In the months following the Temple's destruction, the sting of the Jews’ defiance was still fresh in the mind of the Babylonian monarch. Nevuchadnezzar set out to identify a loyal Jew who would oversee the affairs of the small, remaining Jewish community. The man that he selected as governor was Gedaliah son of Achikam.
Gedaliah’s appointment brought a glimmer of hope to those Jews who had been left behind. Others who had fled to neighboring areas during the war saw in his promotion an opportunity to resettle once again in their land.
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