In 586 B.C.E. the neo-Babylonian armies of Nebuchadnezzar raided and destroyed the city of Jerusalem, forcing its people to flee. The majority of the Judean leaders and aristocracy were relocated in Babylon, and lived in relative isolation from even their captors. The Exile robbed them of their wealth, their homes, their nation, and even their king; religion offered the only seed of identity for this uprooted people. So it was during this time of …showed first 75 words of 953 total…

…showed last 75 words of 953 total…give them hope and it is evident that this at least was a universal truth for the ancient Israelites. Works Cited Metzger, Bruce M. and Roland E. Murphy. The New Oxford Annotated Bible. New York: Oxford University Press, 1989. Meyers, Carol E. and Eric M. Meyers. Haggai, Zechariah 1-8. Vol. 25B. The Anchor Bible Series. New York: Doubleday, 1993. Meyers, Carol E. and Eric M. Meyers. Zechariah 9-14. Vol. 25C. The Anchor Bible Series. New York: Doubleday, 1987.