 Nebuchadnezzar's destruction of the Temple signaled a radical change for the Jews: There were now more Jews in exile than in Judea, mostly in Babylon (though some lived in Egypt and other lands)  The Jews in Babylon actually lived fairly well (allowed to own land, farm, and practice Judaism)  The exile from Judea lasted almost 50 years until Cyrus of Persia conquered Babylonia.  Cyrus allowed the Jews to return to Judea to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem (awww, what a good guy!)

 Only a handful of Jews went back to Jerusalem, mostly priests, a few prophets and some people who said they were descendants of King David (yeah right…)  Those Jews that decided not to go back would send money to help build the Temple.  The Babylonian Jewish community flourished! It was a lovely place indeed!

 The returning Jews built the Second Temple in Jerusalem.  Since Jews were forgetting their faith for being in exile for so long, the Persian government sent Nehemiah (political figure) to help Judea’s political strength.  Then 20 years later, Ezra (Jewish religious figure) came to enforce the law of God.  They both helped rededicate the Temple in 428 BCE.  The next 100 years was relatively good for the Jewish people.