Ezra 5 - Political Pen Pals and the diary of the Temple Vessels

(א) וְהִתְנַבִּ֞י חַגַּ֣י נביאה [נְבִיָּ֗א] וּזְכַרְיָ֤ה בַר־עִדּוֹא֙ נביאיא [נְבִיַּיָּ֔א] עַל־יְה֣וּדָיֵ֔א דִּ֥י בִיה֖וּד וּבִירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם בְּשֻׁ֛ם אֱלָ֥הּ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עֲלֵיהֽוֹן׃ (ס) (ב) בֵּאדַ֡יִן קָ֠מוּ זְרֻבָּבֶ֤ל בַּר־שְׁאַלְתִּיאֵל֙ וְיֵשׁ֣וּעַ בַּר־יֽוֹצָדָ֔ק וְשָׁרִ֣יו לְמִבְנֵ֔א בֵּ֥ית אֱלָהָ֖א דִּ֣י בִירֽוּשְׁלֶ֑ם וְעִמְּה֛וֹן נביאיא [נְבִיַּיָּ֥א] דִֽי־אֱלָהָ֖א מְסָעֲדִ֥ין לְהֽוֹן׃ (פ) (ג) בֵּהּ־זִמְנָא֩ אֲתָ֨א עֲלֵיה֜וֹן תַּ֠תְּנַי פַּחַ֧ת עֲבַֽר־נַהֲרָ֛ה וּשְׁתַ֥ר בּוֹזְנַ֖י וּכְנָוָתְה֑וֹן וְכֵן֙ אָמְרִ֣ין לְהֹ֔ם מַן־שָׂ֨ם לְכֹ֜ם טְעֵ֗ם בַּיְתָ֤א דְנָה֙ לִבְּנֵ֔א וְאֻשַּׁרְנָ֥א דְנָ֖ה לְשַׁכְלָלָֽה׃ (ס) (ד) אֱדַ֥יִן כְּנֵ֖מָא אֲמַ֣רְנָא לְּהֹ֑ם מַן־אִנּוּן֙ שְׁמָהָ֣ת גֻּבְרַיָּ֔א דִּֽי־דְנָ֥ה בִנְיָנָ֖א בָּנַֽיִן׃ (ה) וְעֵ֣ין אֱלָהֲהֹ֗ם הֲוָת֙ עַל־שָׂבֵ֣י יְהוּדָיֵ֔א וְלָא־בַטִּ֣לוּ הִמּ֔וֹ עַד־טַעְמָ֖א לְדָרְיָ֣וֶשׁ יְהָ֑ךְ וֶאֱדַ֛יִן יְתִיב֥וּן נִשְׁתְּוָנָ֖א עַל־דְּנָֽה׃ (פ) (ו) פַּרְשֶׁ֣גֶן אִ֠גַּרְתָּא דִּֽי־שְׁלַ֞ח תַּתְּנַ֣י ׀ פַּחַ֣ת עֲבַֽר־נַהֲרָ֗ה וּשְׁתַ֤ר בּוֹזְנַי֙ וּכְנָ֣וָתֵ֔הּ אֲפַ֨רְסְכָיֵ֔א דִּ֖י בַּעֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֑ה עַל־דָּרְיָ֖וֶשׁ מַלְכָּֽא׃ (ז) פִּתְגָמָ֖א שְׁלַ֣חוּ עֲל֑וֹהִי וְכִדְנָה֙ כְּתִ֣יב בְּגַוֵּ֔הּ לְדָרְיָ֥וֶשׁ מַלְכָּ֖א שְׁלָמָ֥א כֹֽלָּא׃ (ס) (ח) יְדִ֣יעַ ׀ לֶהֱוֵ֣א לְמַלְכָּ֗א דִּֽי־אֲזַ֜לְנָא לִיה֤וּד מְדִֽינְתָּא֙ לְבֵית֙ אֱלָהָ֣א רַבָּ֔א וְה֤וּא מִתְבְּנֵא֙ אֶ֣בֶן גְּלָ֔ל וְאָ֖ע מִתְּשָׂ֣ם בְּכֻתְלַיָּ֑א וַעֲבִ֥ידְתָּא דָ֛ךְ אָסְפַּ֥רְנָא מִתְעַבְדָ֖א וּמַצְלַ֥ח בְּיֶדְהֹֽם׃ (ס) (ט) אֱדַ֗יִן שְׁאֵ֙לְנָא֙ לְשָׂבַיָּ֣א אִלֵּ֔ךְ כְּנֵ֖מָא אֲמַ֣רְנָא לְּהֹ֑ם מַן־שָׂ֨ם לְכֹ֜ם טְעֵ֗ם בַּיְתָ֤א דְנָה֙ לְמִבְנְיָ֔ה וְאֻשַּׁרְנָ֥א דְנָ֖ה לְשַׁכְלָלָֽה׃ (י) וְאַ֧ף שְׁמָהָתְהֹ֛ם שְׁאֵ֥לְנָא לְּהֹ֖ם