planted the seeds that eventually germinated and grew into the sect of the Pharisees.7 In 597 B.C.E. Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Babylonians, overran Judea and captured Jerusalem. His plan was to reduce Israel to a slave state. To this end he destroyed the temple, confiscating the sacred vessels (Jer 28:1–6), and carried away the most talented Jews to Babylon, including Daniel and Ezekiel. Nebuchadnezzar had no need for the “poorest people
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