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Daniel was taken captive to Babylon as the Chaldean Empire took hold of the world stage, but to fully grasp his story it helps to step back and look at the events leading up to the Jewish exile.
In terms of history, the Babylonian or Chaldean Empire was the first of a series of empires that would intimately affect the Jewish people. The Babylonians burned down the temple and destroyed the city of Jerusalem. The Persians would help rebuild it. The Greek (or Macedonian) Empire would desecrate the temple and the Romans would destroy it a second time.
Most Bible scholars agree that Daniel was taken captive in 605BC, after Nebuchadnezzar's first siege of Jerusalem (there were three different events culminating in the destruction of the city and temple 19 years later). The Jews were in Babylon for 70 years, eventually released by king Cyrus of Persia.
A divided kingdom crumbles
After the civil war at the end of king David's life, the nation of Israel would never return to its former unified glory. Though the nation enjoyed great strength under Solomon, trouble brewed under the surface and eventually divided the kingdom into two parts.
The northern kingdom of Samaria, usually called "Israel," was led by a series of increasingly evil kings, eventually falling to the Assyrians.
The southern kingdom of Judah also experienced its share of evil leaders, though not as many.
Mannasseh's lengthy and evil reign of terror was followed by Josiah's goodness. Mannasseh had plunged the nation into its lowest point of spiritual decay, turning the people away from God and silencing all voices of righteousness. It is said that he had the prophet Isaiah sawed in half. His son Josiah, though just a young boy, worked hard to turn the nation back towards God.
"Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. He did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight and followed the example of his ancestor David. He did not turn aside from doing what was right."
-- 2Chronicles 34:1-2
Josiah's treasurer found the Book of the Law in the neglected temple. Josiah was shocked when he read the Law and saw how far the nation had fallen from God's commandments. It is clear he had no knowledge of the Law until this point.
"When the king heard what was written in the law, he tore his clothes in despair."
-- 2Chronicles 34:19
Josiah recognized the seriousness of the penalties God was about to bring upon the nation. He asked if it could be averted. God said no, but He would delay it until Josiah's death.
"I will not send the promised disaster against this city and its people until after you have died and been buried in peace. You will not see the disaster I am going to bring on this place."
-- 2Chronicles 34:28
But even Josiah failed when he went against pharaoh Neco at Carcemish on the Euphrates river while he was battling general Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Neco sent him a message declaring that God gave him this mission, but Josiah refused to believe this and continued fighting anyway, disguising himself in battle on the plain of Megiddo. See 2Chronicles 35:21-22 for details.
God punished him for his disobedience. Josiah was fatally wounded in the battle. He died in Jerusalem.
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