Captivity, Return, Restoration Lesson 1 1

Captivity, Return, Restoration–Lesson 1 – 1

Old Testament History

Captivity, Return and Restoration

Introduction

Background:

Introduction:

The history of the rise and fall of the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Medes and the Persians form an important background for nearly five centuries of Biblical history.

The Assyrians:

Dominated by the ancient Babylonians (Chaldeans) for centuries, the Assyria finally emerged as an independent state in the 14th centuryBC. For the next two centuries the Assyrians would go through periods of expansion and decline. However, during the 12th century BC the Assyrians managed to expand westward,conquering the Hittites with Philistine help, and also conquered Babylon, expending their control throughout the area that had once been dominated by the Babylonians. Under Tiglath-pileser I (1114-1076 BC), considered the founder of the New Assyrian Empire, Assyrian expansion continued in all directions except southwest toward Aramaea and Israel. Therising Aramaean (Aram, or Syrian) states held Assyrian expansion in check for the next two hundred years. This not only allowed the nation of Israel to enjoy a period of security under the rule of Saul, David and Solomon, but also precipitated the expansion of Israel's influence into territories ranging from Egypt to the borders of the Assyrian Empire.

However, as early as 875 BC the Assyrians were able to make several incursions into Syria and Palestine. Shalmaneser III (859-825 BC), who had managed to annex portions of northern Palestine, marched a massive army south into the region to finish his conquest. According to his own records, he was met with significant resistance from an alliance of several kings, including Ahab, who personally brought over two thousand of his own chariots against the Assyrian king. But Assyrian strength would soon gain the upper hand, so that by the time Jehu became king of the Northern Kingdom (841-814 BC), Israel was forced to pay heavy tribute to Shalmaneser III.

The Assyrians began a new period of expansion under a series of strong kings – among them Tiglath-pileser III (Pul), Sargon II, Sennacherib, and Esarhaddon – uniting most of the Middle East, fromEgyptto thePersian Gulf, under Assyrian rule.

Tiglath-pileser III (Pul) assumed rule of the Assyrian Empire (744-727 BC) and made several unimpeded incursions through Syria to the very gates of Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. He imposed heavy taxation on Israel that eventually hastened the downfall of the kingdom. His incursions also resultedin many from Israel being taken into Assyrian captivity (c. 734 BC). Israel's last king, Hoshea, rebelled against the Assyrians, attempting to hold off the Assyrian armies for three years. But in 722 BC the walls of Samaria were finally breached by the Assyrians and the Northern Kingdom of Israel came to an end. In keeping with Assyrian policy, the captive Israelites were settled in various parts of the Assyrian Empire, and other peoples were moved into Israel to take their place and care for the fertile farmlands. The intermarriage of these immigrants with the Israelites left behind produced a people known to this day as the Samaritans.

The last great Assyrian ruler wasAshurbanipal, but his last years and the period following his death (627BC) are obscure. The Assyrians were finally conquered by a Medo-Babylonian coalition in 612–609BC. Although the Assyrians were famous for their cruelty and fighting skills, they were also monumental builders, as shown by archaeological sites at Nineveh,Ashur, and Nimrūd. However, Assyria's greatest importance in Biblical history is in the fact that God raised up the Assyrians as a rod in His hand to punish rebellious Israel (Isa 10:5).

The Babylonians:

The Chaldean (Old Babylonian) Empire emerged into history during the 20th century BC from the overthrow of ancient Sumerian dominance that gradually shifted power from the city of Ur up the Euphrates to the city of Babylon. The first dynasty of Babylonian kings appeared in 1990 BC. But it was under the famous ruler, Hammurabi (c. 1792-1750), that the empire reached its greatest expansion. This level was maintained until around 1600 BC, when an incursion by a violent and savage people known as the Kassites[1]weakened the Babylonians and opened the way for a gradual buildup of Assyrian strength and influence. This ushered in the Babylonian "Dark Ages" that, for all practical purposes, lasted until the rise of the Neo-Babylonian Empire in 626 BC.

The last of Assyria's rulers, beginning with Ashurbanipal and his two sons, struggled to maintain control of their territories against the Medes and Babylonians. These weak kings were briefly assisted by Necho II of Egypt (609-594 BC) who preferred to ally himself with the Assyrians rather than contend with the growing Medo-Babylonian threat. However, the armies of Necho II were delayed at Megiddo by the army of Josiah, king of Judah, just long enough for the Babylonians to defeat the Assyrians. While the Babylonians moved to secure their territory east of the Euphrates, the Egyptians were able to secure control of Canaan and Syria. However, once the eastern territories were secure, Nebuchadnezzar, the young commander of the Babylonian armies, turned his attention back to Canaan in 605 BC, and with little effort defeated the Egyptians forcing them out of all but the southern portions of Canaan. When the Babylonian king Nabopolassar died, Nebuchadnezzar returned to the capital claim the throne. After he was crowned king (605-562 BC), Nebuchadnezzar returned to Canaan and remained for the next three years to firmly secure Judah under Babylonian control. It was during this time that many prominent people from Judah were deported to Babylon, including Daniel and his friends (Dan 1:3). This would mark the beginning of the seventy-year captivity of Judah prophesied by Jeremiah (Jer 25:11).

