Israelite and Judahite Exiles Named in Assyrian and Babylonian Texts

Following the Assyrian and Babylonian invasions and conquests of Israel and Judah, huge numbers of Israelites and Judahites were deported to the conquering empires. The deportees settled in their new homes in Assyria, Babylonia, and elsewhere and became part of the new societies in which they resided. Some of the exiles are mentioned in contracts, letters, and administrative records that have reached us from those societies. We can identify those who had names that contain Akkadian forms of YHWH (yahu, yau, or yama) or are recognizably Hebrew (see Documents Relating to Israelites and Judeans in Assyria and Babylonia). Some documents mention only their names, while others indicate their professions or reveal their social status. Although this information is sketchy, it shows us that the exiles were not slaves or an oppressed minority but autonomous members of society, some of whom engaged in business and were prosperous. Below are some examples.