The destruction of the temple in Jerusalem was followed by a seventy-year exile that left most of the Jewish population spread throughout Mesopotamia -- primarily modern-day Iraq and Iran. The period called the Captivity gave rise to four prophets: Daniel of Judah (aka Belteshazzar, Belteshatztzar, Daniyel, Daniyyel, דָנִיֵּאל) Ezekiel ben Buzi (aka Dhul-Kifl, Ezechiel, Ezechlel, Hizqeel, Yechezkel, Yechezqel, Yehezkel, Zulkifl, ذو-الكفل ,יְחֶזקֵאל) Mordecai ben Jair (aka Mordechai, Mordekhai, מָרְדֳכַי) Seraiah ben Neriah (aka Serayah, Soroyoh, שֶׁר־צִוָּ) Image: Detail from 'Daniel in the Lion's Den,' by Peter Paul Rubens c. 1615
Enduring Stories from the Lives of the Prophets