Zerubbabel
Grandson of King Jehoiachin and governor of Judah under Persia. He led exiles home and, with the priest Jeshua, began the rebuilding of the temple, which was finished in 515 BC.
Zerubbabel heads the list of those who returned from Babylon (Ezra 2:1–2). With Jeshua the High Priest he rebuilt the altar and began the temple (Ezra 3:1–9), and after a long halt resumed the work at the urging of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah (Ezra 5:1–2).
As a descendant of David through Jehoiachin (1 Chronicles 3:17–19) he carried royal hopes: Haggai calls him the Lord’s signet ring (Haggai 2:20–23). Both Gospel genealogies of Jesus include him (Matthew 1:12–13) (Luke 3:27).
In the timeline
- 538 BC, estimated dateThe Edict of Cyrus and the First Return
Cyrus of Persia, having taken Babylon, allows the Judean exiles to go home and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, and hands back the temple vessels. A first group returns.
- March 515 BC, estimated dateThe Second Temple Is Completed
After years of delay the returned exiles, urged on by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah and backed by a decree of Darius, finish rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. It is dedicated in the spring of 515 BC.