In 608 BCE, Nebuchadnezzar assumed power as part of the mighty Babylonian empire (only mighty for 70 years, I might add). This happened in the fourth year of Yehoyakim, king of Yehudah. Yirmiyahu reminded the Jews that the ensuing exile and punishment is because of their actions and them not listening to Hashem. Then, in 597 BCE, Galut Yehoyachin occurred, and the officers were exiled into Babylonia. Eleven years later (586 BCE), the Beit Hamikdash was destroyed and the remainder of the people were exiled. This is the time when Megillat Eicha is written. Forty-eight years of exile (538 BCE), and the Jews were given permission to return under the authority of Cyrus, king of Persia. The Jews were also given the opportunity to rebuild the Beit Hamikdash. This marks the end of the empire of Babylonia and the conclusion of Yirmiyahu's prophecy of 70 years. But, guess what? That's not the end. Surprise!
520 BCE marked the second year of Daryavesh's rule. Hashem came to Zecharia, who along with Chagai, encouraged the rebuilding of the Beit Hamikdash. Chagai even told the Jews that the Beit Hamikdash had the potential to be even better than the first-it would be a place of "shalom," peace. Zechariah indicated that G-d wanted to return to the people and "dwell in Yerushalayim" (the Beit Hamikdash). Hashem would return the Jews from exile to Israel, where they would be His nation and He would be their G-d. Furthermore, an "Ish Yehudi" (perhaps Mordechai) would gather the dispersed to come back to Yerushalayim. However, many Jews responded to the opportunity to rebuild the Beit Hamikdash by remaining in Bavel. In Yerushalayim, those who had returned were part of a growing internal conflict, and the building of the Beit Hamikdash halted. However, in the sixth year of Daryavesh, the Beit Hamikdash was completed. But that's not all! In the seventh year of Artachshasta (Daryavesh) sent Ezra to the land of Israel. Upon his arrival, he witnessed rampant intermarriage and assimilation.
That's a lot of history, folks. 480ish is when the Purim story starts, but from this information, a question arises. If already in 538 BCE the Jews were allowed to return, what are they doing in Shushan, not Yerushalayim??? The people should have jumped for joy at the opportunity to rebuild the Beit Hamikdash they were longing to see its glory again! But, as we saw throughout the years, they didn't. Why?! Dun, dun, dun.
On another note, looking at Megillat Esther from this perspective was incredibly interesting, and the way the sources wove together to create a chain of events was super-cool to see play out. As for my questions in the previous paragraph, have any ideas?
520 BCE marked the second year of Daryavesh's rule. Hashem came to Zecharia, who along with Chagai, encouraged the rebuilding of the Beit Hamikdash. Chagai even told the Jews that the Beit Hamikdash had the potential to be even better than the first-it would be a place of "shalom," peace. Zechariah indicated that G-d wanted to return to the people and "dwell in Yerushalayim" (the Beit Hamikdash). Hashem would return the Jews from exile to Israel, where they would be His nation and He would be their G-d. Furthermore, an "Ish Yehudi" (perhaps Mordechai) would gather the dispersed to come back to Yerushalayim. However, many Jews responded to the opportunity to rebuild the Beit Hamikdash by remaining in Bavel. In Yerushalayim, those who had returned were part of a growing internal conflict, and the building of the Beit Hamikdash halted. However, in the sixth year of Daryavesh, the Beit Hamikdash was completed. But that's not all! In the seventh year of Artachshasta (Daryavesh) sent Ezra to the land of Israel. Upon his arrival, he witnessed rampant intermarriage and assimilation.
That's a lot of history, folks. 480ish is when the Purim story starts, but from this information, a question arises. If already in 538 BCE the Jews were allowed to return, what are they doing in Shushan, not Yerushalayim??? The people should have jumped for joy at the opportunity to rebuild the Beit Hamikdash they were longing to see its glory again! But, as we saw throughout the years, they didn't. Why?! Dun, dun, dun.
On another note, looking at Megillat Esther from this perspective was incredibly interesting, and the way the sources wove together to create a chain of events was super-cool to see play out. As for my questions in the previous paragraph, have any ideas?
I think that the Jews just got a bit too comfortable. It's definitely applicable to today's age, especially with Israel. We got Israel back, so shouldn't we be jumping for joy and all rushing back there? But, we've gotten too comfortable in secular society. For now, it's not such a terrible thing, since we are still in exile, but when Mashiach comes, unfortunately, I think that the Jewish people will display exactly what the Jews in the Purim story did- a few will return to Israel and G-d, but many will stay immersed in secular society.
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