Creation year 3385 · overlaps Nisan years 938–939 · Historical date 538 BC · provisional placement · Cyrus

Cyrus decrees the return

Ezra and Chronicles both place the written proclamation in Cyrus’s first year. Creation year 3385 is a provisional placement from the conventional 538 BC date; because Scripture gives no month, it overlaps Nisan years 938–939 and remains under review.

King James Version

Ezra 1:1–4; 2 Chronicles 36:22–23

Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.

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