This work investigates the historical and theological significance of the Judaean population that remained in the Levant during the Babylonian captivity, challenging the traditional focus on the exiled Golah community. Jill Middlemas, a scholar in biblical studies, utilizes archaeological data, biblical texts, and socio-historical analysis to reconstruct the religious life of those left behind. She argues that the standard 'Exilic Age' narrative obscures the contributions and experiences of the majority of the population who did not experience deportation to Babylon.

Scholars in the field of biblical studies recognize this monograph as a significant contribution to the revisionist history of the exilic period. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the rigorous methodology applied to often-overlooked archaeological evidence.