26 So the God of Israel put it into the mind of Pul(A) (that is, Tiglath-pileser[a]) king of Assyria to take the Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh into exile. He took them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and Gozan’s river, where they are until today.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 5:26 LXX; MT reads Tilgath-pilneser

The Decree of Cyrus

In(A) the first year of Cyrus king of Persia,[a] the word of the Lord spoken through Jeremiah was fulfilled.(B) The Lord put it into the mind(C) of King Cyrus to issue a proclamation throughout his entire kingdom and to put it in writing:

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Footnotes

  1. Ezra 1:1 Cyrus reigned 559–530 b.c.

Return from Exile

So the family leaders of Judah and Benjamin, along with the priests and Levites—everyone God had motivated[a](A)—prepared to go up and rebuild the Lord’s house in Jerusalem.

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Footnotes

  1. Ezra 1:5 Lit everyone whose spirit God had stirred

17 Look! I am stirring up the Medes against them,(A)
who cannot be bought off with[a] silver
and who have no desire for gold.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 13:17 Lit who have no regard for

Sheol below is eager to greet your coming.
He stirs up the spirits of the departed for you—
all the rulers[a] of the earth.
He makes all the kings of the nations
rise from their thrones.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 14:9 Lit rams

10 Do not fear, for I am with you;(A)
do not be afraid, for I am your God.(B)
I will strengthen you; I will help you;
I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand.(C)

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13 I have raised him up in righteousness,(A)
and will level all roads for him.
He will rebuild My city,(B)
and set My exiles free,(C)
not for a price or a bribe,”
says the Lord of Hosts.

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11 Sharpen the arrows!
Fill the quivers!
The Lord has put it into the mind
of the kings of the Medes
because His plan is aimed at Babylon
to destroy her,
for it is the Lord’s vengeance,
vengeance for His temple.(A)

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