Ezra1
New International Version
1In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing:
2“This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: “‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah.
3Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them.
4And in any locality where survivors may now be living, the people are to provide them with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.’”
5Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites—everyone whose heart God had moved—prepared to go up and build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem.
6All their neighbors assisted them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with valuable gifts, in addition to all the freewill offerings.
7Moreover, King Cyrus brought out the articles belonging to the temple of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and had placed in the temple of his god.
8Cyrus king of Persia had them brought by Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah.
9This was the inventory:gold dishes 30silver dishes 1,000silver pans 29
10gold bowls 30matching silver bowls 410other articles 1,000
11In all, there were 5,400 articles of gold and of silver. Sheshbazzar brought all these along with the exiles when they came up from Babylon to Jerusalem.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Ezra 1.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The proclamation of Cyrus for the rebuilding of the temple. (1–4). The people provide for their return. (5–11).
vv1-4
The Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus. The hearts of kings are in the hand of the Lord. God governs the world by his influence on the spirits of men; whatever good they do, God stirs up their spirits to do it. It was during the captivity of the Jews, that God principally employed them as the means of calling the attention of the heathen to him. Cyrus took it for granted, that those among the Jews who were able, would offer free-will offerings for the house of God. He would also have them supplied out of his kingdom. Well-wishers to the temple should be well-doers for it.
vv5-11
The same God that raised up the spirit of Cyrus to proclaim liberty to the Jews, raised up their spirits to take the benefit. The temptation was to some to stay in Babylon; but some feared not to return, and they were those whose spirits God raised, by his Spirit and grace. Whatever good we do, is owing to the grace of God. Our spirits naturally bow down to this earth and the things of it; if they move upward in any good affections or good actions, it is God who raises them. The calls and offers of the gospel are like the proclamation of Cyrus. Those bound under the power of sin, may be made free by Jesus Christ. Whosoever will, by repentance and faith, return to God, Jesus Christ has opened the way for him, and raises him out of the slavery of sin into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Many that hear this joyful sound, choose to sit still in Babylon, are in love with their sins, and will not venture upon a holy life; but some break through all discouragements, whatever it cost them; they are those whose spirit God has raised above the world and the flesh, whom he has made willing. Thus will the heavenly Canaan be filled, though many perish in Babylon; and the gospel offer will not have been made in vain. The bringing back the Jews from captivity, represents the redemption of sinners by Jesus Christ.
Key Words
אֶחָד: properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first
שָׁנֶה: a year (as a revolution of time)
כּוֹרֶשׁ: Koresh (or Cyrus), the Persian king
מֶלֶךְ: a king
פָּרַס: Paras (i.e. Persia), an Eastern country, including its inhabitants
דָּבָר: a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
מִן: properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
פֶּה: the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition) according to
יִרְמְיָה: Jirmejah, the name of eight or nine Israelites
כָּלָה: to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitived (to complete, prepare, consume)
Cross References
Ezra 1Verbatim parallel describing Cyrus's first year, the Jeremiah prophecy, and the Lord stirring his spirit.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Isaiah's prophecy explicitly naming Cyrus and charging him to say of Jerusalem, 'She shall be built.'
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Jeremiah's prophecy of a seventy-year Babylon limit, which Cyrus's decree now fulfills.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Prophetic address to Cyrus, the Lord's anointed, whose right hand God held to subdue nations.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The direct parallel text recording Cyrus's proclamation that God charged him to build the house.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Illustrates how the king's heart is in the hand of Yahweh, who stirred up Cyrus's spirit.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
The foundational prophecy of seventy years of Babylonian rule before their punishment and Israel's restoration.
Supported by JFB
Prophecy that Cyrus would build God's city and let His exiles go free without price.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Records Nebuchadnezzar carrying off and cutting off/pieces the golden vessels that Cyrus now restores.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels God stirring up the spirit of Zerubbabel and the people to build the house.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Provides historical continuity, detailing the return of these specific vessels to Sheshbazzar.
Supported by JFB
Prophesied that the temple vessels carried to Babylon would remain there until God visited them.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Records how Nebuchadnezzar originally carried the vessels to the house of his god in Shinar.
Supported by JFB
Historical record of Nebuchadnezzar putting the temple vessels in his temple at Babylon.
Supported by JFB
Identifies Zerubbabel (Sheshbazzar) as the leader of those returning from Babylon to Jerusalem.
Supported by JFB