For the number of the days that you lie on it, you shall bear their punishment. So long shall you bear the punishment of the house of Israel. Forty days I assign you, a day for each year. Of course, years is shorter than years — and as a result, less than 70 Sabbath years fall within years. So, what is going on here? Why were the Israelites kept in captivity for 70 years, if less than 70 Sabbath years were missed?
The answer to this question has to do with the Year of Jubilee. Basically, each Jubilee year is also the first year of a new Sabbath cycle. So, during the course of 49 years, there will be eight years in which the land must rest — the first year, which is a Jubilee year; and every seven years, which are Sabbath years.
The partial group of 38 years gives us 6 years of rest — on years 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, and That, in turn, explains why the Israelites were kept in captivity for 70 years — it is because they had failed to let the land rest for 70 years! As a result, Scripture does not contradict itself on this issue — instead, Scripture is consistent on the issue.
As listed above, Jeremiah and 2 Chronicles both mention that the Israelites were held captive in Babylon, for 70 years. Basically, at first glance, it appears that the length of the captivity was significantly shorter than 70 years.
This difficulty can be seen in the various dates that are provided for the beginning and end of the captivity. Basically, most of the dates that are specified for the captivity do not span 70 years.
The end date of the captivity is relatively well-agreed upon; even by secular historians. The more difficult date to determine is the start of the captivity. The year BC is the year in which King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon first conquered Jerusalem — and he took some Israelite captives to Babylon at that time. Some years after that, Judah rebelled against Babylon.
As a result, in BC, Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem again — and at that time, he destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem. Also, after that second victory, Nebuchadnezzar brought many more Israelites into captivity in Babylon. So, the reason why those two dates are used as the start of the captivity, is that those dates are times in which Israelites were taken into captivity in Babylon. The trouble with both of the above dates is that if either of them are used for the start of the captivity, then the total length of the captivity is much shorter than 70 years — because the end of the captivity is in If is the start of the captivity, then the captivity only lasts for 60 years — If is the start, then the captivity only lasts for 49 years.
How could the Babylonian captivity have lasted for less than 70 years — when the Israelites had missed 70 Sabbath years? Not only that, but Scripture explicitly states that the Israelites were in captivity for precisely 70 years — so if the captivity is less than 70 years, then Scripture appears to contain contradictions. The first item to note about this issue is that there was a third time in which Israelites were taken into captivity.
Both Scripture — and secular historical sources — tell us that Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem in the spring of BC — and that some Israelites were taken to Babylon in captivity at that time. In fact, the prophet Daniel — and his three friends — were taken captive at that time. With that in mind, consider the following passage:. In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.
And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. Based upon the above information, it is possible to place the start of the captivity at BC — since that is the very first time in which any Israelites were taken into captivity in Babylon. Of course, even if BC is used as the start of the captivity, there is still an apparent issue.
Basically, the length of time between BC and BC is only 68 years — not 70 years. There are two other points to be aware of, which explain this apparent discrepancy. First, the Jewish calendar is different than our modern, Gregorian calendar. In particular, the Jewish civil year starts in the fall — in September or October — rather than on January 1. For example, as stated above, the very first time that Israelites were taken into captivity was in the spring of BC, on the Gregorian calendar.
However, the Jewish year in question began on the previous fall — which is BC on the Gregorian calendar. So, that Jewish year extended into BC on the Gregorian calendar. Basically, the Gregorian dates of spring of BC until late fall of BC comprise 68 full Jewish years, and parts of two additional Jewish years.
That information leads to the second point to note. In essence, that principle means that when lengths of time are being determined, fractions of units of time are treated as if they were full units of time. This is especially true of units at the beginning and end of a given time period.
Here is a simple one: Scripture states that baby boys must be circumcised on the eighth day after their births. By this time Daniel has been carried away to Babylon. Fall Beginning of Jewish civil year used in reckoning length of captivity. End of captivity celebrated at Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem. October The Law of Sacrifice M. Russell Ballard. Truths of Moral Purity Terrance D. Speaking Up for Morality Patricia H.
The Broken Statue Sheron S. How Could I Stop the Fighting? Kay Lynne McDougal. One More Child? Peter K. I Have a Question John P. Using Ensign Art Lisa Gemperline. Amado, Richard D. Allred, and Hugo A. Jewish year 1 of captivity B. Cyrus decrees return of Jews to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. And the chronicler reminds the post-exilic community why they were there for 70 years: "To fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land enjoyed her Sabbaths. As long as she lay desolate she kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years" 2 Chronicles Working backwards in time from 2 Chronicles, we find the prophet Daniel in Persia in B.
It had been approximately 70 years since Daniel arrived in Babylon in B. Having a copy of Jeremiah's prophecy, he noted that Jeremiah prophesied a year captivity for Judah Jeremiah ; and he beseeched the Lord to accomplish their release and return Daniel But why did Jeremiah prophesy a year captivity?
Because of his knowledge of Leviticus , the Sabbath-rest ordinance for the land. Every seventh year the land was to lie fallow and rest.
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