The Babylonian Captivity, which began with Nebuchadnezzar II’s destruction of Jerusalem and its temple in 586 B.C., was a pivotal 70-year period during which the Jewish people were exiled to Babylon, marking a time of profound theological reflection and transformation that emphasized the importance of the Torah and led to significant developments in Jewish identity and religion, culminating in their return to Jerusalem under Cyrus the Great’s decree in 538 B.C.
Damascus, a city steeped in both historical and biblical significance, serves as a pivotal setting in the Scriptures, featuring prominently from the Old Testament’s accounts of Aramean conflicts to the New Testament’s transformative tale of Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus, encapsulating themes of judgment, mercy, and profound spiritual renewal.