Isaiah 44:28

Cyrus. See note on Isaiah 45:1.

even saying. and saying: i.e. Jehovah, the Speaker from Isaiah 44:24, and in the preceding clause. It does not mean that Cyrus spoke of rebuilding Jerusalem (for he did not), but it records what Jehovah would say of Cyrus, and what He would say also to Jerusalem. Nehemiah must have obtained. copy of Isaiah on his visit to Jerusalem, or he could not have instructed Cyrus.

Jerusalem. Named before the temple, because the city and its walls were first built, before the temple foundations were laid. See notes on Nehemiah 7:4, and also App-57 and App-58.

temple. Named after Jerusalem, because the city walls were first built. See note above, and compare Nehemiah 7:4 with Haggai 1:1.