Page 73 - Biblical Backgrounds student textbook

Section 11: The Persian Captivity as background to the Bible
(2 Chronicles 36; Ezra; Nehemiah; Esther; Daniel 6; Haggai; Zechariah;
Malachi)

11.1 Connect

In Isaiah 44:28–45:6 Jehovah describes Cyrus as His servant who was anointed (set apart) to
fulfill God’s purpose. God’s Word surely came to pass when in 539 BCE Cyrus conquered and
subdued Babylonia, and within a year made a decree allowing the Jews to return home and
rebuild Jerusalem.

“In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be
fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout
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all his kingdom and also put it in writing: “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The LORD, the God of heaven,
has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem,
which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up
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to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel—he is the God who is
in Jerusalem. And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place
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with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in
Jerusalem. (Ezra 1:1–4; 2 Chron. 36:22–23)”

Our previous chapter indicated that not all Jews returned to Israel [Judah]. It was mentioned that the
returning Jews returned in separate groups at different times, not just in one company. What
opportunities, exploits, challenges, lay ahead of both those who stayed and those who chose to return?
What notable feats and reforms did God’s restored people undertake in their homeland? Let us explore
this chapter and find out more.

11.2 Objectives.

1. The student should be able to state key times and events on the Jews’ timeline in exile, leading
to their restoration.

2. The student should be able to explain God’s sovereign care in preserving His people throughout
their time in exile and restoring them back to the Promised Land.

3. The student should be able to identify key people God used to restore his people to their land.

4. The student should be able to describe the phases in which the Jews returned to Judah.

5. The student should be able to identify some of the reforms the Jewish undertook upon their return to
Jerusalem.

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