The Decree of Cyrus
In his first year as ruler of Babylon, Cyrus of Persia issues a proclamation permitting the exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple, and orders their neighbours to assist with silver, gold, goods and livestock. The vessels Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple are counted out and handed back.
The policy was not unique to the Jews. The Cyrus Cylinder, a clay document from Babylon now in the British Museum, records the same approach applied generally — returning displaced peoples and restoring their sanctuaries — as a matter of imperial practice.
Isaiah's oracles go further than gratitude and call Cyrus God's anointed by name, the only foreign ruler in scripture given that title. About fifty thousand make the journey; most of the community stayed in Babylon, where Jewish life continued for centuries.
Where in scripture
[22] Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that Yahweh’s word by the mouth of Jeremiah 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, [23] “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘Yahweh, the God of heaven, has given all the kingdoms of the earth to me; and he has commanded me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all his people, Yahweh his God be with him, and let him go up.’”
2 Chronicles 36:22–23
[1] Now 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] “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘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. [3] Whoever 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. …
Ezra 1:1–11 — opening verses
[24] Yahweh, your Redeemer, and he who formed you from the womb says: “I am Yahweh, who makes all things; who alone stretches out the heavens; who spreads out the earth by myself; [25] who frustrates the signs of the liars, and makes diviners mad; who turns wise men backward, and makes their knowledge foolish; [26] who confirms the word of his servant, and performs the counsel of his messengers; who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be inhabited;’ and of the cities of Judah, ‘They will be built,’ and ‘I will raise up its waste places;’ [27] who says to the deep, ‘Be dry,’ and ‘I will dry up your rivers;’ [28] Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure,’ even saying of Jerusalem, ‘She will be built;’ and of the temple, ‘Your foundation will be laid.’” …
Isaiah 44:24–45:7 — opening verses
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.
