THE RETURN HOME The end of the Babylonian

THE RETURN HOME The end of the Babylonian exile and the Reconstruction

THE NEO-BABYLONIAN EMPIRE • Came into power with the revolt of Babylon against the Assyrian Empire in 626 BC. • When Nebuchadnezzer became king (605 BC), he led the conquest of western Asia, including Judah • At its largest extent, extended from the Persian Gulf to Sinai

So in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army. They encamped outside the city and built siege works all around it. The city was kept under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah. By the ninth day of the fourth month the famine in the city had become so severe that there was no food for the people to eat. Then the city wall was broken through, and the whole army fled. They left the city at night through the gate between the two walls near the king’s garden, though the Babylonians were surrounding the city. (Jeremiah 52: 4 -7)

The Babylonian army pursued King Zedekiah and overtook him in the plains of Jericho. All his soldiers were separated from him and scattered, and he was captured. He was taken to the king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced sentence on him. There at Riblah the king of Babylon killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes; he also killed all the officials of Judah. Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon, where he put him in prison till the day of his death. On the tenth day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard, who served the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. He set fire to the temple of the LORD, the royal palace and all the houses of Jerusalem. Every important building he burned down. (Jeremiah 52: 8 -14)

THE FALL OF BABYLON • The growth Persian power began when Cyrus assumed the throne. • He began a series of territorial conquests that eventually brought him into conflict with Babylon. • The internal weakness of Babylon and the overwhelming strength of Persia quickly toppled Babylon

CYRUS

THE PERSIAN EMPIRE: 538 – 332 BC

ISRAEL UNDER PERSIAN RULE

THE DECREE OF CYRUS This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: “The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Anyone of his people among you-- may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the LORD, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem. And the people of any place where survivors may now be living are to provide him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem. " (Ezra 1: 2 -4)

THREE PHASES OF THE RETURN • 537 BCE – Led by Shesbazzar, Joshua, Zerubbabel – About 50, 000 – Built houses and the Temple • 458 BCE – Led by Ezra – About 1, 800 – Revival; religious reform • 444 BCE – Led by Nehemiah – Small group accompanied by soldiers – Rebuilt the city; walls; promoted a revival (The Promise and the Blessing, p. 336)

THE RETURNS: SHESHBAZZAR • The return was authorized by Cyrus about 538(? ) BC (Ezra 1. 1 -8) • The first ‘wave’ of exiles returned under Sheshbazzar, the ‘prince of Judah’ (Ezra 1) • He was given the task of returning certain items taken from the Jerusalem temple • Little else is known about him or his work.

ZERUBBABEL • Led the second return (525? BC) • Succeeded in reconstructing the altar in Jerusalem and restoring some religious rituals (Ezra 3. 1 -6) • Began the reconstruction of the temple (Ezra 3. 7 -13) • Continued despite opposition (Ezra 4, 5) • Completed the reconstruction and celebrated the Passover (Ezra 6. 14 -22) • Received the support of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah

EZRA • Led a third return in 458(? ) BC • As a priest, he dealt with religious and ethical matters: – The problem of mixed marriages (Ezra 9, 10) – The reading of the law (Ne. 8) • Led the community in needed repentance (Ne. 9)

NEHEMIAH • Returned in 444(? ) BC • Led the people to rebuild and repair the walls of Jerusalem (Ne. 2, 3) • Dealt with opposition (Ne. 4 -6) • Led the voluntary resettlement of Jerusalem (Ne. 111) • Rededicated the walls (Ne. 12) • Led other cultural reforms (Ne. 13)

ESTHER: QUEEN AND SERVANT • Deals with a Jewish family that remained in Persia during and after the return • Esther was chosen to replace Vashti who Xerxes I (486 -465 BCE) had divorced. • Later, all Jews were to be killed because Esther’s uncle, Mordecai, refused to honor Haman, a high official • Esther interceded with the king to prevent the slaughter.

POINTS OF INTEREST • Esther had to reveal to Xerxes that she was Jewish in order to interceded for them, placing herself in danger. • Neither the name of God nor the word “God” appear in the book. • God’s providence is assumed by Mordecai: “And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this? " (4: 14) • Serves as the historical background for the Festival of Purim