Topical Bible: The Jews: Taken Captive to Assyria and Babylon

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The captivities of the Jewish people to Assyria and Babylon represent pivotal events in biblical history, marking significant moments of judgment, prophecy fulfillment, and eventual restoration. These events are chronicled in the historical and prophetic books of the Old Testament, providing insight into God's dealings with His chosen people, Israel.

Assyrian Captivity

The Assyrian captivity primarily affected the northern kingdom of Israel, also known as Ephraim or Samaria. Following the division of the united monarchy after Solomon's reign, the northern kingdom fell into idolatry and rebellion against God. Despite numerous warnings from prophets such as Hosea and Amos, the people persisted in their disobedience.

In 2 Kings 17:6 , the Bible records the culmination of God's judgment: "In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and deported the Israelites to Assyria. He settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River, and in the towns of the Medes." This event occurred around 722 B.C. under the reign of the Assyrian king Shalmaneser V, and later completed by Sargon II. The deportation led to the dispersion of the ten tribes, often referred to as the "Lost Tribes of Israel."

The Assyrian captivity served as a divine chastisement for Israel's persistent idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness. The prophets had warned that such consequences would follow if the people did not return to the Lord. Yet, amidst judgment, God’s promises of eventual restoration and hope for a remnant remained, as seen in prophetic books like Isaiah and Micah.

Babylonian Captivity

The Babylonian captivity involved the southern kingdom of Judah and is one of the most significant events in Jewish history. Unlike the northern kingdom, Judah had a mixture of righteous and wicked kings, with periods of reform and revival. However, the nation's persistent sin, idolatry, and failure to heed prophetic warnings led to its downfall.

The Babylonian captivity unfolded in several stages, beginning with the initial deportation in 605 B.C. during the reign of Jehoiakim, as recorded in 2 Kings 24:1-2 : "During Jehoiakim’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded the land, and Jehoiakim became his vassal for three years. But then he turned and rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar." Subsequent deportations occurred in 597 B.C. and finally in 586 B.C., when Jerusalem was destroyed, and the temple was burned under King Nebuchadnezzar.

The prophet Jeremiah had foretold the seventy-year duration of the Babylonian exile (Jeremiah 25:11-12), emphasizing that this period was both a punishment and a time for the land to enjoy its Sabbaths. The captivity was a refining process, purging idolatry from the hearts of the Jewish people and preparing them for a renewed relationship with God.

During the exile, figures like Daniel and Ezekiel emerged, providing leadership and hope. Daniel's faithfulness in Babylon and Ezekiel's visions of restoration underscored God's sovereignty and His plans for Israel's future. The exile also led to the development of the synagogue system and a renewed focus on the Torah, shaping Jewish identity in profound ways.

The return from Babylonian captivity began under the decree of Cyrus the Great in 538 B.C., as prophesied by Isaiah (Isaiah 44:28). This return marked the beginning of the Second Temple period and the rebuilding of Jerusalem, as chronicled in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. The post-exilic prophets Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi continued to call the people to faithfulness and to anticipate the coming of the Messiah.

The captivities to Assyria and Babylon were not merely historical events but divine acts of discipline and grace, shaping the course of Israel's history and pointing to God's redemptive purposes for His people and the world.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Kings 17:32
So they feared the LORD, and made to themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Kings 18:11
And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel to Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Kings 24:16
And all the men of might, even seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths a thousand, all that were strong and apt for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Kings 25:11
Now the rest of the people that were left in the city, and the fugitives that fell away to the king of Babylon, with the remnant of the multitude, did Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carry away.
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Library

Babylon.
... He judged among the Jews, and confuted the two wicked ... carried; but at last it was
taken in the ... his son, Evil-Merodach, who released the captive Jehoiachin, and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson xi babylon.htm

The Antiquities of the Jews
... An Expedition Against The Egyptians Took Captive And Brought ... How Alexander When He
Had Taken The Government Made ... Slew Many Ten Thousands of Jews That Rebelled ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/the antiquities of the jews/

The Scattering of the People
... 'We have taken their treasure ... How little they dreamt that the Jews' most precious
possession was with them ... Illustration: 'LED AWAY CAPTIVE.'"ASSYRIAN PICTURE ...
/.../duff/the bible in its making/chapter v the scattering of.htm

Babylonia and Assyria
... and Nabonidos, who had concealed himself, was taken prisoner ... to their old homes,
and the captive populations in ... The Jews alone had no images to take; the sacred ...
/.../early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter vi babylonia and assyria.htm

Hebrew Captives; Or, Mordecai and Esther.
... died there after the city was taken by Cyrus ... name of a region adjacent to ancient
Assyria, inhabited by ... was kindly disposed toward the captive Jews, and Daniel ...
/.../headley/half hours in bible lands volume 2/hebrew captives or mordecai and.htm

The Greater Prophets.
... reign by Sennacherib, king of Assyria (chaps.36 ... extraordinary privileges conferred
upon the Jews by Alexander ... Daniel with his three companions was taken captive. ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxii the greater prophets.htm

Palestine under Pagan Kings.
... redoubled vigor; and at length Jerusalem was taken by storm at ... vacant, to be re-occupied
by the Jews after seventy ... on the high ground with the captive host in ...
/.../headley/half hours in bible lands volume 2/palestine under pagan kings.htm

Appeal to the Christian Women of the South
... Were the southern slaves taken captive in war ... When the ruler of the Jews "commanded
them not to speak at all ... if we do free our slaves, they will be taken up and ...
/.../an appeal to the christian women of the south/appeal to the christian women.htm

Nineveh.
... at Nineveh for their connection with the Jews; and then ... captains invaded Judea, and
took him captive, dragging him ... and treasures, rather than be taken by the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson ix nineveh.htm

An Awful Contrast
... from the garden of Gethsemane as their captive, should talk of ... of everything that
was good and venerable among the Jews. ... in like manner as he was taken up into ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 42 1896/an awful contrast.htm