 70,000
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5th Century BCE
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End of Biblical Period
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4th Century BCE |
Second major migration of Jews from Babylon with Ezra the scribe and priest. Compels Jews to divorce heathen wives, teaches the law.
Nehemia arrives in Jerusalem to rebuild Jerusalem's fortifications and to supervise the community. Judah is separated from Samaria.
Nehemia completes Jerusalem wall despite harassment from Samaritans. Populates the city.
Ezra and Nehemia assemble Jews on festival of Sukkoth to explain the Torah laws. The people commit to Sabbath observance and several other laws.
Nehemia returns after 12 years in Babylon to find that the reforms have been forsaken. Reorganizes the community, expels the High Priest and returns the priest to Jerusalem, among other acts.
Samaritans erect temple on Mt. Gerzim.
Jerusalem high-priest Yochanan has brother Joshua killed prompting Persian repression of Jewish activities.
Jews continue to live in the land of Israel - and beyond the borders of Judea - in coastal towns and in Transjordan (of Tobiad family in Tob region).
Territory of Judea governed by High Priest [b] with little interference from Persians.
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Jews in Egypt (Elephantine, Aswan) practice unorthodox religion.
Yedoniah, Jewish priest in Elephantine ordered by Nehemia's
successors and Persian Satrap to observe Passover according to Jewish law.
Jewish temple in Elephantine destroyed.
Elephantine Temple rebuilt; Jews forbidden to make animal offerings.
Artaxerxes III settles some Jews in N. Persia, extending the Diaspora. |
Ezra fixes leap year calendar.
Ezra's teachings can be seen as the beginning of classical Judaism: the wall of G-d explained through textual interpretations, rather than prophecy. Ezra was in many ways the first Rabbi.
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