An interesting statement in the first three verses of the opening chapter of Ezra speaks of a decision made by Persia’s King Cyrus to allow the Jews to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.

Ezra leaves little doubt that he was quoting directly from an official document issued by Cyrus’ press office.

  Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying:

² “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has appointed me to rebuild for Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. ³ Whoever there is among you of all His people, may his God be with him! Go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem. (Ezra 1:1-3 NASV)

Since Cyrus’ statement was written in ancient Hebrew, some suspect Ezra translated it from Akkadian. It’s also possible King Cyrus issued the release in Hebrew because it was directed specifically to the Jewish people.

In the 19th century, Liberal theologians mocked this Biblical passage claiming it was fictitious.

Then archaeologists discovered the Cyrus Cylinder and it shut the mouths of the skeptics.

It was discovered in 1879 by Hormuzd Rassam while excavating the ancient city of Babylon. Persia under King Cyrus conquered Babylon in 539 BC in what was essentially a bloodless cue.

The barrel-shaped, clay cylinder, which is on display at The British Museum, is about 9 inches long (22.5 cm) and 4 inches (10 cm wide).

It was covered in ancient Akkadian cuneiform script and was essentially an official document released by King Cyrus.

It reads in part:

I sent back to their places…whose shrines had earlier become dilapidated, the gods who lived therein, and made permanent sanctuaries for them. I collected together all of their peoples and returned them to their settlements…I returned them unharmed to their cells, in the sanctuaries that make them happy. May all the gods that I returned to their sanctuaries, every day before Bel and Nabu, ask for a long life for me, and mention my good deeds

It stated that Cyrus allowed those who had been taken into captivity by the Babylonians to return to their homelands. They were also given permission to rebuild the temples of their gods.

But it does more than that because the statement, “May all the gods that I returned to their sanctuaries” implies that Cyrus allowed the captured peoples to return with their gods or idols that Babylon had looted from their temples.

The same opportunity was given to the Jews. Though they did not have idols, Ezra writes that “Also King Cyrus brought out the articles of the house of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and put in the house of his gods;” (Ezra 1:7).

In Israel’s case, everything was returned, except of course, the Ark of the Covenant.

The cylinder added that Cyrus believed the Babylonian god Marduk helped the Persian king defeat Babylon.

This is similar to the statement that Ezra quoted, where Cyrus claimed that Jehovah helped the Persian King defeat the nations and even instructed Cyrus to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.

The cylinder confirms the authenticity of Ezra’s quote, because it falls in line with what Cyrus believed and how he acted.

Many look upon Cyrus as one greatest and most benevolent kings in the ancient world and there was some truth to what he told the Jews.

Through the prophet Isaiah, God spoke of raising up Cyrus to be his anointed shepherd who would both restore Jerusalem and rebuild the temple:

“It is I who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd!
And he will perform all My desire.’
 And he declares of Jerusalem, ‘She will be built, ’
And of the temple, ‘Your foundation will be laid.’

“Thus says the Lord to Cyrus His anointed,
 Whom I have taken by the right hand,
To subdue nations before him.
 And to loose the loins of kings; To open doors before him so that gates will not be shut.” (Isaiah 44:28 – 45:1 NASV)