---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Ezra 1"
description: "CHAPTER 1   :-. PROCLAMATION OF
CYRUS FOR BUILDING
THE TEMPLE. 1. in the first year of Cyrus king
of Persia—The Persian empire, including Persia, Media,
B"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/ezra/1"
---

CHAPTER 1

. PROCLAMATION OF
CYRUS FOR BUILDING
THE TEMPLE.

**1. in the first year of Cyrus king
of Persia**—The Persian empire, including Persia, Media,
Babylonia, and Chaldea, with many smaller dependencies, was founded
by Cyrus, 536 B.C.
[HALES].
**that the word of the Lord by
the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled**—(See [Jeremiah 25:12](../../../kjv/jeremiah/25/12);
[Jeremiah 29:10](../../../kjv/jeremiah/29/10)). This reference is a
parenthetic statement of the historian, and did not form part of the
proclamation.

**2. The Lord God of heaven hath given
me all the kingdoms of the earth**—Though this is in the Oriental
style of hyperbole (see also ), it was literally true that the Persian empire was the
greatest ruling power in the world at that time.
**he hath charged me to build
him an house at Jerusalem**—The phraseology of this proclamation,
independently of the express testimony of JOSEPHUS,
affords indisputable evidence that Cyrus had seen (probably through
means of Daniel, his venerable prime minister and favorite) those
prophecies in which, two hundred years before he was born, his name,
his victorious career, and the important services he should render to
the Jews were distinctly foretold ([Isaiah 44:28](../../../kjv/isaiah/44/28);
[Isaiah 46:1-4](../../../kjv/isaiah/46/1-4)). The existence
of predictions so remarkable led him to acknowledge that all his
kingdoms were gifts bestowed on him by "the Lord God of heaven,"
and prompted him to fulfil the duty which had been laid upon him long
before his birth. This was the source and origin of the great favor
he showed to the Jews. The proclamation, though issued "in the
first year of Cyrus" [[Ezra 1:1](../../../kjv/ezra/1/1)],
did not take effect till the year following.

**3. Who is there among you of all his
people**—The purport of the edict was to grant full permission to
those Jewish exiles, in every part of his kingdom, who chose, to
return to their own country, as well as to recommend those of their
countrymen who remained to aid the poor and feeble on their way, and
contribute liberally towards the rebuilding of the temple.

**5, 6. Then rose up the chief of the
fathers,** &c.—The paternal and ecclesiastical chiefs of the
later captivity, those of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, with some
also from other tribes ([1 Chronicles 9:3](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/9/3)),
who retained their attachment to the pure worship of God, naturally
took the lead in this movement. Their example was followed by all
whose piety and patriotism were strong enough to brave the various
discouragements attending the enterprise. They were liberally
assisted by multitudes of their captive countrymen, who, born in
Babylonia or comfortably established in it by family connections or
the possession of property, chose to remain. It seems that their
Assyrian friends and neighbors, too, either from a favorable
disposition toward the Jewish faith, or from imitation of the court
policy, displayed hearty good will and great liberality in aiding and
promoting the views of the emigrants.
[1 Chronicles 9:3](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/9/3). CYRUS RESTORES
THE VESSELS.

**7. Cyrus . . . brought forth the
vessels of the house of the Lord**—Though it is said () that these were *cut in pieces,* that would not be
done to the large and magnificent vases; and, if they had been
divided, the parts could be reunited. But it may be doubted whether
the *Hebrew* word rendered *cut in pieces,* does not
signify merely *cut off,* that is, from further use in the
temple.

**8. Shesh-bazzar, the prince of
Judah**—that is, Zerubbabel, son of Salathiel (compare [Ezra 3:8](../../../kjv/ezra/3/8);
[Ezra 5:16](../../../kjv/ezra/5/16)). He was born in
Babylon, and called by his family Zerubbabel, that is, stranger or
exile in Babylon. Shesh-bazzar, signifying "fire-worshipper,"
was the name given him at court, as other names were given to Daniel
and his friends. He was recognized among the exiles as hereditary
prince of Judah.

**11. All the vessels of gold and of
silver were five thousand and four hundred**—The vessels here
specified amount only to the number of 2499. Hence it is probable
that the larger vases only are mentioned, while the inventory of the
whole, including great and small, came to the gross sum stated in the
text.
**them of the captivity that
were brought up from Babylon unto Jerusalem**—All the Jewish
exiles did not embrace the privilege which the Persian king granted
them. The great proportion, born in Babylon, preferred continuing in
their comfortable homes to undertaking a distant, expensive, and
hazardous journey to a desolate land. Nor did the returning exiles
all go at once. The first band went with Zerubbabel, others
afterwards with Ezra, and a large number with Nehemiah at a still
later period.

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