This is not just an historical study of sixth century BC Judah in exile - it is an exciting journey taking the reader from Jerusalem to Babylon and from Babylon to Jerusalem. What happened to the people who sat weeping beside the rivers of Babylon? What transformed them into the great company of pilgrims who made their way back to Jerusalem to re-establish the life of the city, to rebuild the Temple and to reconstruct the great city walls?
This book uncovers the hidden story of those years spent in Babylon and shows how the people of Israel discovered a new identity as the covenant people of God which prepared them for returning to Jerusalem as a people with a mission - to be a light for the Gentiles. That mission was fulfilled with the coming of Jesus, Israel's Messiah, and the little band of disciples who responded to the Great Commission to carry the message to the ends of the Earth.
Background History
The importance of recent excavations in Iraq in the area surrounding ancient Babylon coincided with a visit we took to Israel leading a party from our ministry in the early 2010s. We were able to see and handle some of the clay tablets with the inscription Al Yahuda giving a very distinctive link to occupation of exiles from Jerusalem in the 6th century BC. Further study led to us putting in writing this study guide to help others interested in this period of history.