Editing Babylonian captivity (section)

===Second campaign (589–587 BCE)===
Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian forces returned in 589 BCE and rampaged through Judah, leaving clear archaeological evidence of destruction in many towns and settlements there.<ref name=Finkelstein/>{{rp|294}} Clay [[ostraca]] from this period, referred to as the [[Lachish letters]], were discovered during excavations; one, which was probably written to the commander at [[Lachish]] from an outlying base, describes how the signal fires from nearby towns were disappearing: "And may (my lord) be apprised that we are watching for the fire signals of Lachish according to all the signs which my lord has given, because we cannot see Azeqah."<ref>Translation from Aḥituv, Shmuel. ''Echoes from the Past.'' Jerusalem: CARTA Jerusalem, 2008, p. 70.</ref> Archaeological finds from Jerusalem testify that virtually the whole city within the walls was burnt to rubble in 587 BCE and utterly destroyed.<ref name=Finkelstein/>{{rp|295}}