as the Gola, or “exiles”. The term at once draws attention to the fact that the people of God has now undergone a chastening and should therefore be more disposed to being faithful, and to the mercy of God in continuing to deal with a people that had formerly been determined in its rebellion. Without in any sense diminishing the greatness of the deliverance from Babylon or its demonstration of God’s commitment to Judah, there is nevertheless a strong feeling throughout our books that the full potential