Babylonian Captivity, The

The, in Jewish history, a period of exile at Babylon. Jerusalem lay near the great highway from Egypt to Babylonia. It was a fine point of diplomacy for the Hebrews to know whether to ally themselves with the inhabitants of the Nile or of the Euphrates. Great armies went back and forth on what may be termed this war path of nations, and treated the Hebrews as allies or foes, according to their latest conduct. In 605 B. C. Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem and carried off many prisoners. In 597 B. C. the siege was renewed and the Hebrew king, with 10,000 of the more prominent persons, was carried to Babylon. In 586 B. C. the destruction of the temple and the city was completed and the remaining inhabitants were massacred or carried off to Babylon. Here they worked and wept for two generations, until, in 536 B. C., Cyrus captured Babylon and gave the Jews permission to go home and rebuild their city. It is said that 43,000 men, women, and children took up the long march across the Euphrates. The Jews had been settled as colonists rather than slaves. Like the Pilgrims in Holland, they had maintained their language, family government, and forms of worship. Cyrus bade the priests of Bel restore the sacred vessels which had been taken from Jerusalem. These included 5,000 utensils of gold and silver, baskets, goblets, cups, and knives. A grandson of the old king Jeconiah led them.

Not all Jews desired to leave their Mesopotamian homes, but, according to M. Duneker, in his History of Antiquity, "it was a considerable multitude which left the land `beyond the stream,' the waters of Babylon, to sit once more under the figtree in their ancient home, and build up the city of David and the temple of Jehovah from their ruins; 42,360 freemen, with 7,337 Hebrew men-servants and maid-servants; their goods were carried by 435 camels, 736 horses, 250 mules, and 6,720 asses. The exodus of the Jews from Babylon is accompanied by a prophet with cries of joy, and announcements filled with the wildest hopes. . . . `Go forth from Babylon,' he cries: `Fly from the land of the Chaldeans ! Proclaim it with shouts of joy, tell it to the end of the earth and say: `Jehovah hath redeemed his servant Jacob.' `How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth glad tidings, that publisheth peace, that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth. Up, up, go forth, touch no unclean person; go forth from among them. Cleanse yourselves, ye that bear Jehovah's vessels. Ye shall go forth in joy, and be led in peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees shall clap their hands. Jehovah goes before you and the God of Israel brings up the rear.'"

The seventy years of residence at Babylon immediately preceding the release is known as the Babylonian Captivity. For "Babylonian Captivity of the Church," see AVIGNON.