Return from Exile Story - Bible

The Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia. Cyrus made a proclamation throughout his kingdom. He also put it in writing. It said, 'This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: 'The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah. May the Lord their God be with them. Let them build the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel. He is the God who is in Jerusalem. And in any place where survivors may live, the people are to provide them with silver and gold. They are to provide them with goods and livestock. They are to give them freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.''

So the family heads of Judah and Benjamin rose up. The priests and Levites rose up. Everyone whose heart God had moved rose up. They prepared to go to Jerusalem and build the house of the Lord. All their neighbors helped them. They gave them articles of silver and gold, goods, livestock, and valuable gifts. They also gave them freewill offerings.

Moreover, King Cyrus brought out the articles belonging to the temple of the Lord. Nebuchadnezzar had carried these articles from Jerusalem to Babylon. He had placed them in the temple of his god. Cyrus king of Persia had Mithredath the treasurer bring them out. He counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah. There were 540 articles of gold and silver in all.

So the exiles began their journey back to Jerusalem. They had been in Babylon for seventy years, just as Jeremiah had prophesied. They were excited to go home. But they were also sad. Their beautiful city had been destroyed. Their temple was in ruins. They had a lot of work to do.

When they arrived in Jerusalem, they began to rebuild the altar of the Lord. They set it up on its foundation. They sacrificed burnt offerings on it. Then they began to rebuild the temple. They laid the foundation. The priests and Levites took their places to praise the Lord. They sang, 'He is good. His love toward Israel endures forever.' All the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord. But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads wept aloud. They had seen the first temple. They remembered how beautiful it was. They knew this temple would not be as glorious.

The enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the Lord. They came to Zerubbabel and the family heads. They said, 'Let us help you build. We seek your God as you do.' But Zerubbabel and the other leaders said, 'You have no part with us in building a temple to our God. We alone will build it for the Lord, the God of Israel.'

Then the enemies set out to discourage the people of Judah. They made them afraid to go on building. They bribed officials to work against them. So the work on the house of God in Jerusalem came to a standstill. It stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

The Lord raised up prophets Haggai and Zechariah to encourage the people. They prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem. The people began to build again. The officials came to ask, 'Who gave you permission to rebuild this temple?' But the eyes of God were watching over the elders of the Jews. They were not stopped until a report could go to Darius and a written answer be sent back.

King Darius searched the royal archives. He found a scroll. It recorded Cyrus's decree to rebuild the temple. So Darius wrote back, 'Keep away from there. Do not interfere with the work on that temple of God. Let the governor of the Jews and the Jewish elders rebuild this house of God on its site. I hereby decree what you are to do for these elders of the Jews in the building of this house of God. The expenses are to be fully paid out of the royal treasury. Day by day, give them whatever they need. I also decree that if anyone changes this edict, a beam is to be pulled from their house. They are to be impaled on it. May God, who has caused his Name to dwell there, overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to change this decree.'

So the elders of the Jews continued to build. They prospered because of the preaching of Haggai and Zechariah. They finished building the temple. They celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy. They offered one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, and four hundred male lambs as sacrifices. They also offered twelve male goats for the sin of all Israel.

The people of Israel who had returned from exile ate the Passover. They celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days with joy. The Lord had filled them with joy. He had turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them. He had helped them with the work on the house of God.

God kept his promise. He brought his people back from exile. He helped them rebuild the temple. He did not forget them even when they had sinned against him. He gave them a second chance. He showed them that he is faithful and merciful. He forgives and restores those who turn back to him.

The Return from Exile story teaches hope and restoration. It shows that God fulfills His promises. This story highlights faith and perseverance.