Just came across a story on a collection of clay tablets from the Babylonian exile period. The tablets confirm details found in the OT about the exile such as the area the Jews lived in as mentioned in Ezekiel 1:1 although the majority of it is documentary, ie. receipts, legal agreements, etc. The provenance of the collection is a little murky though which is to be expected. Otherwise, how to explain tablets from Iraq winding up in Israel? 
** you do not have permission to see this link **
I think its fascinating because even in 597 BC those from Jerusalem (Judahites, proto-Judeans?) felt the need to stay separate from Babylon proper. Whether it was purity cult or actually a vibrant and enthusiastic monotheism (scholars be dam###), they seemed intent on remaining Jerusalemites!
BDEhrman
FreedomBen
evgendob
Robert
1 Guest(s)