The seventy years of captivity which Jeremiah had foretold (Jer. 25:11) are reckoned from the first captivity of Judah in 606 B. C. The ten tribes had been carried into captivity by the Assyrians in 721 B. C, but they had been scattered in different provinces and their identity to a great extent was lost. Some of them no doubt joined the Jewish colony in Babylon and others retained their nationality and were known as Jews of the Dispersion.

I. CAUSES OF BONDAGE.

1. Idolatry of the Chosen People. — This sin was very prominent in both kingdoms. The prophets had warned them against idols and God had often punished them for their sin, yet they did not resist the temptation, but sank lower and lower into sin until God removed them from Jerusalem and taught them that the idols they depended upon could not save them.

2. The Independent Spirit of Judah. — This old spirit of independence still lived, and Judah frequently attempted to throw off the yoke of Babylon and assume an independent government. Had they heeded the advice of Jeremiah and the prophets and submitted to Babylon they might have saved themselves from the Captivity. The last kings of Judah rebelled against Babylon, and the king of Babylon finally became impatient with such frequent rebellions and destroyed Jerusalem and took the people as captives to Babylon.

3. Rivalry Between Egypt and Babylon. — After the fall of the Assyrian Empire there was for a long time a struggle between Babylon and Egypt for the supremacy. Judah lay between these two great nations and was the highway for the armies to pass from the East to the West or from the West to the East. The success of the contest between these two great nations seemed to turn on the little kingdom of Judah. Babylon put Judah under tribute, but Judah was always looking toward Egypt for help and made frequent attempts to throw off this yoke of Babylon. This made the situation of the Babylonian Empire unsafe; so, to deprive Egypt of her ally and keep the highway into her territory open, the king of Babylon carried them into captivity.

II. THEIR CONDITION IN BONDAGE.

1. Their Government.— The Jews in Babylon were treated not as slaves, but as colonists. The letter of Jeremiah, written to the captives in Babylon, is evidence of the favor shown them (Jer. 29:1-7). Daniel and Nehemiah were favored in Babylonian and Persian courts. They were permitted to retain their own organization and their dethroned kings were given considerable authority (Jer. 52:31-34). The elders retained the same relation to the government as in Palestine (Ezek. 8:1; 14:1).

2. Their Worship. — They enjoyed religious freedom, and, although the temple had been destroyed and no sacrifices could be offered, a passionate devotion for Jehovah's cause took possession of their hearts. They studied the Bible and were led into a more spiritual worship. They had the advantage of teachers of the Law and Prophets of God who exhorted them to faithfulness to Jehovah and encouraged them to look forward to a glorious restoration to their own land.

3. Their Literature.— A new order of literary men arose during this period, to whom the study of the Scriptures was the absorbing passion of life. These were the Scribes; at first the clerks and copyists of the community, but later they devoted themselves wholly to the copying and interpreting of Sacred Literature. During the captivity the books of Daniel, Ezekiel, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther and some of the Psalms were written. The exile, with its hardships and separation from the home land, gave new spirit and strength to Hebrew literature.

III. THE RESULTS OF BONDAGE.

1. Eradication of Idolatry. — The long discipline of savant) years in exile delivered the people from the tendency toward idolatry. Whatever other sins they were guilty of they never again worshiped idols.

2. A More Spiritual Worship.— Being so long deprived of the ritualism of the Temple, they had learned that Jehovah was God of the Universe and dwelt not alone in the Temple. They had gained a broader idea of God and understood better the spiritual meaning of the Temple service.

3. The Rise of the Synagogue.— While the Temple stood the Jews looked to it as the only place of worship and instruction; but after the Temple was destroyed and the Jews were scattered, synagogues were established wherever there was a Jewish community, and they all had the advantage of religious instruction.

4. The Origin of the Scribes.— Ezra is recognized as the founder' of the order of the scribes, who not only copied but interpreted and taught the Scriptures. The loss of the Temple, throne and regal splendor turned the hearts of the people to a more diligent inquiry after the words of Jehovah, and Ezra opened the way for Bible study.

5. The Unity of the Nation.— There were no more tribal dissensions, but the nation that returned to Canaan was one in heart, in purpose, in plan. This unity is still manifest among the Jews.

6. The Spread of the Knowledge of Jehovah.— The Exile scattered the Jews over the earth, and thus the knowledge of the true God was disseminated. They carried their Scriptures with them and were missionaries wherever they went. The wise men who came to visit Jesus had undoubtedly learned the Scriptures through the missionary effort of the Jews.

7 The Development of the Messianic Hope.— Long before this the coming of the Messiah had been announced, but not until the Exile did this hope fill the hearts of the Jewish people. They looked for the coming of a deliverer, the Anointed One, who should lead them from bondage and rule over all nations. Each century this hope grew brighter, until at the coming of Christ Anna and Simeon and many others who had studied the Scriptures were ready to receive him as the Messiah of Israel and the Savior of the world.

QUESTIONS.

• What is the opening and closing date of this chapter?

• At what time were the ten tribes carried awav?

• Under what empire are they at this time?

• State the causes that led to the bondage.

• Concerning what sin had the prophets warned them?

• Why were they told to submit to Babylon?

• What were the two great powers at this time?

• Why had Judah trusted in Egypt?

• Of what value was Judah to either of these nations?

• How were the Jews treated in the Captivity?

• What religious privileges did they enjoy?

• What advantages for Bible study did the Captivity offer?

• What books were written in the Captivity?

• What were the chief results of the bondage?

• What advantages did the synagogue offer over the temple?

• What special work did Ezra do in this period?

• What effect had the scattering of the Jews on the heathen world?

• In what way did this period affect the Messianic Hope?

REVIEW.

I. Causes of Bondage.

1. Idolatry of the Chosen People.

2. The Independent Spirit of Judah.

3. Rivalry Between Egypt and Babylon.

II. Their Condition in Bondage.

1. Their Government.

2. Their Worship.

3. Their Literature.

III. The' Results of Bondage.

1. Eradication of Idolatry.

2. A More Spiritual Worship.

3. The Rise of the Synagogue.

4. The Origin of the Scribes.

5. The Unity of the Nation.

6. The Spread of the Knowledge of Jehovah.

7. The Development of the Messianic Hope.