Ezra 1:7 Study Bible: Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought out of Jerusalem, and had put in the house of his gods;

◄ Ezra 1:7 ►

King Cyrus also brought out the articles belonging to the house of the LORD that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and placed in the temple of his gods.

Study Bible

King Cyrus
The mention of King Cyrus is significant in the biblical narrative as he is seen as a divinely appointed leader who fulfills God's promise to restore His people. Historically, Cyrus the Great was the founder of the Achaemenid Empire and is known for his policy of religious tolerance and restoration. In Isaiah 45:1, Cyrus is referred to as the Lord's anointed, indicating his role in God's plan for Israel. His decree to return the exiles and restore the temple articles underscores his unique position in biblical history as a Gentile king used by God to accomplish His purposes.

brought out
This phrase indicates an action of restoration and return. The Hebrew root for "brought out" is "yatsa," which often implies a deliverance or bringing forth. In this context, it signifies the reversal of the exile's effects and the beginning of a new chapter for the Israelites. It is a physical act that symbolizes spiritual renewal and the faithfulness of God in restoring what was lost.

the articles belonging to the house of the LORD
These articles were sacred objects used in the worship and service of God in the temple. Their return is not merely about physical items but represents the restoration of proper worship and the reestablishment of the covenant relationship between God and His people. The articles' return signifies the renewal of spiritual life and the importance of worship in the community of faith.

which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king, had previously conquered Jerusalem and taken these sacred articles as spoils of war. This act was a profound symbol of the judgment and exile of God's people. The historical context here is the Babylonian captivity, a period of great trial and reflection for the Israelites. The mention of Nebuchadnezzar serves as a reminder of past disobedience and the consequences of turning away from God.

and placed in the temple of his gods
This phrase highlights the desecration and misuse of what was holy. The articles, once used in the worship of Yahweh, were placed in a pagan temple, symbolizing the triumph of Babylonian gods over the God of Israel. However, the return of these items under Cyrus's decree demonstrates God's sovereignty and the ultimate futility of idolatry. It is a powerful reminder that God will not share His glory with another and that He is faithful to restore His people and His worship.

Persons / Places / Events

1. King Cyrus
The Persian king who conquered Babylon and issued a decree allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. His actions were seen as fulfillment of God's prophecy through Isaiah and Jeremiah.

2. Articles of the House of the LORD
Sacred items used in the worship of Yahweh in the temple at Jerusalem. These were taken by Nebuchadnezzar during the Babylonian conquest.

3. Nebuchadnezzar
The Babylonian king who destroyed Jerusalem and the temple, taking the sacred articles to Babylon.

4. Jerusalem
The holy city of the Jews, where the temple of the LORD was located. It was the center of Jewish worship and identity.

5. Temple of His Gods
Refers to the Babylonian temples where Nebuchadnezzar placed the sacred articles, signifying the subjugation of the God of Israel to Babylonian deities.

Teaching Points

God's Sovereignty in History
God orchestrates events and uses even foreign rulers to fulfill His divine purposes. This reminds us of His ultimate control over world affairs.

Restoration and Redemption
The return of the temple articles symbolizes God's commitment to restoring His people and their worship. It encourages us to trust in God's promises of restoration in our own lives.

Holiness and Reverence
The sacred articles were set apart for God's service, teaching us the importance of treating what is holy with reverence and respect.

Fulfillment of Prophecy
The events in Ezra 1:7 demonstrate the reliability of God's word and the fulfillment of prophecy, strengthening our faith in the Scriptures.

God's Faithfulness
Despite the exile and loss, God remained faithful to His covenant with Israel, reminding us of His unwavering faithfulness to His promises.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does the return of the temple articles by King Cyrus demonstrate God's sovereignty and faithfulness?

2. In what ways can we see God's hand in the events of our own lives, similar to how He used Cyrus in the restoration of Israel?

3. What does the restoration of the temple articles teach us about the importance of worship and reverence for God?

4. How can the fulfillment of prophecy in this passage encourage us to trust in the promises of God found in other parts of Scripture?

5. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's restoration in your life. How can this passage inspire you to seek further restoration and redemption?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Isaiah 44:28 and 45:1
These passages prophesy Cyrus's role in the restoration of Jerusalem and the temple, highlighting God's sovereignty in using foreign rulers to accomplish His purposes.

Jeremiah 27:21-22
Jeremiah foretells the return of the temple articles, emphasizing God's promise to restore His people and their worship.

Daniel 5:2-3
Describes the misuse of the temple articles by Belshazzar, illustrating the desecration and eventual judgment on Babylon.

