Made in Alexandria: The Origin of the Yahweh Cult

[Minimalist]

And the myth of Babylon captivity.

Well, we do have reference in the Babylonian Chronicles to Nebuchadnezzar's assault on Jersualem and his reduction of it to tributary status. Archaeology shows that the entire population ( as the bible claims with customary exaggeration) was not deported but the upper classes probably were. As a matter of fact records were discovered in Iraq which showed that Judahite names were mentioned prominently in high office in the Babylonian empire. There is a book called "A View From Nebo" which contains a discussion of these finds. The "exiles" were not slaves. As a matter of fact they seem to have been doing quite well for themselves.

Of course, these people were Judahites, citizens of the kingdom of Judah. There is nothing to indicate that at the time they were anything resembling "Jews" as we now understand the word.