I see. thanks.
Well, Cyrus had a smart policy...let the various captive peoples go back to their homes (it was not just the Jews to Jersualem, there were a number of others too) and then they would be loyal or at least friendly (as well as develop the lands and trade and maybe in some instances remit taxes).
But to go from such enlightened or at least smart leadership to what they got now!???? It is a remarkable fall ... and most discouraging. I can’t understand how entire nations (especially some countries with illustrious histories) get such crappy leaders (including USA)
Great leaders bring peace and prosperity. Peace and prosperity leads to spoiled, self-centered children, and teachers who have their heads up their a@#es and believe in idiocy, but said idiocy strikes a responsive chord with the spoiled children. In their time, they bring bad leaders to power, which usher in a time of war and poverty, which leads to children who must grow up fast and think realistically, which eventually brings a great leader to power, and the cycle continues.