A period of absence from one's homeland, often imposed as a form of punishment. The OT regards Israel's exile in Babylon as a form of divine punishment for past sin and as an opportunity for renewal and rededication.
Exile commanded by God for his purposes
Genesis 12:1 See also Genesis 11:4, Genesis 11:8–9; Psalm 44:11; Zechariah 2:6; Matthew 2:13–15
Then the LORD said to Abram, “Leave your country, your kindred, and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you.
Exile imposed as a form of punishment
On individuals
Genesis 3:23 See also Genesis 17:14; Leviticus 7:20, Leviticus 18:29, Leviticus 19:8, Leviticus 20:17; Deuteronomy 28:36; 1 Samuel 12:25; 2 Kings 24:15–16; 2 Chronicles 36:4, 2 Chronicles 36:10; Zechariah 5:3
Therefore the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken.
On Israel
Leviticus 26:33 See also Deuteronomy 4:25–27, Deuteronomy 28:36, Deuteronomy 28:64; 1 Kings 8:46; 2 Kings 18:9–12, 2 Kings 25:11; 1 Chronicles 5:26; 2 Chronicles 36:20; Isaiah 5:13; Jeremiah 25:8–11, Jeremiah 27:10; Amos 5:27
But I will scatter you among the nations and will draw out a sword after you as your land becomes desolate and your cities are laid waste.
On other nations
Exile through military defeat
2 Kings 18:9–11 See also 2 Kings 15:29, 2 Kings 24:16; 1 Chronicles 8:6; Job 30:8; Jeremiah 50:17; Joel 3:1–2; Micah 1:16
In the fourth year of Hezekiah’s reign, which was the seventh year of the reign of Hoshea son of Elah over Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria marched against Samaria and besieged it. And at the end of three years, the Assyrians captured it. So Samaria was captured in the sixth year of Hezekiah, which was the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel. The king of Assyria exiled the Israelites to Assyria and settled them in Halah, in Gozan by the Habor River, and in the cities of the Medes.
Exile through personal choice
To escape danger
Exodus 2:15 See also Genesis 16:6–8, Genesis 35:6–7; 1 Samuel 19:18, 1 Samuel 21:10; 2 Samuel 13:38–39; Revelation 1:9
When Pharaoh heard about this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian, where he sat down beside a well.
To escape natural disaster
Genesis 46:5–6 See also Genesis 26:1–3; Ruth 1:1
Then Jacob departed from Beersheba, and the sons of Israel took their father Jacob in the wagons Pharaoh had sent to carry him, along with their children and wives. They also took the livestock and possessions they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and Jacob and all his offspring went to Egypt.
To support friends
At the advice of others
Genesis 27:42–45; 1 Samuel 20:12–13
Those exiled because of their faith
1 Peter 1:1 See also Acts 8:1, Acts 11:19; Hebrews 11:8–9, Hebrews 11:14–15, Hebrews 11:27, Hebrews 11:38; James 1:1
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the elect who are exiles of the Dispersion throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen
God does not intend exile to be permanent
2 Samuel 14:14 See also Genesis 46:4; Numbers 35:25; 2 Chronicles 36:21; Isaiah 51:11, Isaiah 61:4–6, Isaiah 63:17; Jeremiah 16:14–15, Jeremiah 29:10–14, Jeremiah 30:3, Jeremiah 32:37
For we will surely die and be like water poured out on the ground, which cannot be recovered. Yet God does not take away a life, but He devises ways that the banished one may not be cast out from Him.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.