New Video: Actually-Good Rulers in History

wikipedia says - "Archaeological excavations and surveys have enabled the population of Judah before the Babylonian destruction to be calculated with a high degree of confidence to have been approximately 75,000. Taking the different biblical numbers of exiles at their highest, 20,000, this would mean that only about 25% of the population had been deported to Babylon, with the remaining 75% staying in Judah.[17]:306 Although Jerusalem was destroyed and depopulated, with large parts of the city remaining in ruins for 150 years, numerous other settlements in Judah continued to be inhabited, with no signs of disruption visible in archaeological studies.[17]:307" So there's your ballpark figure.

Good question, for which I don't fully have an answer. The quick version I got from my research was "more than just the aristocracy, but definitely not everyone" but I can't point to a source off the top of my head to confirm that, because I wasn't focused on the Babylonian captivity itself as I was writing the script, my focus was on Cyrus. However! If you go into our discord, someone in the historical chats will absolutely be able to help you get a more specific answer. -B

Overly Sarcastic Productions

so, question bourn of ignorance (at [4.18]ish) was the majority fo the jewish population deported? (how does one do that?) I had previously understood that it was the bulk of the nobility and clerical class that were deported, (in accounts that tried to explain the characterisation of post-exile Jerusalem as fallen and profane as 'not compliant with the previous power hierarchy'). Was it the case that most of the Jewish population was exiled, or that it was a ruling class that was exiled (and the recorded history treats the rulers as standing for the nation)?

Còiseam

Refreshing change of pace, and thank you for acknowledging the "West is best" brainwashing that has taken place.

It’s kind of funny how Cyrus’s prophecy story goes after his grandfather decided to let it be, did he kill his grandfather or just take the kingdom?

Jason Veevaert

And an excellent discussion was had of why it's a great shame that Christendom / Europe derived it's imperial model from the Romans instead of the Achaemenids.

Thanks for rewarding good behavior instead of complaining about bad behavior. We need more praise of good acts in these troubled times.

Stephen Gillie

One of Belgium most horrible kings Leopold II look him up