Ezra 6:5 - Exposition

Also let the gold and silver vessels... be restored. The decree terminated with instructions for the restoration of the vessels. Undoubtedly it was impressed upon Cyrus, when he took Babylon, that the wanton desecration of the vessels by Belshazzar at his feast ( Daniel 5:2 , Daniel 5:3 ) brought in a great measure the terrible judgment of God upon him, causing his own death and the destruction of his kingdom. He was therefore most anxious to clear himself of any participation in so great a crime, and not only instructed his treasurer, Mithredath, to deliver the vessels over to Zerubbabel ( Ezra 1:8 ), but devoted to the subject almost half of his decree.