Ezra 1:2, commentary and pictures

Cyrus, king of Persia of Medo-Persia, declares that the Lord God of heaven has given him all the kingdoms of the earth and has charged him to build Him a house at Jerusalem in Judah. His decree is God's appointment of Cyrus and the fulfillment of prophecy, by which God moved him as His agent to free the Jews from Babylonian captivity, proclaim the true God, and supply what was needed to rebuild the temple. It gave the exiles the opportunity to return to their Judean homes and restore the temple and its services, and they were to act energetically to carry it out. Nearly fifty thousand took advantage of it to return under Zerubbabel and Joshua as a small remnant, while most remained scattered through the empire rather than face the hardships of the journey and the work of rebuilding. The decree shows that God moves the hearts of pagan kings and men in high places to support His people and advance His cause, so such help is not to be refused merely because it comes from the world, and His forbearance and providence in it call for profound gratitude and rejoicing.

Decree and Historical Setting

Cyrus, king of Persia, of Medo-Persia, proclaimed that the LORD God of heaven had given him all the kingdoms of the earth and had charged him to build Him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. His decree acknowledged God as the source of his authority over the kingdoms and presented the rebuilding of the temple as his assigned work by divine appointment. About two years after the Medo-Persian kingdom arose, he issued the decree allowing the Israelites to return to Canaan and restore the temple.

The verse belongs to the beginning of the return from exile, when the first company returned under Zerubbabel and Joshua about seventy years before Artaxerxes came to the throne. Artaxerxes later issued the third and final decree for Jerusalem's restoration in 457 B.C. The rebuilding work began under Cyrus and was continued by his successor, and his support made it possible for the Jews to return after seventy years of captivity and serve God in their own country.

God's Purpose Through Cyrus

The decree is God's appointment of Cyrus, and the rebuilding of the temple is the work assigned to him. Cyrus acknowledged that the God of heaven had given him authority over all the kingdoms of the earth and had charged him to build Him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. In fulfillment of prophecy God moved upon him to free the Jewish people, to grant them liberty, and to provide what was needed to reconstruct the temple. Cyrus thus acted as God's agent in the prophetic work of restoration, under whom the rebuilding began and which his successor continued.

Through Cyrus God proclaimed the true God and announced deliverance from Babylonian captivity. The power of Cyrus and the resources of empires were made to serve the divine purpose of rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. That provision for return after seventy years of captivity made it possible for the Jews to go back to their own country and serve God there. Such forbearance toward His wayward people shows the Lord's long patience with them.

God's providence in moving the king to help the returned exiles rebuild the temple at Jerusalem is a reason for profound gratitude and rejoicing.

Human Response and Application

Cyrus's proclamation opened God's appointed opportunity for the Jews to return to their Judean homes and to restore the temple and its services, and they were to take hold of that opening and press the work forward with energy. The call demanded prompt, vigorous action to carry the permission into effect rather than passive acceptance.

Nearly fifty thousand accepted the permission and went up under Zerubbabel and Joshua, yet they were only a small remnant of the Israelites scattered throughout the empire. The decree came about two years after the Medo-Persian kingdom arose, authorizing the Israelites to return to Canaan and rebuild the temple at Jerusalem. Most of the exiles chose to remain in captivity in the provinces rather than endure the hardships of the journey, the rebuilding of their homes, and the labor of restoring the temple services.

The king's acknowledgment that the God of heaven had given him his kingdoms and charged him to build the house at Jerusalem in Judah stands as an instance of God moving the hearts of pagan kings and rulers and men in high places to help His people and advance His cause. Because such support is divinely prompted, help and gifts offered for the work are not to be refused merely because they come from the world or from those who do not share the faith.