Foreign Kings and Empires during the Destruction of the Beit Hamikdash

Foreign kings and empires played a key role in instigating the central events in the kingdoms of Israel and Yehuda during the period of the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash. Four empires ruled over the area over the course of 300 years: Assyria destroyed the Kingdom of Israel and severely weakened Yehuda, which was portrayed by the prophet as God's will and retribution: "O Assyria, the rod of My anger, the staff in their hands is my indignation!" (Is. 10:5). Jeremiah criticizes the dependence of the kings of Yehuda on foreign empires: "And now what have you in the way to Egypt, to drink the waters of Shihor? And what have you in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the River?" (Jer. 2:18). King Nevukhadnetzar of Babylonia destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem and exiled those who remained in Yehuda. King Cyrus of Persia, the ruler of the last major empire in the biblical era, dramatically reversed the aggressive policy enacted by his predecessors, and permitted the Israelites to return to their land and rebuild the Temple, an action which awarded him the title "God's anointed one" (Is. 45:1).