Background of the exile and how they lived in Babylon:
(EBC) 20 In describing “the remnant, who escaped from the sword,” Ezra omitted, as less relevant to the restored, postexilic community discussion about the regathering of refugees under Gedaliah and the flight of their remnant to Egypt (2 Kings 25:22–26; Jer 40–44), about the small fourth deportation of 582 B.C. (Jer 52:30), and about “the poorest people of the land” that were left scattered in Palestine (2 Kings 25:12). He speaks rather of those “carried into exile” in the third and great deportation, of 586 (cf. the comments on vv.7, and on 10). Correspondingly archaeology has demonstrated the thorough depopulation of Judah at this time.
Thus the exiles came “to Babylon” where “they became servants”; and yet, after an initial period of discouragement (Ps 137) and oppressive service (cf. Isa 14:2–3), at least some Jews gained favor and status (2 Kings 25:27–30; Dan 1:19; 2:49; 6:3). Those who were among the more worldly grew indifferent and drifted away from their faith (Ezek 33:31–32), but the more godly increased in their spiritual maturity (cf. Neh 1:4; Esth 4:14–16; Dan 1:8).
Ob and In:
1. What God has done
17a He brought against them the king of the Babylonians
v.17c God handed everyone over to him
v.21This took place to fulfill the LORD’s message spoken through Jeremiah and lasted until the land experienced its sabbatical years. All the time of its desolation the land rested in order to fulfill the seventy years.
(EBC) The statement that for “seventy years … in fulfillment of the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah” (cf. on v.7) “the land enjoyed its sabbath rests” seems to correlate the full span of the Exile with an equivalent number of sabbatical years (Lev 25:1–7; 26:34). This produces a total figure of 70 times 7 or 490 years; and the idea is that of making up for half a millennium of neglected sabbatical rests...
2. The feelings in the passage
Their valuable was destroyed in front of God: young men v.17, the items and the treasuries of the LORD's temple, treasuries of the leaders v.18, the temple, Jerusalem's wall (the city chosen by God) were destroyed. Even their own fortified buildings and all valuable items were destroyed. People themselves became slaves v.20.
No mercy is given: Even the young and the old was not spare v.17b.
Reflection: (1) It was not because of the limited power of God that Israel was destroyed. Instead it was the plan of Israel's own God Who gave them over. They would have enjoyed God on the land that He had given them, but they gave that up. When judgment came, no valuable was spared. No mercy was given. What God said would come true. The land would be rested as God has told them.
What privilege have I lost because of my disobedience? Do I learn to fear God and to obey His command?
(2) God is the One who controls how long was their exile. It has a limit and a purpose. To make people to know that His Word and His will stands even in the mist of judgment.
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