Ezra 1

Cyrus Fulfills Prophecy

Ezra 1 tells us that not only did Cyrus encourage the Jews to return to Jerusalem, but he also returned all of the items Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple and placed in the temples of Babylon. Cyrus felt that God was inspiring him to make this decree. The decree of Cyrus fulfilled prophecies made by Isaiah and Jeremiah (see Isaiah 44:28–45:1).