Bible Talk

The Babylonian Captivity of the Jews: Origins

The Babylonian Captivity occurred when the Jewish people faced exile from Israel. Being forced to leave Judah, they lived in Babylon between 597 BCE and 538 BCE. This captivity lasted until they were freed by Persian leader Cyrus the Great. While the Babylonian Captivity is described in the Torah and the Christian Bible, it is also described by other sources. These historical sources include Persian documents that corroborate the Babylonian captivity and prove its occurrence. The term was first coined by Renaissance scholar Francesco Petrarch, who used it to describe the movement of the pope's court to France.

The Babylonian Captivity: the Conquest of Judah

In 600 BCE the king of Judah decided for 3 years to stop paying taxes to Babylonia. This led to the Jewish-Babylonian War. The Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar laid Siege to Judah by 597 BC. After the city of Jerusalem was captured, tens of thousands of Jewish people were exiled from Judah. Historians disagree about the exact date that the Babylonian Captivity began. Some sources say that it began as soon as King Nebuchadnezzar began to attack the city in 597 BCE, but others say it occurred in 586 CE, when Jerusalem was destroyed by Babylonian forces. Regardless of the exact date, sources show that the Jews were forcibly moved to Babylon.

Ezekiel 11:16

yet will I be to them] Rather: and have been to them for a sanctuary but little in the countries where they are come. The expression “for a sanctuary but little” refers to the taunt of the dwellers in Jerusalem that the exiles were far from the sanctuary and had no part in Jehovah. It is true that he had not been to the exiles in great measure that which a “sanctuary” is, viz. a presence of Jehovah, a sanctification, and a religious joy. It is doubtful if “sanctuary” has anywhere (even Isa_8:14) the meaning of asylum, protection; the sanctuary is the abode of Jehovah, and his presence there sanctifies those in the midst of whom he dwells. The exiles longed to be near the sanctuary and mourned their distance from it (Psalms 84, 137); while those left in the land boasted of the possession of it and looked on the exiles as outcasts.

Nehemiah 8:8

Gave the sense - Either by rendering the Hebrew into the Aramaic dialect, or perhaps simply by explaining obscure words or passages.

Caused them to understand - Either “they (the people) understood what was read;” or, “they (the Levites) expounded as they read.”

Lev_26:33And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste.

Deu_4:27, Deu_28:64-66, Psa_44:11, Jer_9:16, Lam_1:3, Lam_4:15, Eze_12:14-16, Eze_20:23, Eze_22:15, Zec_7:14,

Jeremiah 3:15

I win give you pastors according to mine heart - The pastor means either the king or the prophet; and the pastors here promised may be either kings or prophets, or both. These shall be according to God’s own heart; they shall be of his own choosing and shall be qualified by himself: and in consequence they shall feed the people with knowledge, דעה deah that Divine truth concerning the true God and the best interests of man, which was essentially necessary to their salvation; and understanding השכיל haskeil, the full interpretation of every point, that in receiving the truth they might become wise, holy, and happy.

Nehemiah 9:30

Yet many years didst thou forbear them,.... Throughout the reigns of several kings, such was God's longsuffering towards them: or, "thou didst draw upon them"; that is, his mercy, as Jarchi interprets it; he drew it out of his heart, and prolonged it towards them:

and testifiedst against them by thy Spirit in thy prophets; who reproved and admonished them, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit of God in them, who spoke in his name, and what he suggested to them:

yet they would not give ear; to what the prophets said, and the Spirit of God in them:

therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the people of the lands: people that were lords of many countries, as the Assyrians and Chaldeans.

Curses for Disobedience

Deu 28:15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:

Deu_28:41 Thou shalt beget sons and daughters, but thou shalt not enjoy them; for they shall go into captivity.

Lam_1:5 Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the LORD hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy.

Eze 39:23-24 And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword. 

Tob_3:4 For they obeyed not thy commandments: wherefore thou hast delivered us for a spoil, and unto captivity, and unto death, and for a proverb of reproach to all the nations among whom we are dispersed.

Amo_9:4 And though they go into captivity before their enemies, thence will I command the sword, and it shall slay them: and I will set mine eyes upon them for evil, and not for good.

Bar_3:7 And for this cause thou hast put thy fear in our hearts, to the intent that we should call upon thy name, and praise thee in our captivity: for we have called to mind all the iniquity of our forefathers, that sinned before thee. :8 Behold, we are yet this day in our captivity, where thou hast scattered us, for a reproach and a curse, and to be subject to payments, according to all the iniquities of our fathers, which departed from the Lord our God.

Isaiah 30:20

[20]And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:

Bible Breakdowns with Banabad

James 4:9-11 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. :10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. :11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. 

He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law; he that is a talebearer and backbites his brother, his fellow member, and detracts from his good name and character, and takes upon him to judge his heart, and his state, as well as, to condemn his actions, he speaks evil of the law; and judges and condemns that, as if that forbid a thing that was lawful, even tale bearing and detraction, Lev_19:16, or by speaking evil of him for a good thing he does, he blames and condemns the law, as though it commanded a thing that was evil; and by passing sentence upon his brother, he takes upon him the province of the law, which is to accuse, charge, convince, pronounce guilty, and condemn:

but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law; as is a duty, and would best become: