From The Voice of Israel

THE RESTORATION FROM BABYLON.

            There are few events in Jewish history, the correct knowledge of which is more important to the student of prophecy than that of the restoration from Babylon. Vague and unscriptural notions on this subject have misled most Christian commentators; who, by referring almost all those predictions which relate to the national prosperity of Israel to the return from Babylon, have, in place of elucidating, obscured and perplexed the writings of the Hebrew prophets. We shall therefore endeavour to place this event in its scriptural bearing and magnitude.

            After Jehoiachin and many of the Jewish people had been carried away unto Babylon, and Zedekiah reigned in his stead, the prophet Jeremiah had a vision, wherein was revealed unto him the Lord’s purpose with respect to those who were then captives in Babylon, and also regarding that part of the people who still dwelt in Jerusalem and in the land of Judah. This vision is recorded Jeremiah chapter 24^th, where we read that the prophet had shown unto him “two baskets of figs;” one basket contained “very good figs,” and the other basket “very naughty figs,” which could not be eaten, they were so bad (verses 1-2).

            What was represented under these images the Lord informs the prophet, in the words which follow:

“Thus saith the Lord the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good. * For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land,” &c. (verses 5-6).

            * We learn from this vision, that they were the best of the people who were at this time carried to Babylon, and that this visitation, although terrible in its outward aspect, was mingled with much mercy.

            Again, in Jeremiah 29: 10, we have the Lord’s gracious message to the captives then in Babylon, in which the time when he would visit and deliver them, and bring them unto their own land, is expressly mentioned.

“Thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon, I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you in causing you to return to this place.”

Let us next attend to the words which are spoken concerning those who are not gone forth into captivity, but still dwell in the land of their fathers.

“Know that thus saith the Lord of the king that sitteth upon the throne of David, and of all the people that dwell in this city, and of your brethren that are not gone forth into captivity, thus saith the Lord of Hosts: Behold, I will send upon them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil. And I will persecute them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth,” &c. (verses 16-18).

            Hence, it is very evident that the promise of a return from captivity at the expiration of seventy years, was expressly limited to those who were carried captive to Babylon in the reign of Jehoiakim and that of his sone Jehoiachin (2 Kings 24: 1-16). To the rest of the people not one word of favour is spoken; they are given to expect nothing but dispersion, with heavy judgments and dire calamities attending them in all places whither they were driven. It is of the utmost importance to bear this in mind, as it will prevent much confusion, both in thought and expression, with respect to the Lord’s dealings with the Jewish people, and also enable us to form correct views regarding many prophecies which still remain to be accomplished. From inattention to this, many confound the return of the Jews from Babylon with the prophecies which relate to their general restoration in the latter day.

            We are expressly told that the seventy years spoken of by Jeremiah, terminated with the first year of Cyrus (2 Chronicles 36: 20-23,) when he issued his decree for the rebuilding of the Temple, and the return of the Jews to their own land. That Cyrus’ decree was general, and had respect to all Jews within his dominions, there can be no doubt; the purpose, however, which the Lord designed to accomplish by this means, was special, namely, the good word which he had spoken (Jeremiah 29: 10-11).

            That there were among the captives who returned from Babylon, a small number of the ten tribes is clear from several parts of Scripture. This is easy to be accounted for, if we consider the following things. When Jeroboam set up the calves in Bethel and Dan, the priests and the Levites (i.e., those who dwelt among the ten tribes) left their suburbs and their possessions, and came and dwelt in Judah and Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 11: 13-14). And there followed them out of all the ten tribes such as set their hearts to seek the Lord, who came to Jerusalem to sacrifice unto the Lord God of their fathers (verse 16). In the reign of Asa, likewise, very many of the ten tribes joined themselves to Judah (2 Chronicles 15: 9;) and at the Passover observed by Hezekiah divers of the tribes of Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulon, came to Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 30: 11). There remained some of the ten tribes at Jerusalem and other cities of Judah, and also in their own land, after the final deportation of the nation by the king of Assyria; for Shalmaneser swept not away all of the whole ten tribes, but left a remnant of them in their own country. These, or a part of them at least, united themselves to the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and became sharers with them in their fortunes. And thus it happened, that, among those who returned from Babylon, there were a small number of the ten tribes. But surely none, who give any degree of attention to the subject will say that this was the accomplishment of the numerous prophecies which speak of the restoration of Judah and Israel to their own land in the latter day, of which the following is a specimen:

“Behold I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child, and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither” (Jeremiah 31: 8).

“When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations; then shall they know that I am the Lord their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen; but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have LEFT NONE OF THEM ANY MORE THERE” (Ezekiel 39: 27-28).

“Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land (or, “come up from the earth,” i.e., from all parts of the earth:) for great shall be the day of Jezreel” (Hosea 1: 11).