Hi Sophiee, if both the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities were caused by getting into worshipping foreign gods, and the 70 weeks a " opportunity to avoid a second exile if they turned to G-d", then who were the foreign gods they got back into worshiping, resulting in the 2000 year dispersion?     I am at a loss because I don't know that Jews ever got back into worshiping false gods.

Can we agree that the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities were caused by, at the time, the way the Children of Israel treated God?

I think a person could make a case that the Children of Israel weren't treating each other they way they should, as well.    And that the 2000 year dispersion was because of unwarranted hatred between Jews, as I think that is the reason often times given.   But that rationale leaves out the most important factor of how they treated God.    Which I don't see Jews as ever having got back into worshiping foreign gods.    What do you think?   

I am not making an argument for the 70 weeks.   The thread just caught my eye.

Many blessings upon the Jews here looking ahead to the rest of 2015.

My Lord, what a morning, when the stars begin to fall - Judith Durham