Ezra 1:2

_THUS SAITH CYRUS KING OF PERSIA, THE LORD GOD OF HEAVEN HATH GIVEN ME ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE EARTH; AND HE HATH CHARGED ME TO BUILD HIM AN HOUSE AT JERUSALEM, WHICH IS IN JUDAH._ No JFB commentary on this verse....

1-4 The Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus. The hearts of kings are in the hand of the Lord. God governs the world by his influence on the spirits of men; whatever good they do, God stirs up their spirits to do it. It was during the captivity of the Jews, that God principally employed them as the means of calling the attention of the heathen to him. Cyrus took it for granted, that those among the Jews who were able, would offer free-will offerings for the house of God. He would also have them supplied out of his kingdom. Well-wishers to the temple should be well-doers for it....

Verse Ezra 1:2. _THE LORD GOD OF HEAVEN_] It is not unworthy of remark, that in all the books written _prior_ to the captivity, Jehovah is called _The Lord of Hosts_; but in all the books written _after_ the captivity, as 2 Chronicles, Ezra Nehemiah, and Daniel, he is styled _The God of Heaven_. The words however have the same meaning. _All the kingdoms of the earth_. At this time the empire of the Medo-Persians was very extensive: according to ancient writers, Cyrus, at this time, reigned over the Medes, Persians, Hyrcanians, Armenians, Syrians, Assyrians, Arabians, Cappadocians, Phrygians, Lydians Phoenicians, Babylonians, Bactrians, Indians, Saci, Cilicians, Paphlagonians, Moriandrians, and many others. His empire extended on the EAST, to the Red Sea; on the NORTH, to the Euxine Sea; on the WEST, to the island of Cyprus and Egypt; and on the SOUTH, to

THE LORD GOD OF HEAVEN - Or, “Yahweh, the God of heaven.” In the original Persian, the document probably ran - “ Ormazd, the God of heaven.” The Hebrew transcript took “Yahweh” as the equivalent of “Ormazd.” The Persian notion of a single Supreme Being - Ahura-Mazda, “the much-knowing, or much-bestowing Spirit” - did, in fact, approach nearly to the Jewish conception of Yahweh. HATH GIVEN ME ALL THE KINGDOMS ... - There is a similar formula at the commencement of the great majority of Persian inscriptions. HE HATH CHARGED ME TO BUILD HIM AN HOUSE - It is a reasonable conjecture that, on the capture of Babylon, Cyrus was brought into contact with Daniel, who drew his attention to the prophecy of Isaiah Isaiah 44:28; and that Cyrus accepted this prophecy as a “charge” to rebuil

PART 1 1. THE FIRST RETURN FROM THE CAPTIVITY EXPOSITION THE DECREE OF CYRUS (Ezra 1:1). The origin of the return is found in an exertion of Divine influence on the mind of a heathen king, who was moved thereby to put forth a proclamation or decree, addressed to all the people of the Lord God of Israel dwelling in any part of his dominions, granting them free permission to return to their own land, and at the same time recommending his other subjects to expedite their departure by giving them out of their abundance gold, silver, goods, and cattle, so that none should be hindered by poverty from taking advantage of the king's kindness. Many things are remarkable in this decree:—...

THUS SAITH CYRUS KING OF PERSIA,.... Of whom, and this edict of his, Isaiah prophesied two hundred years before he was born, Isaiah 44:28 THE LORD GOD OF HEAVEN HATH GIVEN ME ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE EARTH; many he had conquered before he took Babylon, and then the whole Babylonian monarchy fell into his hands. Herodotus l says, he ruled over all Asia; Xenophon m reckons up many nations that were under his government, Medes and Hyrcanians, Syrians, Assyrians, Arabians, Cappadocians, both the Phrygians, Carians, Phoenicians, Babylonians, Bactrians, Indians, Cilicians, Sacae or Scythians, Paphlagonians, Megadinians, and many other nations, the Greeks inhabiting Asia, and the Cyprians, and Egyptians; and elsewhere he says n, the borders of his kingdom were, to the east the Red sea, to the north the Euxine Pontus, to the west Cyprus and Egypt, and to the south Eth

ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATIONS I. THE RETURN UNDER ZERUBBABEL AND THE REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE CHAPTER 1 _ 1. The proclamation of Cyrus (Ezra 1:1)_ 2. The response of the chiefs of Judah and Benjamin (Ezra 1:5) 3. The vessels of the house of the LORD restored (Ezra 1:7) Ezra 1:1. Cyrus (meaning “the Sun”) the King of Persia was, according to ancient historians, the son of Cambyses, Prince of Persia, and Mandam, daughter of Astyages, King of the Median Empire. The theory that he was the offspring of Ahasuerus and Esther, and was trained by Mordecai and Nehemiah, lacks all historical foundation. The heart of Cyrus in the beginning of

PART I (Ezra 1-6). THE RETURN UNDER ZERUBBABEL TO THE COMPLETION OF THE TEMPLE. Ezra 1:1. The Edict of Cyrus._ Cf._ 2 Chronicles 36:22 f., where Ezra 1:1_ a_ is reproduced almost verbally. These verses are here in their proper place; they were added to the end of 2 Ch., when this was separated from Ezr.- Neh. in order to make that book conclude with a joyous note. The edict here reported does not give the original wording; it is an abbreviation in the Chronicler's words, who has also moulded it in accordance with his ideas. Ezra 1:1. the first year: 537 B.C. Cyrus: on Babylonian inscriptions the form of the name is

THE LORD GOD OF HEAVEN HATH GIVEN ME. The king's proclamation was made in the Persian language. Ezra translated it into Hebrew. It is probable that the proclamation began "Ormazd, the God of heaven," of which "Jehovah, the God of heaven," would be. faithful Jewish translation. The Persian idea of the Supreme Being was, in many respects, harmonious with that of the Jews. In the inscriptions left by the Persian kings upon the monuments, they often begin with. similar formula. HATH CHARGED ME TO BUILD HIM. HOUSE IN JERUSALEM. This was literally true. Daniel had probably shown to Cyrus Isaiah 44:28, which says: "That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem. Thou shalt be built and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid." Also Is

GOD. Hebrew. _Elohim._ App-4. GOD OF HEAVEN. See note on 2 Chronicles 36:23. Appropriate in the mouth of Cyrus, and in contrast with all heathen inscriptions. HATH GIVEN ME. The son of Astyages (the venerable king. Ahasuerus) and Esther. Trained by Mordecai and Nehemiah, he was brought up in the knowledge of God and His Word. CHARGED ME TO BUILD. Compare Isaiah 44:24; Isaiah 45:1; Isaiah 45:13. AN HOUSE. This proclamation put first, as it is the great subject treated of by Ezra....