(RNS) Feeling increasingly alienated and even persecuted, some Christians are adopting a favorite image from Scripture -- that of the Babylonian captivity.

Coleman said the Babylonian Exile or Captivity clearly had a punitive aim. “God was punishing the people for their sin, rebellion and idolatry,” he said.

The phrase “sing aloud on the height of Zion” speaks to the power of worship. Even in seasons of hardship, worship becomes a declaration of trust. It lifts our souls and invites the presence of God to ...

The Babylonian exile served as a crucible, forcing the Israelites to rethink their relationship to Yahweh, reassess their standing as a chosen people, and rewrite their history.

Peter John Beyfus is an historian, published author, poet, and a person who prides himself on “thinking outside the box”. I have written many essays on Jewish themes, published in various ...

Putting a “unique Judaean twist” on already extant Babylonian tales such as that of the flood, Jews in captivity were energetic and resourceful, not merely sitting by the waters of Babylon and ...