1. These things happened during the first year that Darius son of Ahasuerus was king. Darius was a Mede by birth, but he was appointed to be the king of Babylon.
2. During his first year as king, I was studying the Scriptures and noticed in the Lord’S message to Jeremiah that 70 years would pass before Jerusalem would be rebuilt.
3. Then I turned to the Lord God. I prayed to him and asked him for help. I did not eat any food. I put ashes on my head and put on the clothes that showed I was sad.