In respect to the Persian monarchs mentioned in this and the two following books, there is not an entire agreement among biblical scholars. The following table, formed in accordance with the views that seem to be best supported, will be useful to the reader. It contains, arranged in three parallel columns, first the names of the Persian kings in their order of succession, as given by profane historians; secondly, their scriptural names; thirdly, the dates of their accession to the throne, according to the received chronology. Cyrus, Cyrus, Ezra 1:1, etc., B.C. 536. Cambyses, Ahasuerus, Ezra 4:6, " 529. Smerdis,[1] Artaxerxes, Ezra 4:7-23, " 522. Darius Hystaspis, Darius, Ezra 4:24-6:15,[2] " 521. Xerxes, Ahasuerus, Esther throughout,[3] " 485. Artaxerxes Longimanus, Artaxerxes, Ezra 7:1, etc.; Neh. 2:1, etc. " 464. [Footnote 1: He was a usurper who reigned less than a year.] [Footnote 2: But in Neh. 12:22, Darius Nothus or Darius Codomanus must be referred to.] [Footnote 3: Some suppose Darius, others Artaxerxes, to have been the Ahasuerus of Esther.] 26. The book of _Nehemiah_ continues the history of the Jewish people after the restoration, beginning with the commission which Nehemiah received from Artaxerxes Longimanus, king of Persia, in the twentieth year of his reign (B.C. 446), to go to Jerusalem in the capacity of Tirshatha, or civil governor, for the purpose of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and setting in order the affairs of the commonwealth. The book naturally falls into three divisions. The _first_ division contains the history of his labors in rebuilding the walls of the city and putting an end to the practice of usury, and of the violent opposition and intrigues of the surrounding people. Chaps. 1-7:4. To this is appended a genealogical list, which is the same for substance as that contained in the second chapter of Ezra. Ch. 7:5-73.