[26] Isa. lix. 1, 2.
[27] See Isa. xlviii. 18, 19.
[28] For an endeavour to secure future obedience to the covenant, see 2 Kings xi. 17. From this idea that all Israel’s calamities were due to the violation of a divine covenant, probably arose the Jewish explanation of the “origin of evil.” Calamities in general falling on mankind they would naturally ascribe to the same cause, namely, the disregard of the commands of God. Hence the story of the fall of man as we have it in the opening chapters of Genesis.
[29] Jer. xliv. 15–19.
[30] Isa. xxx., xxxi.
[31] 2 Kings xxiii. 29.
[32] For the influence of the captivity on Judaism, see Ewald, “Hist. of Israel,” v. 24, seq. (Eng. trans.), and Kuenen, “Religion of Israel,” ii. 139 (Eng. trans.).
[33] “History of Israel,” ii. 35 (Eng. trans.).
[34] Jer. xiv. 19–22.
[35] See Ezekiel xxxvii. 24, 25; and cf. Micah v. 2–9. Bethlehem, as David’s birthplace, was to be the birthplace of David the Messiah.