St Andrews Encyclopaedia of Theology (May 2023)
Exile: History, Interpretation, and Theology
Abstract
One of the most prolific fields of research in biblical studies in the twenty-first century – in both Old and New Testament studies – is the analysis of biblical texts in relation to the events of the Neo-Babylonian conquests of Judah. The first conquest led to a surrender in 597 BCE, which was followed by a second, destructive, conquest of Jerusalem and surrounding areas in 586 BCE. Both conquests were accompanied by substantial deportations of Judeans into the Mesopotamian heartland. In addition to continued debates on about the historical events themselves, and the challenge of reading different biblical texts in relation to these historical events, the ‘exile’ has also been the focus of ongoing discussions in biblical theology. This attention to ‘exile’ has taken two different forms: through an analysis of the theology of the texts themselves in their own times; and through modern theological reflections on ‘exile’ as a theme. The latter approach appears in twenty-first century proposals for a (mainly Christian) biblical theology, which takes these historical events seriously, and examines how they inform contemporary Christian faith and practice. Finally, discussion on ‘exile’ themes in theology now incorporates scholars in both Old and New Testament work.
