The First Temple (Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem) was destroyed by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II in 586 BCE (often given as 586/587 BCE).

Basic timeline

  • The Babylonians besieged Jerusalem in the early 6th century BCE, gradually weakening the Kingdom of Judah.
  • In 586 BCE, Nebuchadnezzar’s forces captured the city, burned the Temple, and exiled many inhabitants to Babylon.
  • Because of small differences in ancient chronological systems, some historians write the date as 587 BCE, so you may see 586/587 BCE in scholarly discussions.

How this is remembered

  • In Jewish tradition, the destruction is mourned annually on Tisha B’Av, a fast day in late summer commemorating both the First and Second Temple’s destruction.
  • Biblical and later Jewish sources highlight this event as a turning point that led to exile, reshaped religious life, and remains central to historical and spiritual memory.

TL;DR: The First Temple was destroyed by Babylonian forces under Nebuchadnezzar II around 586 BCE, an event still commemorated every year on Tisha B’Av.