Exile: 1. Of the kingdom of Israel. In the time of Pekah, Tiglath-pileser
II. carried away captive into Assyria
(2 Kings 15:29) comp.(Isaiah 10:5,6) a part of the inhabitants of Galilee and of
Gilead (B.C. 741) After the destruction of Samaria (B.C. 720) by
Shalmaneser and Sargon (q.v.), there was a general deportation of
the Israelites into Mesopotamia and Media
(2 Kings 17:6; 18:9; 1 Chronicles 5:26)
(See ISRAEL, KINGDOM OF)
2. Of the kingdom of the two tribes, the kingdom of Judah.
Nebuchadnezzar, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim
(Jeremiah 25:1)
invaded Judah, and carried away some royal youths, including
Daniel and his companions (B.C. 606) together with the sacred
vessels of the temple
(2 Chronicles 36:7; Daniel 1:2) In B.C. 598
(Jeremiah 52:28)
(2 Kings 24:12) in the beginning of Jehoiachin's reign
(2 Kings 24:8)
Nebuchadnezzar carried away captive 3,023 eminent Jews,
including the king
(2 Chronicles 36:10) with his family and officers
(2 Kings 24:12) and a large number of warriors
(2 Kings 24:16) with very
many persons of note
(2 Kings 24:14) and artisans
(2 Kings 24:16) leaving
behind only those who were poor and helpless. This was the first
general deportation to Babylon. In B.C. 588 after the revolt of
Zedekiah (q.v.), there was a second general deportation of Jews
by Nebuchadnezzar
(Jeremiah 52:29; 2 Kings 25:8) including 832 more of
the principal men of the kingdom. He carried away also the rest
of the sacred vessels
(2 Chronicles 36:18) From this period, when the
temple was destroyed
(2 Kings 25:9) to the complete restoration,
B.C. 517
(Ezra 6:15) is the period of the "seventy years." In
B.C. 582 occurred the last and final deportation. The entire
number Nebuchadnezzar carried captive was 4,600 heads of
families with their wives and children and dependants
(Jeremiah 52:30; 43:5-7; 2 Chronicles 36:20) Thus the exiles formed a very
considerable community in Babylon. When Cyrus granted permission
to the Jews to return to their own land
(Ezra 1:5; 7:13) only a
comparatively small number at first availed themselves of the
privilege. It cannot be questioned that many belonging to the
kingdom of Israel ultimately joined the Jews under Ezra,
Zerubbabel, and Nehemiah, and returned along with them to
Jerusalem
(Jeremiah 50:4,5,17-20,33-35) Large numbers had,
however, settled in the land of Babylon, and formed numerous
colonies in different parts of the kingdom. Their descendants
very probably have spread far into Eastern lands and become
absorbed in the general population.
(See JUDAH, KINGDOM OF)
(See CAPTIVITY)
