I finished reading a translation of what we call “The Cyrus Cylinder” (500’s BC) and got excited. Here’s the key section: “[By his] exalted [word], all the kings who sit upon thrones throughout the world, from the Upper Sea to the Lower Sea, who live in the dis[tricts far-off], the kings of the West, who dwell in tents, all of them, brought their heavy tribute before me and in Babylon they kissed my feet. From [Babylon] to Assur and (from) Susa, Agade, Ešnunna, Zamban, Me-Turnu, Der, as far as the region of Gutium, the sacred centers on the other side of the Tigris, whose sanctuaries had been abandoned for a long time, I returned the images of the gods, who had resided there, note to their places and I let them dwell in eternal abodes. I gathered all their inhabitants and returned to them their dwellings.” (From Fragment B, sections 28-32. Based on Mordechai Cogan's translation.)
This is amazing because not long after the decrees were “published,” the Jews living in Babylon went to the King Cyrus and basically said, “May we return home and rebuild our temple too?” Years previously, Jerusalem and The Temple was destroyed and the people were from their homeland to Babylon. Now, that King was long gone and King Cyrus said, “Sure! You are not slaves and nobody is keeping you here. Here’s a bunch of gold for your project.” The Old Testament books of Ezra and Nehemiah (these are one book in the Hebrew Bible) recount the history of those who rebuilt the city and Temple starting with the walls.
At least read Ezra 1 to see how archaeology confirms the Bible.
