Credit: chiasticstructures.com (toddmoore@comcast.
net)
539 Cyrus' decree & Zerubbabel (incl Jeshua and Sheshbazzar) 455 Nehemiah was appointed governor of Judea (probably based
allowed the return with 1st group. Cyrus began his reign in the Fall on Mordecai’s influence) and Ezra's 2nd return to Jerusalem in the 20th
(~Tishri). Thus, 539 = 539.5 and same goes for most other year dates in year of Artaxerxes (when "Hakhel" Torah reading ceremony was
this list apart from Springtime exceptions such as Daniel’s last week split observed). Later that year, in the ninth month (Chislev), the people were
into halves. assembled in Jerusalem due to a violation of the laws about marrying
foreign women. This was the second convocation of that year and the
538 Zerubbabel and Jeshua built an altar and celebrated Feast of issue carried into the new year.
Tabernacles
443 After twelve years as governor, Nehemiah left Judea during the
537 Foundation of 2nd Temple began in 2nd year after their arrival 32nd year of Artaxerxes. Malachi may have prophesied during this or the
in Jerusalem following time of Nehemiah's absence.
536 Adversaries frustrate the building of the temple during reign of 424 Nehemiah returned a 2nd time to Jerusalem (probably after
Cyrus Artaxerxes I died in 424 BC). At that time, he found more non-compliance
issues that needed reform (including desecration of the temple).
525 Work began in earnest on the Temple (possibly motivated by
490-year anniversary of 1st temple) 22 If the 62 weeks began in 455 BC, then it ended in 22 BC, but
was followed by the last 49-year jubilee sequence
524 Work stopped by Cambyses (whose title is Artaxerxes) after he
became uncontested ruler after defeat of Egypt. AD 29 Christ’s baptism followed later with the beginning of his 3.5-
year ministry. Just as king David, Christ was anointed with the Holy Spirit
522 Darius I vows generally to allow temple work when he begins
for (kingly/theocratic) service less than three months short of his 30th
his reign (late in accession year "0")
birthday (and so he was “about” 30 years old). Jesus’ baptism likely
520 Darius I granted specific permission for cup-bearer Zerubbabel occurred in the Fall (e.g., 10 Tishri would have been 16 to 18 Oct). If the
to rebuild the Temple; Haggai & Zechariah prophesy during Darius' 2nd Sabbath year was 28/29 (contra Wacholder who espoused 27/28), then
year calling the Jews under Zerubbabel to rebuild the Second Temple this Tishri 29/30 would mark the beginning of the 10th Jubilee year since
the restart in 462 BC. Thus, Jesus’ baptism was 490 years from that date
516 2nd Temple was completed in Darius' 6th year and also 483 years after the 20th year of Artaxerxes I in 455 BC. In John 2
Jesus indicated the end of the Jubilee was still 4 months away. Sometime
515 Celebration of 1st Passover since exile later, in Luke 4, Jesus proclaimed the Jubilee year while in the synagogue
489 Xerxes (whose title is Artaxerxes) grants permission for Ezra's in Nazareth.
1st visit to Jerusalem (4-month journey) AD 33 If Jesus’ baptism marked the beginning of the last week, then
476 Nehemiah receives bad news regarding unprotected state of his crucifixion on 03 Apr AD 33 (and then resurrection) marked the mid-
Jerusalem point of the week. At the crucifixion, Jesus ratified the new covenant with
his own sacrificial death on the cross. Thus, he fulfilled the OT sacrifices
475 Cup-bearer Nehemiah's depression becomes evident to Xerxes, (and at the same time invalidated the old covenant by means of the
who grants permission to Nehemiah to leave Susa on horseback. new).
Jerusalem wall construction completed in Fall, 52 days after it began.
(Nehemiah likely then returned to Susa.) AD 67 The new beginning point of the 3.5 years could be when Rome
officially declared war on Israel in Spring of AD 67. Nero formally
474 A letter against the Jews is sent from opposition to Artaxerxes commissioned Vespasian as his general to lead the war. Vespasian
(also named Ahasuerus) in his 1st year marched into Judea with an army of 60,000 men. At least 150,000 Jewish
inhabitants of Galilee and Judea were killed in the coming months.
472 In his 3rd year Artaxerxes dismisses Queen Vashti
AD 70 The war continued to the climactic destruction of Jerusalem 3.5
469 Search for new queen results in Esther being brought to the years later in August of AD 70.
king's custodian and prepared for 1 year (while concealing Jewishness)
468 Esther won the beauty pageant and went in to King Artaxerxes
in “the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth/Tevet, in the seventh
year of his reign”
463 After a long process, the appropriate date for judgment of the
Jews was finally determined by Haman by the last month (on 14 Adar)
462 On 13 Nisan (in the 1st month) the King's scribes endorsed
Haman's date as an edict for the end of that year. However, on 23 Nisan
(LXX) the King authorized the Jews to defend themselves against the
attack on the 13th - which is the same day as the previous edict (MT) or
day prior to the previous edict (LXX). On 13 Adar – the Jews overcame
their adversaries (Esther 9:1). Feast of Purim is instituted on the 14th and
15th day of Adar. This providential day of freedom and deliverance likely
inspired the Jews to restart the jubilee cycle that year. Tishri to Tishri
post-exilic Sabbath years are marked as red-purple on the list. Possible
Jubilee years would then be marked as purple-blue.
