The Proclamation of Cyrus
(2 Chronicles 36:22–23; Isaiah 45:1–25)

1In the first year of Cyrus (possess the furnace) king of Persia (pure / splendid), to fulfill the word of the LORD {YHWH} spoken through Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed), the LORD stirred the spirit {ruach} of Cyrus king of Persia to send a proclamation throughout his kingdom and to put it in writing as follows:

2“This is what Cyrus (possess the furnace) king of Persia (pure / splendid) says:

‘The LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of heaven, who has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, has appointed me to build a house for Him at Jerusalem (city of peace) in Judah (praised).

3Whoever among you⁺ belongs to His people, may his God {Elohaw} be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem (city of peace) in Judah (praised) and build the house of the LORD {YHWH}, the God of Israel (he wrestles with God); He is the God who is in Jerusalem. 4And let every survivor, wherever he lives, be assisted by the men of that region with silver, gold, goods, and livestock, along with a freewill offering for the house of God {Elohim} in Jerusalem (city of peace).’”

5So the family heads of Judah (praised) and Benjamin (son of the right hand), along with the priests and Levites—everyone whose spirit {ruachow} God {Elohim} had stirred—prepared to go up and rebuild the house of the LORD {YHWH} in Jerusalem (city of peace).

6And all their neighbors supported them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with valuables, in addition to all their freewill offerings.

Cyrus Restores the Holy Vessels

7King Cyrus (possess the furnace) also brought out the articles belonging to the house of the LORD {YHWH} that Nebuchadnezzar (may Nebo protect the crown) had carried away from Jerusalem (city of peace) and placed in the temple of his gods. 8Cyrus (possess the furnace) king of Persia (pure / splendid) had them brought out by the hand of Mithredath (given by Mithra) the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar (worshipper of fire) the prince of Judah (the leader of the exiles returning to Judah).a 9This was the inventory:

30 gold dishes (basins),b

1,000 silver dishes,

29 silver utensils,

1030 gold bowls,

410 matching silver bowls,

and 1,000 other articles.

11In all, there were 5,400 gold and silver articles. Sheshbazzar (worshipper of fire) brought all these along when the exiles went up from Babylon (confusion by mixing) to Jerusalem (city of peace).