My Book of Bible Stories APPEARED IN Story 80: God’s People Leave Babylon 00:00 00:00 NEARLY two years have passed since Babylon was captured by the Medes and the Persians. And look what is happening now! Yes, the Israelites are leaving Babylon. How did they get free? Who let them go? Cy´rus, the king of Persia, did. Long before Cy´rus was born, Jehovah had his prophet Isaiah write about him: ‘You will do just what I want you to do. The gates will be left open for you to capture the city.’ And Cy´rus did take the lead in capturing Babylon. The Medes and the Persians came into the city at night through gates that had been left open. But Jehovah’s prophet Isaiah also said that Cy´rus would give the command for Jerusalem and its temple to be built again. Did Cy´rus give this command? Yes, he did. This is what Cy´rus tells the Israelites: ‘Go, now, to Jerusalem and build the temple of Jehovah, your God.’ And this is just what these Israelites are on their way to do. Israelites leaving Babylon But not all the Israelites in Babylon can make the long trip back to Jerusalem. It is a long, long trip of about 500 miles (800 kilometers) and many are too old or too sick to travel so far. And there are other reasons why some people don’t go. But Cy´rus tells those that don’t go: ‘Give silver and gold and other gifts to the people who are going back to build Jerusalem and its temple.’ So, many gifts are given to these Israelites who are on their way to Jerusalem. Also, Cy´rus gives them the bowls and the cups that King Neb·u·chad·nez´zar had taken from Jehovah’s temple when he destroyed Jerusalem. The people have a lot of things to carry back with them. After about four months of traveling, the Israelites get back to Jerusalem right on time. It is just 70 years since the city was destroyed, and the land was left completely empty of people. But though the Israelites are now back in their own country they will have some hard times, as we will learn next. Isaiah 44:28; 45:1-4; Ezra 1:1-11. Questions As illustrated in the picture, what are the Israelites doing? How did Cyrus fulfill Jehovah’s prophecy through Isaiah? What does Cyrus tell the Israelites who cannot return to Jerusalem? What does Cyrus give the people to take back to Jerusalem? How long does it take the Israelites to get back to Jerusalem? How many years have passed since the land was left completely empty of people? Additional questions Read Isaiah 44:28 and 45:1-4. How did Jehovah emphasize the certainty of the fulfillment of the prophecy regarding Cyrus? (Isa. 55:10, 11; Rom. 4:17) What does Isaiah’s prophecy regarding Cyrus show about Jehovah God’s ability to foretell the future? (Isa. 42:9; 45:21; 46:10, 11; 2 Pet. 1:20) Read Ezra 1:1-11. Following the example of those who were unable to return to Jerusalem, how can we today ‘strengthen the hands’ of those who are able to enter full-time service? (Ezra 1:4, 6; Rom. 12:13; Col. 4:12)
Posted on: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 14:15:13 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015