In which year did the first deportation of Judah occur, resulting in Daniel's capture?

The correct year for the first deportation of Judah, which led to Daniel's capture, is 597 BC. During this event, King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon undertook a significant campaign against Judah, resulting in the exile of many prominent individuals, including Daniel. This event marks a crucial point in Jewish history as it initiated the Babylonian exile, impacting the religious and cultural landscape of the Jewish people for generations.

While 586 BC is significant because it marks the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple, it came afterwards and primarily involved a more extensive deportation. The year 606 BC is often associated with earlier conflicts and skirmishes rather than the specific events leading up to Daniel’s exile, and 458 BC references a later return from exile, not the initial deportations. Therefore, 597 BC is recognized in historical contexts as the pivotal year for Daniel's capture and the beginning of the Babylonian exile.