17. Cyrus Decree - 536 BC

The Babylonian captivity ended in 536 BC when King Cyrus of Persia issued a decree that the exiles from Jerusalem could return to their city.  



2 Chronicles 36:22-23

Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of Yahweh by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:  “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘Yahweh, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may Yahweh his God be with him. Let him go up.’”

Ezra 1:1-4

In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of Yahweh by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:  “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: Yahweh, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.  Whoever 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 rebuild the house of Yahweh, the God of Israel—he is the God who is in Jerusalem.  And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.”

Cyrus The Great, on this cylinder, describes how he conquers the old city of Babylon and how his mighty army in peace marched into the city. 

There were three main premises in the decrees of the Cyrus Cylinder: 

• the political formalization of racial, linguistic, and religious equality, slaves 
• all deported peoples were to be allowed to return to home
• all destroyed temples were to be restored. 

Later on in my articles, I will develop more on the spiritual significance of this event that was prophesied long ago in the book of Isaiah.   Yahweh God had told Isaiah about Cyrus.   157 years later, Cyrus came on the scene to rule and issued this decree as Yahweh God had already revealed to Isaiah.  Even before Cyrus was born, his name was already recorded in God's book of prophecy. God reveals many spiritual truths of great importance in the Bible. Read your Bible carefully with spiritual eyes.

Suffice for today that you keep this important date in your heart. :)


Homework:

Take out your Timeline Graph and Enter "536 - Return to Jerusalem - Cyrus Decree "

:)