Cyrus AYBD

Cyrus EBD

Biblical Places

The 70 years may refer to the period from the initial deportation of the Jews in 605 bc to the first return of the Jews around 538 bc. If so, the decree of Cyrus emphasizes the release of the Jews from exile. Alternatively, the 70 years may refer to the period from the destruction of the city—and consequently the temple—in 586 bc to the completion of the temple’s reconstruction in 516 bc. According to this view, the decree emphasizes the rebuilding of the temple.

Biblical Things

Temple, Jerusalem AYBD

Many Jews chose not to return to Jerusalem, showing that Cyrus’ decree was probably optional. However, from God’s perspective, returning to the land was obligatory. Both Isaiah and Jeremiah implore the nation to return following the exile (e.g., Isa 48:20; Jer 31:16–21).

Biblical Places

The Persians of this era practiced Zoroastrianism—a religion that preached an ethical dualism with two ancient spirits: one good (Ahura Mazda) and one evil (Angra Mainyu). Each person had to choose which spirit to follow. The Persian belief in this dualism may have made them more tolerant of other religions.

Zoroaster, Zoroastrianism AYBD

Zoroastrianism EDB

Even before the northern kingdom fell to Assyria, many priests and Levites were living in Judah, the southern kingdom, having been expelled from the northern kingdom by Jeroboam (see 2 Chr 11:14). Many families from the other tribes likewise lived in the southern kingdom (see 2 Chr 11:16–17). The descendants of these men would have been taken to Babylon along with the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. First Chronicles 9:3 indicates that representatives of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh lived in Jerusalem after the exile.

Biblical Places

Ezra is careful to distinguish between the laity and those who performed religious service. He also distinguishes between priests and Levites—priests were the descendants of Aaron (Num 3:10), whereas the Levites comprised all descendants of Levi not of the family of Aaron. The Levites were the servants of the priests (Num 3:5–9).

The return of the temple vessels vindicated Yahweh and showed His power over the patron gods of Babylon. It also fulfilled the prophecy of Isa 52:11, where the prophet predicted their return. In a sense, the return of the temple vessels corresponded to the Philistines’ return of the ark of the covenant. With the temple vessels in place, the remnant can participate in more authentic worship—demonstrating the continuity of their generation with previous ones.

Sheshbazzar is sometimes identified with the Shenazzar of 1 Chr 3:18. It is also possible that Sheshbazzar was simply an unknown foreign official, which explains his foreign name and his being given credit for the project (Ezra 5:14–16). The Persians may have considered Sheshbazzar the official leader of the return, while the Jews recognized Zerubbabel as the unofficial leader; the Persians may have been hesitant to appoint someone of the royal line to be governor.

It is possible that vv. 9–10 lists only the largest, most important articles, whereas v. 11 records the total number of all vessels, including the less significant ones. It is also possible that the articles enumerated in vv. 9–10 were those taken by Nebuchadnezzar and returned by Cyrus, whereas the total in v. 11 includes the articles donated by the neighbors of the Jews (compare vv. 4, 6). It is also possible that the list is incomplete or corrupted.

Biblical Places

Babylon ZEB A—C

This verse marks the initial fulfillment of God’s promise and a dramatic turning point in Israel’s history. The history of God’s people can be recounted in geographical terms: Abraham journeyed to the land God showed him; the family of Jacob moved to Egypt; the generations of Moses and Joshua left Egypt and journeyed to the promised land; and the generations of Hoshea and Zedekiah were exiled throughout Assyria and Babylon. Now, the exiled Israelites return to the promised land.

Biblical Places