III. ARTAXERXES. Ezra gives this name to the Magus, called by Justin, Oropastes; by Herodotus, Smerdis; by Æschylus, Mardus; by Ctesias, Sphendadates. This Magus, after the death of Cambyses, usurped the Empire of the Persians, pretending to be Smerdis the Son of Cyrus, whom Cambyses had put to death. This is the Artaxerxes who wrote a letter to his Governours beyond the Euphrates, signifying to them, that having received the advice which they had given relating to the Jews, he had ordered the records to be consulted, and had found that Jerusalem was formerly a powerful City, which had revolted from the Kings of old; that therefore he required them to acquaint the Jews with his commands, to desist from their undertaking to rebuild Jerusalem, till they should receive further orders: Which was punctually executed. Thus from the year of the Word 3483, the Jews did not dare to work upon the repairs Neh. i, ii.which they had begun, of the City walls, till 3550, when Nehemiah obtained permission to rebuild them, from Artaxerxes Tit. iii. 12.Longimanus.
Library / Calmet's Dictionary of the Holy Bible, Complete and Unabridged
Volume I · A
Artaxerxes (III)
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Augustin Calmet, O.S.B., “Artaxerxes (III),” in Calmet's Dictionary of the Holy Bible, Complete and Unabridged, English translation, Mind of the Church, https://mindofthechurch.com/works/calmet-dictionary/a/artaxerxes-3/.