Judaism
The Babylonian Exile: The Jewish transformation
· 7 min read
Seventy years in Babylon transformed the Jewish people: the synagogue was born, the Torah was redacted, exile prophets emerged, and Jewish identity was consolidated without a Temple.
The Babylonian Exile
Destruction and deportation
In 586 BCE, Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and the First Temple. Leaders, priests and craftsmen were deported to Babylon. Only the poorest remained in Judah.
The transformation
In Babylon, the people faced the greatest theological challenge: how to serve God outside the Land and without a Temple? The answer was the synagogue (beit knesset), prayer (tefilah) instead of sacrifices, and study of the Torah.
The prophets Ezekiel and Daniel prophesied in exile. The Torah was compiled and edited.
The return
Cyrus of Persia conquered Babylon (539 BCE) and allowed the Jews to return. Zerubbabel rebuilt the Temple; Ezra and Nehemiah restored the community and the Torah.
Reading: Books of Ezra, Nehemiah, Daniel. Psalm 137 (the lament of exile). Jeremiah 29 (letter to the exiles).
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