Community Bible Study -- Isaiah

Photos for "The Nations of Isaiah," cf Isa 13-23

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Below Left: "Sanctuary of Lot," cave where it is believed Moab and Ammon were conceived through incest. Below Right: Edomites are descended from Esau, twin brother of Jacob (aka, Israel).

The Philistines probably came from Greece and settled on the Mediterranean coast in what is now known as the "Gaza Strip" around the same general timeframe the Hebrews settled Canaan (now known as Palestine or Israel). Below: Philistine Artifacts (British Museum).

The Assyrians came from Northern Iraq. In Isaiah's time, they conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel (722/1 BC), and all of Judah except Jerusalem (701 BC). Below: Assyrian Artifacts (British Museum).

The Babylonians conquered the Assyrians, then conquered Jerusalem (~606 BC), and carried the Jews as captives to Babylon (~606-585 BC). Below Left: Babylonian tablet recording conquest of Jerusalem (British Museum). Below Center: Ishtar Gate in Babylon (Pergamon Museum, Berlin), containing an inscription (Below Right) by Nebuchadnezzar, Babylonian king who conquered Jerusalem.

As prophesied by Isaiah, Babylon was conquered by Cyrus of Persia, who allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem. Left: "Cyrus Cylinder," a Persian artifact recording the Jewish return to Jerusalem (British Museum).