Isaiah wrote his Prophecies between 800-700 BC. Centuries before Cyrus was born Isaiah called him by name and prophesied that he would be protected by God, allowed to destroy the Babylonian Empire, free the Jews and finance the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. Cyrus became King of Persia in 559 BC and took Babylon in 537 BC. Isaiah even gives details describing how Cyrus would capture the city of Babylon!
The prediction that the Persians, along with the Medes, would replace the Babylonian Empire is recorded in Isaiah 13:17, 21:2,9 and Daniel 2:39, 5:30-31. Jeremiah prophesied this would occur at the end of 70 years of the Israelites being held captive in Babylon
(Jeremiah 25:11-12). The fulfilment is also recorded in Daniel 9:1-3. How did Cyrus accomplish this? Notice Isaiah prophesied Cyrus would dry up or divert a river.
“It is I who says to the depth of the sea, ‘Be dried up!’ And I will make your rivers dry. It is I who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd! And he will perform all My desire’. And he declares of Jerusalem, ‘She will be built,’ and of the temple, ‘Your foundation will be laid.’”
Isaiah 44:27-28
Cyrus besieged Babylon But could not conquer the city. The city of Babylon had outer walls that were more than 70 feet thick, 300 feet high, with more than 250 watchtowers. It had motes and many other defences. Since the city Euphrates River, the inhabitants had all the water and food they needed. The could withstand a siege indefinitely. If Cyrus could not scale the walls or wait them out, how could he conquer the city? Josephus writes that a group of Jews showed the prophecies to Cyrus. He learned of his destiny and was even told by Isaiah’s prophecy how to breach the walls of Babylon!
“Thus says the Lord to Cyrus His Anointed, whom I have taken by the right hand, to subdue nations before him, and to loose the lions of kings; to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut: I will go before you and make the rough places smooth; I will shatter the doors of bronze and cut through their iron bars. I will give you the treasures of darkness, and hidden wealth of secret places, so that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name. For the sake of Jacob My servant, And Israel my chosen one, I have also called you by your name; I have given you a title of honour though you have not known Me; I am the Lord, and there is no other; besides Me there is no God. I will gird you, though you have not known Me; that men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun that there is no one besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other,”. Isaiah 45:1-6
There are two Prophecies Isaiah says God would “go before him and open the gates.” He was to command that a “river be dried up.” Cyrus believed what the Scripture literally said. Upstream, out of the sight of the Babylonians, his men created a dam and trench that led into a dry river basin. When it was ready, under cover of darkness, he opened the dam and diverted the water. Cyrus’ troops marched quietly along the centre of the river under the walls of the city. Sure enough, God went before them and caused the brass gates in the water way to be left unlocked. His men entered the city. They opened the main city gates and took the city. The Encyclopaedia Judaica records this event occurred on the 14th of Tishrei, the evening before the first day of the Jewish festival of Tabernacles.
The ancient historian Herodotus also records the taking of the city by diverting the water. He adds that when the dam was opened, the water level of the river dropped “to the height of the middle man’s thigh,” Herodotus 1:191
The ancient historian, Josephus, wrote that Cyrus conquered Babylon by believing the literal interpretation of Scripture.
“Thus saith Cyrus the King: Since God Almighty hath appointed me to be King of the habitable earth, I believe that he is that God which the nation of the Israelites worship; for indeed he foretold my name by the prophets, and that I should build him a house at Jerusalem, in the country of judea.’ This was known to Cyrus by his reading the book which Isaiah left behind him of his Prophecies; for this prophet said that God had spoken thus to him in a secret vision: ‘My will is that Cyrus, whom I have appointed to be King over many and great nations, send back my people to their own land, and build my temple.’ This was foretold by Isaiah one hundred and forty years before the temple was demolished.” Josephus Antiquities 11.1.1-3
Isaiah says Cyrus would “loose the lions of kings.” This was in Daniel 5:6, when Belshazzar realised that very night Cyrus would take the city and kill him. Daniel says:
“The joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.”
Daniel 5:6 KJV
Cyrus’ decree to free the Jews and rebuild the Jerusalem Temple is recorded in Ezra 1:1-4, Daniel 5:30 records the fall of Babylon. Daniel explains how Darius the Mede, under the direction of Cyrus, took control of Babylon. In addition to funding the rebuilding of the Temple, Cyrus also arranged for the sacred vessels from Solomon’s Temple to be returned to the Jews. Jeremiah prophesied this and Josephus recorded its fulfilment.
“For Thus says the Lord of hosts concerning the pillars, concerning the sea, concerning the stands and concerning the rest of the vessels that are left in this city, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon did not take when he carried into exile Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, from Jerusalem to Babylon, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem. Yes, thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the vessels that are left in the house of the Lord and in the house of the king of Judah and in Jerusalem, ‘They will be carried to Babylon and they will be there until the day I visit them,’ declares the Lord ‘Then I will bring them back and restore them to this place.’” Jeremiah 27:19-22
“Upon the rebuilding of their city, and the revival of the ancient practices relating to their worship, Cyrus also sent back to them the vessels of God which King Nebuchadnezzar had pillaged out of the temple, and had carried to Babylon.” Josephus Antiquities 11.1.1-3
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