THE EDICT OF CYRUS (EZRA 1:1). Ezra 1:1 ‘Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of YHWH by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, YHWH 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, s... [ Continue Reading ]
THE EDICT OF CYRUS AND ITS RESULT (EZRA 1:1). In 538 BC Cyrus issued an edict allowing Jews to return to their homeland, and authorising the rebuilding of the Temple with state help. The wording of the edict given here is in terms that would be appreciated by the Jews. It was a ‘popular' version, to... [ Continue Reading ]
THE RETURN FROM EXILE OF A PORTION OF THE BABYLONIAN EXILES TOGETHER WITH THE TEMPLE VESSELS (EZRA 1:5). . We are informed of the return of the Babylonian exiles mainly because it was with them that the Temple vessels were restored to Jerusalem, but they were probably not the only exiles who return... [ Continue Reading ]