The temple in Jerusalem became the holiest site in Judaism. It housed the Ark of the Covenant, a sacred chest containing the Ten Commandments. The temple's Western Wall still stands today and is the most revered site for all Jews.

When the Hebrews were forced to live away from their land after the fall of Jerusalem, they began a period of religious reflection. Living in a foreign land, they developed a new identity. Much of the Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible, was written down and compiled at this time. Exile would remain an important religious theme for Judaism.