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Ezra 1:1

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Bible Text

Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of Yahweh by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and [put it] also in writing, saying,

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Maps for this passage

The Babylonian and Persian EmpiresThe Babylonian and Persian empires that carried Judah into exile and later allowed the return.

Historical maps are public-domain atlas plates, digitized by Wikimedia Commons.

Babylonia was the empire where many Judeans had lived in exile after Jerusalem’s fall; Jerusalem was their covenant city and the site of the destroyed temple. Persia, under Cyrus, conquered Babylonia and became the power through which the Lord moved to permit Jerusalem’s restoration.

Places in this passage

Ezra 1:1 mentions Babylonia, Jerusalem and Persia.

Babylonia · Radomir Vrbovsky
Jerusalem · Godot13
Persia · Hadis Faghiri

Place data & photos: OpenBible.info (CC BY). Map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors.