ABSTRACT
In 586 bce Gedaliah, a palace official, was appointed governor of Judah and his capital was established at Mizpah. His appointment, however, aroused fierce opposition and Gedaliah was killed by Ishmael, a member of former royal family. Fearing Babylonian vengeance, those who supported this rebellion fled to Egypt taking prophet Jeremiah with them against his will. In exile these rebels were convinced that the Babylonian invasion was the fault of prophets like Jeremiah who had discouraged the people from worshipping foreign gods. Those exiles who settled in Babylon appear to have established a relatively prosperous community, keeping the faith alive in the synagogues. During the decades that followed, Babylonia was ruled by a succession of weak and inept rulers. The Bible records that this was a difficult period for the Jewish community. As the Babylonian empire began to disintegrate, the kingdom of Persia grew in strength. In 539 bce Cyrus of Persia conquered Babylon and set about rebuilding the city.
