King Cyrus unites all of Persia and takes over Babylon, then he releases all the interned Israelites and sends them back home. I guess it would be more accurate to call them Judans than Israelites, since the nation of Israel was conquered by Assyria before the Babylonian exile. I guess I'll start gradually switching over to just calling them Jews.
Not everyone decides to return home, but many families are influenced by God to come back to Jerusalem and rebuild. King Cyrus returns all the treasure that Nebachadnezzar had looted from the temple when he attacked and more cedar wood is imported from Tyre and Sidon. Persian influence must reach through this whole area because Cyrus has to sign off on the transfer of wood before it can be delivered to Jerusalem.
Even though they're scared of the neighboring peoples, the Judans observe all the rituals and ceremonies from the law of Moses. Things seem to be looking up.
Not everyone decides to return home, but many families are influenced by God to come back to Jerusalem and rebuild. King Cyrus returns all the treasure that Nebachadnezzar had looted from the temple when he attacked and more cedar wood is imported from Tyre and Sidon. Persian influence must reach through this whole area because Cyrus has to sign off on the transfer of wood before it can be delivered to Jerusalem.
Even though they're scared of the neighboring peoples, the Judans observe all the rituals and ceremonies from the law of Moses. Things seem to be looking up.
