“Thus the prophet consoled Israel, on the banks of Chebar; but he lived not to witness the deliverance which he announced. Not long however after his death, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, the king of Persia, (who had conquered Assyria and Babylonia) by the means of the astonishment excited in him by the prophecies communicated to him by Daniel. Cyrus caused proclamation to be made through all his dominions, saying, 'Thus saith Cyrus, king of Persia; The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and has commanded me to build him a house at Jerusalem in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah, and build the house of the Lord, the God of Israel. And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver and gold, and with goods and with cattle, of freewill, for the house of God at Jerusalem.’ “Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, with all those whose spirit God had stirred up, to go and build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. And all that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver and vessels of gold, with goods and with cattle, and with precious things, besides all that was freely given. And king Cyrus brought forth the vessels of the house of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken away from Jerusalem, and had put them in the temple of his gods, to the number of 5400, both gold and silver.[61] Footnote 61: Ezra i. “The word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, respecting the seventy years, was now fulfilled.[62] Forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty men, with 7237 servants and maidens, 736 horses, 245 mules, 435 camels, and 6720 asses went with Zerubbabel and Jeshua to the land of their fathers out of captivity, full of thankfulness and praise. The expression of their joy may still be heard in the 126th Psalm. Footnote 62: Jer. xxv. 11. xxix. 10. When the Lord brought back 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, “Jehovah hath done great things for them;” Yea, Jehovah hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad. Bring back, O Lord, our captives, Like streams in a parched land. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. The sower goeth forth with weeping, bearing the seed; He cometh back with rejoicing, bringing the sheaves.