Who took Judah captive when the people of Judah were exiled
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The Kingdom of Judah was taken captive by the Babylonian Empire under King Nebuchadnezzar II. This event, known as the Babylonian Exile or Captivity, occurred in several stages between 597 and 586 BCE.
In 597 BCE, after King Jehoiakim of Judah rebelled against Babylonian rule, Nebuchadnezzar II laid siege to Jerusalem. The city fell, and Jehoiakim’s son, Jehoiachin, was taken captive along with many of Judah’s elite, including craftsmen and soldiers. Nebuchadnezzar installed Zedekiah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, as a puppet king. However, Zedekiah’s subsequent rebellion led to a second siege in 586 BCE, resulting in the destruction of Jerusalem and the First Temple, and the final deportation of the remaining Judeans to Babylon.
The Babylonian Exile had profound effects on the Jewish people. It marked the end of the independent Kingdom of Judah and initiated a period of significant cultural and religious transformation. During this time, many Judeans adapted to life in Babylon, and the foundations of Jewish religious identity were solidified, including the compilation of sacred texts and the development of synagogue worship. The exile also set the stage for the eventual return to Judah under Persian rule, following the conquest of Babylon by King Cyrus the Great in 539 BCE.
In summary, the Babylonian Empire, led by King Nebuchadnezzar II, was responsible for the captivity and exile of the people of Judah, profoundly impacting the history and development of the Jewish people.