Destruction of First Temple

The Babylonian army under Nebuchadnezzar II destroyed Jerusalem and Solomon’s Temple in 586 BCE after an 18-month siege. This catastrophic event ended the kingdom of Judah, shattered Jewish national identity, and initiated the Babylonian Exile.

After repeated rebellions against Babylonian overlordship, Nebuchadnezzar’s forces besieged Jerusalem. The city endured starvation so severe that cannibalism occurred. When the walls were finally breached, King Zedekiah attempted to flee but was captured. The Babylonians slaughtered his sons before his eyes, then blinded him—the last thing he saw was his dynasty’s end.

The Babylonians systematically destroyed Jerusalem’s defenses, burned the temple and palace, and demolished the city walls. They looted the temple’s sacred vessels—gold, silver, and bronze furnishings that had served in worship since Solomon’s time. The temple commander Nebuzaradan supervised the destruction and deportation of Jerusalem’s elite to Babylon, leaving only the poorest to tend the land.

This destruction fulfilled prophecies by Jeremiah and other prophets who warned that persistent idolatry and injustice would result in judgment. The loss of the temple—God’s dwelling place—forced profound theological reflection that shaped Judaism. The annual fast of Tisha B’Av commemorates this tragedy, considered the saddest day in the Jewish calendar.