Cyrus Allows the Exiles to Return

In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, Yahweh stirred his spirit. This happened so the word spoken earlier through Jeremiah would be fulfilled. Cyrus then sent a proclamation through all his kingdom and had it written down for people to hear and read.

Cyrus announced that the God of heaven had given him all the kingdoms of the earth and had commanded him to build a house in Jerusalem, in Judah. So he called for any of God's people to go up to Jerusalem and build the house of Yahweh, the God of Israel.

The decree also said that in every place where God's people were living, others should help them with silver, gold, goods, animals, and freewill offerings for God's house in Jerusalem. Then family leaders from Judah and Benjamin, along with priests and Levites, rose up to go because God had stirred their spirits.

The people around them supported them generously. They gave silver, gold, goods, animals, and precious things, besides the offerings that were freely given. God was moving people to prepare for the rebuilding of Yahweh's house in Jerusalem.

King Cyrus also brought out the vessels from Yahweh's house that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from Jerusalem and placed in the house of his gods. Mithredath the treasurer counted them out and gave them to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah. Altogether, 5,400 gold and silver vessels were brought up from Babylon to Jerusalem with the exiles.