2Ch 36:22-23 | NET2full | STEP | In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia , in fulfillment of the Lord ’s message spoken through Jeremiah , the Lord motivated King Cyrus of Persia to issue a proclamation throughout his kingdom and also to put it in writing . It read :

2 Chronicles 36:22-23

Cyrus Allows the Exiles to Go Home

22 In the first year ^{▼▼sn The first year of Cyrus would be ca. 539 b.c. Cyrus reigned in Persia from ca. 539-530 b.c.} of King Cyrus of Persia, in fulfillment of the Lord’s message spoken through Jeremiah, ^{▼▼tn Heb “by the mouth of Jeremiah.”} ^{▼▼sn See Jer 25:11; 29:10.} the Lord motivated ^{▼▼tn Heb “stirred the spirit of.” The Hebrew noun רוּחַ (ruakh, “spirit”) has a broad range of meanings (see BDB 924-26 s.v.). Here, it probably refers to (1) “mind” as the seat of mental acts (e.g., Exod 28:3; Deut 34:9; Isa 29:24; 40:13; Ezek 11:5; 20:32; 1 Chr 28:12; cf. BDB 925 s.v. 6) or (2) “will” as the seat of volitional decisions (e.g., Exod 35:5, 22; Pss 51:12, 14; 57:8; 2 Chr 29:31; cf. BDB 925 s.v. 7). So also in Ezra 1:5. The entire phrase “stirred the spirit” has been rendered as “motivated” to better reflect normal English.} King Cyrus of Persia to issue a proclamation ^{▼▼tn Heb “a voice.” The Hebrew noun קוֹל (qol, “voice, sound”) has a broad range of meanings, including the metonymical (cause—effect) nuance “proclamation” (e.g., Exod 36:6; 2 Chr 24:9; 30:5; 36:22; Ezra 1:1; 10:7; Neh 8:15). See BDB 877 s.v. 3.a.2.} throughout his kingdom and also to put it in writing. It read:

23 “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. Anyone of his people among you may go up there, and may the Lord his God be with him.’”