Ezra 1:7

Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of his gods;

Also Cyrus {H3566} the king {H4428} brought forth {H3318} the vessels {H3627} of the house {H1004} of the LORD {H3068}, which Nebuchadnezzar {H5019} had brought forth {H3318} out of Jerusalem {H3389}, and had put {H5414} them in the house {H1004} of his gods {H430};

In addition, Koresh the king brought out the vessels from the house of ADONAI which N'vukhadnetzar had taken from Yerushalayim and put in the house of his god.

King Cyrus also brought out the articles belonging to the house of the LORD that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and placed in the temple of his gods.

Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of Jehovah, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put in the house of his gods;

Commentary

Ezra 1:7 marks a tangible step in the divine plan for Israel's restoration after the Babylonian exile. It details King Cyrus's command to return the sacred vessels of the Temple to Jerusalem, items that Nebuchadnezzar had plundered decades earlier.

Context

This verse immediately follows Cyrus's decree, inspired by God, allowing the exiled Jews to return and rebuild the Temple. The vessels mentioned here were not mere spoils of war; they were holy instruments used in the worship of the LORD, taken by Nebuchadnezzar when he destroyed Jerusalem and the First Temple. Their placement in the "house of his gods" by Nebuchadnezzar (as also seen in Belshazzar's infamous feast in Daniel 5) represented the ultimate desecration and humiliation of Israel's God by pagan deities. Cyrus's action is a profound reversal of this act of conquest and blasphemy.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty and Fulfillment of Prophecy: This act vividly demonstrates God's absolute control over human rulers and world events. Cyrus, a pagan king, is used as an instrument to fulfill prophecies concerning the end of the 70-year Babylonian captivity, as foretold by prophets like Jeremiah and even named by Isaiah centuries earlier.
  • Restoration and Sanctity: The return of the temple vessels symbolizes the beginning of spiritual and physical restoration for the Jewish people. It underscores the enduring sanctity of items dedicated to God, even after years of desecration and exile. The vessels were precious not for their material value, but for their consecrated purpose.
  • Reverence for God's Possessions: The care taken to return these specific items highlights the importance of what belongs to the LORD. It signifies a re-establishment of proper worship and a recognition of God's rightful place.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "vessels of the house of the LORD" (Hebrew: k'ley beit YHWH) emphasizes that these were not just ordinary items but sacred instruments specifically designated for the worship and service within God's temple. Their transfer from the pagan temples back to the custody of the returning exiles signifies a reclamation of divine honor and the preparatory steps for recommencing proper worship in Jerusalem.

Significance and Application

Ezra 1:7 offers powerful lessons for believers today. It reminds us that God never forgets His people or His promises. Even when circumstances seem dire, and God's presence appears absent (as during the exile), He is actively working behind the scenes, orchestrating events and using unexpected individuals to accomplish His divine will. This verse encourages us to trust in God's ultimate plan of restoration, even when we face periods of spiritual or personal exile. It also calls us to a renewed reverence for what is holy and set apart for God, recognizing that He values and remembers all that is consecrated to Him. Just as the physical vessels were restored, God is faithful to restore what has been broken or lost in our lives when we turn back to Him, looking toward the ultimate restoration of all things.

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Cross-References

  • 2 Chronicles 36:7 (6 votes)

    Nebuchadnezzar also carried of the vessels of the house of the LORD to Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon.

  • Ezra 5:14 (5 votes)

    And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that [was] in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto [one], whose name [was] Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;

  • 2 Kings 24:13 (5 votes)

    And he carried out thence all the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the LORD, as the LORD had said.

  • Ezra 6:5 (5 votes)

    And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which [is] at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which [is] at Jerusalem, [every one] to his place, and place [them] in the house of God.

  • 2 Chronicles 36:10 (3 votes)

    And when the year was expired, king Nebuchadnezzar sent, and brought him to Babylon, with the goodly vessels of the house of the LORD, and made Zedekiah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem.

  • Jeremiah 27:21 (2 votes)

    Yea, thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the vessels that remain [in] the house of the LORD, and [in] the house of the king of Judah and of Jerusalem;

  • Jeremiah 27:22 (2 votes)

    They shall be carried to Babylon, and there shall they be until the day that I visit them, saith the LORD; then will I bring them up, and restore them to this place.