“Read, Daniel,” said the king, with much feeling.

Daniel from the same scroll from which he had read before, which was the Prophecies of Isaiah, read: 

“’Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings to open before him the two-leaved gates; and the gates shall not he shut, I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight:  I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:  and I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.  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.’”

The Persian was deeply moved.  Indeed, tears were in the monarch’s eyes.  He rose, and in the deepest reverence, exclaimed: 

“I acknowledge the God of Israel as the great ruling power of the universe!  Under his infinitely wise directions I stand ready to do his pleasure, and accomplish his great designs.”

“One favor it is thine to grant, O king, according to the word of the Lord.  For their iniquity the children of Judah were carried captive into Babylon, and Jerusalem was rendered desolate.  According to the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, they were to remain in this land of their captivity for seventy years.  This period, O king, in a few more months will be at an end.  I pray thee, give permission to the children of Judah to return to their own land, and build up the old waste places, and raise again a temple to the God of Israel.”

“This thy request, O Daniel, shall be granted,” said the king, in a firm voice.  “The proclamation shall go forth from the king, and all that is needful for the enterprise shall be supplied.”

“Praised be Jehovah!” said the aged Hebrew.  “At last the days of Judah’s captivity are numbered, and Jerusalem shall be restored.  Thy God, O king, whom from henceforth thou wilt serve, shall greatly prosper thee in the affairs of thy kingdom.”

“I trust my faithful servant will consent to tarry with the king, to whom, from time to time, he will deliver lessons of wisdom.  I purpose soon to remove my court from Babylon to Ecbatana, in Persia, whither I hope my faithful servant Daniel will consent to remove.”

“Thy servant in this is willing to abide the pleasure of the king.”

The king left the presence of his aged minister with strange but yet pleasurable emotions, hurried into his chariot, which was waiting, and was soon on his way to the palace.

The next day the following proclamation was heralded through the streets of Babylon, and sent to all the provinces: