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21 The land of Judah became an empty desert and stayed that way for 70 years. All this time the land rested to make up for the Sabbath rests[a] that the people had not kept. This is just what the Lord said would happen in the warning he gave through the prophet Jeremiah.[b]

22 During the first year that Cyrus[c] was king of Persia, the Lord caused Cyrus to make a special announcement. He did this so that what the Lord promised through Jeremiah the prophet would really happen. Cyrus sent messengers to every place in his kingdom. They carried this message:

23 This is what King Cyrus of Persia says:

The Lord, the God of heaven, made me king over the whole earth. He gave me the responsibility of building a Temple for him in Jerusalem. Now, all of you who are his people are free to go to Jerusalem. And may the Lord your God be with you.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 36:21 Sabbath rests The Law said that every seventh year the land was not to be farmed. See Lev. 25:1-7.
  2. 2 Chronicles 36:21 warning … Jeremiah See Jer. 25:11; 29:10.
  3. 2 Chronicles 36:22 the first year … Cyrus This was about 539–538 B.C.

21 The land enjoyed its sabbath rests;(A) all the time of its desolation it rested,(B) until the seventy years(C) were completed in fulfillment of the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah.

22 In the first year of Cyrus(D) king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing:

23 “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says:

“‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed(E) me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up, and may the Lord their God be with them.’”

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