לְהוֹדָעוּתָ֑ךְ דִּ֛י נִכְתֻּ֥ב שֻׁם־גֻּבְרַיָּ֖א דִּ֥י בְרָאשֵׁיהֹֽם׃ (ס) (יא) וּכְנֵ֥מָא פִתְגָמָ֖א הֲתִיב֣וּנָא לְמֵמַ֑ר אֲנַ֣חְנָא הִמּ֡וֹ עַבְדוֹהִי֩ דִֽי־אֱלָ֨הּ שְׁמַיָּ֜א וְאַרְעָ֗א וּבָנַ֤יִן בַּיְתָא֙ דִּֽי־הֲוָ֨א בְנֵ֜ה מִקַּדְמַ֤ת דְּנָה֙ שְׁנִ֣ין שַׂגִּיאָ֔ן וּמֶ֤לֶךְ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל֙ רַ֔ב בְּנָ֖הִי וְשַׁכְלְלֵֽהּ׃ (יב) לָהֵ֗ן מִן־דִּ֨י הַרְגִּ֤זוּ אֲבָהֳתַ֙נָא֙ לֶאֱלָ֣הּ שְׁמַיָּ֔א יְהַ֣ב הִמּ֔וֹ בְּיַ֛ד נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֥ר מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֖ל כסדיא [כַּסְדָּאָ֑ה] וּבַיְתָ֤ה דְנָה֙ סַתְרֵ֔הּ וְעַמָּ֖ה הַגְלִ֥י לְבָבֶֽל׃ (ס) (יג) בְּרַם֙ בִּשְׁנַ֣ת חֲדָ֔ה לְכ֥וֹרֶשׁ מַלְכָּ֖א דִּ֣י בָבֶ֑ל כּ֤וֹרֶשׁ מַלְכָּא֙ שָׂ֣ם טְעֵ֔ם בֵּית־אֱלָהָ֥א דְנָ֖ה לִבְּנֵֽא׃ (יד) וְ֠אַף מָאנַיָּ֣א דִֽי־בֵית־אֱלָהָא֮ דִּ֣י דַהֲבָ֣ה וְכַסְפָּא֒ דִּ֣י נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֗ר הַנְפֵּק֙ מִן־הֵֽיכְלָא֙ דִּ֣י בִֽירוּשְׁלֶ֔ם וְהֵיבֵ֣ל הִמּ֔וֹ לְהֵיכְלָ֖א דִּ֣י בָבֶ֑ל הַנְפֵּ֨ק הִמּ֜וֹ כּ֣וֹרֶשׁ מַלְכָּ֗א מִן־הֵֽיכְלָא֙ דִּ֣י בָבֶ֔ל וִיהִ֙יבוּ֙ לְשֵׁשְׁבַּצַּ֣ר שְׁמֵ֔הּ דִּ֥י פֶחָ֖ה שָׂמֵֽהּ׃ (טו) וַאֲמַר־לֵ֓הּ ׀ אלה [אֵ֚ל] מָֽאנַיָּ֔א שֵׂ֚א אֵֽזֶל־אֲחֵ֣ת הִמּ֔וֹ בְּהֵיכְלָ֖א דִּ֣י בִירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם וּבֵ֥ית אֱלָהָ֖א יִתְבְּנֵ֥א עַל־אַתְרֵֽהּ׃ (ס) (טז) אֱדַ֙יִן֙ שֵׁשְׁבַּצַּ֣ר דֵּ֔ךְ אֲתָ֗א יְהַ֧ב אֻשַּׁיָּ֛א דִּי־בֵ֥ית אֱלָהָ֖א דִּ֣י בִירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם וּמִן־אֱדַ֧יִן וְעַד־כְּעַ֛ן מִתְבְּנֵ֖א וְלָ֥א שְׁלִֽם׃ (יז) וּכְעַ֞ן הֵ֧ן עַל־מַלְכָּ֣א טָ֗ב יִ֠תְבַּקַּר בְּבֵ֨ית גִּנְזַיָּ֜א דִּי־מַלְכָּ֣א תַמָּה֮ דִּ֣י בְּבָבֶל֒ הֵ֣ן אִיתַ֗י דִּֽי־מִן־כּ֤וֹרֶשׁ מַלְכָּא֙ שִׂ֣ים טְעֵ֔ם לְמִבְנֵ֛א בֵּית־אֱלָהָ֥א דֵ֖ךְ בִּירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם וּרְע֥וּת מַלְכָּ֛א עַל־דְּנָ֖ה יִשְׁלַ֥ח עֲלֶֽינָא׃ (ס)

