Lev 25:8, 2Ch 36:22-Ezr 1:1, Isa 44:28, 45:13 | ESV | STEP | You shall count seven weeks of years , seven times seven years , so that the time of the seven weeks of years shall give you forty-nine years .

Leviticus 25:8

The Year of Jubilee

8 “You shall count seven weeks ^{▼▼Or Sabbaths} of years, seven times seven years, so that the time of the seven weeks of years shall give you forty-nine years.

2 Chronicles 36:22-23

The Proclamation of Cyrus

22 ^bNow in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, ^cthat the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, ^dthe Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: 23 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may the Lord his God be with him. Let him go up.’”

The book of Ezra begins where 2 Chronicles ends. As prophesied by Isaiah (Isa. 44:28), the Persian King Cyrus had sent exiles led by Zerubbabel back to Jerusalem in 538 b.c. (Persia had defeated Babylon in 539.) Despite opposition from the non-Jewish inhabitants of Judea, and after encouragement by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, the temple was rebuilt (515). Then in 458, Ezra led the second of three waves of returning exiles. By the time Ezra arrived, the people had again fallen into sin. Ezra preached God’s word and the people repented (10:9-17). Ezra succeeded because God’s hand was upon him (7:6, 9, 28; 8:18, 22, 31). This book, perhaps written by Ezra, shows God’s power in covenant faithfulness, moving even pagan kings to accomplish his redemptive purposes.

Ezra 1:1

The Proclamation of Cyrus

1 ^eIn the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, ^fthat the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so ^gthat he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:

Isaiah 44:28

28 who says of ^hCyrus, ‘He is ⁱmy shepherd,
and he shall fulfill all my purpose’;
saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built,’
^jand of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’”

Isaiah 45:13

13 ^kI have stirred him up in righteousness,
^land I will make all his ways level;
^mhe shall build my city
ⁿand set my exiles free,
not for price or reward,”
says the Lord of hosts.