The Return of the Exiles refers to the period in biblical history when the Jewish people, who had been exiled to Babylon, were allowed to return to their homeland, Judah, and rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple. This significant event is primarily chronicled in the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and portions of the prophetic books such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Haggai.

Historical Context

The Babylonian Exile began in 586 BC when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon destroyed Jerusalem and the First Temple, taking many Jews captive. This period of exile lasted approximately 70 years, fulfilling the prophecy given by Jeremiah: "This whole land will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years" (Jeremiah 25:11).

Cyrus the Great and the Decree

The return was initiated by the decree of Cyrus the Great, the Persian king who conquered Babylon in 539 BC. In the first year of his reign, Cyrus issued a proclamation allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. This decree is recorded in Ezra 1:2-3: "This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and has appointed me to build a house for Him at Jerusalem in Judah. Whoever among you belongs to His people, may his God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the LORD, the God of Israel. He is the God who is in Jerusalem.’" .

The First Return under Zerubbabel

The first group of exiles returned under the leadership of Zerubbabel, a descendant of David, and Jeshua the high priest. This group laid the foundation of the Second Temple, as described in Ezra 3:10-11: "When the builders had laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD, according to the ordinance of David king of Israel" .

Challenges and Opposition

The rebuilding efforts faced significant opposition from surrounding peoples, leading to a temporary halt in construction. The prophets Haggai and Zechariah encouraged the people to resume the work, emphasizing the importance of the Temple in their spiritual and communal life. Haggai 1:8 exhorts, "Go up into the hills, bring down lumber, and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified, says the LORD" .

The Second Return under Ezra

Ezra, a scribe and priest, led a second group of exiles back to Jerusalem around 458 BC. His mission was to restore the spiritual and religious life of the community by teaching the Law of Moses. Ezra 7:10 states, "For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, to practice it, and to teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel" .

The Third Return under Nehemiah

Nehemiah, a cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes, led the third return around 445 BC. He was instrumental in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, providing security and a sense of identity for the Jewish people. Nehemiah 2:17 records his rallying call: "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'" .

Spiritual Renewal and Covenant Renewal

The return of the exiles was not only a physical restoration but also a spiritual renewal. The reading of the Law and the subsequent covenant renewal under Ezra and Nehemiah were pivotal moments in re-establishing the Jewish identity and commitment to God's commandments. Nehemiah 8:8 describes this event: "They read from the Book of the Law of God, clearly and with interpretation, so that the people could understand the reading" .

Prophetic Fulfillment and Messianic Hope

The return from exile is seen as a fulfillment of God's promises through the prophets and a foreshadowing of the ultimate redemption through the Messiah. Isaiah 44:28 prophesied Cyrus's role: "who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, and he will fulfill all My pleasure,’ saying of Jerusalem, ‘She will be rebuilt,’ and of the temple, ‘Your foundation will be laid’" . The return set the stage for the coming of Christ, who would bring spiritual liberation and establish a new covenant with God's people.