1In 2Ch 36:22-23 the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, Cyrus reigned 559–530 b.c. the word of the Lord spoken through Jeremiah was fulfilled. Jr 25:12; 29:10-14 The Lord put it into the mind Ezr 7:27 of King Cyrus to issue a proclamation throughout his entire kingdom and to put it in writing:

2This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and has appointed me to build Him a house at Jerusalem in Judah. Is 44:28; 45:1,13; Dn 9:17

3Whoever is among His people, may his God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the Lord, the God of Israel, Dn 6:26 the God who is in Jerusalem.

4Let every survivor, Neh 1:2; Is 10:20-22 wherever he lives, be assisted by the men of that region with silver, gold, goods, and livestock, along with a freewill offering for the house of God in Jerusalem.”

5So the family leaders of Judah and Benjamin, along with the priests and Levites — everyone God had motivated Lit everyone whose spirit God had stirred Ezr 1:1 — prepared to go up and rebuild the Lord’s house in Jerusalem.

6All their neighbors supported them Lit supported their hands Ezr 6:22 with silver articles, gold, goods, livestock, and valuables, in addition to all that was given as a freewill offering.

7King Cyrus also brought out the articles of the Lord’s house that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from Jerusalem and had placed in the house of his gods. 2Ch 36:7,10,18; Dn 1:2; 5:2-3

8King Cyrus of Persia had them brought out under the supervision of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah. Ezr 5:14,16

9This was the inventory: