Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.
This is what Cyrus, king of Persia, says: 'The LORD God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has given me the responsibility to build him a temple in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who among you belongs to his people? May the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up there.'
King Cyrus is announcing that God has commanded him to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem and is giving permission for God's people to return home to do this work.
📚 Historical Context
In 539 BC, Cyrus the Great of Persia conquered Babylon and issued a decree that allowed the exiled Jews to return to their homeland and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, fulfilling prophecies from books like Isaiah. This event marked the end of the Babylonian exile, which began after the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 586 BC by the Babylonians, and it demonstrated how God uses foreign rulers to accomplish His purposes. It highlights the historical transition from Babylonian dominance to Persian rule, emphasizing God's sovereignty over nations.
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