The captivities of Judah are generally reckoned
four: the first, in the year of the world 3398, under King Jehoiakim,
when Daniel and others were carried to Babylon; the second, in the year
of the world 3401, and in the seventh year of the reign of Jehoiakim,
when Nebuchadnezzar carried three thousand and twenty-three Jews to
Babylon; the third, in the year of the world 3406, and in the fourth of
Jehoiachin, when this prince, with part of his people, was sent to
Babylon; and the fourth in the year 3416, under Zedekiah, from which
period begins the captivity of seventy years, foretold by the Prophet
Jeremiah. Dr. Hales computes that the first of these captivities, which
he thinks formed the commencement of the Babylonish captivity, took
place in the year before Christ 605. The Jews were removed to Babylon by
Nebuchadnezzar, who, designing to render that city the capital of the
east, transplanted thither very great numbers of people, subdued by him
in different countries. In Babylon the Jews had judges and elders, who
governed them, and who decided matters in dispute juridically, according
to their laws. Of this we see a proof in the story of Susanna, who was
condemned by elders of her own nation. Cyrus, in the year of the world
3457, and in the first year of his reign at Babylon, permitted the Jews
to return to their own country, Ezra i, 1. However, they did not obtain
leave to rebuild the temple; and the completion of those prophecies
which foretold the termination of their captivity after seventy years,
was not till the year of the world 3486. In that year, Darius Hystaspes,
by an edict, allowed them to rebuild the temple. In the year of the
world 3537, Artaxerxes Longimanus sent Nehemiah to Jerusalem. The Jews
assert that only the refuse of their nation returned from the captivity,
and that the principal of them continued in and near Babylon, where they
had been settled, and where they became very numerous. It may, however,
be doubted whether the refuse of Judah was really carried to Babylon. It
appears from incidental observations in Scripture that some remained;
and Major Rennell has offered several reasons for believing that only
certain classes of the Jews were deported to Babylon, as well as into
Assyria. Nebuchadnezzar carried away only the principal inhabitants, the
warriors, and artisans of every kind; and he left the husbandmen, the
labourers, and in general, the poorer classes, that constitute the great
body of the people.
four: the first, in the year of the world 3398, under King Jehoiakim,
when Daniel and others were carried to Babylon; the second, in the year
of the world 3401, and in the seventh year of the reign of Jehoiakim,
when Nebuchadnezzar carried three thousand and twenty-three Jews to
Babylon; the third, in the year of the world 3406, and in the fourth of
Jehoiachin, when this prince, with part of his people, was sent to
Babylon; and the fourth in the year 3416, under Zedekiah, from which
period begins the captivity of seventy years, foretold by the Prophet
Jeremiah. Dr. Hales computes that the first of these captivities, which
he thinks formed the commencement of the Babylonish captivity, took
place in the year before Christ 605. The Jews were removed to Babylon by
Nebuchadnezzar, who, designing to render that city the capital of the
east, transplanted thither very great numbers of people, subdued by him
in different countries. In Babylon the Jews had judges and elders, who
governed them, and who decided matters in dispute juridically, according
to their laws. Of this we see a proof in the story of Susanna, who was
condemned by elders of her own nation. Cyrus, in the year of the world
3457, and in the first year of his reign at Babylon, permitted the Jews
to return to their own country, Ezra i, 1. However, they did not obtain
leave to rebuild the temple; and the completion of those prophecies
which foretold the termination of their captivity after seventy years,
was not till the year of the world 3486. In that year, Darius Hystaspes,
by an edict, allowed them to rebuild the temple. In the year of the
world 3537, Artaxerxes Longimanus sent Nehemiah to Jerusalem. The Jews
assert that only the refuse of their nation returned from the captivity,
and that the principal of them continued in and near Babylon, where they
had been settled, and where they became very numerous. It may, however,
be doubted whether the refuse of Judah was really carried to Babylon. It
appears from incidental observations in Scripture that some remained;
and Major Rennell has offered several reasons for believing that only
certain classes of the Jews were deported to Babylon, as well as into
Assyria. Nebuchadnezzar carried away only the principal inhabitants, the
warriors, and artisans of every kind; and he left the husbandmen, the
labourers, and in general, the poorer classes, that constitute the great
body of the people.