The Edict of Cyrus: A Key Moment in Jewish History

What is the Edict of Cyrus?

• A proclamation encouraging Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem

• A law prohibiting the return of Jewish exiles

• A decree to build a new temple in Babylon

• A treaty between Persia and Babylon.

The Edict of Cyrus was found (a)  

• In the ruins of ancient Babylon
• In the British Museum
• In the city of Jerusalem
• In the Persian Empire.

The Edict of Cyrus is mentioned in the Bible in the Book of ____. A) Genesis B) Exodus C) Ezra D) Isaiah.

• Genesis

• Exodus

• Ezra

• Isaiah

The Edict of Cyrus was originally written in (a)   ?

• Hebrew
• Greek
• Akkadian
• English

Cyrus's motivation for issuing the edict was a mix of political strategy and ____. A) Economic gain B) Genuine respect for customs C) Military expansion D) Religious conversion.

• Economic gain

• Genuine respect for customs

• Military expansion

• Religious conversion

The Edict of Cyrus allowed the Jewish people to return to their homeland after being exiled to ____. A) Egypt B) Babylon C) Persia D) Greece.

• Egypt

• Babylon

• Persia

• Greece

The Edict of Cyrus is housed in which museum today?

• The Louvre

• The British Museum

• The Smithsonian

• The Vatican Museum

The Edict of Cyrus was issued by Cyrus the Great, the king of ____. A) Egypt B) Babylon C) Persia D) Greece.

• Egypt

• Babylon

• Persia

• Greece

Match the following historical events with their significance in Jewish history.

• The Babylonian exile

• Defeat

• The Edict of Cyrus

• Trade

• The establishment of trade routes

• Hope and renewal

• The fall of Jerusalem

• Conquest

The Edict of Cyrus marked the beginning of the return from ____.

• Egyptian captivity

• Babylonian captivity

• Persian captivity

• Greek captivity