Paul Kretzmann Commentary - Ezra 1:1 - 1:4

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Paul Kretzmann Commentary - Ezra 1:1 - 1:4


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The Proclamation of Cyrus

v. 1. Now, in the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, after the conquest of the Babylonian empire, the new empire, including Persia, Media, Babylonia, and Chaldea, having been founded in 536 B. C. that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, Jer_25:12-13, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, by having special couriers cry out the message, and put it also in writing, saying,

v. 2. Thus saith Cyrus, king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth
, his empire at that time being a world empire; and he hath charged me to build Him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah, either by direct Revelation or through the instruction of the prophet Daniel, who may have informed him of the prophecies concerning him and his career as written down by Isaiah some two hundred years before, Isa_44:28; Isa_46:1-4.

v. 3. Who is there among you of all His people? His God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel (He is the God
, whom Cyrus acknowledged and worshiped as the one true God) which is in Jerusalem.

v. 4. And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth
, having settled down according to the advice of the Lord by Jeremiah, Jer_29:4-7, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, for pack-animals and for traveling, giving such a one all possible assistance, beside the free-will offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem, thereby contributing liberally toward the rebuilding of the Temple. Thus God uses also the mighty ones of the earth in His service as He chooses, thereby bringing the days of tribulation upon His people to an end.