regarded the Babylonian exile of Israel as continuing into their own day currently is receiving considerable interest and acceptance.9 According to this construal of early Judaism, Israel’s promised forgiveness of sins and restoration from exile were thought to be yet to come. Paul announced in his Gospel that the hour of fulfilment had arrived in Jesus’ cross and resurrection, or so it is argued. It must be said, however, that this reading of Paul is a mere variation on an older theme. To shift