Exile in Babylon (2)

The entire episode was within the purposes of God and under his control

The reason for the captivity

2 Kings 21:11–15 NRSV

“Because King Manasseh of Judah has committed these abominations, has done things more wicked than all that the Amorites did, who were before him, and has caused Judah also to sin with his idols; therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, I am bringing upon Jerusalem and Judah such evil that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle. I will stretch over Jerusalem the measuring line for Samaria, and the plummet for the house of Ahab; I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down. I will cast off the remnant of my heritage, and give them into the hand of their enemies; they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies, because they have done what is evil in my sight and have provoked me to anger, since the day their ancestors came out of Egypt, even to this day.”

See also 1 Ch 9:1; Ezr 9:7

The captivity foretold by the prophets

Isaiah 39:5–7 NRSV

Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord of hosts: Days are coming when all that is in your house, and that which your ancestors have stored up until this day, shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left, says the Lord. Some of your own sons who are born to you shall be taken away; they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.”

See also Je 1:14–16; Je 13:17; Je 13:19; Eze 12:11; Eze 21:24

Babylon the instrument of God’s chastisement of Judah

Je 22:25; Je 25:8–11

A remnant would be spared

Ezekiel 12:16 NRSV

But I will let a few of them escape from the sword, from famine and pestilence, so that they may tell of all their abominations among the nations where they go; then they shall know that I am the Lord.

The historical details

Nebuchadnezzar marches against Jerusalem

Daniel 1:1–2 NRSV

In the third year of the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. The Lord let King Jehoiakim of Judah fall into his power, as well as some of the vessels of the house of God. These he brought to the land of Shinar, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his gods.

See also 2 Ki 25:1–21; Je 39:1–10; Je 52:4–27

The people of Judah are taken into exile in three stages

Jeremiah 52:27–30 NRSV

And the king of Babylon struck them down, and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah went into exile out of its land. This is the number of the people whom Nebuchadrezzar took into exile: in the seventh year, three thousand twenty-three Judeans; in the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar he took into exile from Jerusalem eight hundred thirty-two persons; in the twenty-third year of Nebuchadrezzar, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took into exile of the Judeans seven hundred forty-five persons; all the persons were four thousand six hundred.

God watches over his people during their captivity

The Lord hears and answers the prayers of his people in captivity

See also Ps 69:33; Da 9:17–23; Da 10:12–14

Babylon spares certain captives, and gives them some freedom and dignity

2 Ki 25:27–30; Da 1:12–20; Da 2:48–49; Da 3:30; Da 6:28

God encourages his people during their captivity

Ps 69:33; Je 29:11; Eze 36:37–38

Promises of eventual restoration

Ezekiel 36:8 NRSV

But you, O mountains of Israel, shall shoot out your branches, and yield your fruit to my people Israel; for they shall soon come home.

The promise of return from exile

Jeremiah 33:7–8 NRSV

I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel, and rebuild them as they were at first. I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me.

See also Je 16:15; Je 23:3; Je 24:5–7; Je 27:22; Je 29:14; Je 30:3; Je 31:27–28; La 4:22; Eze 34:12–13; Zep 3:20

Restoration to be a demonstration of God’s grace

Ezekiel 36:22 NRSV

Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came.

The promise of covenant renewal

See also Je 31:31–34; Eze 34:25; Eze 36:26–27

The promise of return fulfilled

2 Ch 36:22–23; Ne 7:6

Babylonian oppressors to be punished

Jeremiah 25:12–14 NRSV

Then after seventy years are completed, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chaldeans, for their iniquity, says the Lord, making the land an everlasting waste. I will bring upon that land all the words that I have uttered against it, everything written in this book, which Jeremiah prophesied against all the nations. For many nations and great kings shall make slaves of them also; and I will repay them according to their deeds and the work of their hands.

See also Je 30:16; Je 50:18; Je 51:49; Je 51:55–56; Je 51:64; Eze 36:7