Rabbi's Musings

The exile of those from Judea was very different than the earlier exile of the northern Israel tribes. The biggest difference was that many Jews stayed in Judea although it was now controlled by the Babylonians. The trauma was real but the takeover was not complete. The people were able to remain a community and thus unlike in the north they remained with a separate faith and identity.

The prophets changed their message from repent or be conquered to keep hope alive. Ezekiel, for instance, prophesied from Babylonian exile but spoke of God restoring the nation to their rightful home one day.

Realpolitik interceded after a few decades and the land became part of the Persian empire. Cyrus permitted the Jewish exiles in Babylonia to return home, rebuild their temple, and restore their cult of worship.
The hopeful sign was marred in part by the disorganization of those who remained in Judea, as well as their poverty, the other people now settled in the land, and the allure of staying put in the diaspora.

Nevertheless a new era began, and eventually a new sovereign period would arrive.