WBS.238
FUNDAMENTALS OF DISCIPLESHIP
OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY – 18
THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY
Daniel 5:25 And this is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL,
UPHARSIN.
Let’s
take a quick look at what was going on around the world during the time of the
Kingdom of Israel and the divided kingdoms of Judah and Israel.
Circa
1250 BC - The Olmec civilization emerges as the prominent people of
Central America. Called the "Mother of Middle American Civilization,
the Olmec's culture greatly influenced the Mayans, Aztecs and, later, the
Incans. Also, Naomi and Ruth return to Israel. Deborah is judge
over Israel.
1000
BC - The Celts conquer and occupy much of central and western Europe.
776 BC - The first recorded Olympic games were held.
753 BC - The city of Rome is founded.
745 BC - The prophet Isaiah (Yeshayahu) began his ministry in Judah.
776 BC - The first recorded Olympic games were held.
753 BC - The city of Rome is founded.
745 BC - The prophet Isaiah (Yeshayahu) began his ministry in Judah.
740 BC - The Greeks begin construction of the Acropolis.
722 BC - The Kingdom of Israel falls to Assyria
660 BC - The city of Byzantium is founded in Greece.
640-559 BC - Solon, Athenian statesman, lawgiver & poet, introduced the first principles of democracy.
630-550 BC - Zoroaster, a Persian prophet, establishes the religion of Zoroastrianism.
604 BC - Lao-tse, Chinese philosopher and founder of Taoism, was born.
722 BC - The Kingdom of Israel falls to Assyria
660 BC - The city of Byzantium is founded in Greece.
640-559 BC - Solon, Athenian statesman, lawgiver & poet, introduced the first principles of democracy.
630-550 BC - Zoroaster, a Persian prophet, establishes the religion of Zoroastrianism.
604 BC - Lao-tse, Chinese philosopher and founder of Taoism, was born.
Although
there were prophets ministering to the Hebrews throughout the entire time of
the united kingdom of Israel, and the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah, covering
more than 400 years, IAUE provided for a concentration of prophets in the final
days of the kingdom age.
Israel
was defeated and destroyed by Assyria in 722 BC. During the 200+ years of
its existence, Elijah (Eliyah), Elisha and Obadiah
(Obadyah) were contemporary prophets (875-830 BC). Then came Jonah (Yonah), Amos,
and Hosea and Micah (their ministries overlapping).
Judah,
in nearly 300 years, had seen only the ministries of the literary prophets Joel (Yo'el) (840-830 BC) and Isaiah (Yeshayahu)(784-697 BC). In the
last 50 years, however, came Zephaniah
(Tsephanyah), Nahum, Habakkuk, Jeremiah
(Yirmeyahu), Ezekiel and Daniel.
When
reading the history books of the Old Testament Scriptures (the Tanak), it is
helpful to understand where the books of the prophets fit into the
timeline. Inserting them in their appropriate places in the history will
help to reveal the focus of IAUE and expose the internal problems of the
nations that required divine attention.
Historical
Note: Gen 10:8-11 reveals that Nimrod was a mighty hunter who founded
both the city of Babel (the seat of the Babylonian empire) and the city of
Ninevah (the seat of the Assyrian empire.) Nimrod was the son of Cush, who
was the son of Ham, who was the son of Noah. He was the nephew of Canaan,
the cursed grandson of Ham (Gen 9:25). Nimrod was singularly responsible for
creating the very weapons the enemy used to destroy both the northern and
southern kingdoms of the Hebrew people…the people of IAUE.
We
observed in our last lesson that 70 years had been prescribed for the
Babylonian captivity of the Hebrew people. Let's take a look at the succession
of the kings of Babylon during this period.
606
BC - Nebuchadnezzar becomes co-regent with his father, King Nabopolassar,
and reigns for 45 years.
