The Babylonian armies attacked and captured Jerusalem twice: 597 and 587 B.C. But nationalism flourished nevertheless, and they attempted independence again 10 years later. This time the Babylonians reduced the city of Jerusalem to ruins and carted off yet more of the population, leaving a devastated Judah behind. It would be some 70 years before Cyrus the Persian would defeat the Babylonians and allow captive populations to return to their homelands. Needless to say, this was a very traumatic experience in their history and it would produce some of the most profound spirituality in the Old Testament. Trauma is an effective tool for forcing us to reflect on who we are and where we are going with our lives. It is not surprising that in this material there is much that can benefit us too.