Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia: This expression is ambiguous. Cyrus began ruling over Persia in 559 B.C.; but as the Good News Translation footnote indicates, he took control of Babylon only in 539 B.C. So the meaning here seems to be “In the first year that King Cyrus of Persia ruled over the whole empire, including Babylonia.” God’s Word says “in Cyrus’ first year as king of Persia,” which is not correct. The first year does not refer to his first year as king of Persia, but to his first year as emperor of the Babylonian Empire. A helpful model for this whole phrase is “In the first year that Cyrus of Persia was emperor of Babylonia” (similarly Good News Translation).

That the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled: God wanted his prophecy through Jeremiah to take place. Before the exile of the Jews to Babylonia, Jeremiah had announced that they would return to Judah from Babylonia after 70 years (see er 29.10; 2 Chr 36.21). For by the mouth of Jeremiah, see the comments on the previous verse. For this whole clause New Century Version has “This happened so that the LORD’s message spoken by Jeremiah would come true.”

The LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus: The LORD acted within the spirit of Cyrus in such a way that the king acted as God wanted him to act. For stirred up the spirit, see the comments on \jmp 1 Chr 5.26. Some other ways of expressing this clause are “the LORD inspired King Cyrus” (New American Bible) and “the LORD moved King Cyrus” ( NET Bible).

So that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: Cyrus made a proclamation is literally “caused to pass over a voice.” In the Persian Empire royal messages were communicated through heralds who proclaimed the messages orally to the people. In addition, Cyrus’s message was put in writing. This was an official royal document. It was probably written in Aramaic, the official language of the Persian Empire. Revised Standard Version supplies the verb put; it is not in the Hebrew text.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .