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There are three [[Text:EBD:King (EBD)|kings]] designated by this name in [[Text:EBD:Scripture (EBD)|Scripture]]. (1.) The [[Text:EBD:Father (EBD)|father]] of Darius the Mede, mentioned in Dan. 9:1. This was probably the Cyaxares I. known by this name in profane history, the king of [[Text:EBD:Media (EBD)|Media]] and the conqueror of [[Text:EBD:Nineveh (EBD)|Nineveh]].

(2.) The king mentioned in Ezra 4:6, probably the Cambyses of profane history, the son and successor of [[Text:EBD:Cyrus (EBD)|Cyrus]] (B.C. 529).

(3.) The son of Darius Hystaspes, the king named in the [[Text:EBD:Esther, Book of (EBD)|Book of Esther]]. He ruled over the kingdoms of [[Text:EBD:Persia (EBD)|Persia]], Media, and [[Text:EBD:Babylon (EBD)|Babylonia]], "from India to Ethiopia." This was in all probability the Xerxes of profane history, who succeeded his father [[Text:EBD:Darius (EBD)|Darius]] (B.C. 485). In the LXX. version of the Book of Esther the name Artaxerxes occurs for Ahasuerus. He reigned for twenty-one years (B.C. 486-465). He invaded [[Text:EBD:Greece (EBD)|Greece]] with an [[Text:EBD:Army (EBD)|army]], it is said, of more than 2,000,000 soldiers, only 5,000 of whom returned with him. Leonidas, with his famous 300, arrested his progress at the Pass of Thermopylae, and then he was defeated disastrously by Themistocles at Salamis. It was after his return from this invasion that [[Text:EBD:Esther (EBD)|Esther]] was chosen as his [[Text:EBD:Queen (EBD)|queen]].