Sermons

Cyrus	G. M. Grant, B. D.	Ezra 1:1-11
Divine Communications	John Robertson., T. J. Holmes.	Ezra 1:1-11
Divine Stirrings in the Human Soul		Ezra 1:1-11
God is Calling Men to Build	J. Parker, D. D	Ezra 1:1-11
God's House Built for the Sake of Man	J. Parker, D. D	Ezra 1:1-11
Inspiration Tested	J. Parker, D. D	Ezra 1:1-11
Returning from the Captivity	D. J. Burrell, D. D.	Ezra 1:1-11
Revivals	J. Parker, D. D	Ezra 1:1-11
The Beginning of a Great Religious Movement	J.S. Exell	Ezra 1:1-11
The Captivity of Evil	A. J. Morris.	Ezra 1:1-11
The Discipline of the Captivity	Sermons by Monday Club	Ezra 1:1-11
The Edict of Cyrus	William Jones.	Ezra 1:1-11
The Exile Ended	W. Clarkson, B. A.	Ezra 1:1-11
The First Year of Cyrus	Walter F. Adeney, M. A.	Ezra 1:1-11
The Fulfilment of the Word of the Lord	W. Jones.	Ezra 1:1-11
The Proclamation of Cyrus	William Sleigh.	Ezra 1:1-11
The Proclamation of Cyrus and the Proclamation of the Gospel Minister Compared	Homilist	Ezra 1:1-11
The Return from the Captivity	J. Mackenzie, D. D.	Ezra 1:1-11
The Wide Reach of the Rule of God	W. Clarkson	Ezra 1:1-4, 7-11
A Restoration of Misappropriated Property	J. Parker, D. D	Ezra 1:7-11
Mithredath	Walter F. Adeney, M. D.	Ezra 1:7-11
The Restitution of the Stolen Vessels	Walter F. Adeney, M. D.	Ezra 1:7-11
The Restoration of the Sacred Vessels	William Jones.	Ezra 1:7-11

People

Benjamin, Cyrus, Jeremiah, Mithredath, Nebuchadnezzar, Sheshbazzar

Places

Babylonia, Jerusalem, Persia

Topics

Articles, Belonging, Carried, Cyrus, Forth, Gods, Got, Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnez'zar, Placed, Putteth, Temple, Vessels

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Ezra 1:7

7468 temple, rebuilding

Ezra 1:1-11

4333 gold

Library

The Eve of the Restoration
'Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, 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 a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3. Who is there among you of all His people? his God …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Youthful Confessors
'But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9. Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. 10. And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink; for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Extracts No. vi.
[Here twelve pages or more of the objector's manuscript are omitted, as the nature of his arguments will pretty fully appear in the reply; and as he has been obliged to rescind the ground he had taken, it is not expedient to publish his remarks. That the reader may see a little of the manner, however, in which he has given up his part of the argument, the following is inserted.] "Speaking however on the evidences of revelation, you have stated some things worthy of serious consideration; which if …
Hosea Ballou—A Series of Letters In Defence of Divine Revelation

Of Antichrist, and his Ruin: and of the Slaying the Witnesses.
BY JOHN BUNYAN PREFATORY REMARKS BY THE EDITOR This important treatise was prepared for the press, and left by the author, at his decease, to the care of his surviving friend for publication. It first appeared in a collection of his works in folio, 1692; and although a subject of universal interest; most admirably elucidated; no edition has been published in a separate form. Antichrist has agitated the Christian world from the earliest ages; and his craft has been to mislead the thoughtless, by …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The Greater Prophets.
1. We have already seen (Chap. 15, Nos. 11 and 12) that from Moses to Samuel the appearances of prophets were infrequent; that with Samuel and the prophetical school established by him there began a new era, in which the prophets were recognized as a distinct order of men in the Theocracy; and that the age of written prophecy did not begin till about the reign of Uzziah, some three centuries after Samuel. The Jewish division of the latter prophets--prophets in the more restricted sense of the …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible

The Historical Books.
1. In the Pentateuch we have the establishment of the Theocracy, with the preparatory and accompanying history pertaining to it. The province of the historical books is to unfold its practiced working, and to show how, under the divine superintendence and guidance, it accomplished the end for which it was given. They contain, therefore, primarily, a history of God's dealings with the covenant people under the economy which he had imposed upon them. They look at the course of human events on the …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible

A Sermon on Isaiah xxvi. By John Knox.
[In the Prospectus of our Publication it was stated, that one discourse, at least, would be given in each number. A strict adherence to this arrangement, however, it is found, would exclude from our pages some of the most talented discourses of our early Divines; and it is therefore deemed expedient to depart from it as occasion may require. The following Sermon will occupy two numbers, and we hope, that from its intrinsic value, its historical interest, and the illustrious name of its author, it …
John Knox—The Pulpit Of The Reformation, Nos. 1, 2 and 3.

The Iranian Conquest
Drawn by Boudier, from the engraving in Coste and Flandin. The vignette, drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from a statuette in terra-cotta, found in Southern Russia, represents a young Scythian. The Iranian religions--Cyrus in Lydia and at Babylon: Cambyses in Egypt --Darius and the organisation of the empire. The Median empire is the least known of all those which held sway for a time over the destinies of a portion of Western Asia. The reason of this is not to be ascribed to the shortness of its duration: …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 9

The Justice of God
The next attribute is God's justice. All God's attributes are identical, and are the same with his essence. Though he has several attributes whereby he is made known to us, yet he has but one essence. A cedar tree may have several branches, yet it is but one cedar. So there are several attributes of God whereby we conceive of him, but only one entire essence. Well, then, concerning God's justice. Deut 32:4. Just and right is he.' Job 37:23. Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

God's Sovereignty and the Human Will
"It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Phil. 2: 13). Concerning the nature and the power of fallen man's will, the greatest confusion prevails today, and the most erroneous views are held, even by many of God's children. The popular idea now prevailing, and which is taught from the great majority of pulpits, is that man has a "free will," and that salvation comes to the sinner through his will co-operating with the Holy Spirit. To deny the "free will" of man, …
Arthur W. Pink—The Sovereignty of God

Ezra-Nehemiah
Some of the most complicated problems in Hebrew history as well as in the literary criticism of the Old Testament gather about the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Apart from these books, all that we know of the origin and early history of Judaism is inferential. They are our only historical sources for that period; and if in them we have, as we seem to have, authentic memoirs, fragmentary though they be, written by the two men who, more than any other, gave permanent shape and direction to Judaism, then …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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