King Artaxerxes ruled the Persian Empire from 465-424 B.C. The strength and influence the Empire achieved under the leadership of Cyrus and Darius was beginning to decline; partially because of rebellions in Babylon and Egypt. But more importantly, both Cyrus and Darius acknowledged that God enabled them to expand the empire. They provided the Jews with an opportunity to renew their relationship with God. King Artaxerxes stopped the Jews from building a wall to protect the temple and the city of Jerusalem that was still in ruins.
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