Babylonian Captivity

Babylonian Captivity (traditional date 608 BC- 538 BC, and the historical dates 586 BC-538 BC) , also Babylonish Captivity, is a name given to the captivity of the Israelites in ancient city of Babylon. As per the tradition (Jeremiah 29:10) the Jews from Judea to Babylon were deported after the capture of Jerusalem by the king of Babylon, and their captivity continued for 70 years, till they were allowed to return to their own land by Cyrus, who had conquered Babylon. Those who returned were solely of the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Levi. Many scholars believe that deportation happened in phases, and the first deportation happened in 608 BC and the captivity ended in 538 BC.

There are yet others who choose the year of first deportation to be 586 BC when Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, after capture and destruction of Jerusalem had deported Jews from Jerusalem to Babylon. They discard the year 597 BC as the date of the first deportation, though in that year King Jehoiachin was deposed and apparently sent into exile with his family, his court, and thousands of workers. Cyrus the Great, the conqueror of Babylon, had allowed the Jews to go back to Jerusalem in 538 BC. According to this view, the years of captivity was 48 years.