Bible fact · Direct biblical statement
A Persian king sent the exiles home
Cyrus king of Persia issued a decree allowing the Jews to return and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. Ezra 1:1–4
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"In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia... the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation" that God's people could go up to Jerusalem and rebuild the house of the LORD. Ezra 1:1–4
Isaiah had named Cyrus as the one who would say of Jerusalem "She will be built". Isaiah 44:28Isaiah 45:1
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Ezra 1:1–4 WEB
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.’”