King Saul, King David, and King Solomon were the first three kings in the land of Israel, which then became divided into two kingdoms, north and south.

  Unrest continued from time to time during the rule of subsequent kings, until Jerusalem was destroyed in 607 B.C.E. and the Israelites were exiled to Babylon.

  After seventy years of exile, King Cyrus of Persia released the Jews in agreement with Bible prophecy, sending them back to Israel to rebuild the temple which had been devastated. The temple was the centre of true worship for God's people, having taken the place of the tabernacle which served that purpose in Moses' day.