2 Chronicles 36:22
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,
Cross-reference
2 Chronicles 36:20 sets the historical context: exile to Babylon until Persia's rule — the precondition for this decree.
In 1 Chronicles 5:26, God stirs up Pul to take Israel into exile — a parallel divine stirring of a foreign king, but for judgment rather than restoration.
Ezra 1:1-3 records the same decree of Cyrus, fulfilling Jeremiah's prophecy, directly parallel to 2 Chronicles 36:22.
In Ezra 1:5, the same divine stirring extends to the people's hearts, motivating them to return and rebuild — a direct narrative continuation.
Isaiah 44:28 prophesies Cyrus as God's shepherd who will rebuild Jerusalem and the temple — directly fulfilled here.
In Isaiah 45:1-5, God names Cyrus as His anointed and promises to subdue nations — the very commission fulfilled when God moves Cyrus's heart here.
Jeremiah 25:12 predicts seventy years of exile followed by punishment of Babylon — fulfilled when Cyrus decrees the return.
Jeremiah 29:10 explicitly promises return after seventy years — the exact prophecy fulfilled by Cyrus's proclamation.
In Haggai 1:14, God stirs up Zerubbabel and Joshua to rebuild the temple — echoing the same divine stirring of Cyrus that initiated the restoration.
Ezra 6:3 provides the full text of Cyrus's decree — the same proclamation summarized here.
Isaiah 45:13 prophesied Cyrus would rebuild Jerusalem and free captives — fulfilled in this decree.
Jeremiah 25:11 prophesied 70 years of captivity — the decree marks the end of that period.
Jeremiah 32:42-44 promises restoration of land and property after exile — a broader hope that Cyrus's decree inaugurates.
Jeremiah 33:10-14 foretells restored joy and rebuilding of cities — connected to the return that Cyrus enables.