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In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, the Lord stirred the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to fulfill the word spoken by Jeremiah, so that this proclamation was made throughout all his kingdom, by word of mouth and in writing:
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“Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord, the God of heaven, has given to me. He has appointed me to build a house for Him in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
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Who among you belongs to His people? May his God be with him! Let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem.
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And let every one who remains, wherever he may be as a sojourner, be supported by the people of that place with silver and gold, goods and livestock, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.”
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Then the heads of the families of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, every one whose heart God had stirred to go up and build the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem, prepared themselves.
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And all those around them helped them with articles of silver, with gold, goods and livestock, and with precious gifts, besides all that was freely offered.
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King Cyrus also brought out the vessels of the house of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and had placed in the temple of his god.
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Cyrus king of Persia had them brought out under the supervision of Mithredath, the king’s treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.
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This is the inventory: thirty gold bowls, one thousand silver bowls, twenty-nine knives,
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twenty gold cups, four hundred and ten silver cups, and one thousand other articles.
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The total of the gold and silver articles was five thousand four hundred. Sheshbazzar brought all these up when the exiles were brought back from the land of Babylon to Jerusalem.
📜🏛️🕊️ Summary of Ezra 1 – The Beginning of Restoration: Cyrus Orders the Building of the Temple
Ezra 1 is the beginning of the story of Israel’s restoration after 70 years in exile in Babylon. This chapter records how the Lord stirred the heart of Cyrus, king of Persia, to fulfill the prophecy of the prophet Jeremiah by allowing the people of Israel to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Lord’s Temple. It is a reminder that the Lord rules over the hearts of kings, and that God’s plan of restoration cannot be stopped by human history.
📌 1. Cyrus Used by God to Fulfill Prophecy (verses 1–4)
➡️ In the first year of his reign, the LORD stirred the heart of Cyrus
➡️ Cyrus announced in writing that the LORD, the God of heaven, had commanded him to build a house for Him in Jerusalem
➡️ He called anyone among the LORD’s people to return to Jerusalem and build the Temple
➡️ Cyrus ordered the people around them to help them with silver, gold, goods, and freewill offerings
🎯 God is sovereign over all nations and rulers. He can use a pagan king to carry out His will.
📌 2. The Israelites Respond and Prepare to Return (verses 5–6)
➡️ The leaders of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites, were stirred in heart by the LORD
➡️ They rose up and prepared to return to Jerusalem
➡️ The people around them supported them with gifts of gold, silver, livestock, and other offerings
🎯 Restoration begins when people’s hearts are stirred by the LORD and they respond with faith and action.
📌 3. Cyrus Returns the Temple Articles (verses 7–11)
➡️ Cyrus also brought out the articles of the LORD’s house that had once been taken by Nebuchadnezzar and stored in the house of the god of Babylon
➡️ Cyrus gave all these articles back to Sheshbazzar, the leader who would bring them back
➡️ In all, there were 5,400 gold and silver articles, brought back to Jerusalem
🎯 What was taken by enemies can be restored by God — even through the hand of a foreign nation.
📖 Main Teaching
- God fulfills His promises — even through a non-Jewish king (Cyrus)
- God stirs the hearts of His leaders and people to return to Him
- Restoration is not always instant, but it begins with steps of faith and obedience
- God’s people must be ready to respond when God opens the door to return
- God’s plan never fails, even when it seems delayed by history or suffering
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
“He who began a good work among you will bring it to completion…”
➡️ Just as God began restoration in Ezra 1, He will also complete His work in us
“The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wills.”
➡️ Cyrus is proof that God holds the rulers of the world in His hand
“God loves the one who gives with joy.”
➡️ The offerings from those who remained in Babylon reflect willing support for God’s work
“For He who promised is faithful.”
➡️ God is faithful to fulfill His promise of restoration for His people according to Jeremiah’s prophecy
🕊️ “The LORD stirred up the heart of Cyrus, king of Persia…” – Ezra 1:1
🕊️ “He has charged me to build Him a house in Jerusalem.” – Ezra 1:2
🕊️ “Whoever among you belongs to His people, may God be with him!” – Ezra 1:3
🕊️ “They were stirred in heart by God…” – Ezra 1:5
🕊️ “Cyrus returned the vessels of the house of the LORD…” – Ezra 1:7
