In Ecbatanain the fortress,whichis in the provinceof Media,a scrollwas foundand there was writtenin it as follows:"Memorandum--
In the ninthyearof Hoshea,the kingof AssyriacapturedSamariaand carriedIsraelawayinto exileto Assyria,and settledthem in Halahand Habor,[on] the riverof Gozan,and in the citiesof the Medes.
"Nowifit pleasesthe king,let a searchbe conductedin the king'streasurehouse,whichis therein Babylon,ifit be that a decreewas issuedby KingCyrusto rebuildthishouseof Godat Jerusalem;and let the kingsendto us his decisionconcerningthis[matter]."
"THENI SAID,'BEHOLD,I HAVE COME(IN THE SCROLLOF THE BOOKIT IS WRITTENOF ME) TO DOYOUR WILL,O GOD.'"
