Topical Bible: Jerusalem: Rebuilt After the Captivity by Order of Cyrus

◄ Jerusalem: Rebuilt After the Captivity by Order of Cyrus ►

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Jerusalem, the historic and spiritual heart of Israel, holds a significant place in biblical history, particularly in the context of its rebuilding after the Babylonian captivity. This pivotal event is marked by the decree of Cyrus the Great, the Persian king, who played a crucial role in the restoration of the city and the Jewish people.

The Decree of Cyrus

The fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians in 586 BC led to the destruction of the city and the Temple, and the subsequent exile of the Jewish people. However, the turning point came with the rise of the Persian Empire under Cyrus the Great. In 539 BC, Cyrus conquered Babylon, and shortly thereafter, he issued a decree that allowed the Jewish exiles to return to their homeland and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. This decree is recorded in the Book of Ezra:

"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 as follows: '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. Whoever among you belongs to His people, may his God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the LORD, the God of Israel. He is the God who is in Jerusalem.'" (Ezra 1:1-3)

The Return and Rebuilding Efforts

The decree of Cyrus initiated the first wave of returnees led by Zerubbabel, a descendant of David, and Jeshua the high priest. These leaders, along with approximately 50,000 Jews, embarked on the journey back to Jerusalem. Upon their arrival, they faced the daunting task of rebuilding not only the physical structures but also the spiritual and communal life of the Jewish people.

The rebuilding of the Temple, known as the Second Temple, began with the laying of its foundation. Despite opposition from surrounding peoples and internal challenges, the work continued under the encouragement of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah. The Temple was eventually completed in 516 BC, as recorded in Ezra 6:15: "And this temple was completed on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius."

The Role of Nehemiah and Ezra

The restoration of Jerusalem extended beyond the Temple to include the city's walls and infrastructure. Nehemiah, a cupbearer to King Artaxerxes of Persia, received permission to return to Jerusalem and oversee the rebuilding of its walls. His leadership and determination, despite significant opposition, were instrumental in completing the walls in just 52 days (Nehemiah 6:15).

Ezra, a scribe and priest, also played a vital role in the spiritual renewal of the people. He led a second group of exiles back to Jerusalem and was pivotal in reestablishing the Law of Moses as the foundation of Jewish life. Ezra's efforts in teaching the Law and leading the people in repentance and covenant renewal are detailed in the Book of Ezra and Nehemiah.

Significance in Biblical History

The rebuilding of Jerusalem after the captivity marks a significant fulfillment of biblical prophecy and divine promise. The return from exile and the restoration of the city and Temple were seen as acts of God's faithfulness to His covenant with Israel. The events surrounding the decree of Cyrus and the subsequent rebuilding efforts are a testament to God's sovereignty and His ability to use even foreign rulers to accomplish His purposes.

Jerusalem's restoration laid the groundwork for the coming of the Messiah, as prophesied in the Hebrew Scriptures, and set the stage for the events of the New Testament. The city's enduring significance in biblical history continues to resonate with believers as a symbol of God's redemptive plan for His people.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Ezra 1:1-4
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,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

How the Temple was Built While the Cutheans Endeavored in Vain to ...
... and because they had now the temple rebuilt, a hundred ... in the worship of God, and
dwelt in Jerusalem, and made ... for more than five hundred years after the death ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 4 how the temple.htm

Cyrus, the Servant Of-The Lord {4}
... the Jews were freed from their captivity"large numbers ... What motives prompted Cyrus,
and Darius after him, to ... turn were glad to see Jerusalem rebuilt, as an ...
/.../kingsley/historical lectures and essays/cyrus the servant of-the lord.htm

The Scattering of the People
... at last the wall of Jerusalem was rebuilt, and the ... Ezra and Nehemiah, or else very
soon after, the scribes ... in the School of the Scribes at Jerusalem would have ...
/.../duff/the bible in its making/chapter v the scattering of.htm

"The Prophets of God Helping Them"
... for a renewal of God's grace in heart and life, message after message was ... by Cyrus,
which commanded that the house of God at Jerusalem be rebuilt, and that ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 46 the prophets of.htm

The Servant of the Lord.
... the Jews were freed from their captivity"large numbers ... What motives prompted Cyrus,
and Darius after him, to ... turn were glad to see Jerusalem rebuilt, as an ...
/.../kingsley/lectures delivered in america in 1874/lecture iv the servant of.htm

Altar and Temple
... could be no sacrifices in Babylon, and after him his son ... The ruined Jerusalem was
better guarded by that altar than if its fallen walls had been rebuilt. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/altar and temple.htm

The Antiquities of the Jews
... 8. How Ten Men Of The Citizens [Of Jerusalem] Made A ... Happened In Judea And Syria;
And How Herod, After He Had Married Another Wife, Rebuilt Cesarea, And ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/the antiquities of the jews/

Concerning Nebuchadnezzar and his Successors and How their ...
... that which was there of old, and rebuilt it, that ... by Nebuchadnezzar when he had
destroyed Jerusalem, whose name ... Now, after a little while, both himself and the ...
/.../the antiquities of the jews/chapter 11 concerning nebuchadnezzar and.htm

Babylonia and Assyria
... carried into exile; in BC588 Jerusalem was taken ... The temples of Merodach and Nebo
were rebuilt with lavish ... and who was murdered three months after his accession ...
/.../early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter vi babylonia and assyria.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... ii.3), became, after the captivity, the title of the ... vi.11-31) and that of the ephod
after the victory ... was a Millo in every important town, Jerusalem included. ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm