THE EXILE

by BibleProject

 

For followers of Jesus, the story of his life, death, and resurrection is the absolute center of our practice, belief, and worldview. It’s the central event which generated the entire Christian story and the New Testament.

 

However, these events didn’t occur in a vacuum. Jesus saw himself fulfilling a larger storyline that was told in His Bible, the Hebrew Bible, or as most Christians refer to it, the Old Testament. One of the most important events in Jesus’ Bible, which also changed Jewish history forever, is the Babylonian exile.

 

The exile left its mark on Israelite history in an unparalleled manner and played a key role in the formation of the Bible itself. For the Israelites, the exile was the watershed moment of their history on which the entire Bible gains its significance; everything else orbits around the gravity of this faith-shaking moment.

 

The entire national structure of the kingdom, which was thought to be ordained by God himself, came crashing down. This event fulfilled centuries of prophetic warnings, as hundreds of years of tradition, culture, and history was destroyed in just one year. This was their Day of the Lord, and it left them absolutely devastated.

 

Read the book of Lamentations if you want some somber reflection on what it felt like to live through the tragedy of Jerusalem’s destruction and the people’s enslavement under Babylonian rule. You can understand how it may be hard to find hope in such a situation.

 

After spending decades in a foreign land under foreign rule, the Israelites are allowed to return home under Persian rule. However, this offers only a false climax. The people's hearts and spiritual state is as broken as it was before they left. Hope for future is all they had, but we know how that story ends! Jesus. (a)

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The Marion County Manna Project offers the below timeline, which covers the Israelite nation from the formation of their United Monarchy to their demise as a result of being conquered and forced into exile. All listed years are approximate.

 

TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL FORM A UNITED MONARCHY:

SAUL, DAVID AND SOLOMON

 

Supportive Bible Verse: Genesis 49:1-28;

 

Circa 1040 BC The Twelve Tribes of Israel (1) descended from the twelve sons of the Patriarch (2) Jacob (3), who God (4) later renamed Israel (Genesis 32:28). They were formed into a United Monarchy as Saul (5) was anointed (1 Samuel 10) their first King (6) by the Old Testament (7) Prophet (8) Samuel (9). Saul served for 40 (or 42) years (1 Samuel 13:1, Acts 13:21) and was succeeded (2 Samuel 5) by David (10), who also reigned for 40 years until his death. His son, Solomon (11), succeeded (1 Kings 1) him and ruled for 40 years. Upon Solomon's death, the United Monarchy was torn apart, just as God had warned would happen, due to Solomon's continued disobedience (12) to Him (1 Kings 11:9-13).

 

UNITED MONARCHY OF ISRAEL

SPLITS IN TWO SEPARATE KINGDOMS

 

Supportive Bible Verse: 1 Kings 11:26-40.

 

Circa 931 BC The United Monarchy of Israel, comprised of the Twelve Tribes of Israel, splits into two kingdoms.

 

The Northern Kingdom of Israel (13) is initially ruled by King Jeroboam I (14) and consists of ten tribes (Reuben (15), Simeon (16), Dan (17), Naphtali (18), Gad (19), Asher (20), Issachar (21), Zebulun (22), Manasseh (23), and Ephraim (24)).

 

The Southern Kingdom of Judah (25) is initially ruled by King Rehoboam (26) and consists of two tribes (Judah (27) and Benjamin (28)).

 

ISRAEL'S KING REJECTS LEVITES AS PRIESTS

 

Supportive Bible Verses: 1 Kings 12; 2 Chronicles 11:5-17.

 

Circa 931 BC-910 BC King Jeroboam I (Northern Kingdom of Israel) and his sons reject the Levites (29) as priests. So, the Levites leave all their property and land behind and move from the Northern Kingdom of Israel to the Southern Kingdom of Judah.

Additionally,  members from every Tribe of Israel who set their hearts on seeking the Lord, the God of Israel, followed the Levites into Judah.

 

MANY DEFECTIONS FROM ISRAEL TO JUDAH

 

Supportive Bible Verse: 2 Chronicles 15:8-9.

 

Circa 911 BC-870 BC During the reign of Asa (30), King of Judah, large numbers from the Tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh and Simeon defect from the Northern Kingdom of Israel to the Southern Kingdom of Judah.

 

ASSYRIANS INVADE NORTHERN KINGDOM OF ISRAEL

 

Supportive Bible Verses: 2 Kings 15:29; 1 Chronicles 5:26.

 

Circa 745 BC-732 BC Led by their King (31), Tiglath-Pileser III (32), the Assyrians (33) invade the Northern Kingdom of Israel, taking possession of many towns and lands. The uprooted Israelites were taken prisoner and exiled into Assyria (34).

 

ASSYRIANS TAKE SAMARIA;

NORTHERN KINGDOM OF ISRAEL FALLS

 

Supportive Bible Verses: 2 Kings 17:3-6, 2 Kings 18:9-12; Ezekiel 39:23.

 

Circa 725 BC Led by their King, Shalmaneser V (35), and his successor, Sargon II (36), the Assyrians attack the Northern Kingdom of Israel again. This time, the invaders lay siege to the entire Kingdom. After three years, Israel's capital city of Samaria (37) falls into enemy hands. 200,000 Israelites are taken prisoner into Assyria and have been known, henceforth, as the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel. Other subjects of Assyrian rule who were previously taken captive are moved into the region to replace the Israelites.

 

ASSYRIANS INVADE SOUTHERN KINGDOM OF JUDAH

 

Supportive Bible Verses: 2 Kings 18:13-19:37; 2 Chronicles 32; Isaiah 36-37.

 

Circa 701 BC Led by their King, Sennacherib (38), the Assyrians invade and attack the fortified cities of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. They laid siege on Jerusalem (39), but due to God's intervention, failed to capture it.

 

BABYLONIANS SACK JERUSALEM;

SOUTHERN KINGDOM OF JUDAH FALLS

 

Supportive Bible Verses: 2 Kings 20:16-18, 23:26-27; Jeremiah 18:1-20:6; Lamentations 4:10; Ezekiel 14; Daniel 1:1; Habakkuk 1; Zephaniah 1-3.

 

605 BC First Siege of Jerusalem by King (40) Nebuchadnezzar II (41) of Babylon (42). The Prophet Daniel (43) & others are taken captive as the Babylonian Exile begins. (2 Kings 24:1-2).

 

598-7 BC Second Siege of Jerusalem by King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon. King Jehoiachin (44),  The Prophet Ezekiel (45) & others are taken captive as Babylonian Exile continues. The Temple is stripped of all gold articles that were made under King Solomon hundreds of years earlier. King Zedekiah (46) is installed as a puppet leader over Judah (2 Kings 24:8-17; 2 Chronicles 36:5-7; Jeremiah 24, 27, 29).

 

588 BC Third Siege of Jerusalem by King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon begins (2 Kings 25:1-21; Ezekiel 24:1-14).

 

586 BC The Babylonians, under King Nebuchadnezzar II, conquer Southern Kingdom of Judah. Jerusalem is sacked and pillaged. The First Temple (47) is destroyed by fire. The Babylonians killed the sons of King Zedekiah and then put his eyes out before taking him into exile as many more are forced into Babylonian exile/slavery (2 Kings 25:8-21; 2 Chronicles 36:15-21; Jeremiah 39, 52:1-30).

 

Footnote: The destruction of the First Temple started on the 9th of Ab (Hebrew month) and completes on the 10th. The 9th of Ab will also be the day Jerusalem's second Temple (48) (Herod's Temple) will be completely destroyed six centuries later in 70 AD.

 

CYRUS THE GREAT ISSUES EDICT

ALLOWING ISRAELITES TO RETURN TO JUDAH

 

539 BC The Babylonian Empire is conquered by the Persians (49), led by their King (50), Cyrus the Great (51) (Daniel 5:25-31). Those held in Babylonian captivity/exile are now under his authority.

