The Promise Perspective Podcast

Influence & Aftermath of the Babylonian Captivity | Episode 7

Stephanie Green Season 4 Episode 7

Today’s episode is entirely dedicated to the impact and influence that Babylon had on the captivity of the Yahudim (Jews). 
The way that the Babylonian captivity affected their worship of Yahuah was monumental to how their faith would be shaped once they returned from their captivity to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. 
Because the Yahudim no longer had a Temple, even though they were free to practice their own religion, everything about the way they worshipped Yahuah had been changed. There was a zeal to return to Him and His torah, however there was no way to properly worship anymore. Their Temple was destroyed prior to the last wave of deportees arriving in Babylon. 
Here are the things that Episode 7 is going to cover:

  • The reasoning behind why there was a zeal to return to Yahuah and His commandments
  • The biblical definition of the word “torah”
  • The difference between the Talmud and the Torah
  •  The early beginnings of what would give rise to Judaism and the development of Pharisees & Sadducees
  • Changes that happened as a result of the Babylonian captivity:
    • Reinstitution of Sabbath observance
    • Establishment of synagogues
    • Modernizing of the Hebrew alphabet
    • Removal of Yahuah’s name from manuscripts and prohibition from speaking His name
    • An emphasis on circumcision
    • Transition from prophets to scribes 
    • Transition from priests to rabbis

These changes did not happen overnight. By studying history, we can get an idea of what led them to institute all of these things and how they had a desperation to return to Yah’s Word and repent, yet they had no way to do it the way Scripture prescribed. However, in an attempt to preserve the true faith, it would end up leading and paving the way for more corruption. 

Supplemental Documents:
Episode 7 Transcript
What is God's Name? E-Book
John Punnett Peters, The Religion of the Hebrews, Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1914.
The Influence of the Babylonian Captivity on the Religion of the Jews (Article)
Metzitzah B'peh link
Ancient Hebrew Research Center: What is Torah?

Contact me: stephanie@promise-perspective.com

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