Ezr 1:2-4 | NET2full | STEP | “ This is what King Cyrus of Persia says : “‘The Lord God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth . He has appointed me to build a temple for him in Jerusalem , which is in Judah .

Ezra 1:2-4

2 “This is what King Cyrus of Persia says:

“‘The Lord God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed ^{▼▼tn Or “instructed.”} me to build a temple ^{▼▼tn Heb “house.” The Hebrew noun בַּיִת (bayit, “house”) is often used in reference to the temple of Yahweh (BDB 108 s.v. 1.a). This is also frequent elsewhere in Ezra and Nehemiah (e.g., Ezra 1:3, 4, 5, 7; 2:68; 3:8, 9, 11, 12; 4:3; 6:22; 7:27; 8:17, 25, 29, 30, 33, 36; 9:9; 10:1, 6, 9).} for him in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Anyone of ^{▼▼tn Heb “from all.”} his people among you (may his God be with him!) may go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and may build the temple of the Lord God of Israel—he is the God who is in Jerusalem. 4 Anyone who survives in any of those places where he is a resident foreigner must be helped by his neighbors ^{▼▼tn Heb “the men of his place.”} with silver, gold, equipment, and animals, along with voluntary offerings for the temple of God which is in Jerusalem.’”