Cyrus, the Great

Persian Empire in 5th Century

Cyrus Cylinder

This cuneiform cylinder holds Cyrus’s account of his conquest of Babylon, where he claims his victory was ordained by Marduk, the proprietary god of Babylon. Here his policy of religious freedom is described in broad terms as he returned the icons and idols of local gods to their proper temples throughout the former Babylonian empire. He does not mention the Jews here, but releasing those in captivity would be consistent with this policy.

Cyrus CylinderI am Cyrus, king of the universe, the great king, the powerful king, king of Babylon,

king of Sumer and Akkad, king of the four quarters of the world, son of Cambyses, the great king, king of the city of Anshan, grandson of Cyrus, the

great king, ki[ng of the ci]ty of Anshan, descendant of Teispes, the great king, king of the city of Anshan,

the perpetual seed of kingship, whose reign Bel (Marduk)and Nabu love, and with whose kingship, to their joy, they concern themselves. When I went as harbinger of peace i[nt]o Babylon

I founded my sovereign residence within the palace amid celebration and rejoicing. Marduk, the great lord, bestowed on me as my destiny the great magnanimity of one who loves Babylon, and I every day sought him out in awe.

My vast troops were marching peaceably in Babylon, and the whole of [Sumer] and Akkad had nothing to fear.

I sought the safety of the city of Babylon and all its sanctuaries. As for the population of Babylon […, w]ho as if without div[ine intention] had endured a yoke not decreed for them,

I soothed their weariness; I freed them from their bonds(?). Marduk, the great lord, rejoiced at [my good] deeds,

and he pronounced a sweet blessing over me, Cyrus, the king who fears him

Group Work

Compare the Cyrus Cylinder to Ezra 1

How did the biblical writers interpret Cyrus’ actions?

Isaiah 45Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus,

whose right hand I have graspedto subdue nations before him and strip kings of their robes,to open doors before him— and the gates shall not be closed: I will go before you and level the mountains,I will give you the treasures of darkness and riches hidden in secret places,so that you may know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who call you by your name. For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen,I call you by your name, I surname you, though you do not know me. I am the LORD, and there is no other; besides me there is no god. I arm you, though you do not know me, so that they may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is no one besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness,

New Theology

• Individual Responsibility• Promise of Restoration• Messianic Expectation

The Promise of Restoration:Ezekiel 37

‘Mortal, can these bones live?’

‘Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, “Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.” Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel.

Excerpts from JeremiahThe days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of humans and the seed of animals. And just as I have watched over them to pluck up and break down, to overthrow, destroy, and bring evil, so I will watch over them to build and to plant, says the LORD. In those days they shall no longer say:

‘The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’ But all shall die for their own sins; the teeth of everyone who eats sour grapes shall be set on edge.(Jeremiah 31: 27-30)

Excerpts from Deutero-IsaiahComfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to herthat she has served her term, that her penalty is paid,that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.A voice says, ‘Cry out!’ And I said, ‘What shall I cry?’Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings;lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear;say to the cities of Judah, ‘Here is your God!’