4. =They were instructed by prophets and teachers.= Jer-e-mi'ah lived for some time after the beginning of the captivity, made a visit to Bab'y-lon, and wrote at least one letter to the exiles (Jer. 13. 4-7; 29. 1-3). Dan'iel lived during the captivity, and, though in the court, maintained a deep interest in his people, and comforted them by his prophecies. E-ze'ki-el was himself one of the captives, and all his teachings were addressed to them (Ezek. 1. 1-3). Many evangelical and eminent Bible scholars are of the opinion that the latter part of I-sa'iah, from the fortieth chapter to the end, was given by a "later I-sa'iah" during the exile; but whether written at that time or earlier, it must have circulated among the captives and given them new hope and inspiration. The radical change in the character of the Jews which took place during this period shows that a great revival swept over the captive people and brought them back to the earnest religion of their noblest ancestors. 5. =Their literature was preserved and enlarged.= Internal evidence shows that the books of the Kings were finished and the books of the Chronicles written at this time or soon afterward; the teachings of Dan'iel, E-ze'ki-el, Ha-bak'kuk, and other of the minor prophets were given; and a number of the best psalms were composed during this epoch, as such poems are likely to be written in periods of trial and sorrow. Out of many psalms we cite Psa. 124, 126, 129, 130, 137, as manifestly written during the captivity. The exile was an age of life and vigor to He'brew literature. V. =The Results of the Captivity.= In the year B. C. 536 the city of Bab'y-lon was taken by Cy'rus, king of the combined Medes and Per'sians. One of his first acts was to issue an edict permitting the exiled Jews to return to their own country and rebuild their city. Not all the Jews availed themselves of this privilege, for many were already rooted in their new homes, where they had been for two generations. But a large number returned (Ezra 2. 64), and reestablished the city and state of the Jews. The captivity, however, left its impress upon the people down to the end of their national history, and even to the present time. 1. =There was a change in language=, from He'brew to Ar-a-ma'ic, or Chal-da'ic. The books of the Old Testament written after the restoration are in a different dialect from the earlier writings. After the captivity the Jews needed an interpreter in order to understand their own earlier Scriptures. Allusion to this fact is given in Neh. 8. 7. The Chal'dee of Bab'y-lon and the He'brew were sufficiently alike to cause the people during two generations to glide imperceptibly from one to the other, until the knowledge of their ancient tongue was lost to all except the scholars.