Ezra 1:7-11·~1 min

Cyrus Restores the Holy Vessels

Cyrus brings out the articles from the house of the LORD that Nebuchadnezzar had taken, and Mithredath the treasurer counts them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah.

K⁷ing 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. ⁸Cyrus king of Persia had them brought out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah.

The inventory of the returned vessels is recorded, and the section closes by noting that Sheshbazzar brings the full collection up with the exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem.

⁹This was the inventory: ¹⁰30 gold bowls, ¹¹In all, there were 5,400 gold and silver articles. Sheshbazzar brought all these along when the exiles went up from Babylon to Jerusalem.

Section summaryCyrus not only permits the return but also brings out the temple articles Nebuchadnezzar had taken from Jerusalem and placed among foreign gods. Counted out and entrusted to Sheshbazzar, these vessels go back with the exiles as a visible sign that what was taken from the house is now being restored.

Role in the chapterThis section narrows the chapter's broad movement into one concrete act of restoration. By returning the temple vessels, it ties the coming journey directly to the house in Jerusalem and to the losses of the exile.