Tour · c. 538 BC

The first return and the second Temple

Babylon Ezra 1:1–2:1
Cyrus king of Persia proclaims: "he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem"; he gives back the vessels of the Temple, and the exiles go up from Babylon.
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Joppa Ezra 3:7 · ≈ 910 km in a straight line
Cedar is brought from Lebanon by sea to Joppa for the house of God, by leave of Cyrus.
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Jerusalem Ezra 3:8–13 · ≈ 55 km in a straight line
The foundation of the Temple is laid with trumpets and song, "for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel"; old men who had seen the first house weep aloud.
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Ecbatana Ezra 4:24–6:12 · ≈ 1,280 km in a straight line
In the second year of Darius the builders begin again, with the prophets Haggai and Zechariah helping them; asked by the governor, Darius has the archives searched, a scroll with Cyrus's decree is found at Ecbatana in Media, and he orders the work to go on.
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Jerusalem Ezra 6:15–22 · ≈ 1,280 km in a straight line
The house is finished in the sixth year of Darius and dedicated with joy, and those come again out of the captivity keep the Passover.
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