561 BC - Awil-Marduk, son of Nebuchadnezzar rules for less than three years.
559 BC - Neriglissar kills his brother-in-law, Awil-Marduk, and assumes the throne of Babylon.
556 BC - Labashi-Marduk, son of Neriglissar, reigns for nine months.
555 BC - Nabonidus kills Labashi-Marduk and reigns for 19 years.
536 BC - Belshazzar becomes co-regent with his father, Nabonidus.
561 BC - Awil-Marduk, son of Nebuchadnezzar rules for less than three years.
559 BC - Neriglissar kills his brother-in-law, Awil-Marduk, and assumes the throne of Babylon.
556 BC - Labashi-Marduk, son of Neriglissar, reigns for nine months.
555 BC - Nabonidus kills Labashi-Marduk and reigns for 19 years.
536 BC - Belshazzar becomes co-regent with his father, Nabonidus.
During
this period, Ezekiel was preaching and prophesying to the Hebrews in Babylon,
strengthening their remembrance of their heritage in IAUE. Daniel, on the
other hand, having interpreted a troubling dream for king Nebuchadnezzar, was promoted
into a position of authority in Babylon.
Though
they did not lose their identity as slaves of Babylon, the Jews were allowed to
integrate into the society; and many did quite well for themselves and prospered. During this time, the concept of synagogues
was created, and they proliferated throughout Babylon; providing the Hebrews a
place to honor the Torah and to teach their children the ways of IAUE and to
school them in the history of their people.
When
Belshazzar became co-regent in 536 BC, he decided to throw a party for 1,000 of
his nobles, their wives and concubines. He called for the gold and silver
vessels that had been taken by Nebuchadnezzar from the temple in Yerushalayim;
and his party used them to drink wine. Then suddenly a hand appeared and
wrote on the wall before the king.
Dan 5:25 And this is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE,
TEKEL, UPHARSIN.
The
king called for all of his wise men to come and interpret the meaning of the
writing; but none could. Finally, the king's wife remembered Daniel's
reputation as an interpreter of dreams; so he called for Daniel; and Daniel
interpreted the dream.
Dan 5:26 This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; Elohim
hath numbered thy kingdom, and brought it to an end;
27 TEKEL; thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.
28 PERES; thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
29 Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with purple, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.
30 In that night Belshazzar the Chaldean King was slain.
27 TEKEL; thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.
28 PERES; thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
29 Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with purple, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.
30 In that night Belshazzar the Chaldean King was slain.
Now,
let's back up several years and see the hand of IAUE at work controlling the
affairs of nations.
Astyages,
the last king of the Medes, designed to murder his infant grandson; but the
child was spared by the very men commissioned by Astyages to kill him.
They raised the child in obscurity in Persia under the name, Agradates.
When Agradates grew into manhood, his genius and courage placed him at the head
of the Persian armies. By this time, Astyages had alienated a significant
portion of his kingdom. Employing those disenfranchised Medes in a
revolt, Agradates, by his given name, Cyrus, conquered his grandfather and
consolidated the kingdoms of the Medes and the Persians in 559 BC. Cyrus
then went forth conquering nations with whirlwind victories as the first king
of the Medo-Persian empire.
In
536 BC, Cyrus turned his armies toward Babylon. The peoples of Babylon,
however, had endured enough of the rulership of Nabonidus and Belshazzar, and
welcomed relief even if it came in the form of a conquering army. The
army dammed up the Euphrates River leading into the city and marched in on the
dried riverbed under the walls, filling the city with their population. When
the armies of Cyrus approached Babylon, the people simply opened the gates to
them.
Over
200 years earlier, Isaiah (Yeshayahu) prophesied the following:
Isaiah 44: 27 (I am IAUE...) That saith to the deep,
Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers: (The Euphrates river was
dried up.)
28 That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid. (It was Cyrus who gave the command to rebuild Jerusalem and to rebuild the temple. See Ezra 1.)
