The Exile
Following the pattern of noncompliance, the king and people of the southern kingdom of Judah turned away from God just as the northern kingdom had prior to 721 BC. God called a new prophet, Jeremiah, to desire them to convert back to God. Jeremiah informed that Jerusalem would be destroyed and the people banished if they did not convert. Jeremiah was overlooked. The king made corrupt political choices that troubled the Babylonians and their king, Nebuchadnezzar. The Babylonians conquered and demolished Jerusalem in 587 BC.
This was one of the greatest turning points in the history of the Jewish people, similar in importance with the Exodus almost five hundred years earlier. The conquerors not only demolished the city and the Temple; they forced nearly five thousand of the leaders into exile among other nations within the Babylonian kingdom. Their purpose was to abolish the identity of the Jewish people by eliminating political and spiritual gathering places and to make those left in Palestine defenceless against domination by other nations.
The most overwhelming event of all for the Jewish people was the obliteration of Solomon’s Temple, the aggressive of the treasured sacred vessels and the loss of the Ark of the Covenant. The symbol of God’s presence among them was absent. Everything but the religious beliefs of the Jewish people was gradually destroyed or vanished. Their experiences led them to realise that they were nothing without God. This led the people to wonder also about the Covenant of Sinai.
The age of the Exile created an important stage in the expansion of the Bible. There were hundreds of scrolls in existence and during this age they were collected together into books but the Bible was not finished at this time.
This group collected and organised all the Scriptures linked to the creation of the universe, the commencement of God’s people, Abraham and the Patriarchs, Moses, the Exodus and the Sinai Covenant. The foundation was placed for the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible. The first of the great prophets of this era was Jeremiah. His forewarnings that Judah and Jerusalem would be demolished and his prophecies about a future refurbishment and a Messiah are found in the Book of Jeremiah. Two other great prophets were Ezekiel and Isaiah. During the Exile, many of the other Scriptures were developed and new writings begun such as the books of Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Samuel and Kings. Encouraged writers assembled and organised historic traditions which recalled the pattern of triumph and failure, the people experienced in keeping the covenant, God had made with them at Mount Sinai. Other writings inspired by God continued to produce. These include significant psalms and mournful songs about the Exile.
This was one of the greatest turning points in the history of the Jewish people, similar in importance with the Exodus almost five hundred years earlier. The conquerors not only demolished the city and the Temple; they forced nearly five thousand of the leaders into exile among other nations within the Babylonian kingdom. Their purpose was to abolish the identity of the Jewish people by eliminating political and spiritual gathering places and to make those left in Palestine defenceless against domination by other nations.
The most overwhelming event of all for the Jewish people was the obliteration of Solomon’s Temple, the aggressive of the treasured sacred vessels and the loss of the Ark of the Covenant. The symbol of God’s presence among them was absent. Everything but the religious beliefs of the Jewish people was gradually destroyed or vanished. Their experiences led them to realise that they were nothing without God. This led the people to wonder also about the Covenant of Sinai.
The age of the Exile created an important stage in the expansion of the Bible. There were hundreds of scrolls in existence and during this age they were collected together into books but the Bible was not finished at this time.
This group collected and organised all the Scriptures linked to the creation of the universe, the commencement of God’s people, Abraham and the Patriarchs, Moses, the Exodus and the Sinai Covenant. The foundation was placed for the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible. The first of the great prophets of this era was Jeremiah. His forewarnings that Judah and Jerusalem would be demolished and his prophecies about a future refurbishment and a Messiah are found in the Book of Jeremiah. Two other great prophets were Ezekiel and Isaiah. During the Exile, many of the other Scriptures were developed and new writings begun such as the books of Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Samuel and Kings. Encouraged writers assembled and organised historic traditions which recalled the pattern of triumph and failure, the people experienced in keeping the covenant, God had made with them at Mount Sinai. Other writings inspired by God continued to produce. These include significant psalms and mournful songs about the Exile.