Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
This is what Cyrus, king of Persia, says: 'The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me rule over all the kingdoms of the earth. He has assigned me the task of building him a temple in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.'
King Cyrus acknowledges that God has given him his vast empire and has specifically commanded him to rebuild God's temple in Jerusalem.
📚 Historical Context
This proclamation was issued around 538 BC by Cyrus the Great after he conquered Babylon and inherited their Jewish captives. Cyrus was known for his tolerant policies toward conquered peoples and their religions, often allowing them to return to their homelands and rebuild their temples. This marked the end of the 70-year Babylonian exile and the beginning of the Jews' return to their homeland.
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