Ezra 5

(1) Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem, inspired by the God of Israel. (2) Thereupon Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak began rebuilding the House of God in Jerusalem, with the full support of the prophets of God. (3) At once Tattenai, governor of the province of Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and their colleagues descended upon them and said this to them, “Who issued orders to you to rebuild this house and complete its furnishing?” (4) Then we said to them, “What are the names of the men who are engaged in the building?” (5) But God watched over the elders of the Jews and they were not stopped while a report went to Darius and a letter was sent back in reply to it. (6) This is the text of the letter that Tattenai, governor of the province of Beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai and his colleagues, the officials of Beyond the River, sent to King Darius. (7) They sent a message to him and this is what was written in it: “To King Darius, greetings, and so forth. (8) Be it known to the king, that we went to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God. It is being rebuilt of hewn stone, and wood is being laid in the walls. The work is being done with dispatch and is going well. (9) Thereupon we directed this question to these elders, ‘Who issued orders to you to rebuild this house and to complete its furnishings?’ (10) We also asked their names so that we could write down the names of their leaders for your information. (11) This is what they answered us: ‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth; we are rebuilding the house that was originally built many years ago; a great king of Israel built it and completed it. (12) But because our fathers angered the God of Heaven, He handed them over to Nebuchadnezzar the Chaldean, king of Babylon, who demolished this house and exiled the people to Babylon. (13) But in the first year of King Cyrus of Babylon, King Cyrus issued an order to rebuild this House of God. (14) Also the silver and gold vessels of the House of God that Nebuchadnezzar had taken away from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to the temple in Babylon—King Cyrus released them from the temple in Babylon to be given to the one called Sheshbazzar whom he had appointed governor. (15) He said to him, “Take these vessels, go, deposit them in the temple in Jerusalem, and let the House of God be rebuilt on its original site.” (16) That same Sheshbazzar then came and laid the foundations for the House of God in Jerusalem; and ever since then it has been under construction, but is not yet finished.’ (17) And now, if it please the king, let the royal archives there in Babylon be searched to see whether indeed an order had been issued by King Cyrus to rebuild this House of God in Jerusalem. May the king convey to us his pleasure in this matter.”

The Keilim's journey in Tanakh

מלכים א ו׳:א׳

(א) וַיְהִ֣י בִשְׁמוֹנִ֣ים שָׁנָ֣ה וְאַרְבַּ֣ע מֵא֣וֹת שָׁנָ֡ה לְצֵ֣את בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל מֵאֶֽרֶץ־מִצְרַיִם֩ בַּשָּׁנָ֨ה הָרְבִיעִ֜ית בְּחֹ֣דֶשׁ זִ֗ו ה֚וּא הַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִ֔י לִמְלֹ֥ךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיִּ֥בֶן הַבַּ֖יִת לַה'׃

I Kings 6:1

(1) In the four hundred and eightieth year after the Israelites left the land of Egypt, in the month of Ziv—that is, the second month—in the fourth year of his reign over Israel, Solomon began to build the House of the LORD.

מלכים א ז׳

(מ) וַיַּ֣עַשׂ חִיר֔וֹם אֶת־הַ֨כִּיֹּר֔וֹת וְאֶת־הַיָּעִ֖ים וְאֶת־הַמִּזְרָק֑וֹת וַיְכַ֣ל חִירָ֗ם לַֽעֲשׂוֹת֙ אֶת־כָּל־הַמְּלָאכָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָׂ֛ה לַמֶּ֥לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה בֵּ֥ית ה'׃

(מה) וְאֶת־הַסִּיר֨וֹת וְאֶת־הַיָּעִ֜ים וְאֶת־הַמִּזְרָק֗וֹת וְאֵת֙ כָּל־הַכֵּלִ֣ים האהל [הָאֵ֔לֶּה] אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשָׂ֥ה חִירָ֛ם לַמֶּ֥לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה בֵּ֣ית ה' נְחֹ֖שֶׁת מְמֹרָֽט׃

(מח) וַיַּ֣עַשׂ שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה אֵ֚ת כָּל־הַכֵּלִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֖ר בֵּ֣ית ה' אֵ֚ת מִזְבַּ֣ח הַזָּהָ֔ב וְאֶת־הַשֻּׁלְחָ֗ן אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָלָ֛יו לֶ֥חֶם הַפָּנִ֖ים זָהָֽב׃

I Kings 7

(40) Hiram also made the lavers, the scrapers, and the sprinkling bowls. So Hiram finished all the work that he had been doing for King Solomon on the House of the LORD...

(45) the pails, the scrapers, and the sprinkling bowls. All those vessels in the House of the LORD that Hiram made for King Solomon were of burnished bronze. (48) And Solomon made all the furnishings that were in the House of the LORD: the altar, of gold; the table for the bread of display, of gold; (49) the lampstands—five on the right side and five on the left—in front of the Shrine, of solid gold; and the petals, lamps, and tongs, of gold; (50) the basins, snuffers, sprinkling bowls, ladles, and fire pans, of solid gold; and the hinge sockets for the doors of the innermost part of the House, the Holy of Holies, and for the doors of the Great Hall of the House, of gold

Some might have made a journey down to Egypt...

מלכים א י״ד:כ״ה-כ״ז

(כה) וַיְהִ֛י בַּשָּׁנָ֥ה הַחֲמִישִׁ֖ית לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ רְחַבְעָ֑ם עָלָ֛ה שושק [שִׁישַׁ֥ק] מֶֽלֶךְ־מִצְרַ֖יִם עַל־יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ (כו) וַיִּקַּ֞ח אֶת־אֹצְר֣וֹת בֵּית־ה' וְאֶת־אֽוֹצְרוֹת֙ בֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְאֶת־הַכֹּ֖ל לָקָ֑ח וַיִּקַּח֙ אֶת־כָּל־מָגִנֵּ֣י הַזָּהָ֔ב אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָׂ֖ה שְׁלֹמֹֽה׃ (כז) וַיַּ֨עַשׂ הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ רְחַבְעָם֙ תַּחְתָּ֔ם מָגִנֵּ֖י נְחֹ֑שֶׁת וְהִפְקִ֗יד עַל־יַד֙ שָׂרֵ֣י הָרָצִ֔ים הַשֹּׁ֣מְרִ֔ים פֶּ֖תַח בֵּ֥ית הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

I Kings 14:25-27

(25) In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, King Shishak of Egypt marched against Jerusalem (26) and carried off the treasures of the House of the LORD and the treasures of the royal palace. He carried off everything; he even carried off all the golden shields that Solomon had made. (27) King Rehoboam had bronze shields made instead, and he entrusted them to the officers of the guard who guarded the entrance to the royal palace.

