Bob Boyd1
There are so many archaeological discoveries which pinpoint the historical accuracy of the Bible that it is difficult to understand why critics of the Word of God still question its historical accuracy. One such discovery, found by Hormuzd Rassam in his excavations at Babylon in 1879–1882, and now in the British Museum in London, is a 9-inch long, barrel-shaped inscription (made of clay) of a decree issued by Cyrus, King of Persia. Cyrus was the founder of the Persian empire and died in 530 or 529 BC.
What is the significance of Cyrus and the Cyrus cylinder in relation to the Bible? God’s people, the children of Israel, had long lived in a state of disobedience. They had dethroned God as their king and enthroned a man-king (I Samuel 8:5, 6, 19, 20). In addition to a rejection of a theocratic form of government, Israel also dethroned God-worship and embraced Baal-worship (Judges 2:11, 12; 3:5–7). After Solomon’s death the kingdom was split (I Kings 11:33–35; 12:16–20). The Northern Kingdom of Israel fell prey to the Assyrians in 721 BC (II Kings 17:3–21). By the Ume we get to king Manasseh of the southem kingdom of Judah in ca. 680 BC, he had seduced Israel to do more evil than all the surrounding heathen nations (II Kings 21: 1–9).
God had long before promised that if His people disobeyed Him, captivity would follow (Deuteronomy 28). Another promise God had made concerning Israel’s dis-obediance was that if she did not keep the Sabbatical year (every 7th year) to let the land rest from planting, He would take His people out of the Promised Land a year for each year they failed to let the land rest (Leviticus 26:32–39). For at least 490 years this nation tilled the land during these Sabbaths until she had accumulated 70 years of “Sabbatical disobedience.”
Faithful to His Word, God permitted Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, to besiege Jerusalem, destroy it, take the golden vessels of the temple, and transport thousands of Israelites to Babylon in 586 BC for a 70 year captivity period (the 7th year divided into 490 = 70 years). This was done to fulfill the word of the Lord by Jeremiah the prophet (who had reminded them of God’s warning in Leviticus 26:32–39), “until she enjoyed her Sabbaths, for as long as the land lay desolate she kept the Sabbath, to fulfill threescore and ten years” (II Chronicles 36:11–21).
BSP 1:1 (Winter 1988) p. 16
Near the end of the seventy year captivity, Daniel, who had been taken captive to Babylon, prophesied that Babylon would be taken over by the Medes and Persians (Daniel 2:37–39a). It was during the reign of Cyrus, king of Persia, that this prophet calculated (apparently from his own exile in 605 BC) that it was coming to an end (Daniel 10:1–14). Daniel’s prophecy of Babylon’s capture by the Medes and Persians came to pass as recorded in chapter 5.
It is interesting to note that Cyrus was prophetically named by Isaiah, about 150 years before his birth, as the king who would give the Jews permission to return to their homeland and rebuild their temple and their city, Jerusalem (Isaiah 44:28–45:1). Just as God “brought upon them [His people] the king of the Chaldees [Nebuchadnezzar]” to take Israel captive for 70 years, so God raised up Cyrus, a pagan king, to see that His people were released from their captivity to go back home and reestablish their worship in their holy city. We read the following in II Chronicles 36:22, 23 (also in Ezra 1:1–4): “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the Word of the Lord spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, 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, Tnus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the Lord God of heaven given me; and He hath charged me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all His people? The Lord his God be with him, and let him go up.”‘
Although Cyrus gave his god Marduk credit for victory over Babylon when his vice-regent, king Darius of the Medes captured this city, he was tolerant of other people’s religions and made it his policy and decree to allow all captive peoples to return to their homelands and rebuild their temples. It was in light of this policy and decree that the Jews took it personally to mean that Cyrus would indirectly build the Temple at Jerusalem by permitting them to take the gold, silver,
The Cyrus Cylinder
BSP 1:1 (Winter 1988) p. 17
and other goods which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Temple back to Jerusalem with them (Ezra 5:13–15). Cyrus’ decree on the cylinder does not mention Israel specifically, but they were included, and to the Jews it meant that they were now free.
Much of this decree has to do with the exploits and victories of Cyrus, but the part which has to do with the release of captives, Israel in particular, reads as follows:
“As to the region from [text missing] as far as Ashur and Susa, Akkad, etc.., the sanctuaries of which have been in ruins for a long time, the images which used to live in them, and I established for them permanent sanctuaries. I also gathered all their former inhabitants and returned them to their habitations, Furthermore, I resettled upon the command of Marduk, the great Lord, all the gods of Sumer and Akkad whom Nabunaid has brought into Babylon to the anger of the lord of the gods [i.e., Marduk], unharmed, in their former chapels, the places which make them happy.”
One forceful impact of the laws or decrees of the Medes and Persians was that once a law was made or passed, it could never be altered (Daniel 6:8). When God prophesied that Cyrus would be the king who would permit Israel’s return after their Babylonian captivity, He knew the king’s decree would be binding, thereby assuring Israel of her return to her Promised Land. During the rebuilding of the Temple after their return under Ezra and Zerubbabel, opposition arose, and a letter was written to Darius by an enemy, Tatnai, to verify Israel’s right to build her Temple. Darius not only found the decree which Cyrus had written, but issued several himself, one of which warned Tatnai to leave Israel alone under penalty of death (Ezra 5:1–6:14). When Darius issued a decree that no one could make a petition to any God except himself, Daniel made his petition to His God. Against his wishes, Darius was forced not to alter his decree, and Daniel was cast into the lion’s den(Daniel 6).
Since the decree of Cyrus could not be altered or reversed, it became to Israel her “Declaration of Independence.” It set her free from her Babylonian captivity or bondage, allowing her to go back home and worship God where He had promised to perpetuate His name. God does not forget His people, especially those who are “graven upon the palms of His hands” (Isaiah 49:15, 16). The decree on the Cyrus Cylinder stands out as an important archaeological discovery from secular history which verifies several portions of the Word of God.
Keeping in mind the inviolability of the decrees of men mentioned already, there is a decree of God which says that all who have sinned and come short of His glory shall die; the wages of their sin being death (Romans 3:23; 6:23a; Ezekiel 18:20). However, God has issued a decree which has become the “Declaration of Independence” for all who are in this spiritual bondage. It is, “I’he blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanses us from all sin” (I John 1:7). This decree circumvents the one about spiritual death, and gives spiritual life as God’s gift to all who put their trust in Christ (Romans 6:23b). This decree of God cannot be altered or reversed. Just as Israel had to believe the word or decree of Cyrus to walk out of cap-tiviiy a free people, so we must believe God’s Word if we are ever to be delivered from sin’s captivity.
BSP 1:1 (Winter 1988) p. 18
Creation – Evolution