2 Chronicles 36:22-23·~1 min
The Proclamation of Cyrus
In Cyrus's first year, the Lord stirs his spirit so that a written proclamation goes out across the Persian empire in fulfillment of Jeremiah's word. The chapter closes at the threshold of return.
I22n the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah, the LORD stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to send a proclamation throughout his kingdom and to put it in writing as follows: 23“This is what Cyrus king of Persia says:
Section summaryThe chapter ends with the first year of Cyrus, when the Lord stirs the Persian king to issue a written proclamation in fulfillment of Jeremiah's word. After ruin and exile, the final note is that the Lord is already moving a foreign ruler toward restoration.
Role in the chapterThis closing turn keeps Chronicles from ending at the fire and rubble. It opens the future with the same Lord whose word judged Judah now guiding events toward return.