Ezra 1:1-4King James Version (KJV)
1 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 an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
3 Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.
4 And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.


Ezra 1:1-4Amplified Bible (AMP)

1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia [almost seventy years after the first Jewish captives were taken to Babylon], that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might begin to be accomplished, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and put it also in writing:
2 Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has charged me to build Him a house at Jerusalem in Judah.
3 Whoever is among you of all His people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel, in Jerusalem; He is God.
4 And in any place where a survivor [of the Babylonian captivity of the Jews] sojourns, let the men of that place assist him with silver and gold, with goods and beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God in Jerusalem.

Amplified Bible (AMP) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation



These are my thoughts, please share yours.

1 This is only one of the times the Lord has a pagan do something, it shows that God was in control the whole time and He is the one truly in power. At this time Babylon who took Israel into captivity had been conquered by Persia who now had control of Israel both the land and the people.

2 So a pagan is going to fund the temple for those he conquered to worship God who he does not serve, this can only be done by God’s hand. The pagan would build pagan temples to the gods they serve but not to God who they do not serve but here it happens. This shows God’s will happen no matter what stands in the way.

3-4 He is also now allowing the Jews to return back to their homes to rebuild the temple, this is unheard of, he even goes as far as to pay them to rebuild something they want and have need for something he himself had no need for but would come at a high price.