The advent of the army of Cyrus before the walls of Babylon was to the Jews a sign that their deliverance from captivity was drawing nigh. More than a century before the birth of Cyrus, Inspiration had mentioned him by name, and had caused a record to be made of the actual work he should do in taking the city of Babylon unawares, and in preparing the way for the release of the children of the captivity. Through Isaiah the word had been spoken:

Kyros' hærs opmarch foran Babylons mure var et tegn til jøderne om, at deres udfrielse af fangenskabet nærmede sig. Over hundrede år før Kyros fødsel havde det inspirerede ord nævnt ham ved navn. Det havde givet en skildring af selve den opgave, som ham skulle løse, når ham overrumplede og indtog Babylon, ligesom det omtalte, at han skulle berede vejen for de fangne judæeres frigivelse. Der var blevet sagt følgende ved Esajas: