DARIUS
(a) AVERAGE DAILY.
The identification of this character has long been an enigma. One of the proposed people was Gobryas, rejected due to a series of difficulties regarding her personal affiliation.
However, a rigorous recent investigation has revealed that Gobryas was a non-existent character, the result of the fusion of two different people, Ugbaru and Gubaru, due to an unfortunate translation of the Chronicles of Nabonidus.
Ugbaru appears on cuneiform tablets from the 6th century BC. This error in the translation of the Nabonidus Chronicle led many scholars to deny the historicity of Darius of Media.
Once Gubaru’s true identity is established, he coincides in all his personal circumstances with those reported in Daniel by Darío de Media (see Whitcomb, J. C.: “Darius the Mede”, Presbyterian and Reformed, Nutley, New Jersey, 1977).
(b) DARIO HISTASPES.
King of Persia (521-485 BC).
He confirmed Cyrus’ decree in favor of the Jews and the building of the temple (Ezra 4:5, 24; 5:5-7; 6:1-15; Hag. 1:1, 15; 2:10; Zech. 1:1, 7; 7:1). This king is credited with the consolidation of the empire of Persia, and its division into satrapies.
(c) DARIUS OF PERSIA.
Or Darius II (424-405 BC). He is only mentioned in Neh. 12:22.
For a list of the kings of Persia, see PERSIA.