But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon, king Cyrus set forth al decree, that this house of God should be built.

But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, king Cyrus gave orders to build this house of God.

But in the first year of Cyrus, king of Babylon, Cyrus the king gave an order for the building of this house of God;

Then, in the first year of Cyrus, the king of Babylon, king Cyrus issued a decree, so that this house of God would be built.

But in the (e) first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon [the same] king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.
(e) Read (Ezra 1:1,2).

But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon,.... That is, the first year he was king of Babylon, having taken it, otherwise he was king of Persia many years before:
the same King Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God; see Ezra 1:1.

Cyrus the king . . . made a decree--The Jews were perfectly warranted according to the principles of the Persian government to proceed with the building in virtue of Cyrus' edict. For everywhere a public decree is considered as remaining in force until it is revoked but the "laws of the Medes and Persians changed not" [Daniel 6:8, Daniel 6:12, Daniel 6:15].

In the first year, however, of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus made a decree, etc.; comp. Ezra 1:3. The infin. לבנא like Ezra 5:3. - On Ezra 5:14 and Ezra 5:15, comp. Ezra 1:7-11. ויחיבוּ, praeter. pass. of Peal; they were given to one Sheshbazzar, (is) his name, i.e., to one of the name of Sheshbazzar, whom he had made pechah. Zerubbabel is also called פּחה, Haggai 1:1, Haggai 1:14, and elsewhere.