Holy Bible - Obsidian Study Guide

First Return

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First Return

Overview

  • Testament: Old
  • Book: Ezra
  • Chapters: Ezra 1-3
  • Summary: Cyrus the Great’s decree released the Jewish exiles; Zerubbabel led approximately 50,000 returnees back to Judah; temple vessels were restored; the altar was rebuilt and sacrifices resumed before the temple foundation was even laid.

Details

In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia (539/538 BC), fulfilling Jeremiah’s 70-year prophecy, the LORD stirred Cyrus’s spirit to issue a proclamation throughout his empire: the God of heaven had given him all the kingdoms of the earth and charged him to build his house in Jerusalem; any of his people (the Jews) were free to go, and neighbors were to send them off with silver, gold, goods, and animals. King Cyrus also brought out the vessels of the temple that Nebuchadnezzar had carried to Babylon — 5,400 gold and silver vessels — and gave them to Sheshbazzar, a prince of Judah, to take to Jerusalem.

The returning community numbered 42,360 plus 7,337 servants — Ezra 2 provides the detailed census. Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel (a descendant of David and heir to the royal line) led the return, along with Jeshua the high priest. In the seventh month, when the people had settled in their towns, they gathered in Jerusalem. Jeshua and Zerubbabel led the rebuilding of the altar of burnt offerings and resumed the regular daily sacrifices and the Feast of Tabernacles, “as it is written” — before the temple itself was restored. In the second year, the foundation of the temple was laid with great ceremony (see Foundation Laid).

Key People Involved

  • Cyrus the Great — The Persian king whose decree authorized the return
  • Zerubbabel — Leader of the returning community; Davidic descendant
  • Jeshua — The high priest; leader alongside Zerubbabel
  • Sheshbazzar — Prince of Judah who received the temple vessels

Key Places

  • Babylon — The city the exiles left
  • Jerusalem — The city they returned to and began to restore
  • Judah — The province they resettled

Important Verses

“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.” — Ezra 1:2

Cross-References

Notes

Isaiah had prophesied Cyrus by name roughly 150 years before his birth (Isaiah 44:28-45:1), identifying him as God’s “shepherd” and “anointed” who would authorize the rebuilding of Jerusalem. This is one of the most specific predictive prophecies in the OT. Cyrus’s decree aligns with known Persian imperial policy of allowing subject peoples to worship their own gods — cuneiform records (the Cyrus Cylinder) confirm this general policy. The return from Babylon was intentionally styled as a new Exodus, with the same movement from bondage to the land of promise.

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