 

539 BC Cyrus the Great issues an edict permitting the Israelites' return to Judah (2 Chronicles 36:20-23; Ezra 1:1-4, 6:3; Isaiah 41:2-4, 45:1–4; Jeremiah 25:11-12, 29:10-14; Daniel 9:2). Over the years, nearly 50,000 make the sojourn from Babylon back to Jerusalem (Ezra 2).

 

536 BC Zerubabbel (52) (grandson of King Jehoiachin) leads a group who begin construction of the Second Temple (Ezra 3:8).

 

516 BC Seventy years (Jeremiah 29:10) after the destruction of the First Temple, construction of the Second Temple is completed and dedicated to the Lord God of Israel (Ezra 6:13-18). See also Ezekiel 40:1- 43:27.

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The commentary (a) offered herein is published with permission (b) and no monetary gain is being sought. The subsequent narrative is published by The Marion County Manna Project. Footnotes re-direct to our webpages (unless otherwise noted) for additional spiritual insight and reflection.

 

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If you're seeking additional information about Christianity on a more personal level, consider visiting a Christian Church here in Marion County (53). Introduce yourself to members and ask to speak with someone to learn more about Jesus. Surrendering your life to Christ (54) (c) is the most rewarding and everlasting decision you'll ever make, and it's comforting to have someone guide you as you begin your new life as a child of the Most High! May God shower you with great favor in this endeavor!

 

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Footnotes, Page Credits and External Resources appear below. Consider printing and sharing the offered PDF narrative and other listed resources with family, friends and strangers alike for use in Bible Studies (55), Home/Church Faith Sharing Groups (56), Discipleship Encounters (57) and/or Personal Faith Enrichment!

 

Modifications are welcome at [email protected].

 

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FOOTNOTES:

  (1) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/twelve-tribes-of-israel

  (2) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/jacob-patriarch

  (3) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/patriarchs-of-the-bible

  (4) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/God-of-the-Bible

  (5) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/saul-king-of-israel

  (6) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/united-monarchy-kings

  (7) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/Old-Testament

  (8) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/prophets-of-the-bible

  (9) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/samuel

(10) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/David

(11) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/Solomon

(12) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/disobedience

(13) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/kings-of-israel

(14) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/jeroboam-i

(15) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/reuben-1

(16) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/simeon-1

(17) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/dan-1

(18) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/naphtali-1

(19) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/gad-1

(20) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/asher-1

(21) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/issachar-1

(22) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/zebulun-1

(23) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/manasseh-1

(24) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/ephraim-1

(25) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/kings-of-judah

(26) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/rehoboam

(27) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/judah-2

(28) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/benjamin-1

(29) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/levi-1

(30) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/Asa

(31) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/kings-of-assyria

(32) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/tiglath-pileser-iii

(33) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/assyrians

(34) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/Assyria

(35) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/shalmaneser

(36) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/sargon-ii

(37) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/Samaria

(38) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/sennacherib

(39) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/Jerusalem

(40) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/kings-of-babylon

(41) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/nebuchadnezzar

(42) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/babylon

(43) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/daniel-1

(44) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/Jehoiachin

(45) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/Ezekiel-1

(46) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/Zedekiah

(47) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/temple-first

(48) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/temple-second

(49) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/persians

(50) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/kings-of-persia

(51) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/cyrus

(52) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/zerubbabel

(53) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/listing-by-city

(54) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/the-gracious-visitor

(55) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/bible-studies

(56) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/christian-education

(57) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/discipleship

 

 

PAGE CREDITS:

(a) Exile, The Bible Project, accessed January 25, 2020

https://thebibleproject.com/explore/exile/

(b) Terms of Use, The Bible Project, accessed January 25, 2020

https://www.thebibleproject.com/terms/

 

EXTERNAL RESOURCES:

(c)  How Do I Convert to Christianity?, Got Questions Ministries, accessed January 12, 2020

https://www.gotquestions.org/convert-to-Christianity.html