Introduction

The times of the Jewish kings came to an end in about 600 BC when the Babylonians carried them into captivity. Now, 70 years later, the Persian king, Cyrus, is inviting the Jews to return to their land.

Verses
1Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the LORD’s word by Jeremiah’s mouth might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,
2“Cyrus king of Persia says, ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he has commanded me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
3Whoever there is amongst you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD, the God of Israel (he is God), which is in Jerusalem.
4Whoever is left, in any place where he lives, let the men of his place help him with silver, with gold, with goods, and with animals, in addition to the free will offering for God’s house which is in Jerusalem.’ ”
5Then the heads of fathers’ households of Judah and Benjamin, the priests, and the Levites, all whose spirit God had stirred to go up rose up to build the LORD’s house which is in Jerusalem.
6All those who were around them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, with animals, and with precious things, in addition to all that was willingly offered.
7Also Cyrus the king brought out the vessels of the LORD’s house, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought out of Jerusalem, and had put in the house of his gods;
8even those, Cyrus king of Persia brought out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and counted them out to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.
9This is the number of them: thirty platters of gold, one thousand platters of silver, twenty-nine knives,
10thirty bowls of gold, four hundred and ten silver bowls of a second sort, and one thousand other vessels.
11All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred. Sheshbazzar brought all these up when the captives were brought up from Babylon to Jerusalem.

Questions

1. What did God command Cyrus to do?

v 2 ... he has commanded me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.

2. What did Cyrus say to the people?

v 3 Whoever there is amongst you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD, the God of Israel (he is God), which is in Jerusalem. 

3. What did Cyrus do to help?

v 7 and 8 Also Cyrus the king brought out the vessels of the LORD’s house, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought out of Jerusalem, and had put in the house of his gods; even those, Cyrus king of Persia brought out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and counted them out to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.

Summary Points

  • v 1 to 4  Cyrus encourages those Jews who want to resettle their land saying, “may his God be with him”. People in Babylon are asked to donate gold, silver and other goods to help with the rebuilding of the house of the LORD
  • v 5 to 11  Those returning to rebuild the LORD's house are given goods to take with them. Cyrus also gives back all the treasures for the house that Nebuchadnezzar had taken to Babylon
Audio