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Ezra 1

World English Bible

WEB

1Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that Yahweh’s word by Jeremiah’s mouth might be accomplished, Yahweh 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, ‘Yahweh, 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 among 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 Yahweh, 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 Yahweh’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 Yahweh’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 ten silver bowls of a second kind, and one thousand other vessels. 11All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand four hundred. Sheshbazzar brought all these up when the captives were brought up from Babylon to Jerusalem.

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Ezra Chapter 1 marks a significant turning point in the history of Israel, as it begins with the proclamation of King Cyrus of Persia. This chapter reveals God's sovereignty in using a foreign ruler to fulfill His promises to His people. The chapter opens with Cyrus declaring that the Lord has charged him to build a house for Him in Jerusalem, thus initiating the return of the exiled Israelites to their homeland. This act fulfills the prophecy given by #Jeremiah, which foretold the return of the people after seventy years of captivity (Jeremiah 29:10). The mention of Cyrus emphasizes God's control over nations and His ability to orchestrate events for the good of His people, demonstrating that He is faithful to His covenant promises.

The chapter continues by detailing how Cyrus not only encourages the Israelites to return but also provides them with the necessary resources for the journey and the rebuilding of the temple. He returns the sacred vessels that were taken from the temple in Jerusalem, which had been stored in the temple of his gods. This act of restoration signifies a new beginning for the Jewish people, as they are called to rebuild their identity and worship in their homeland. The chapter concludes with a list of the families who returned, highlighting the communal aspect of this restoration and the importance of each individual’s role in the rebuilding process. The return to Jerusalem is not just a physical journey but a spiritual renewal, as the people are called to restore their relationship with God and reestablish proper worship in the temple.

Overall, Ezra 1 serves as a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness and the hope of restoration for His people, encouraging believers to trust in His plans and purposes. #Ezra #Cyrus #Jerusalem #Restoration

Study

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Referenced by

  1. 2 Chronicles 36:22-23v12 Chronicles 36:22-23 records the decree of Cyrus allowing the Jews to return and rebuild the temple, which is also detailed in Ezra 1:1-3, marking the fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecy.
  2. Psalms 126:1v1Psalm 126:1 speaks of the joy and amazement when the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, which is historically connected to the decree of Cyrus allowing the Israelites to return from Babylonian exile, as recorded in Ezra 1:1-3.
  3. Isaiah 45:1v1Isaiah 45:1 prophesies the role of Cyrus as God's anointed to subdue nations and release Israel from captivity. Ezra 1:1-2 records the fulfillment of this prophecy when Cyrus issues a decree to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.

Topics in this chapter

Related chapters

  • 2 Chronicles 36Cyrus DecreeReturn from ExileReligious Freedom
  • Isaiah 45CyrusPersian EmpireDivine Plan
  • Isaiah 44CyrusThe Spirit
  • Ezra 2Return from ExileCommunity Support in the BibleGiving
  • Jeremiah 29Return of ChristBabylonExile
  • Psalms 126Return from ExileCyrusReturn of Christ
  • Ezra 6King of PersiaReligious FreedomTemple Restoration
  • Haggai 1God's CallGod's WorkCovenant Renewal
  • Ezra 7Return from ExileTemple RestorationReturn of Christ
  • Nehemiah 2Exile and ReturnGod's WorkPersian Empire
  • 2 Kings 25Prophecy FulfilledBabylonExile
  • 1 Chronicles 9Temple RestorationReturn of ChristPriests

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