Isaiah 45 tells us that Cyrus was anointed for some things --- but not to build the city of Jerusalem. That would be left to his son [grandson, great grandson?] Artaxerxes [465 - ] who would do that.
Isaiah 45:11-13 records: "Ask me things to come concerning my sons ... I have raised him up in righteousness and will direct all his ways. He shall build my city, and he shall let my captives go not for price nor reward".
It is interesting that the Hebrew word "to build" [benah] is built upon the Hebrew word for "son" [ben], the son being being a builder of the family heritage. Therefore it is not surprising that a "son" [of Cyrus] would be charged with the "building" of God's holy city, as another "Son" will do for a later generation of the people of God [Psalm 102:16- , Psalm 147:2, Isaiah 58:12, Acts 15:16, and Amos 9:11].
Great info.
Tremendous insight provided by a word study of builder, builders, 'ben', etc.
Remember how our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus walked alongside the newly rebuilt temple and the 'builders' showed Him the newly bult temple? He also made comment to the builders, I believe, "a divided house will not stand". I've always found the similarity between freemasonry of the modern world and the builders of the temple, neither of which seemed to believe in God through faith in Christ.
All nice and cozy "Christian" interpretation. Congrats.
Thank you for your illuminating posts. I had not been aware of the disbelief that the start date was Artaxerxes decree.
If we go by this interpretation, which I believe to be true, the Old Testament does give us rock solid evidence of whom Jesus truly is, the CHRIST. Thus the claim there is no proof falls away.