Topical Bible: the Second Temple: Cyrus: Furnished Means for Building

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The Second Temple holds a significant place in biblical history, serving as the center of Jewish worship and community life from its completion in 516 BC until its destruction in AD 70. The construction of the Second Temple was initiated under the decree of Cyrus the Great, the Persian king, who played a pivotal role in the restoration of the Jewish people to their homeland following the Babylonian exile.

Cyrus's Decree and Support

Cyrus's involvement in the rebuilding of the Temple is documented in the Book of Ezra. In the first year of his reign, Cyrus issued a proclamation that allowed the exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the house of the Lord. This decree is seen as a fulfillment of the prophecy of Jeremiah, as well as a demonstration of God's sovereignty over the nations. Ezra 1:1-2 states: "In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah, the LORD stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to send a proclamation throughout his kingdom and to put it in writing: 'This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and has appointed me to build a house for Him at Jerusalem in Judah.'"

Cyrus not only permitted the Jews to return but also furnished the means for the building of the Temple. He returned the sacred vessels that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the First Temple, as recorded in Ezra 1:7-11. These vessels were essential for the restoration of proper worship practices in the new Temple.

Provision of Resources

In addition to returning the sacred vessels, Cyrus provided resources and support for the construction. Ezra 1:4 records Cyrus's command: "And let every survivor, wherever he resides, be assisted by the men of his region with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, along with a freewill offering for the house of God in Jerusalem." This directive ensured that the returning exiles had the necessary materials and financial support to undertake the monumental task of rebuilding the Temple.

Cyrus's decree also included instructions for the local governors and officials to support the Jewish efforts. Ezra 6:3-5 recounts the details of the decree, emphasizing the provision of funds from the royal treasury and the return of the Temple articles: "In the first year of King Cyrus, he issued a decree concerning the house of God in Jerusalem: 'Let the house be rebuilt as a place for offering sacrifices, and let its foundations be firmly laid. It is to be sixty cubits high and sixty cubits wide, with three layers of cut stones and one of timbers. The costs are to be paid from the royal treasury. Furthermore, the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, are to be returned and taken back to their place in the temple in Jerusalem. You are to deposit them in the house of God.'"

Significance of Cyrus's Role

Cyrus's actions are viewed as divinely orchestrated, demonstrating God's faithfulness to His covenant people. The Persian king's support for the rebuilding of the Temple underscores the theme of God's providence and His ability to use even foreign rulers to accomplish His purposes. The Second Temple, built with the means furnished by Cyrus, became a symbol of hope and renewal for the Jewish people, marking a new chapter in their history and religious life.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Ezra 6:4
With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king's house:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Hebrew Captives; Or, Mordecai and Esther.
... act openly against the plain decree of Cyrus, an unscrupulous ... Illustration: Our Saviour
Teaching in the Temple.]. ... She invited him to a second feast, and at that ...
/.../headley/half hours in bible lands volume 2/hebrew captives or mordecai and.htm

Book ii. Jerome Answers the Second, Third, and Fourth Propositions ...
... in eight books narrates the life of Cyrus, King of ... from wives, wine, and flesh, and
made a second nature of ... only three precepts remain in the temple of Ceres ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/book ii jerome answers the.htm

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... and third figures are Medes, the second and fourth ... they fell back they plundered
the temple of Derketo ... their chief, Astyages, was overthrown by Cyrus; Rost has ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm

The Invasion of Scythia.
... within their dominions, and the second, an expedition ... the country of the Scythians
that Cyrus, his renowned ... and followers, ascended to this temple, and, taking ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/abbott/darius the great/chapter viii the invasion of.htm

Ancient Chaldaea
... Nineveh, partly from that of the temple of Nebo ... food, while the castor-oil plant
furnished that required ... issued from the Bed Sea a second Annedotos, resembling ...
/.../chapter iancient chaldaea.htm

The Greater Prophets.
... way to the great events connected with Cyrus' conquests. ... The second part opens with
a series of prophecies ... perfect priesthood, of the spiritual temple of which ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxii the greater prophets.htm

The Historical Books.
... into two hostile nations begins the second period of the ... nine years, from the accession
of Cyrus to the ... their activity in rebuilding the temple, the formidable ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xx the historical books.htm

The Iranian Conquest
... of his reign, in Hamath in his second year, and ... bring brick, rebuild E-khul-khul,
the temple of Harran ... and the kings his protectors, are no more." Cyrus was the ...
/.../chapter ithe iranian conquest.htm

Babylonia and Assyria
... The second Assyrian empire was now at the zenith of ... to take; the sacred vessels of
the temple of Jerusalem ... In Jerusalem Cyrus thus had a colony whose loyalty ...
/.../early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter vi babylonia and assyria.htm

The Holy City; Or, the New Jerusalem:
... Wherefore seeing, though I am without their learned lines, yet well furnished with
the ... Second. She goeth rather under the name of a city, than temple or spouse ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the holy city or the.htm