ABSTRACT
The collapse of the Assyrian world-empire, long foretold by the prophets of Israel, became a reality in the year 606 BC This marks the beginning of the Babylonian period. During this period Judah as a whole underwent a process quite similar to that of Israel in regard to the Assyrian world-empire. Babylonian myths and images of gods were known in the Amarna period, and here and there in the Book of the Covenant of Israel's early premonarchic time we hear echoes of the Code of Hammurabi. In its struggles in the period of the Judges Israel was entirely occupied with itself. For centuries prophetic men had declared war against Baal and the worship on the high places which was closely connected with the baal-religion. In the year 586 BC Jerusalem fell into the hands of Nebuchadrezzar. This brought an end to Judah as a State. The upper classes were taken into Babylonian captivity.
