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Ezra 1:2-4
New Catholic Bible
Ezra 1:2-4
New Catholic Bible
2 “King Cyrus of Persia says this: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given to me all the kingdoms of the earth, and in addition he has designated me to build him a house at Jerusalem in Judah. 3 May God be with all those among you who belong to his people.[a] They are to go up to Jerusalem in Judah and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem. 4 And let everyone who has survived, and who has settled down to reside in that locale, be assisted by the people of that place with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, in addition to the voluntary offerings for the house of God in Jerusalem.”
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- Ezra 1:3 Belong to his people: it seems strange that someone who is not a Jew is entrusted with the responsibility to return God’s people to their homeland. Cyrus, who ruled over what was formerly Assyria and Babylon offers immunity to the entire 12 tribes; however, his invitation to rebuild God’s temple is only acknowledged by Judah and Benjamin.
