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Daniel’s “Seventy Weeks” 33

Let us realize that the time specified by the angel was to begin -- not at the restoring and
building of the city of Jerusalem -- but at the going forth of the “word” (or decree) to restore and to
build. That “word” went forth “in the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia,” and, moreover, its going
forth was for the express purpose “that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be ful-
filled” (Ezra 1:1). To accomplish His purpose, YEHOVAH God “stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, king
of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom.” Here we see a royal “word” or
proclamation going forth with the objective of releasing the captives of Judah so that they could “go
up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel (He is the God)
which is in Jerusalem” (Ezra 1:2-3).

The immediate effect of this proclamation was that a large contingent of Israelites (42,370
plus 7,337 servants and maids) “went up out of the captivity and came again unto Jerusalem and Ju-
dah” (Ezra 2:1, 64-65). Other groups came later. This was exactly what Daniel the prophet was
praying for -- it was the ending of the captivity of his people and the beginning of a new period of
existence for the nation of Judah and the city of Jerusalem (see Daniel 9:19).

To “restore” means (wherever the word is used in the Old Testament) to “turn back” and
therefore to replace what had been taken away. In this case it clearly meant to restore the people to
the city, thereby reestablishing it. That was the thrust and the effect of the decree of Cyrus, and the
Bible records the accomplishment of it. We find written that the captives released by the decree of
Cyrus “came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city” (Ezra 2:1). And again that
they “dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities (2:70). This includes, of course, the chief city
of Jerusalem.

Isaiah’s Prophecy About Cyrus

In the Book of Ezra the decree of Cyrus is stated historically with utmost clarity. But, to put
it beyond all doubt and to show, however, how vitally important this action of Cyrus was in the eyes
and purposes of YEHOVAH God, we need to understand the remarkable fact that YEHOVAH had
also declared it prophetically through His prophet Isaiah. This occurred more than 150 years prior
to the actual decree, and the prophecy even calls by name the very king who was to fulfill
YEHOVAH’s plan. For Isaiah had prophesied about Cyrus, saying: “Thus says the LORD...Who
confirms the word of His servant, and performs the counsel of His messengers; Who says to Jerusa-
lem, ‘You shall be inhabited,’ and to the cities of Judah, ‘You shall be built,’ and I will raise up her
waste places;...Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, and he shall perform all My pleasure, even
saying to Jerusalem, “You shall be built,” and to the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid”’”
(Isaiah 44:24-28).

Therefore, we have YEHOVAH God’s own word that Cyrus -- and none other -- was to
speak the “word” to restore and to build Jerusalem -- even saying, “Thou shalt be built.”

And furthermore, Cyrus was made fully aware of Isaiah’s prophecy by Daniel; for in his de-
cree Cyrus said, “The God of heaven hath charged me to build Him an house at Jerusalem” (Ezra
1:2). It should be observed that the same “charge” included both the building of the temple AND the
building of the city (Isaiah 44:28).

The Berean Voice March-April 2003