Jeremiah, typically associated with judgment and disobedience across his 61 biblical appearances, here uniquely validates divine sovereignty through a pagan king's decree.
Ezra 1
Cyrus's Decree to Rebuild the Temple
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 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 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.’”
The First Return and Temple Vessels
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 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.
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Theme
Ezra opens with Cyrus of Persia issuing a decree in 538 BC allowing Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple, fulfilling Jeremiah's prophecy. The LORD stirs the hearts of both the pagan king and the Jewish leaders to accomplish His purposes. Cyrus not only permits the return but provides resources and restores the sacred temple vessels that Nebuchadnezzar had taken, demonstrating God's sovereignty over earthly rulers to restore His people.
Context
This chapter begins the account of the post-exilic restoration, setting the stage for the challenges and triumphs of rebuilding both the temple and the Jewish community that will unfold throughout Ezra.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-4 Cyrus's Royal Decree The Persian king proclaims throughout his empire that the LORD has commanded him to rebuild the Jerusalem temple and calls for Jewish volunteers and financial support.
- 5-6 Jewish Response and Support Leaders from Judah, Benjamin, priests, and Levites respond to God's stirring, while their neighbors provide generous material assistance for the journey and temple reconstruction.
- 7-11 Restoration of Temple Vessels Cyrus returns 5,400 gold and silver temple articles that Nebuchadnezzar had seized, entrusting them to Sheshbazzar for transport back to Jerusalem.
Cyrus's Decree to Rebuild the Temple
1:1–1:4 narrative narration hopeful
Cyrus king of Persia issues a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple, fulfilling God's promise through Jeremiah. The decree demonstrates God's sovereignty over foreign rulers to accomplish His purposes for His people.
person_contrast
Jeremiah, typically associated with judgment and disobedience across his 61 biblical appearances, here uniquely validates divine sovereignty through a pagan king's decree.
The First Return and Temple Vessels
1:5–1:11 narrative narration hopeful
The heads of Jewish families respond to God's stirring and prepare to return to Jerusalem, receiving support and temple vessels from Cyrus. The restoration of the sacred vessels symbolizes the renewal of proper worship after the exile.
person_contrast
Cyrus transforms from the typical ancient Near Eastern conqueror into an agent of divine restoration, personally returning 5,400 sacred temple vessels that Nebuchadnezzar had plundered.
Insights
Cyrus transforms from the typical ancient Near Eastern conqueror into an agent of divine restoration, personally returning 5,400 sacred temple vessels that Nebuchadnezzar had plundered.
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Ezra 1:1 3 references
Lexicals 3
2 Chronicles 36:22 Lexical
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the LORD’s word by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the…
Ezra 4:5 Lexical
They hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign…
Daniel 11:2 Lexical
“Now I will show you the truth. Behold, three more kings will stand up in Persia. The fourth will be far richer than all…
Ezra 1:2 2 references
Ezra 1:4 2 references
Ezra 1:6 3 references
Lexicals 3
Genesis 24:53 Lexical
The servant brought out jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave preci…
2 Chronicles 21:3 Lexical
Their father gave them great gifts of silver, of gold, and of precious things, with fortified cities in Judah; but he ga…
1 Chronicles 29:5 Lexical
of gold for the things of gold, and of silver for the things of silver, and for all kinds of work to be made by the hand…
Ezra 1:8 1 reference
Ezra 1:9 5 references
Lexicals 5
Exodus 38:24 Lexical
All the gold that was used for the work in all the work of the sanctuary, even the gold of the offering, was twenty-nine…
Nehemiah 7:38 Lexical
The children of Senaah: three thousand nine hundred thirty.
2 Chronicles 35:7 Lexical
Josiah gave to the children of the people, of the flock, lambs and young goats, all of them for the Passover offerings,…
1 Chronicles 23:3 Lexical
The Levites were counted from thirty years old and upward; and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty-eight…
Numbers 31:36 Lexical
The half, which was the portion of those who went out to war, was in number three hundred thirty-seven thousand five hun…
Ezra 1:10 5 references
Lexicals 5
Numbers 7:85 Lexical
each silver platter weighing one hundred thirty shekels, and each bowl seventy; all the silver of the vessels two thousa…
Ezra 8:27 Lexical
twenty bowls of gold weighing one thousand darics, and two vessels of fine bright bronze, precious as gold.
2 Kings 5:5 Lexical
The king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” He departed, and took with him ten tal…
1 Chronicles 29:7 Lexical
and they gave for the service of God’s house of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand darics, of silver ten thousa…
1 Chronicles 28:17 Lexical
and the forks, the basins, and the cups, of pure gold; and for the golden bowls by weight for every bowl; and for the si…
Ezra 1:11 5 references
Lexicals 5
Numbers 7:85 Lexical
each silver platter weighing one hundred thirty shekels, and each bowl seventy; all the silver of the vessels two thousa…
1 Chronicles 29:7 Lexical
and they gave for the service of God’s house of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand darics, of silver ten thousa…
Ezra 2:69 Lexical
They gave according to their ability into the treasury of the work sixty-one thousand darics of gold, five thousand mina…
Jeremiah 28:6 Lexical
even the prophet Jeremiah said, “Amen! May the LORD do so. May the LORD perform your words which you have prophesied, to…
2 Kings 24:16 Lexical
All the men of might, even seven thousand, and the craftsmen and the smiths one thousand, all of them strong and fit for…
Interlinear
Word-by-word original language
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v. 11
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Historical Context
Places and events in this chapter
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Timeline
Return From Exile
538-516 BCThe Jewish return to Jerusalem under Cyrus's decree, led by Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah. This restoration fulfilled prophetic promises and enabled the rebuilding of the temple and city walls.
Cyrus's decree directly enables the Jewish return from Babylonian captivity to Jerusalem.
Cyrus's Decree to Rebuild the TempleReturn From Exile
538-516 BCThe Jewish return to Jerusalem under Cyrus's decree, led by Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah. This restoration fulfilled prophetic promises and enabled the rebuilding of the temple and city walls.
Jewish families respond to God's stirring and begin their physical journey back to Jerusalem.
The First Return and Temple Vessels