The Seventy Years

Jeremiah prophesied that the exile in Babylon would last for seventy years.

 


 

INTRODUCTION

 

Why 70 years? Probably because that was the number of Sabbath rests that had not been observed for the land. Every seventh year the land was to lie fallow.

Indeed, that’s exactly how long it was:

The first deportation of Jewish people to Babylon was in 605 BC. Then the decree of Cyrus was 67 years later, in 538 BC.

By the time the people returned and built the altar in 536 BC, the 70 years were almost up.

 

BIBLE VERSES

 

2 Chronicles 36:21. to fulfill the LORD’s word by Jeremiah’s mouth, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths. As long as it lay desolate, it kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years.

Ezra 1:1. Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the LORD’s word by Jeremiah’s mouth might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,

Isaiah 29:1. Woe to Ariel! Ariel, the city where David encamped! Add year to year; let the feasts come around;

Jeremiah 23:15. It will come to pass in that day that Tyre will be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king. After the end of seventy years it will be to Tyre like in the song of the prostitute.

Jeremiah 25:11. This whole land will be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

Jeremiah 25:12. “It will happen, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation,” says the LORD, “for their iniquity. I will make the land of the Kasdim desolate forever.

Jeremiah 29:10. For the LORD says, “After seventy years are accomplished for Babylon, I will visit you and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.

Baruch 6:3. So when you come to Babylon, you shall remain there many years, and for a long season, even for seven generations: and after that I will bring you out peaceably from thence.

Daniel 9:2. in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years about which the LORD’s word came to Jeremiah the prophet, for the accomplishing of the desolations of Jerusalem, even seventy years.

 


EZRA

CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10

RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Seventy Years, Three Returns, Ezra proclaims a fast

Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.