11 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia , in order to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah , the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia , so that he sent a proclamation throughout all his kingdom , and also put it in writing , saying :
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezra 1:1
Commentary on Ezra 1:1-4
(Read Ezra 1:1-4)
The Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus. The hearts of kings are in the hand of the Lord. God governs the world by his influence on the spirits of men; whatever good they do, God stirs up their spirits to do it. It was during the captivity of the Jews, that God principally employed them as the means of calling the attention of the heathen to him. Cyrus took it for granted, that those among the Jews who were able, would offer free-will offerings for the house of God. He would also have them supplied out of his kingdom. Well-wishers to the temple should be well-doers for it.