In 601 BC Nebuchadnezzar faced Necho II again near the Egyptian border, but was forced to withdraw leaving Canaan unprotected for several years. Finally, in 597 BC the Babylonians returned to Judah to deport Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and his family to Babylon. This exile also included a number of other important persons from Judah, including the prophet Ezekiel (Ezek 1:2). The last king of Judah, Zedekiah, made the mistake of taking the advice of false prophets who assured him the Babylonian yoke would soon be broken. He rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar, prompting the siege of Jerusalem in 588 BC.The prophet Jeremiah warned of the impending destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, and was imprisoned for his traitorous prophecies. Although the Egyptians marched north to engage the Babylonians, they were unsuccessful in stopping the Babylonian conquest. Jeremiah was still in prison when the city fell to the Babylonians in 586 BC. A month later, the city and its buildings – including the temple built by Solomon – were burned and leveled to the ground. Objects from the temple of special value were saved and taken to Babylon. Only a poverty-stricken remnant of the people of Judah was left to care for the land. Jeremiah remained in the devastated city for a short while before going to Egypt, where tradition says he died years later.

The great Babylonian Empire was finally brought down during the reign of Belshazzar (539 BC). The wicked and irreligious Belshazzar held a great feast during which he desecrated the sacred vessels taken from Solomon's temple by drinking wine from them (Dan 5:2-3). This blasphemous act angered God so that He caused mysterious writing to appear on the wall of the banquet room. Daniel, known for his ability to interpret prophetic visions, was called to interpret the unknown characters. After denouncing the arrogant prince for following in the steps of his predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel predicted the overthrow of the mighty Babylonian Empire that very night. As prophesied, the armies of the Medes and Persiansslipped into Babylon without any resistance, occupied the city, and slew Belshazzar. Even though Daniel was the third highest ranking person in Babylon, Darius the Mede spared him because he saw in Daniel a man who would be helpful in solidifying his new empire.

The Medes:

The Medes first came into prominence in the ninth century BC. They are mentioned in inscriptions concerning Shalmaneser III (c. 836 BC). Although under the rule of Assyria until the seventh century BC, the Medes' rise in power was simultaneous with the decline of the Assyrian Empire. In 614 BC the Medes captured Ashur, the capitol city of Assyria. Two years later, after forming an alliance with the Babylonians,the Medes captured Nineveh resulting in the downfall of the Assyrian Empire. In the years that followed they became an important ally of Babylon and formed various alliances and intermarriages.

The Persians:

Toward the end of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, the Persians were becoming a powerful force and under Cyrus the Great (559-530 BC) who united the Medes and Persians in 549 BC to form the Medo-Persian Empire. The combined strength of the Persians and the Medes led to conquest of Babylon in 539 BC. The might and power of this alliance eventually led to the expansion of the empire from Thrace and Macedonia in the west, to Egypt and Libya in the south, north to modern Afghanistan and parts Pakistan, to the entire Middle East, and east into central Asia and as far as India. It was the largest empire in the world up to this point in history.

In 538 BC Cyrus issued his famous decree that all captive peoples may return to their native lands, thus reversing the policies of the Assyrians and the Babylonians. The contents of this decree are found on the Cylinder of Cyrus, a large clay monument unearthed in the ruins of Babylon in 1879, and also recorded in 2 Chronicles (36:22-23) and Ezra (1:1-4). Cyrus believed if people were allowed to return to their homelands and resume their cultural and religious practices, it would reduce the threat of internal unrest in the empire. This decree opened the way for the Jews to return to their homeland.

Cyrus died in battle in 530 BC and was succeeded by his son, Cambyses (530-522 BC), who managed to expand his father's kingdom by subduing Egypt in 525 BC. To secure his throne, Cambyses had killed his own brother. But when an imposter named Smerdis seized the throne in Cambyses' absence, claiming to be the slain brother, Cambyses committed suicide. Despite overwhelming odds, and having to contend with growing unrest within the empire, Darius I (522-486 BC) managed to slay Smerdis and proclaim himself king.

