15. Exile
Return to History 8 Near East Vocabulary
Dictionary defines exile as the "expulsion from one's native land by authoritative decree." The Exile began when Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, stood up to Nebuchadnezzar and ceased paying tribute to him. In addition, Judah entered an alliance with Pharaoh Hophra of Egypt. But in the year 589 BCE, Nebuchadnezzar II returned to Judah and besieged, or surrounded, Jerusalem. During this time is when many Jews were forced to flee to nearby countries to seek refuge. The city finally fell after an eighteen month siege and Nebuchadnezzar took Zedekiah to Babylon which ended the independent Kingdom of Judah. During the siege, around 4,600 Jews were deported after the fall of Judah. But only the prominent citizens including the professionals, priests, craftsmen, and the wealthy were exiled to Babylon. The "people of the land" were allowed to stay. The salient feature of the exile was that the Jews were settled in a single place rather than scattered. Within the crucible of despair and hopelessness, they forged a new national identity and a new religion, monotheism. The priests brought their sacred documents and traditions to Babylon and this is where the Torah was created. During this time, they remained a people and maintained a covenant with God. Furthermore, the principal religious groups originated and the beginning of synagogues since their temples were burned down. The Jews realized that even without a temple, priest, or any king, they were still able to be loyal and follow God's commandments. The Exile transformed Judaism into a modern religion. After many years living in exile, in 539 BCE, the Persians and Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon and all of Mesopotamia while allowing the exiled Jews to return to Judah and rebuild their sacred temple.
Sources:
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/exile
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/Exile.html
History Manual Page 115
The Bibles Buried Secrets Video
Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_captivity
For More Information: http://www.britannica.com/event/Babylonian-Exile
By: Erin Oldham
