Excerpts from Books and Wikipedia
Cyrus released the exiled Jews when he became king of Persia. Most of the 40,000 Jews chose to return to Judah. Cyrus was remembered by the Jews. He was called 'God's anointed.' [Furtado: 1001 Days] "I have aroused Cyrus in righteousness, and I will make all his paths straight; he shall build my city and set my exiles free, not for price or reward, says the Lord of hosts." [The New Oxford Annotated Bible, Isaiah, 45:13]