Wednesday in the Word

what the Bible means and how we know

exile

01 Habakkuk Introduction

by

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 18:39 — 17.1MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | RSS | More

01 Habakkuk Introduction - Bible Study | WednesdayintheWord.com

The Old Testament book of Habakkuk speaks to two of the most fundamental questions of the Christian faith: 1) How long will God let His people suffer? and 2) Why should we keep believing Him if we’re not spared the tragedies of life?

Go to top

The author, Habakkuk, was a prophet to the southern kingdom of Judah. He was roughly contemporary with Jeremiah and Ezekiel.

Themes

  1. How can a loving God let His people suffer?
  2. Why should we keep believing him if we’re not saved from the tragedies of life?

Timeline

640 BC – Josiah becomes King of Judah (2 Kings 22:1-2)

626 BC – The Babylonian prince Nabopolassar re-establishes Babylon as an independent city. The Babylonians — also known as the Chaldeans — are one of the vassal states of Assyria and they are threatening rebel.

612 BC – Naboppolassar forms an alliance with the Medes and embarks on a quest to gain dominance over the empire and destroy Assyria. They sack Nineveh.

609 BC – The Eqyptian king decides he needs Assyria as a buffer between his kingdom and the Babyloian/Mede alliance. He heads north to help Assyria resist the rebellion, marching through Judah in the process. King Josiah decides to stop him. Josiah is killed at Megiddo.  His death is disastrous for the nation (2 Kings 23:29-37).

After Josiah’s death, the people place his son Jehoahaz on the throne. But 3 months later as the Pharoah returns from his unsuccessful attempt to help the Assyrians against the Bablylonian/Mede alliance, the Pharoah deposes Jehoahaz, carts him off to Egypt and installs Jehoiakim on the throne.

605 BC – Nebuchadnezzar II, now the ruler of Babylon, defeats Egypt in the battle at Carchemish. Jehoiakim swears allegiance to Babylon and the whole of Syria and Palestine fall under Babylonian control (Jeremiah 46:1-2).

Setting

  • It is during the rule of Jehoakim that Habakkuk prophesized.
  • Habbakuk’s world is in tremendous geo-political turmoil.
  • Into that setting Habakkuk seeks the Lord, asking how long will this go on? When will you rescue your people?
Go to top

Further Study

Introduction to Prophets

Kings of Israel & Judah

Chronological List of Old Testament Prophets

Kings of Assyria in Biblical Times

Kings of Babylon in Biblical Times

Go to top

For more detail and explanation, please listen to the podcast.

Next: 02 Habakkuk 1:1-2:1 Habakkuk Complains

Series: Habakkuk: Faith Under Fire

Study Resources: Habakkuk

Photo by Jason Wong on Unsplash

Exile and Return Introduction

by

Introduction to the Exile and Return | WednesdayintheWord.com

The period of the divided kingdom ended with the people of Israel being taken into captivity. First, the people of the northern kingdom were conquered by Assyria, leaving Judah to struggle on alone. Finally, the southern kingdom of Judah was conquered by the Babylonians, leaving all the children of Israel in exile from the land. Here is an overview and timeline of the exile of Israel and her return from captivity.

Timeline

Assyrian Kings

  • Shalmaneser II (860-825 BC) – began to “cut off” Israel
  • Adad-Nirari (808-783 BC) – took tribute from Israel (Jonah’s visit?)
  • Tiglath-Pileser III (747-727 BC) – deported most of Israel
  • Sargon II (7220705) BC – carried the rest of Israel captive
  • Sennacherib (706-681 BC) – invaded Judah; Assyrian Captivity of northern kingdom
  • Esar-Haddon (681-668 BC) – very powerful
  • Assur-banipal (668-626 BC) – most powerful and brutal
  • Weak Kings (626-605 BC) – who lead to defeat of Assyria

Fall of Judah

  • 612 BC – Babylonians and Medes conquer Assyria.
  • 605 BC – Babylonians battle Egyptians at Carchemish.
  • 605 BC – Nebuchadnezzar becomes king of Babylon; The Babylonians invade Judah; First wave of deportation of Jews to Babylon; Daniel is taken captive and begins to prophesy.
  • 601 BC – Babylonians battle Egypt, both sides suffer losses; Judah decides to realign itself with Egypt.
  • 597 BC – Jehoachin becomes king of Judah; Babylonians capture Jerusalem; Second wave of deportation to Babylon from Judah; Ezekiel is taken captive to Babylon; Zedekiah becomes king of Judah.
  • 593 BC – Ezekiel begins to prophesy.
  • 586 BC – The Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and the Temple; Jerusalem’s walls and gates are burned with fire; Third wave of Jews deported to Babylon; Babylonian Exile begins.
  • 539 BC – The Fall of Babylon; Beginning of the Persian Period to 332; The Decree of Cyrus II allowing Jews to return.
  • 516 BC – The Jews rebuild their Temple (70 years).
Go to top

