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ns； and the city which is called by Thy name： for we do not present our supplications before Thee for our righteousness； but for Thy great mercies。
〃O Lord； hear； O Lord； forgive； O Lord； hearken and do； defer not； for Thine own sake； O my God： for Thy city and Thy people are called by Thy name。〃 Verses 4…9； 16…19。
Heaven was bending low to hear the earnest supplication of the prophet。 Even before he had finished his plea for pardon and restoration； the mighty Gabriel again appeared to him； and called his attention to the vision he had seen prior to the fall of Babylon and the death of Belshazzar。 And then the angel outlined before him in detail the period of the seventy weeks； which was to begin at the time of 〃the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem。〃 Verse 25。
Daniel's prayer had been offered 〃in the first year of Darius〃 （verse 1）； the Median monarch whose general； Cyrus； had wrested from Babylonia the scepter of universal rule。 The reign of Darius was honored of God。 To him was sent the angel Gabriel； 〃to confirm and to strengthen him。〃 Daniel 11：1。 Upon his death； within about two years
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of the fall of Babylon； Cyrus succeeded to the throne； and the beginning of his reign marked the completion of the seventy years since the first company of Hebrews had been taken by Nebuchadnezzar from their Judean home to Babylon。
The deliverance of Daniel from the den of lions had been used of God to create a favorable impression upon the mind of Cyrus the Great。 The sterling qualities of the man of God as a statesman of farseeing ability led the Persian ruler to show him marked respect and to honor his judgment。 And now； just at the time God had said He would cause His temple at Jerusalem to be rebuilt； He moved upon Cyrus as His agent to discern the prophecies concerning himself； with which Daniel was so familiar； and to grant the Jewish people their liberty。
As the king saw the words foretelling； more than a hundred years before his birth； the manner in which Babylon should be taken； as he read the message addressed to him by the Ruler of the universe； 〃I girded thee； though thou hast not known Me： that they may know from the rising of the sun； and from the west； that there is none beside Me；〃 as he saw before his eyes the declaration of the eternal God； 〃For Jacob My servant's sake； and Israel Mine elect； I have even called thee by thy name： I have surnamed thee； though thou hast not known Me；〃 as he traced the inspired record； 〃I have raised him up in righteousness； and I will direct all his ways： he shall build My city； and he shall let go My captives； not for price nor reward；〃 his heart was profoundly moved； and he determined to fulfill his divinely appointed mission。 Isaiah 45：5； 6； 4； 13。 He would let the Judean
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captives go free； he would help them restore the temple of Jehovah。
In a written proclamation published 〃throughout all his kingdom；〃 Cyrus made known his desire to provide for the return of the Hebrews and for the rebuilding of their temple。 〃The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth；〃 the king gratefully acknowledged in this public proclamation； 〃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； 。 。 。 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。〃 Ezra 1：1…4。
〃Let the house be builded；〃 he further directed regarding the temple structure； 〃the place where they offered sacrifices； and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid； the height thereof threescore cubits； and the breadth thereof threescore cubits； with three rows of great stones； and a row of new timber： and let the expenses be given out of the king's house： and also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God； which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem； and brought unto Babylon； be restored； and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem。〃 Ezra 6：3…5。
Tidings of this decree reached the farthermost provinces of the king's realm； and everywhere among the children of the dispersion there was great rejoicing。 Many； like Daniel；
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had been studying the prophecies； and had been seeking God for His promised intervention in behalf of Zion。 And now their prayers were being answered； and with heartfelt joy they could unite in singing：
〃When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion； We were like them that dream。 Then was our mouth filled with laughter； And our tongue with singing： Then said they among the heathen； The Lord hath done great things for them。 The Lord hath done great things for us； Whereof we are glad。〃 Psalm 126：1…3。
〃The chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin； and the priests； and the Levites； with all them whose spirit God had raised〃these were the goodly remnant； about fifty thousand strong； from among the Jews in the lands of exile； who determined to take advantage of the wonderful opportunity offered them 〃to go up to build the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem。〃 Their friends did not permit them to go empty…handed。 〃All they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver； with gold； with goods； and with beasts； and with precious things。〃 And to these and many other voluntary offerings were added 〃the vessels of the house of the Lord； which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem； 。 。 。 even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer； 。 。 。 five thousand and four hundred〃 in number； for use in the temple that was to be rebuilt。 Ezra 1：5…11。
Upon Zerubbabel （known also as Sheshbazzar）； a descendant of King David； Cyrus placed the responsibility of
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acting as governor of the company returning to Judea； and with him was associated Joshua the high priest。 The long journey across the desert wastes was accomplished in safety； and the happy company； grateful to God for His many mercies； at once undertook the work of re…establishing that which had been broken down and destroyed。 〃The chief of the fathers〃 led out in offering of their substance to help defray the expense of rebuilding the temple； and the people； following their example； gave freely of their meager store。 See Ezra 2：64…70。
As speedily as possible； an altar was erected on the site of the ancient altar in the temple court。 To the exercises connected with the dedication of this altar； the people had 〃gathered themselves together as one man；〃 and there they united in re…establishing the sacred services that had been interrupted at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar。 Before separating to dwell in the homes they were endeavorin