This is one of Wright’s most distinctive themes, emphasizing the assumption of most first-century Jews that Israel was still in a state of exile.32 Daniel 9 is an important text here, reflection upon its reference to the exile lasting 70 times 7 years being evident within several strands of first-century Judaism. While the Jewish people had returned from geographical exile in Babylon in 539 BC, their belief in a continuing state of exile was caused by the continued oppression of Israel by evil,