20-00
The Exile and Return
This title can also be translated as: “About how the Israelites went away as prisoners and how they returned” or “How did God send the Israelites away as prisoners and bring them back again?”
the Exile
The word exile means someone is removed from they country by force. The Exile is the term for this 70-year period when the Israelites were forced to live in Babylon.
Return
This refers to when the Jews returned to the land of Israel after being captives in Babylon for 70 years.
20-01
broke the covenant
This could mean disobeyed the commands God had given them in his covenant with them at Mount Sinai.
warn them to repent and worship him again
Another way to translate this would be: “tell them to stop sinning and to worship Yahweh instead of other gods, or terrible things would happen to them.”
but they refused to obey
The connecting word but contrasts the people refusing to obey God, with God send them prophets to warn them to repent and worship him. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast/01.md]])
20-02
both kingdoms
This refers to both the kingdoms of Israel and Judah.
Assyria was another nation that became very powerful
This introduces the Assyrians, from the nation of Assyria, as new characters in the story. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-participants/01.md]])
took away
This could mean stole. They stole these valuable things and carried them back to Assyria.
20-03
the people who could make valuable things
This refers to people who were good at woodworking, metalworking, and building.
remained
This could mean stayed or were left behind or were allowed to stay behind.
20-04
foreigners
This refers to people who were not Israelites.
20-05
for not believing and obeying him
Another way to translate this would be: “because they did not believe or obey him.”
But they still worshiped idols,
The connecting word But contrasts the people continuing to worship idols despite seeing Israel’s punishment when they refused to obey. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast/01.md]])
warn them
This could mean tell them to stop sinning or terrible things would happen to them.
but they refused to listen
The connecting word but contrasts the people refusing to listen, with God sending prophets to warn them. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast/01.md]])
they refused to listen
This could mean they refused to obey or they refused to stop their evil behavior.
20-06
100
This could also be written in words: “one hundred.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/translate-numbers/01.md]])
God sent Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Babylonians
This introduces the Babylonians and their king, Nebuchadnezzar, as new characters in the story. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-participants/01.md]])
agreed to be
The king of Judah was forced to either serve the Babylonian king or be destroyed.
to be Nebuchadnezzar’s servant
This could be translated as: “to govern Judah under Nebuchadnezzar’s command.”
20-07
So, the Babylonians came back and attacked
The connecting word So connects the result (the Babylonians came back and attacked), with the reason (the king of Judah rebelled). (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result/01.md]])
came back
This may also be translated as: “returned” or “came to Judah again.”
captured the city
This could mean took control of the city and the people there.
took away
They carried the treasures with them back to Babylon.
20-08
To punish
Nebuchadnezzar punished the king of Judah by telling his soldiers to do these things.
in front of him
This may be translated as: “where he could see,” or “so that he could see it,” or “before his eyes.”
made him blind
This may also be translated as: “destroyed his eyes.”
After that, they took the king away
The connecting words After that introduce a sequential clause. They killed the king’s sons and blinded him in Judah, and then took him to a prison in Babylon. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential/01.md]])
20-09
leaving only the poorest people behind
This could mean leaving only the poorest people in Judah or letting only the poorest people stay in Judah.
This period of time
To translate this, choose a phrase that can refer to a long time, since this exile period lasted 70 years.
the Exile
The word exile means someone is removed from they country by force. The Exile is the term for this 70-year period when the Israelites were forced to live in Babylon.
20-10
Even though God punished his people for their sin
The connecting words Even though contrast God sending the people into exile with him not forgetting his promises to them. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast/01.md]])
exile
See how you translated this term in 20:09.
did not forget
This could be translated as: “did not ignore” or “did not neglect.” Or the whole phrase could be translated as: “continued to honor his commitment to his people and his promises.”
watch over
This could mean take care of.
speak to them through his prophets
This could be translated as: “tell his prophets messages that he wanted them to tell his people.”
20-11
About 70 years later
This begins a new event when Cyrus allowed the Jews to return to Israel from exile in Babylon. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-newevent/01.md]])
70 years later
This refers to the 70 years that had passed since the Babylonian army took the people of Jerusalem into exile.
Cyrus
Cyrus was also called Cyrus the Great. The name Cyrus meant like the sun in the Persian language. However, since Cyrus was an important historical person, it might be best to transliterate his name rather than translating the meaning.
the Persian Empire
The Persian Empire grew to cover the area from central Asia to Egypt. It was located in the region of what is Iran today.
The Israelites were now called Jews
This could also be translated as: “People now called the Israelites by the name Jews.”
the land of Judah
That is, the area where the kingdom of Judah was located before the Exile. Jerusalem was the capital city of Judah.
20-12
Cyrus
See how you translated his name in 20:11.
Judah
See the note about Judah in 20:11.
go back to Judah
Since most of these Jews were the children and grandchildren of those who left Judah, they had never lived in Judah before. In some languages, it might be better to say “to go to Judah.”
He even gave them money to rebuild the Temple!
This sentence emphasizes the surprising fact that King Cyrus of the Persians would give the Jews money to rebuild their Temple. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-exclamations/01.md]])
70 years
This could also be written in words: “seventy years.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/translate-numbers/01.md]])
exile
See how you translated this term in 20:09.
returned
This could mean went back. Some languages may prefer to say, went since most of these people had never been to Jerusalem.
20-13
the people
That is, the Israelites, the descendants of Jacob, who were now called the Jews.
the wall
This wall was very thick (2.5 meters) and was built to protect the city from attackers.
once again
In some languages this might need to be translated as: “now” or “as their ancestors had done” or “just as before the Exile.”
worshiping at the Temple
They worshiped Yahweh, the One True God, at the Temple they rebuilt.
A Bible story from
These references may be slightly different in some Bible translations.