The destruction of the First Beit Mikdash and journey to Bavel

מלכים ב כ״ד:י״א-י״ג

(יא) וַיָּבֹ֛א נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּ֥ר מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֖ל עַל־הָעִ֑יר וַעֲבָדָ֖יו צָרִ֥ים עָלֶֽיהָ׃ (יב) וַיֵּצֵ֞א יְהוֹיָכִ֤ין מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה֙ עַל־מֶ֣לֶךְ בָּבֶ֔ל ה֣וּא וְאִמּ֔וֹ וַעֲבָדָ֖יו וְשָׂרָ֣יו וְסָֽרִיסָ֑יו וַיִּקַּ֤ח אֹתוֹ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ בָּבֶ֔ל בִּשְׁנַ֥ת שְׁמֹנֶ֖ה לְמָלְכֽוֹ׃ (יג) וַיּוֹצֵ֣א מִשָּׁ֗ם אֶת־כָּל־אוֹצְרוֹת֙ בֵּ֣ית ה' וְאֽוֹצְר֖וֹת בֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיְקַצֵּ֞ץ אֶת־כָּל־כְּלֵ֣י הַזָּהָ֗ב אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשָׂ֜ה שְׁלֹמֹ֤ה מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ בְּהֵיכַ֣ל ה' כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֥ר ה'׃

II Kings 24:11-13

(11) King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon advanced against the city while his troops were besieging it. (12) Thereupon King Jehoiachin of Judah, along with his mother, and his courtiers, commanders, and officers, surrendered to the king of Babylon. The king of Babylon took him captive in the eighth year of his reign. (13) He carried off from Jerusalem all the treasures of the House of the LORD and the treasures of the royal palace; he stripped off all the golden decorations in the Temple of the LORD—which King Solomon of Israel had made—as the LORD had warned.

קדמוניות היהודים י׳:ח׳:ז׳

...

The Antiquities of the Jews 10:8:7

7. When the king came to Babylon, he kept Zedekiah in prison until he died, and buried him and dedicated the vessels he had pillaged out of the temple of Jerusalem to his own gods, and planted the people in the country of Babylon, but freed the high priest from his bonds.

Used by other Babylonian Kings...

דניאל ה׳:א׳-ה׳

(א) בֵּלְשַׁאצַּ֣ר מַלְכָּ֗א עֲבַד֙ לְחֶ֣ם רַ֔ב לְרַבְרְבָנ֖וֹהִי אֲלַ֑ף וְלָקֳבֵ֥ל אַלְפָּ֖א חַמְרָ֥א שָׁתֵֽה׃ (ב) בֵּלְשַׁאצַּ֞ר אֲמַ֣ר ׀ בִּטְעֵ֣ם חַמְרָ֗א לְהַיְתָיָה֙ לְמָאנֵי֙ דַּהֲבָ֣א וְכַסְפָּ֔א דִּ֤י הַנְפֵּק֙ נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֣ר אֲב֔וּהִי מִן־הֵיכְלָ֖א דִּ֣י בִירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם וְיִשְׁתּ֣וֹן בְּה֗וֹן מַלְכָּא֙ וְרַבְרְבָנ֔וֹהִי שֵׁגְלָתֵ֖הּ וּלְחֵנָתֵֽהּ׃ (ג) בֵּאדַ֗יִן הַיְתִיו֙ מָאנֵ֣י דַהֲבָ֔א דִּ֣י הַנְפִּ֗קוּ מִן־הֵֽיכְלָ֛א דִּֽי־בֵ֥ית אֱלָהָ֖א דִּ֣י בִירֽוּשְׁלֶ֑ם וְאִשְׁתִּ֣יו בְּה֗וֹן מַלְכָּא֙ וְרַבְרְבָנ֔וֹהִי שֵׁגְלָתֵ֖הּ וּלְחֵנָתֵֽהּ׃ (ד) אִשְׁתִּ֖יו חַמְרָ֑א וְ֠שַׁבַּחוּ לֵֽאלָקֵ֞י דַּהֲבָ֧א וְכַסְפָּ֛א נְחָשָׁ֥א פַרְזְלָ֖א אָעָ֥א וְאַבְנָֽא׃ (ה) בַּהּ־שַׁעֲתָ֗ה נפקו [נְפַ֙קָה֙] אֶצְבְּעָן֙ דִּ֣י יַד־אֱנָ֔שׁ וְכָֽתְבָן֙ לָקֳבֵ֣ל נֶבְרַשְׁתָּ֔א עַל־גִּירָ֕א דִּֽי־כְתַ֥ל הֵיכְלָ֖א דִּ֣י מַלְכָּ֑א וּמַלְכָּ֣א חָזֵ֔ה פַּ֥ס יְדָ֖ה דִּ֥י כָתְבָֽה׃

Daniel 5:1-5

(1) King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for his thousand nobles, and in the presence of the thousand he drank wine. (2) Under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar ordered the gold and silver vessels that his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple at Jerusalem to be brought so that the king and his nobles, his consorts, and his concubines could drink from them. (3) The golden vessels that had been taken out of the sanctuary of the House of God in Jerusalem were then brought, and the king, his nobles, his consorts, and his concubines drank from them. (4) They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. (5) Just then, the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace opposite the lampstand, so that the king could see the hand as it wrote.

Yirmiyahu's prophecy about the Keilim (not the Bnei Yisrael...)

ירמיהו כ״ז:כ״א-כ״ב

(כא) כִּ֣י כֹ֥ה אָמַ֛ר ה' צְבָא֖וֹת אֱלֹקֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל עַל־הַכֵּלִ֗ים הַנּֽוֹתָרִים֙ בֵּ֣ית ה' וּבֵ֥ית מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֖ה וִירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ (כב) בָּבֶ֥לָה יוּבָ֖אוּ וְשָׁ֣מָּה יִֽהְי֑וּ עַ֠ד י֣וֹם פָּקְדִ֤י אֹתָם֙ נְאֻם־ה' וְהַֽעֲלִיתִים֙ וַהֲשִׁ֣יבֹתִ֔ים אֶל־הַמָּק֖וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃ (פ)

Jeremiah 27:21-22

(21) for thus said the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the vessels remaining in the House of the LORD, in the royal palace of Judah, and in Jerusalem: (22) They shall be brought to Babylon, and there they shall remain, until I take note of them—declares the LORD of Hosts—and bring them up and restore them to this place.”

כתובות קי״א א:א׳

(ירמיהו כז, כב) בבלה יובאו ושמה יהיו עד יום פקדי אותם נאם ה' ורבי זירא ההוא בכלי שרת כתיב

Ketubot 111a:1

“They shall be taken to Babylonia and there they shall remain until the day that I recall them, said the Lord” (Jeremiah 27:22). Based on that verse, Rav Yehuda held that since the Babylonian exile was imposed by divine decree, permission to leave Babylonia for Eretz Yisrael could be granted only by God. The Gemara asks: And how does Rabbi Zeira interpret that verse? The Gemara answers that Rabbi Zeira maintains that that verse is written about the Temple service vessels,

רש"י על ירמיהו כ״ז:כ״ב:א׳

עד יום פקדי אותם. בימי כורש כמו שמפורש בספר עזרא:

Rashi on Jeremiah 27:22:1

until the day I remember them In the days of Cyrus, as is explained in the Book of Ezra (1:7 11).

עזרא א׳:ז׳

(ז) וְהַמֶּ֣לֶךְ כּ֔וֹרֶשׁ הוֹצִ֖יא אֶת־כְּלֵ֣י בֵית־ה' אֲשֶׁ֨ר הוֹצִ֤יא נְבֽוּכַדְנֶצַּר֙ מִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם וַֽיִּתְּנֵ֖ם בְּבֵ֥ית אֱלֹקָֽיו׃

Ezra 1:7

(7) King Cyrus of Persia released the vessels of the LORD’s house which Nebuchadnezzar had taken away from Jerusalem and had put in the house of his god.

Back to Yerushalayim via a process of Tahara

מלבי"ם על עזרא א׳:ז׳:ב׳

והמלך כורש הוציא וכו' ויוציאם, כי כאשר היו בבית אלילים וא"א לשמש בהם עוד בבהמ"ק, ספר שכורש הוציא אותם תחלה מבית ע"א ויתנם אל הגזבר, וזה היה כעין ביטול, אחרי שיצאו מרשות ע"א לרשות המלך, ומרשות המלך הוציאם על ידי הגזבר שלו ויספרם לששבצר:

Malbim on Ezra 1:7:2

...

Meanwhile back in Persia...

אסתר א׳:ז׳

(ז) וְהַשְׁקוֹת֙ בִּכְלֵ֣י זָהָ֔ב וְכֵלִ֖ים מִכֵּלִ֣ים שׁוֹנִ֑ים וְיֵ֥ין מַלְכ֛וּת רָ֖ב כְּיַ֥ד הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

Esther 1:7

(7) Royal wine was served in abundance, as befits a king, in golden beakers, beakers of varied design.

מגילה י״ב א:ט״ז

וְהַשְׁקוֹת בִּכְלֵי זָהָב וְכֵלִים מִכֵּלִים שׁוֹנִים מְשׁוּנִּים מִיבְּעֵי לֵיהּ אָמַר רָבָא יָצְתָה בַּת קוֹל וְאָמְרָה לָהֶם רִאשׁוֹנִים כָּלוּ מִפְּנֵי כֵלַי וְאַתֶּם שׁוֹנִים בָּהֶם וְיֵין מַלְכוּת רָב אָמַר רַב מְלַמֵּד שֶׁכׇּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד הִשְׁקָהוּ יַיִן שֶׁגָּדוֹל הֵימֶנּוּ בְּשָׁנִים

Megillah 12a:16

The verse states: “And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, the vessels being diverse [shonim] from one another” (Esther 1:7). The Gemara asks: Why does the verse use the term shonim to express that they are different? It should have said the more proper term meshunim. Rava said: A Divine Voice issued forth and said to them: The early ones, referring to Belshazzar and his people, were destroyed because they used these vessels, the vessels of the Temple, and yet you use them again [shonim]? The verse continues: “And royal wine in abundance [rav]” (Esther 1:7). Rav said: This teaches that each and every guest at the feast was poured well-aged wine that was older [rav] than himself in years.

Back to Yerushalayim again? Good for the airmiles...

עזרא ה׳:י״ד

(יד) וְ֠אַף מָאנַיָּ֣א דִֽי־בֵית־אֱלָהָא֮ דִּ֣י דַהֲבָ֣ה וְכַסְפָּא֒ דִּ֣י נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֗ר הַנְפֵּק֙ מִן־הֵֽיכְלָא֙ דִּ֣י בִֽירוּשְׁלֶ֔ם וְהֵיבֵ֣ל הִמּ֔וֹ לְהֵיכְלָ֖א דִּ֣י בָבֶ֑ל הַנְפֵּ֨ק הִמּ֜וֹ כּ֣וֹרֶשׁ מַלְכָּ֗א מִן־הֵֽיכְלָא֙ דִּ֣י בָבֶ֔ל וִיהִ֙יבוּ֙ לְשֵׁשְׁבַּצַּ֣ר שְׁמֵ֔הּ דִּ֥י פֶחָ֖ה שָׂמֵֽהּ׃

Ezra 5:14

(14) Also the silver and gold vessels of the House of God that Nebuchadnezzar had taken away from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to the temple in Babylon—King Cyrus released them from the temple in Babylon to be given to the one called Sheshbazzar whom he had appointed governor.

The Keilim's journey in Talmud

שבת כ״א ב:י׳

מַאי חֲנוּכָּה? דְּתָנוּ רַבָּנַן: בְּכ״ה בְּכִסְלֵיו יוֹמֵי דַחֲנוּכָּה תְּמָנְיָא אִינּוּן דְּלָא לְמִסְפַּד בְּהוֹן וּדְלָא לְהִתְעַנּוֹת בְּהוֹן. שֶׁכְּשֶׁנִּכְנְסוּ יְווֹנִים לַהֵיכָל טִמְּאוּ כׇּל הַשְּׁמָנִים שֶׁבַּהֵיכָל. וּכְשֶׁגָּבְרָה מַלְכוּת בֵּית חַשְׁמוֹנַאי וְנִצְּחוּם, בָּדְקוּ וְלֹא מָצְאוּ אֶלָּא פַּךְ אֶחָד שֶׁל שֶׁמֶן שֶׁהָיָה מוּנָּח בְּחוֹתָמוֹ שֶׁל כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל, וְלֹא הָיָה בּוֹ אֶלָּא לְהַדְלִיק יוֹם אֶחָד. נַעֲשָׂה בּוֹ נֵס וְהִדְלִיקוּ מִמֶּנּוּ שְׁמוֹנָה יָמִים. לְשָׁנָה אַחֶרֶת קְבָעוּם וַעֲשָׂאוּם יָמִים טוֹבִים בְּהַלֵּל וְהוֹדָאָה.

Shabbat 21b:10

The Gemara asks: What is Hanukkah, and why are lights kindled on Hanukkah? The Gemara answers: The Sages taught in Megillat Ta’anit: On the twenty-fifth of Kislev, the days of Hanukkah are eight. One may not eulogize on them and one may not fast on them. What is the reason? When the Greeks entered the Sanctuary they defiled all the oils that were in the Sanctuary by touching them. And when the Hasmonean monarchy overcame them and emerged victorious over them, they searched and found only one cruse of oil that was placed with the seal of the High Priest, undisturbed by the Greeks. And there was sufficient oil there to light the candelabrum for only one day. A miracle occurred and they lit the candelabrum from it eight days. The next year the Sages instituted those days and made them holidays with recitation of hallel and special thanksgiving in prayer and blessings.

גיטין נ״ו ב:י״א

מה עשה נטל את הפרוכת ועשאו כמין גרגותני והביא כל כלים שבמקדש והניחן בהן והושיבן בספינה לילך להשתבח בעירו שנאמר (קהלת ח, י) ובכן ראיתי רשעים קבורים ובאו וממקום קדוש יהלכו וישתכחו בעיר אשר כן עשו אל תיקרי קבורים אלא קבוצים אל תיקרי וישתכחו אלא וישתבחו

Gittin 56b:11

What else did Titus do? He took the curtain and formed it like a large basket, and brought all of the sacred vessels of the Temple and placed them in it. And he put them on a ship to go and be praised in his city that he had conquered Jerusalem, as it is stated: “And so I saw the wicked buried, and come to their rest; but those that had done right were gone from the holy place, and were forgotten in the city; this also is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 8:10). Do not read the word as “buried [kevurim].” Rather, read it as collected [kevutzim]. And do not read the word as “and were forgotten [veyishtakeḥu].” Rather, read it as: And they were praised [veyishtabeḥu]. According to this interpretation, the verse speaks of those who will gather and collect items “from the holy place,” the Temple, and be praised in their city about what they had done.

Josephus writes that the Temple trophies were displayed in Rome after the procession. According to him, they were exhibited in the magnificent Temple of Peace. Begun in 71 and completed in 75 C.E., this temple was built by Vespasian to commemorate the Roman defeat of Judea and was later rebuilt by Domitian. Pliny the Elder includes the Temple of Peace among Rome’s “noble buildings,”

קינות לתשעה באב (אשכנז), קינות ליום תשעה באב מ״ה:ט׳

וְעַל חִלּוּל כְּלֵי הֵיכָל וּמִזְבֵּחַ קְטוֹרֶיהָ.

Kinnot for Tisha B'Av (Ashkenaz), Kinot for Tisha B'Av Day 45:9

and for the desecration of the Temple vessels and the altar of her incense.

Mourning the the keilim in אֱלִי צִיּוֹן

יומא נ״ז א:ז׳

תָּנָא כְּשֶׁהוּא מַזֶּה אֵינוֹ מַזֶּה עַל הַפָּרוֹכֶת אֶלָּא כְּנֶגֶד הַפָּרוֹכֶת אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי אֲנִי רְאִיתִיהָ בְּרוֹמִי וְהָיוּ עָלֶיהָ כַּמָּה טִיפֵּי דָמִים שֶׁל פַּר וְשָׂעִיר שֶׁל יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים

Yoma 57a:7

§ A Sage taught: When the High Priest sprinkles the blood, he does not actually sprinkle on the curtain but opposite the curtain. Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Yosei, said: I saw the curtain in Rome. After a miracle was performed on his behalf and he healed the daughter of the Roman emperor, Rabbi Elazar was permitted to view the ruler’s treasures and take whatever he wanted. He saw the Temple vessels that the Romans captured, including the curtain. Rabbi Elazar continued: And on the curtain were several drops of blood from the bull and the goat of Yom Kippur. This shows that the blood was actually sprinkled on the curtain.

In the church of St. John, in the Lateran, there are two copper columns that were in the Temple, the handiwork of King Solomon, peace be upon him. Upon each column is inscribed “Solomon son of David.” The Jews of Rome said that each year on the Ninth of Av [the traditional date on which both the First and Second Temples were destroyed, first by the Babylonians and then by the Romans] they found moisture running down them like water. There also is the cave where Titus the son of Vespasian hid away the Temple vessels which he brought from Jerusalem.
Benjamin of Tedula, 12th century Spain

Where are they now?

There is an article in Ami magazine in 2013 which tells about a Rabbi in Jerusalem called

Rabbi Shtrencel who was learning with his chavruta this gemara about Rabbi Elazar ben Yosi and he was so fascinated by the whole topic that he wrote a letter to the Pope to ask the vatican to return the Kelim of the BM. There are other mentions in shas about Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Yosi seeing several objects from the Beit Hamikdash: the Menorah, the shulchan hapanim, the tzitz of the kohen gadol and the parochet.

What's the big deal? Symbolism of the Keilim

A) Definition of permanence

סוכה כ״ח ב:ט׳

גְּמָ׳ תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן כׇּל שִׁבְעַת הַיָּמִים אָדָם עוֹשֶׂה סוּכָּתוֹ קֶבַע וּבֵיתוֹ עֲרַאי כֵּיצַד הָיוּ לוֹ כֵּלִים נָאִים מַעֲלָן לַסּוּכָּה מַצָּעוֹת נָאוֹת מַעֲלָן לַסּוּכָּה אוֹכֵל וְשׁוֹתֶה וּמְטַיֵּיל בַּסּוּכָּה מְנָא הָנֵי מִילֵּי דְּתָנוּ רַבָּנַן תֵּשְׁבוּ כְּעֵין תָּדוּרוּ מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ כׇּל שִׁבְעַת הַיָּמִים עוֹשֶׂה אָדָם סוּכָּתוֹ קֶבַע וּבֵיתוֹ עֲרַאי כֵּיצַד הָיוּ לוֹ כֵּלִים נָאִים מַעֲלָן לַסּוּכָּה מַצָּעוֹת נָאוֹת מַעֲלָן לַסּוּכָּה אוֹכֵל וְשׁוֹתֶה וּמְטַיֵּיל בַּסּוּכָּה וּמְשַׁנֵּן בַּסּוּכָּה

Sukkah 28b:9

GEMARA: The Sages taught: All seven days of Sukkot, a person renders his sukka his permanent residence and his house his temporary residence. How so? If he has beautiful vessels, he takes them up to the sukka, which was typically built on the roof. If he has beautiful bedding, he takes it up to the sukka. He eats and drinks and relaxes in the sukka. The Gemara asks: From where are these matters derived? The Gemara explains that it is as the Sages taught: “In sukkot shall you reside” (Leviticus 23:42), and they interpreted: Reside as you dwell in your permanent home. From here they said: All seven days, a person renders his sukka his permanent residence and his house his temporary residence. How so? If he has beautiful vessels, he takes them up to the sukka; if he has beautiful bedding, he takes it up to the sukka; he eats and drinks and relaxes in the sukka and studies Torah in the sukka.

B) Everything will return to their correct place

אוצר מדרשים, חופת אליהו, חופת אליהו רבה ק״ז

ק״ה) שלשה דברים הם שחזרו למקומן: תורה וישראל וכסף וזהב, תורה באה מן השמים שנאמר מן השמים השמיעך וגו׳ (דברים ד׳:ל״ו), וכיון שחטאו ישראל בעגל נשתברו הלוחות ופרח הכתב למקומו שנאמר התעיף עיניך בו ואיננו (משלי כ״ג:ה׳), ישראל היו מעבר הנהר שנאמר בעבר הנהר ישבו אבותיכם (יהושע כ״ד:ב׳) ולשם חזרו שנאמר בבלה יבואו ושם יהיו (ירמיהו כ״ז:כ״ב), כסף וזהב היו ממצרים שנאמר ושאלה אשת משכנתה וגו׳ (שמות ג׳:כ״ב) ולשם חזרו שנאמר ויעל שישק מלך מצרים וגו' (דהי״ב י״ב).

Otzar Midrashim, Chuppah of Eliyahu, Chuppat Eliyahu Rabbah 107

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C) Hope for return

ירמיהו ל״ב:ט׳-ט״ו

(ט) וָֽאֶקְנֶה֙ אֶת־הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה מֵאֵ֛ת חֲנַמְאֵ֥ל בֶּן־דֹּדִ֖י אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּעֲנָת֑וֹת וָֽאֶשְׁקֲלָה־לּוֹ֙ אֶת־הַכֶּ֔סֶף שִׁבְעָ֥ה שְׁקָלִ֖ים וַעֲשָׂרָ֥ה הַכָּֽסֶף׃ (י) וָאֶכְתֹּ֤ב בַּסֵּ֙פֶר֙ וָֽאֶחְתֹּ֔ם וָאָעֵ֖ד עֵדִ֑ים וָאֶשְׁקֹ֥ל הַכֶּ֖סֶף בְּמֹאזְנָֽיִם׃ (יא) וָאֶקַּ֖ח אֶת־סֵ֣פֶר הַמִּקְנָ֑ה אֶת־הֶֽחָת֛וּם הַמִּצְוָ֥ה וְהַחֻקִּ֖ים וְאֶת־הַגָּלֽוּי׃ (יב) וָאֶתֵּ֞ן אֶת־הַסֵּ֣פֶר הַמִּקְנָ֗ה אֶל־בָּר֣וּךְ בֶּן־נֵרִיָּה֮ בֶּן־מַחְסֵיָה֒ לְעֵינֵי֙ חֲנַמְאֵ֣ל דֹּדִ֔י וּלְעֵינֵי֙ הָֽעֵדִ֔ים הַכֹּתְבִ֖ים בְּסֵ֣פֶר הַמִּקְנָ֑ה לְעֵינֵי֙ כָּל־הַיְּהוּדִ֔ים הַיֹּשְׁבִ֖ים בַּחֲצַ֥ר הַמַּטָּרָֽה׃ (יג) וָֽאֲצַוֶּה֙ אֶת בָּר֔וּךְ לְעֵינֵיהֶ֖ם לֵאמֹֽר׃ (יד) כֹּֽה־אָמַר֩ ה' צְבָא֜וֹת אֱלֹקֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל לָק֣וֹחַ אֶת־הַסְּפָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֡לֶּה אֵ֣ת סֵפֶר֩ הַמִּקְנָ֨ה הַזֶּ֜ה וְאֵ֣ת הֶחָת֗וּם וְאֵ֨ת סֵ֤פֶר הַגָּלוּי֙ הַזֶּ֔ה וּנְתַתָּ֖ם בִּכְלִי־חָ֑רֶשׂ לְמַ֥עַן יַעַמְד֖וּ יָמִ֥ים רַבִּֽים׃ (ס) (טו) כִּ֣י כֹ֥ה אָמַ֛ר ה' צְבָא֖וֹת אֱלֹקֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל ע֣וֹד יִקָּנ֥וּ בָתִּ֛ים וְשָׂד֥וֹת וּכְרָמִ֖ים בָּאָ֥רֶץ הַזֹּֽאת׃ (פ)

Jeremiah 32:9-15

(9) So I bought the land in Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel. I weighed out the money to him, seventeen shekels of silver. (10) I wrote a deed, sealed it, and had it witnessed; and I weighed out the silver on a balance. (11) I took the deed of purchase, the sealed text and the open one according to rule and law, (12) and gave the deed to Baruch son of Neriah son of Mahseiah in the presence of my kinsman Hanamel, of the witnesses who were named in the deed, and all the Judeans who were sitting in the prison compound. (13) In their presence I charged Baruch as follows: (14) Thus said the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel: “Take these documents, this deed of purchase, the sealed text and the open one, and put them into an earthen jar, so that they may last a long time.” (15) For thus said the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel: “Houses, fields, and vineyards shall again be purchased in this land.”

The fifth cup - poured but not drunk - was like the cup broken at Jewish weddings. It was a symbol of incompletion. It meant that as long as Jews were dispersed throughout the world, facing persecution and danger, they could not yet celebrate to the full. One great sage of the twentieth century, the late Rabbi Menahem Kasher, argued that now that there is a State of Israel, many exiles have been ingathered, and Jews have recovered their sovereignty and land, the fifth cup should be reinstated. That remains for the halakhic authorities to decide.
The Missing Fifth, Rabbi Sacks