Ezra 1

The book begins with the fulfillment of prophecy: Cyrus, King of Persia, issues a decree allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem after seventy years of Babylonian exile, fulfilling the word spoken by Jeremiah. Cyrus credits the Lord, the God of heaven, with giving him this command and urges the Jews to return and rebuild the Temple. He orders that all the gold and silver articles that King Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Temple be returned. The leaders of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, the priests, and the Levites prepare to return.