Final answer:
Cyrus the Great, a Persian king, is described in the Hebrew Bible as 'God's shepherd' and 'Yahweh's anointed,' highlighting his role in the return of the Jewish exiles and the rebuilding of the Jerusalem Temple.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Persian king referred to as God's shepherd and Yahweh's anointed is none other than Cyrus the Great. In the Hebrew Bible, specifically the book of Isaiah, Cyrus is described using these terms, indicating his special role in Yahweh's plan. Despite being a Persian monarch and a follower of Zoroastrianism, Cyrus is acknowledged in the Jewish tradition for his decree which allowed the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple, signifying a major turning point in the development of Judaism.
While the Persian Empire, led by kings like Cyrus who were seen as earthly representatives of Ahura Mazda, encompassed a multitude of ethnicities and religions, early Judaism was undergoing significant changes. The experience of exile and interaction with empires such as Assyria and Babylon played a critical role in shaping the emerging notion of Yahweh as an omnipotent, omnipresent God, surpassing the earlier, more geographically and ethnically confined worship of Yahweh.