The Babylonians are mentioned in the Bible as the oppressors of the Israelites. In the book of Jeremiah, the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar is depicted as God’s instrument of punishment for the Israelites’ sins. The Babylonians conquered Jerusalem in 586 BC and destroyed the Temple, leading to the exile of many Israelites to Babylon. The book of Daniel tells the story of Daniel, who was among the exiles, and his interactions with Nebuchadnezzar. In the book of Ezra and Nehemiah, the Babylonian Empire is depicted as allowing the Israelites to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple