1. Cyrus the Great: Prior to Darius' rule, his predecessor, Cyrus the Great, had conquered Babylon in 539 BC and issued the Edict of Restoration, allowing Jews to return to Judea and rebuild the Second Temple.
2. Darius' Policy: Darius continued the policies of Cyrus and further fostered a favorable environment for the Jews. He showed respect for their religion and customs and allowed them to practice their faith freely.
3. Rebuilding of the Temple: With Darius' support, Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, and the high priest Joshua led the efforts to reconstruct the Second Temple in Jerusalem. The project faced some challenges initially but was eventually completed around 516 BC during Darius' reign.
4. Encouragement and Resources: Darius provided significant resources and financial support to aid the rebuilding of the Temple. He issued decrees that authorized the use of royal funds for the construction and supplied materials such as cedar logs from Lebanon.
5. Support for Temple Activities: Darius also ensured that daily sacrifices and offerings continued at the Temple. He issued a decree allocating a daily allotment of grain, wine, oil, and livestock to the priests and Levites for the Temple services.
6. Protection of Jewish Community: Darius' policies ensured the protection of the Jewish community in Judea and facilitated their religious and cultural practices. This created an environment of relative stability and security for the Jews during his rule.
Overall, Darius the Great exhibited positive and supportive relations with the Jewish people. His policies and support contributed to the successful reconstruction of the Second Temple and allowed the Jews to practice their faith freely, setting the stage for further developments and interactions between the Jewish community and the Persian Empire.