Ezra1
World English Bible · Public Domain
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.
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