The Restoration of Israel after Exile

Why was Israel not fully restored after the 70 years of exile were completed?

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Answer

Why was Israel not fully restored after the 70 years of exile were completed? Why wasn't Israel fully restored after the 70 years of exile were completed? The reason was simply because the people were still living in sin. This is clear in the book of Daniel. At the beginning of chapter 9, Daniel says, "I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years." Yet, instead of rejoicing that these years were ending, Daniel was distraught, and he prayed, saying, "O Lord forgive us!" He confessed his sins and the sins of his people, because he knew that the people hadn't repented and that the condition for restoration was that the people must repent. Indeed, the people didn't repent, and Daniel prayed that the Lord might restore them according to his mercy and for the sake of his name. Unfortunately, Israel neither fully repented nor was fully restored after the seventy years because they were still living in sin.

Answer by Mr. Sherif Atef Fahim

Mr. Sherif Atef Fahim teaches at Alexandria School of Theology in Egypt.