The Period of the Captivity.  Jeremiah predicts that the captivity will last seventy years (Jer. 25:12; 29:10; see 2 Chron. 36:21; Dan. 9:2:  Zech. 7:6).  There are two ways of adjusting the dates to fulfill this prediction, (1) From the first invasion and the carrying into captivity of Daniel and others, 607 B. C. to 537 B. C., when the first company returned under Zerubbabel. (2) From the final fall of Jerusalem. 587 B. C. to the completion of the renewed temple and its dedication, 517 B. C. Either satisfies the scripture.  In history it is customary to speak of this exile as covering only the fifty years from 587 B. C. when Jerusalem was destroyed and the last company carried away to 537 B. C. when the first company returned under Zerubbabel.

The Fugitives in Egypt.  When Jerusalem fell the king of Babylon allowed many of the poorer people to remain in Palestine and Jedediah, a grandson of Josiah, was appointed to rule over them. 2 K. 25:22.  His career was a very useful one, but through jealousy he was soon murdered, 2 K. 25:25.  This led the people to fear lest Nebuchadnezzar would avenge his death, whereupon they fled into Egypt 2 K. 25:26.  Jeremiah attempted to keep them from going to Egypt (Jer. 42:9-22.) but, when he failed, he went along with them and shared their destiny, Jer. 43:6-7.  They settled at Tahpanhee (Jer. 44:1), a frontier town where many foreigners lived under the protection of Egypt.  They seem to have built a temple there and did much to retain their racial ideals.  Jeremiah seems to have continued his faithful prophecies and the people seem to have continued as faithfully to reject his counsel.  We do not know how he ended his career but Jewish tradition says he was put to death by his own people.

The Exiles in Babylon.  The state of the exiles in Babylon may not be fully known but from the contemporary writers very much may be known. (1) Their home.  They were settled in a rich and fertile plain, intersected by many canals.  It was on the river, or canal, Chebar (Ez. 1:1.3; 3:15, etc.) which ran southeast from Babylon to Nippur.  It was a land of traffic and merchants and fruitful fields (Ez. 17:4-5).  They were rather colonists than slaves and enjoyed great freedom and prosperity. (2) Their occupation.  By reason of their intellectual and moral superiority the Jews, as they are called from this time forward, would secure rapid advancement.  Some of them such as Daniel obtained high position.  Others became skilled workmen.  Following the advice of Jeremiah (Jer. 29:5), many of them no doubt gave themselves to agriculture and gardening.  Probably most of them yielded to the opportunities of the “land of traffic and merchants” mentioned above and engaged in commercial instead of agricultural pursuits. (3) Their government.  For a long time they were allowed to control their own affairs as their own laws provided.  The elders of the families acted as judges and directed affairs in general.