Preparation For The Great Return (538)
The Babylonian captivity had come to an end. The Chosen People organized their return home as they sang the praises of YAHWEH.
On the publication of Cyrus' edict intense excitement seized the Jewish communities of the Nippur region. The sons of the exiles who half a century previously had left Yerusalem in tears, and possibly even some of the survivors of the tragedy of 587, were at last able to return. Already they were talking of rebuilding the Tabernacle with the financial help, of course, of the Babylonian authorities. And devout Yahwists, remembering the fulfillment of the many prophecies in the course of past centuries, gave continual thanks to YAHWEH. Wonderful days were beginning for the People of YAHWEH.
Yet it must not be supposed that the enthusiasm was general. An appreciable proportion of the Judaeans had been led astray by the magnificent ceremonies which took place in the Babylonian tabernacles. More numerous still were those who continued to practice idolatrous rites: fetishism, worship of the Baals 'under the green trees', sacrifices of the new-born, sacred prostitution and so on.
All these must be regarded as lost for Yisrael permanently. They would not return to Yerusalem.
There was the further category of those who, in spite of their faith, were loath to leave this rich country where socially at least, they had been successful. After deportation they had eventually become wealthy landed proprietors and the owners of many slaves; with real distress they wondered whether they would return to the same position of importance and the same prosperity in Yahudah with its unprofitable soil. Shrewd men of business, they had contrived to make real fortunes as merchants whose commercial interests extended far beyond Mesopotamia. In addition there were the Yisraelites who occupied important posts at the Babylonian court, especially in the financial department.
Of course, they shared the feelings of those who were making ready for their departure; but they had not the courage to leave behind their comfort, their well-ordered lives, their wealth. They confined their activity to sending subsidies to their former companions in captivity who in Yahudah, in the ruins of the Tabernacle, were putting up the walls of the tabernacle and rebuilding the Tabernacle of YAHWEH. These capitalists felt unable to follow the caravan which was preparing to return to the city of David.
The whole expedition was organized with amazing rapidity. Lists were drawn up, the people were assembled according to their villages of origin in Yahudah, and leaders were chosen; the departure dates were settled so that parties would leave at fixed intervals.
The Babylonian captivity had come to an end. The Chosen People organized their return home as they sang the praises of YAHWEH.
The 'Remnant' Of Yisrael
In the long road home the 'remnant' of Yisrael, the tiny minority which, despite the dark tragedies that it had experienced, or rather because of them, had managed to preserve consciousness of its lofty mission.
There is no comparison here with the wretched band of Judaean prisoners who, fifty years previously, had been snatched from their burning city. The men who were now marching towards Yerusalem had emerged from the crucible of suffering purified, transformed, and ready now to work effectively, and with full knowledge of what they were doing, for the 'Rebirth of Yisrael'.
In the whole adventure of the People of YAHWEH, the Exile is the key to their history. No other social or spiritual group could have withstood such an experience. Not merely did Yisrael survive its terrible trial, but it emerged from it stronger, more unconquerable and more resolute than ever.
Yehezqel's prophecy was beginning to come true:
'I am going to take you from among the nations and gather you together from all the foreign countries, and bring you home to your own land. I shall pour clean water over you and you will be cleansed; I shall cleanse you of all your defilement and all your idols. I shall give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I shall remove the heart of stone from your bodies and give you a heart of flesh instead. I shall put my spirit in you, and make you keep MY Laws and sincerely respect MY observances. You will live in the land, which I gave your ancestors. You shall be my people and I will be your Sovereign Ruler' (Yeh. 36:24-28).
keywords: Preparation, Great Return, Chosen People, return home, praises of YAHWEH, Cyrus' edict, Nippur region, Yerusalem, rebuilding the Tabernacle, devout Yahwists, Judaeans, Babylonian, Yisrael, prosperity in Yahudah, Mesopotamia, Remnant, Rebirth, Yehezqel's prophecy
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