“Thus saith Cyrus, King of Persia:  The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth, 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, which is in Judah, 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, besides the free-will offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.”

This proclamation was received by the captive Jews with gladness and great joy.  Measures were immediately put forth for the accomplishment of the enterprise; the king, in the meantime, continuing to give every encouragement to these measures, in the firm conviction that he was under peculiar guidance of the God of heaven.

. . . . . . .

A brighter day never dawned on the plains of Judah.  The brilliant rays of the morning sun were seen flashing upwards from behind Mount Zion, like so many messengers in uniform, proclaiming the near approach of their sovereign master.  Presently, the great regent of day himself, in slow and silent majesty, made his appearance, and once more smiled on the City of the Great King.  At an early hour, multitudes were seen pouring into the city, from east, west, north, and south, and on each countenance might have been read a degree of excitement and animation.  This was the twenty-fourth day of the second month, in the second year after the return from Babylon; and on this day was to be laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord.  This was well understood throughout the land; and we wonder not that from cities and villages, from hill and valley, the emancipated Hebrews hastened by thousands to witness a scene at the thought of which their hearts throbbed with intense emotions.  By the sixth hour the great multitudes had congregated to witness the solemn and joyful ceremony.  There stood the priests, with their long, flowing robes, with trumpets in their hands.  There, also, stood the Levites, and the sons of Asaph, with cymbals to praise the Lord, after the ordinance of David, king of Israel.  The builders had laid the foundation.  Then the trumpets were blown, and the sons of Asaph struck their cymbals.  Songs of praise ascended on high, and they gave thanks unto the Lord.

The ceremony was over.  The concourse was dismissed, under the benediction of the priests, and the masses moved homeward in all directions.