Exile is forced removal from one’s home country. The nation of Israel suffered exile at the hands of its enemies between the 8th and 6th centuries BC. The exile was not a one off event but was inflicted in stages over a period of around 150 years. The northern kingdom of Israel was invaded and ravaged by the armies of Assyria and many of its people were carried off to other lands (e.g. 1 Chronicles 5:26, 2 Kings 15:29). Later, the southern kingdom of Judah was attacked and conquered by the nation of Babylon. Again, many of those who were not killed in the invasion were carried off into captivity in the Babylonian empire. The Bible is clear that these enforced exiles were God’s judgement upon His people because of their rejection of Him and worship of foreign gods (e.g. 2 Kings 17:5-23). The events of the exile are recorded in the last part of 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles, Esther, Ezekiel, Daniel and many of the other prophetic books. After a long period in exile, a remnant of the Jewish people returned to Israel and began rebuilding the country. These events are recorded in Ezra and Nehemiah and some of the prophetic books.