Darius I managed to consolidate the empire, which for several years seemed on the verge of collapse. He is not only famous for his military campaigns, but also for his building projects – including the new capital at Persepolis, a canal from the Nile to the Red Sea in Egypt, and extensive highways throughout the empire. Toward the end of his life he also tried to annex Greece, but suffered defeat in the Battle of Marathon (490 BC). His son Xerxes I (485-465 BC), also known as Ahasuerus in the book of Esther, attempted to continue the Greek campaigns of his father, but was defeated at the naval battle of Salamis. He was, however, successful in defeating the Spartans and actually reached the city of Athens. Xerxes eventually met a violent death at the hand of an assassin.

Artaxerxes I (464-424 BC), the son of Xerxes I (Ahasuerus), was largely unsuccessful in his campaigns against the Greeks, and had constant trouble maintaining Persian hold on Egypt. Under Artaxerxes I, the empire was beginning to lose its grip on the world. Darius II (424-404 BC) managed to reestablish Persian rule in Asia Minor and even managed to subjugate Athens for a short time. He was followed by Artaxerxes II (404-358 BC) who gradually lost his empire through rebellions all over the Persian world.

The end of the Persian Empire came when Alexander the Great defeated the Persians at the famous Battle of Arbela in 331 BC. Following the death of Alexander in 323 BC at the age of 32, the Grecian Empire was later divided up into four parts. Even though a Hellenistic influence held on for over a hundred years, there was no more empire until Rome appeared in the late third century, incorporating nearly all of the Near East under its control by 63 BC.

Outline:

I.The Assyrians

II.The Babylonians

III.The Medes

IV.The Persians (Medo-Persian Empire)

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The Exposition:

I.Assyrians

A.Prior to Tiglath-Pileser I:

1.From what ancient civilization did the Assyrians emerge?

2.How far were the Assyrians able to extend their control during the 12th century BC?

B.Tiglath-Pileser I:

1.How far were the Assyrians able to extend their control under Tiglath-Pileser I?

2.How did Israel benefit from the strength of the Aramaean states (Syrians)?

C.Shalmaneser III:

1.What was Shalmaneser III able to annex, and who was forced to pay tribute to this Assyrian ruler?

2.Who made up the next group of strong Assyrian kings?

D.Tiglath-Pileser III (Pul):

1.What was this Assyrian king able to do that others had not, and what did he impose?

E.Conquest of Israel:

1.When the Assyrians defeated Samaria in 722 BC what became of the Israelite captives, who replaced them, and why?

F.Fall of Assyrian Empire:

1.Who finally conquered the Assyrians?

2.How had God used the Assyrians?

II.The Babylonians:

A.The Old Babylonian/Chaldean Empire:

1.How did the Old Babylonian Empire begin?

2.Who was Hammurabi, and what did he do?

3.Who were the Kassites and what were they responsible for causing?

B.The Neo-Babylonian Empire:

1.With whom did the last rulers of Assyria ally themselves?

2.Why were these allies unable to help the Assyrians against the Babylonians?

3.What did the Egyptians do when the Babylonian armies moved to secure their territories east of the Euphrates?

4.Who returned to reclaim this area, and what position did he hold?

5.When Nabopolassar died, who became the next Babylonian king?

6.What happened to many of the prominent people of Judah during this time, and who were some of these people?

7.What happened when Nebuchadnezzar faced Necho II?

8.What did the Babylonians do when they returned?

9.Who thought he could break the yoke of the Babylonians?

10. Who wanted to help Judah?

11.What happened to Jerusalem in 586 BC, and who was present to witness these events?

C.The Fall of the Babylonian Empire:

12.Who was Belshazzar and what did he do to incur the wrath of God?

13.What happened to the city of Babylon and the Babylonian Empire that same night?

14.Who was Darius and whom did he spare? Why?

III.The Medes:

1.When did the Medes first become prominent as a nation?

2.The rise of the Medes coincided with what events, and what were they successful in doing?

3.With whom did the Medes ally themselves?

IV.The Persians (Medo-Persian Empire):

A.Cyrus the Great:

1.What was the first great accomplishment of Cyrus?

2.How was he able to defeat the Babylonians?

3.How far did the Medo-Persian Empire spread?

4.What famous decree did Cyrus issue, and why?

B.Cambyses:

1.Who was Cambyses and what did he do to secure his throne?

2.Who was Smerdis and what led to Cambyses committing suicide?

C.Darius I:

1.What was the state of the empire when Darius I became ruler?

2.What contributed to Darius' fame?

3.What goal was Darius unable to achieve before he died?

D.Xerxes I

1.By what other name was Xerxes I known?

2.Who were his first and second queens?

3.What were his accomplishments and his greatest failure?

E.The decline of the Medo-Persian Empire:

1.What was happening to the Persian Empire under the rule of Artaxerxes I?

2.What did Darius II manage to do?

3.What most troubled the rule of Artaxerxes II?

4.Who defeated the Medo-Persian Empire, and in what year did this occur?

Application:
In your own words, explain the lessons we can learn from these events, and how those lessons can be applied to present-day situations?