Which group destroyed Israel and in what year?

The correct answer identifies the Assyrians as the group that destroyed Israel in 722 BC. This event marks a significant moment in the history of the ancient Israelites, as it refers to the conquest of the northern kingdom of Israel by the Assyrian Empire. The Assyrians employed a strategy of aggression and terror which culminated in the complete destruction of Israel, leading to the capture of its capital, Samaria.

The conquest in 722 BC resulted in the deportation of many Israelites and the assimilation of various other groups into the region, creating the so-called "Lost Tribes of Israel." This event is a crucial point in understanding the historical backdrop of the Jewish people and the challenges they faced.

The other choices reference distinct historical events involving other groups and timelines. The Babylonians indeed destroyed the southern kingdom of Judah in 586 BC, which does not pertain to the question about Israel. The Egyptians and Persians are involved in different phases of biblical history, with the Egyptians playing a role earlier in the narrative mostly during the Exodus, and the Persians influencing the post-exilic period after the Babylonian conquest. Therefore, the association of the Assyrians with the fall of Israel in 722 BC is supported by historical and biblical