45:1 Thus saith IAUE to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; (The people of Babylon opened the gates of the city to Cyrus' armies.)
2 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: (The gates of Babylon were made of brass.)
3 And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, IAUE, which call thee by thy name, am the Elohim of Israel. (Cyrus grew up in obscurity under the name, Agradates. His name was a highly guarded secret for most of his life, but IAUE called Him by his real name.)
10 Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth? (Astyages intended to take the life of Cyrus, his grandson.)
13 I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith IAUE of hosts. (Cyrus gave the order to liberate the Hebrews.)
28 That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid. (It was Cyrus who gave the command to rebuild Jerusalem and to rebuild the temple. See Ezra 1.)
45:1 Thus saith IAUE to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; (The people of Babylon opened the gates of the city to Cyrus' armies.)
2 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: (The gates of Babylon were made of brass.)
3 And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, IAUE, which call thee by thy name, am the Elohim of Israel. (Cyrus grew up in obscurity under the name, Agradates. His name was a highly guarded secret for most of his life, but IAUE called Him by his real name.)
10 Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth? (Astyages intended to take the life of Cyrus, his grandson.)
13 I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith IAUE of hosts. (Cyrus gave the order to liberate the Hebrews.)
70
years earlier, Jeremiah (Yirmeyahu) had prophesied the following:
Jeremiah 51:11 Make bright the arrows; gather the shields: IAUE
hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes: for his device is
against Babylon, to destroy it; because it is the vengeance of IAUE, the
vengeance of his temple. (IAUE
deliberately raised up Cyrus to defeat Babylon to avenge their defilement of
the temple...both its destruction in 586 BC, and the vain use of its vessels by
Belshazzer in 536 BC.)
12 Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes: for IAUE hath both devised and done that which he spake against the inhabitants of Babylon.
13 O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, and the measure of thy covetousness.
14 IAUE of hosts hath sworn by himself, saying, Surely I will fill thee with men, as with caterpillers; and they shall lift up a shout against thee. (The armies of Cyrus marched into the city on the dammed river bed, filling the city with their men.)
12 Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes: for IAUE hath both devised and done that which he spake against the inhabitants of Babylon.
13 O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, and the measure of thy covetousness.
14 IAUE of hosts hath sworn by himself, saying, Surely I will fill thee with men, as with caterpillers; and they shall lift up a shout against thee. (The armies of Cyrus marched into the city on the dammed river bed, filling the city with their men.)
After
Belshazzar was killed and Babylon fell into the hands of the Medo-Persian
empire, Daniel recalled the words of Jeremiah (Yirmeyahu), that their captivity
would last 70 years. As a result, Daniel set himself to fast and to pray
with prayers of corporate repentance for he knew the heart of the Hebrews was
still not right before IAUE (See Daniel 9). Daniel won the confidence and
the support of King Darius (the ruler placed by King Cyrus over all of the
Chaldeans*) and gained the decree from Cyrus to liberate the Jews, to rebuild
the walls of Jerusalem and to rebuild the temple of IAUE.
*
Darius was also known as Cyaxeres II, and was the uncle of Cyrus. Darius
was granted to rule Babylon until his death one year later. At that time,
Cyrus assumed active rulership of the entire Medo-Persian empire.
While
the Hebrews were in bondage to Babylon, Pythagoras derived his famous
Pythagorean Theorem in Greece, Siddhartha Goutama was developing the philosophy
that became known as Buddhism, and Confucius was accumulating his
"sayings."
575-500
BC - Pythagoras, Greek philosopher and mathemetician.
560-477 BC - Siddhartha Goutama, founder of Buddhism.
551-479 BC - Confucius, Chinese philosopher/sage.
560-477 BC - Siddhartha Goutama, founder of Buddhism.
551-479 BC - Confucius, Chinese philosopher/sage.
Kingdom heart: a heart that offers
no resistance to the performance of the will of IAUE.
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