Week 15: Return and Restoration
Week 15: Return and Restoration
The Babylonian Empire fell in 539 BC and was succeeded by the Persian Empire under the rule of Cyrus. We have already been introduced to him as Yahweh’s anointed, a brilliant soldier who subdued nations before him (Isa. 41:2; 45:1). The Jewish exiles must have been watching his military exploits with increasing excitement until at last even Babylon capitulated to him.
Then in the first year of Cyrus’s reign “the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus” (Ezra 1:1) to issue two edicts, firstly to repatriate the Jews whom the Babylonians had deported and secondly to rebuild their temple. This was fully in keeping with his known religious policy. Whereas the Assyrians and Babylonians had imposed the worship of their own gods on their conquered subjects, the Persians sought to conciliate them by respecting their gods and even worshiping them.
Sunday: The Rebuilding of the Temple
Monday: Opposition and Encouragement
Tuesday: Ezra the Scribe
Wednesday: Nehemiah’s Vision
Thursday: Nehemiah’s Plan
Friday: Nehemiah’s Perseverance
Saturday: The Story of Esther