Exile

Developments in Judah (2 Kings 25:22-26; Jeremiah 40-44)

  • Judah as a province of Babylon: no king; governor appoint; new captial is Mizpah.
  • Small population left in Jerusalem under hard conditions; “the poor of the land” (2 Kings 25:12).
  • Gedaliah assassinated by Ishmael (2 Kings 25:23-26; Jeremiah 40:7-41:18); governor appoint by Babylonians.
  • Jeremiah gives advice (Jeremiah 40:1-6; 42:1-43:3) to stay in land.
  • People flee to Egypt (Jeremiah 43:4-44:30); Jeremiah follows them; Babylon conquers Egypt and people further dispersed.

By the Waters of Babylon (605-539 BC)

  • Humiliation (Psalm 137).
  • Institutions remained: synagogue evolved; elders, prophets (Ezekiel) and priest maintained (Jeremiah 29).
  • Freedom of movement; Jews could buy a house and move.
  • Freedom of correspondence: could write/receive letters.
  • Possibility of government positions (e.g. Daniel).
  • Living in a fertile prosperous land with agricultural possibilities.
  • Too comfortable? (Josephus Antiquities 11.1.3).

Rise of Persia

  • Restoration predicted (e.g Jeremiah 25:11).
  • Cyrus, King of Persia, reigns 559-530 BC.
  • Cyrus conquers the Meades, Assyrians and up to India, creating a vast Persian empire.
  • Fall of Babylon (October 539 BC); Cyrus greeted as a conquering hero.
  • Edict of release (Ezra 1:1-4; Ezra 6:3-5).

Content of the Edict

  • Ezra 1 is more theological; Ezra 6 is the official record.
  • Temple to be rebuilt and cost defrayed by Cyrus (Ezra 6:8).
  • Building specifications and dimensions.
  • Return of gold and silver items taken by Nebuchadnezzar.
  • All Jews who wished could return to Judah.
  • Jews who remain in Babylon may assist project with freewill offerings.
Go to top

Return and Restoration

See: Chronologoy of Ezra-Nehemiah

First Stage of Return to Judah

  • Ezra 1-6 – Rebuilding the temple
  • Ezra 1 – edict of return
  • Ezra 2 – list of returnees; leading role for Zerubbabel (2:2); approx. 50,000 return
  • Ezra 3:1-6 – rebuilding and rededicating the altar; Mosaic worship restored
  • Ezra 3:7-13 – laying the temple foundation about 6 months after altar dedication
  • Ezra 4:1-23 – opposition to rebuilding; work stops for approximately 10 years
  • Ezra 5:1-6:15 – Encouragement to rebuild from Haggai & Zechariah; work resumes in 530 BC
  • Ezra 6:16-22 – Completed temple is dedicated and Passover celebrated
  • Ezra 7:1-8:36 – Second return of the Jews to Jerusalem; 458-457 BC (1 year)
  • Ezra 9:1-10:44 – Restoration of the people
  • Biblehub: Ezra Timeline

Second Stage of Return to Judah

  • Nehemiah 1:1-11 – Nehemiah learns Jerusalem has no walls; 445 BC
  • Nehemiah 2:1-20 – Nehemiah commissioned to return to Jerusalem
  • Nehemiah 3:1-6:19 – Building the walls amidst continued opposition
  • Nehemiah 8:1-18 – reading and exposition of the Law
  • Nehemiah 9:1:10:39 – Covenant renewal
  • Nehemiah 12:27-47 – Dedication of Jerusalem city walls
  • Nehemiah 13 – Nehemiah’s second administration; returns 432 BC to a bad situation
  • Biblehub: Nehemiah Timeline
Go to top

History

Go to top

Maps

Go to top

Invasions of Jerusalem

There were 4 significant invasions of Jerusalem in Old Testament history:

  1. By Shishak, king of Egypt, ca. 925 BC during the reign of Rehoboam (1 Kings 14:25-26; 2 Chronicles 12).
  2. By the Philistines and Arabians between 848–841 BC during the reign of Jehoram of Judah (2 Chronciles 21:8–20).
  3. By Jehoash, king of Israel, ca. 790 BC (2 Kings 14; 2 Chronciles 25).
  4. By Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, in the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC.
Go to top

