“In December 598 [B. C.] Nebuchadnezzar left Babylon once more to campaign in the west. He besieged Jerusalem, which had rebelled three years earlier, and on 16 March 597 it fell. King Jehoiachin and many of his subjects were deported to Babylon and Zedekiah was installed as king of Judah in his place. After some years Zedekiah too rebelled. The Babylonians began a siege of Jerusalem which lasted for more than a year. The walls were finally breached in the summer of 587 . . . and the city surrendered about a month later. Much of Jerusalem may have been destroyed at this time and more Jews were deported.” —Michael Roaf,
Cultural Atlas of Mesopotamia and the Ancient Near East

What can you conclude about the Jews from this passage?

a.
They admired Nebuchadnezzar.
b.
They did not try to defend their city.
c.
They were stronger than the Babylonians.
d.
They wanted to be independent.