Analysis of Jews Narration on Reconstruction of Jewish Temple during Achaemenid Period

Construction and foundation of temples and welfare buildings is one of the most important thematic of the ancient texts of Near East and Middle East such as the tracts of Torah (Old Testament). Studying the Book of Ezra, one of the tracts of Torah, determines that Cyrus possibly issued a decree to permit the reconstruction of the Yahweh Temple in Jerusalem. But this decree was the “permission” for reconstruction of the temple not a “defense” for the construction process. Thus the acknowledgement of the Cyrus’s “decree” does not means that he had supported the heterogeneous local religions such as Judaism in his territory and defended their building construction. Moreover, there is no evidence regarding the Cyrus’s or any other Achaemenid King’s belief and faith to Yahweh. Thus, historical documents show, contrary to the public opinion, that Achaemennids had no interest to support the reconstruction of the Jerusalem temple. Historical data specify that Darius I supported the reconstruction of Jewish temple following a change in Achaemenid’s policies over provinces.