Category:Cambyses II (subject)
Cambyses II was King of Persia, from 530 to his death in 522 BCE.
Biography
Cambyses II was the son of Cyrus the Great. In official documents, his name is associated with that of his father in leading religious ceremonies since 539 BCE.
Cambyses II became emperor when Cyrus died in battle in 530 BCE. He added Egypt to the territories of the Empire in 525 BCE.
It is unclear whether Cambyses' death in 522-523 BCE was accident, suicide or murder.
Cambyses II and the Jews
As King of Persia, Cambyses II was the ruler of Judea. Under his tenure, no significant progress was made in the reconstruction project of the Jerusalem Temple, initiated by Sheshbazzar under Cyrus. Josephus attributes to the opposition of the nearby nations and to the decision of the king a nine-year stop to the work of reconstruction of the city of Jerusalem and the Temple.
Cambyses II in Second Temple Jewish sources
Josephus, Jewish Antiquities
Ant XI 2:1-2 -- ...When Cambyses, the son of Cyrus, had taken the kingdom, the governors in Syria, and Phoenicia, and in the countries of Amlnon, and Moab, and Samaria, wrote an epistle to Calnbyses; whose contents were as follow: "To our lord Cambyses. We thy servants, Rathumus the historiographer, and Semellius the scribe, and the rest that are thy judges in Syria and Phoenicia, send greeting. It is fit, O king, that thou shouldst know that those Jews which were carried to Babylon are come into our country, and are building that rebellious and wicked city, and its market-places, and setting up its walls, and raising up the temple; know therefore, that when these things are finished, they will not be willing to pay tribute, nor will they submit to thy commands, but will resist kings, and will choose rather to rule over others than be ruled over themselves. We therefore thought it proper to write to thee, O king, while the works about the temple are going on so fast, and not to overlook this matter, that thou mayst search into the books of thy fathers, for thou wilt find in them that the Jews have been rebels, and enemies to kings, as hath their city been also, which, for that reason, hath been till now laid waste. We thought proper also to inform thee of this matter, because thou mayst otherwise perhaps be ignorant of it, that if this city be once inhabited and be entirely encompassed with walls, thou wilt be excluded from thy passage to Celesyria and Phoenicia."
[2] When Cambyses had read the epistle, being naturally wicked, he was irritated at what they told him, and wrote back to them as follows: "Cambyses the king, to Rathumus the historiographer, to Beeltethmus, to Semellius the scribe, and the rest that are in commission, and dwelling in Samaria and Phoenicia, after this manner: I have read the epistle that was sent from you; and I gave order that the books of my forefathers should be searched into, and it is there found that this city hath always been an enemy to kings, and its inhabitants have raised seditions and wars. We also are sensible that their kings have been powerful and tyrannical, and have exacted tribute of Celesyria and Phoenicia. Wherefore I gave order, that the Jews shall not be permitted to build that city, lest such mischief as they used to bring upon kings be greatly augmented." When this epistle was read, Rathumus, and Semellius the scribe, and their associates, got suddenly on horseback, and made haste to Jerusalem; they also brought a great company with them, and forbade the Jews to build the city and the temple. Accordingly, these works were hindered from going on till the second year of the reign of Darius, for nine years more; for Cambyses reigned six years, and within that time overthrew Egypt, and when he was come back, he died at Damascus.
Cambyses II in Scholarship
Cambyses II in Fiction
Since the 16th century, Cambyses has appeared as a character in several works of fiction, but not in relation with events of Second Temple Judaism.
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