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.

Upon a comparison of the two catalogues, we find various differences in respect to names and numbers.  The differences of names may be explained from the fact that it was common for men to bear different titles, particularly if they were persons of distinction; as, for example, Daniel and Belteshazzar, Zerubbabel and Sheshbazzar.  It is not certain upon what principle the differences in numbers are to be explained.  The sum total of both catalogues is the same, namely, 42,360; from which it is plain that the lists are in both cases partial, since neither of them amounts to this sum.  We add the following suggestion from Grey’s Key as quoted by Scott:  “The sum of the numbers, as separately detailed, will correspond, if to the 29,818 specified by Ezra,