ישעיהו, פרק מ״ד, פסוק כ״ח

God's involvement in human history extends beyond miracles that alter the physical laws of nature; it includes the complex wonder of guiding human free will. By turning the heart of a foreign king, God ensures that His divine plan unfolds exactly as intended [מלבי״ם]. This destiny falls upon Cyrus, whose name in the Persian language means sun [שד״ל], chosen as God's messenger to return the Israelites to their homeland and rebuild Jerusalem. The primary approach among commentators is that Cyrus is appointed as a shepherd, serving as a metaphor for a leader who will guide God's flock, the Israelites [רש״י, רד״ק, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. In biblical tradition, a good and righteous king is often called a shepherd, referring here to the righteous leader whom God loves and raises to power [שד״ל]. Alternatively, a unique perspective links this title to the concept of thought or ideas, suggesting that God shares His ideas with Cyrus, revealing His hidden thoughts to him [מלבי״ם].

Because of this divine selection, Cyrus is guaranteed to fully complete God's will [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This desire involves two monumental historical tasks: the destruction of the Babylonian empire and the release of the Israelites from their long exile [מצודת דוד, רד״ק]. The practical stage of this plan takes shape when Cyrus officially commands the rebuilding of both the city of Jerusalem and the Temple.

The specific promise that the Temple's foundations will be laid is far from accidental and carries precise historical accuracy [מצודת ציון]. During the reign of Cyrus, the Temple was never fully built; rather, only its groundwork was established by Zerubbabel. The construction was subsequently halted, either by an order from Cyrus himself [אבן עזרא] or due to interference from neighboring nations, and was only completed much later during the reign of King Darius [מצודת דוד, רד״ק]. Nevertheless, the very fact that Cyrus issued the initial command proves that the building process began during his time, a detail that verifies the historical timelines recorded by Daniel [אבן עזרא]. Beyond the historical facts, there is also a profound conceptual reason for focusing strictly on the foundation. While Cyrus is given the honor of laying the groundwork, the complete and ultimate building of the Temple is attributed to God Himself, rather than to flesh and blood [מלבי״ם].