Captivity of Israel

The captivity of Israel, particularly the Babylonian exile, is a significant event prophesied by several prophets in the Old Testament. The fall of Jerusalem and the subsequent captivity were consequences of Israel's persistent disobedience and idolatry. The prophet Jeremiah warned of this impending judgment, stating, "This whole land will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years" (Jeremiah 25:11). This prophecy was fulfilled when Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, besieged Jerusalem, leading to the destruction of the city and the temple in 586 BC, and the deportation of many Israelites to Babylon.

Isaiah also foretold the captivity, emphasizing the sovereignty of God in using foreign nations as instruments of His judgment. Isaiah 39:6-7 records, "Behold, the days are coming when everything in your palace, and all that your fathers have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the LORD. And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon."

Return and Rebuilding of Jerusalem

Despite the dire prophecies of captivity, the prophets also spoke of hope and restoration. Jeremiah prophesied the return of the exiles, declaring, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11). This promise of restoration was fulfilled when King Cyrus of Persia issued a decree allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple, as recorded in Ezra 1:1-4.

The prophet Isaiah also spoke of the rebuilding of Jerusalem, stating, "Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will restore the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings" (Isaiah 58:12). This prophecy highlights the role of the returning exiles in restoring the physical and spiritual foundations of the nation.

Rebuilding and Dedication of the Wall of Jerusalem

The rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem was a pivotal moment in the restoration of the Jewish community. Nehemiah, a cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes, was instrumental in this effort. Upon hearing of the desolation of Jerusalem, Nehemiah sought and received permission from the king to return and rebuild the city's walls. Nehemiah 2:17-18 records his rallying call to the people: "Then I said to them, 'You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, so that we will no longer be a disgrace.'"

The rebuilding process faced significant opposition from surrounding nations, yet through prayer, perseverance, and divine assistance, the wall was completed in just 52 days (Nehemiah 6:15). The dedication of the wall was a moment of great joy and celebration, as described in Nehemiah 12:27 : "At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, they sought out the Levites from all their places to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, with thanksgiving and with singing, accompanied by cymbals, harps, and lyres."

The dedication ceremony was marked by worship, sacrifices, and the reading of the Law, signifying a renewed commitment to the covenant with God. This event not only symbolized the physical restoration of Jerusalem but also the spiritual renewal of the people of Israel, fulfilling the prophetic promises of restoration and hope.Nehemiah 2:1
And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it to the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence.
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Nehemiah 3:1
Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even to the tower of Meah they sanctified it, to the tower of Hananeel.
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Nehemiah 4:1
But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we built the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.
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Nehemiah 5:1
And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brothers the Jews.
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Nehemiah 6:1
Now it came to pass when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors on the gates;)
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Nehemiah 12:1
Now these are the priests and the Levites that went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
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The Antiquities of the Jews
... King Of Syria And Pekah King Of Israel, Made War ... Befell Daniel In Media; And What
Prophecies He Delivered ... CHAPTER 7. Concerning Silas And On What Account It Was ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/the antiquities of the jews/

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... And I will bring again the captivity of My people ... Hosea was familiar with the prophecies
of Amos, and his ... that of the avenger destined to punish Israel for its ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... have so far been able to glean concerning him shows ... his triumph, and none of his
later prophecies have come ... task of rewriting the history of Israel, which, as ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm

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