The
exiled people from Judah and Jerusalem had to remain about
forty years in Babylon. Then Cyrus, the Persian
king, conquered Babylon. He proclaimed
throughout his kingdom: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me power over
all the kingdoms of the earth. He has ordered me to rebuild his house in Jerusalem. Everyone who belongs
to God’s people shall return to Jerusalem. And there they should
rebuild the temple.
And
so they set out – all who were moved by God’s Spirit. Their neighbours gave
them gold and silver, cattle and other gifts. King Cyrus had the sacred
vessels fetched, which Nebuchadnezzar had looted from the temple and taken to
Babylon.