What does Ezra 1:1 say about Cyrus and Jeremiah?
Ezra 1:1 states that in the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled. This links Cyrus's decree allowing the Jews to return and rebuild the temple to Jeremiah's earlier prophecy.
Les explains that after the southern kingdom of Judah was overrun by Nebuchadnezzar and the Jews were taken captive for 70 years, Cyrus, the king of Persia, made a decree that they could return to Jerusalem, rebuild the temple, reestablish temple worship, and reestablish their national entity under his sovereignty. Ezra 1:1 specifically says that in the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled. Les emphasizes that Jeremiah had spoken it years before it happened.
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,
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Why did Cyrus issue his decree allowing the Jews to return?
Cyrus's decree in his first year was for the purpose of fulfilling the word of the Lord spoken through Jeremiah.