Exile Kings in the Bible

KingdomKingReignBible Reference
AssyriaTiglath-Pileser III744-727 BC2 Kings 15:29; 2 Kings 16:7-10; 1Chronicles 5:6-26
AssyriaSargon II721-701 BC2 Kings 17:3; 2 Kings 19:9; Isaiah 20:1
AssyriaSennacherib704-681 BC(Assyrian Captivity of northern kingdom)
AssyriaEsarhaddon680-699 BCIsaiah 36:37; 2 Kings 18-19; 2 Chronicles 32
AssyriaAshurbanipal668-627 BC2 Kings 19:27; Ezra 4:2; Isaiah 37:38
BabylonNebuchadneezar II604-562 BC(Babylonian captivity of southern kingdom)
2 Kings 24-25; Jeremiah 21;
Daniel 1:5
BabylonNabonidus551-539 BCDaniel 5
BabylonBeshazzar?-539BC
Medo-PersianCyrus & Dairus529-530 BCDaniel 6; Isaiah 44:28; Isaiah 45:1; 2 Chronicles 36
Medo-PersianAhasuerus (Cambyses)529-522 BCEzra 4:6
Medo-PersianArtaxerxes (Ahasuerus)423-405 BCEsther
Go to top

Series: Bible Study 101

Where to next?

Resource Library

What is…?

Who is…?

Introduction to…

Background & History

Photo by Carolyn V on Unsplash

11 Jeremiah 29:1-14 What’s there to do in Babylon?

by

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 41:09 — 10.7MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | RSS | More

11 Jeremiah 29:1-14 What’s there to do in Babylon? | WednesdayintheWord.com

Historical Context

Jeremiah began his ministry as the dominant world power, the Assyrians, descended into civil war.  As the Assyrians began to lose their power,  Babylon and Egypt sought to occupy the power vacuum that the Assyrians would leave.  In the midst of this political turmoil the Lord calls Jeremiah.  His job is to predict and warn of the coming Babylonian invasion and the restoration that would follow the exile.

1Now these are the words of the letter which Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the rest of the elders of the exile, the priests, the prophets and all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. 2(This was after King Jeconiah and the queen mother, the court officials, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen and the smiths had departed from Jerusalem.) 3The letter was sent by the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, saying, 4″Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon, – Jeremiah 29:1-4
  • The exile happened in three different deportations (see Chronology).
  • The first deportation occurred about 605 BC after the Battle of Carchemish when Nebuchadnezzar defeated the combined forces of Assyria and Egypt.  The prophet Daniel was in that group of exiles (Jeremiah 46:2; Daniel 1:1-7).
  • The second deportation occurred about 598BC when Babylon invaded Jerusalem and took the prophet Ezekiel and about 10,o00 into exile (2 Kings 24:12-17; 2 Chronicles 36:6).
  • The third and final deportation occurs in 588 BC when the Babylonian army leveled the entire city of Jerusalem (Jeremiah 39:1-18).
  • This letter is written to the people living in Babylon after the first and second deportation but before the destruction of Jerusalem. They want to escape the exile and return home.

Seek to endure, not escape

5’Build houses and live in them; and plant gardens and eat their produce. 6’Take wives and become the fathers of sons and daughters, and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; and multiply there and do not decrease.  7’Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare.’ 8″For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Do not let your prophets who are in your midst and your diviners deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams which they dream. 9’For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them,’ declares the LORD. – Jeremiah 29:5-9
  • Jeremiah tells them to endure the exile, not escape it.
  • Essentially Jeremiah tells them to stop putting their lives on hold, accept the new normal and live out their calling.
  • But his message is more than just endure a hard situation.

Hope in the promise

10″For thus says the LORD, ‘When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. 11’For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. 12’Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13’You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. 14’I will be found by you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.’ – Jeremiah 29:10-14
  • Jeremiah 29:11 occurs in the context of enduring a long, hard exile.
  • The Lord promises restoration and redemption but He takes his people through suffering, not around it.

Application

  • 1) Realize we too our in exile.  As believers, this world is not our home (see also 1 Peter 1:1-13)
  • 2) Settle in and endure the exile, seeking the Lord and fulfilling our calling
  • 3) Trust and hope in the promises of God that He has plans to prosper you and bring you home.

For more detail and explanation, please listen to the podcast.

Next: 12 Jeremiah 31:31-34 What good is faith?

Previous:  10 Jeremiah 23:9-33 Who should we listen to?

Series: Questions Jeremiah Answered

Resources: Jeremiah Resources

Scripture quotes are from the New American Standard Version of the Bible.

Photo used here under Flickr Creative Commons.