The second Darius recalled the reign of his ancestor by adopting initially a policy of conciliation towards Egypt. The Persian predilection for seeking the goodwill of Jewish communities in their provinces was demonstrated by Darius in the case of the large and prosperous community in Elephantine. This expression of favor for a people whom the Egyptians regarded as foreign adventurers annoyed the more nationalistic among them. As a result, a revolt under the Saite prince Amyrtaeus was launched in the year of Darius' death, giving rise to the short-lived Twenty-Eighth Dynasty.

The Jews were, by and large, loyal to the Achaemenids. However, they exposed themselves to criticism by insisting on sacrificing goats at the temple of Khnum in Elephantine. Arsames, the Persian satrap, forbad the practice.