VIII. THE CAPTIVITY.
(586–516 B. C. E.)

Babylonian Kings.

Persian Kings.

586.Gedaliah appointed governor of the remnant of Judah
by Nebuchadnezzar.
586.Jeremiah at Mizpah with Gedaliah.
Gedaliah murdered by Ishmael, son of Nethaniah.
Obadiah prophesies against Edom, which possesses itself of southern Judæa.
Jeremiah and Baruch in Egypt with Johanan, son of Kareah.
582.Third deportation of Judæans to Babylonia by Nebuchadnezzar.
Ezekiel (620–570) prophesies.
561 (about).Jehoiachin honored by Evil-merodach.
Descendants of the Ten Tribes deported by the Assyrian kings mingle with the captives from Judah.
555 (about).The historical books of the Bible compiled in Babylonia; literature flourishes.
Nabonad of Babylonia persecutes the exiles.
The Babylonian Isaiah prophesies.
538.Cyrus takes Babylon, and permits the exiles in Babylonia to return to Palestine.
537.Zerubbabel and Joshua ben Jehozedek lead the first return.
Foundation of the second Temple laid.
520.Haggai and Zechariah (II) prophesy.
516.The Second Temple consecrated.

IX. THE AGE OF EZRA, NEHEMIAH, AND THE SCRIBES.
(516–332 B. C. E.)

Persian Kings.

The Samaritans accuse the Judæans of disloyalty to Persia.
The Judæans contract marriages with their heathen neighbors.
459.Ezra leads the second return with the permission of Artaxerxes I Longimanus.
457 (about).Ezra prevails upon the people to repudiate their heathen wives.
The Samaritans under Sanballat engage in hostilities against the Judæans.
444.Nehemiah leads the third return.
The Samaritans intrigue against Nehemiah.
Internal reforms by Nehemiah.
Ezra reads the Law to the people at Jerusalem.
The wall of Jerusalem rebuilt.
Beginnings of the Great Assembly (Keneseth ha-Gedolah).
432.Nehemiah returns to Persia.
Malachi the last of the Prophets.
430–424.Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem, and continues his reforms.
420 (about).The Samaritan Temple built on Mount Gerizim.
Synagogues established; the Law studied, and the present form of divine service introduced, probably by the Council of Seventy (Synhedrion) (Dibre Sopherim).
361–360.Artaxerxes II banishes Judæans to Hyrkania.
338 (about).Bagoas, general of Artaxerxes III, lays the Judæans under tribute.
The Books of Chronicles written.
332.Alexander the Great in Judæa.