CYRUS, king of the Persians, fought his way to supremacy two and a half millenniums ago by conquering the Semitic races that had ruled the earth "with a rod of iron." An historian has spoken of their government, for example in Babylon, as "inconceivably cruel," for the reason, apparently, that they were devoid of the imagination which enables a man to think of himself in another man's place.
Cyrus made notable the beginning of Aryan, rule by his kindness. His name signified the sun, and his accession to power was the dawning upon the world of a new era. He not only allowed Jerusalem to be rebuilt, but permitted the worship of the God of Israel to be resumed, and restored to the Jews their sacred vessels of silver and gold. The following is the decree which we find twice recorded in the Bible: "Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the Lord God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The Lord his God be with him, and let him go up."
Nehemiah, the nation builder, was cupbearer to Cyrus, conqueror of Babylon. One day his sadness of countenance caused the king to question him. That day Nehemiah had received sorrowful news of his country's desolation, in a letter from Jerusalem, and he had not been able to clear his mind ere the king called for his services. The inquiry of the king was kindly. The cupbearer had not been sad previously in his presence, so he noticed at once the shadow, and discerning that it was not sickness, said, "This is nothing else but sorrow of heart." Then Nehemiah found courage to ask why his countenance should not be sad when the city of his fathers was lying waste. The king's answer again showed kindness, "For what dost thou make request?" he said.
