The Biblical Old Testament Timeline is designed to help you understand the order and timing of significant events in Biblical history. It is important to know that Scripture doesn’t provide a complete and chronological record of the timespan between its first book, Genesis, and its last book, Revelation. However, the Bible does give us enough information to be able to place current events into their correct historical context.
The Biblical Old Testament Timeline is the most valuable teaching tool to help you prepare, teach and present the Old Testament chronology. The Bible Timeline shows all of Hebrew history from creation until the Babylonian captivity, which happened in 587 BC. This book follows the Biblical year by year calendar and displays events in their approximately actual time sequence as they occurred in history. Learn more about chronology of old testament prophets in this piece.
Explore the biblical story of the Old Testament through a three-part timeline that begins with Abraham at age 75 and ends in Revelation. Learn more about the prophets, kings, psalms, and other historical events that played a role in bringing God’s people to the point of revelation.
This infographic looks at the Old Testament, outline by outline. It starts with Genesis and ends with Revelation, though both are much more than chronological events. The Old Testament includes not only stories about the history of the Jews, but also personal stories such as David’s defeat of Goliath, Daniel’s miraculous survival in Babylonian captivity, and Abraham’s trust in God to make him into the father of nations. This articles covers How Long Did It Take To Write The Old Testament Of The Bible.
Biblical Old Testament Timeline
What is the Biblical Old Testament Timeline?
The Biblical Old Testament Timeline is a chronological account of major events, kings, and books in the Old Testament of the Bible. It provides a structured overview of the historical narrative that spans from the creation of the world to the period of the Second Temple in ancient Jerusalem.
Where can I find an Old Testament Timeline in PDF format?
An Old Testament Timeline in PDF format can be found online, usually in the form of downloadable study guides or reference materials. These PDFs often include dates, events, and additional information related to the timeline.
Is there a printable version of the Old Testament Timeline?
Yes, there are printable versions of the Old Testament Timeline available. These can be convenient for study purposes, allowing you to have a physical copy to refer to and mark up as you explore the different periods and events within the Old Testament.
Can I find information about the Old Testament Timeline on Wikipedia?
Yes, Wikipedia offers a comprehensive article on the Old Testament Timeline. It provides an overview of the major events and periods, as well as references to specific books and characters within the Old Testament.
What are some major events in the Old Testament Timeline?
The Old Testament Timeline encompasses numerous significant events. Some of the notable ones include the creation of the world (Genesis 1-2), the fall of man (Genesis 3), the Exodus from Egypt (Exodus 12-14), the giving of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20), the reigns of David and Solomon (2 Samuel, 1 Kings), the division of Israel into two kingdoms (1 Kings 12), and the Babylonian exile (2 Kings 24-25).
What is the difference between a biblical timeline and a historical timeline?
A biblical timeline focuses specifically on the events and narratives described in the Bible, while a historical timeline encompasses a broader scope of historical events. While some events in the biblical timeline align with other historical records, there may be variances and discrepancies due to different interpretations or lack of corroborating evidence.
Can you provide a timeline of the kings in the Old Testament?
Yes, the Old Testament contains a chronological account of the kings of Israel and Judah. It begins with Saul who ruled around 1020-1000 BC, followed by David (1010-970 BC), Solomon (970-931 BC), and continues with a succession of various kings such as Rehoboam, Jeroboam, Ahab, Hezekiah, and Josiah among others. The timeline concludes with the Babylonian captivity and the end of the monarchy.
Is there a timeline of the books in the Old Testament?
Yes, the Old Testament consists of various books written by different authors over centuries. The timeline of the books starts with Genesis believed to have been written around 1445-1405 BC and ends with Malachi, written around 425-400 BC. This timeline includes books like Exodus, Leviticus, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and many others.
Is there a specific Old Testament Timeline for the Catholic tradition?
While the Old Testament is the same across different Christian denominations, the Catholic tradition categorizes the books of the Old Testament according to their canonical order. The timeline of events and books remains the same, but the arrangement and categorization may differ slightly based on the Catholic Church’s canon.
Biblical Old Testament Timeline
FAQ
What is the Biblical Old Testament Timeline?
The Biblical Old Testament Timeline is a chronological account of major events, kings, and books in the Old Testament of the Bible. It provides a structured overview of the historical narrative that spans from the creation of the world to the period of the Second Temple in ancient Jerusalem.
Where can I find an Old Testament Timeline in PDF format?
An Old Testament Timeline in PDF format can be found online, usually in the form of downloadable study guides or reference materials. These PDFs often include dates, events, and additional information related to the timeline.
Is there a printable version of the Old Testament Timeline?
Yes, there are printable versions of the Old Testament Timeline available. These can be convenient for study purposes, allowing you to have a physical copy to refer to and mark up as you explore the different periods and events within the Old Testament.
Can I find information about the Old Testament Timeline on Wikipedia?
Yes, Wikipedia offers a comprehensive article on the Old Testament Timeline. It provides an overview of the major events and periods, as well as references to specific books and characters within the Old Testament.
What are some major events in the Old Testament Timeline?
The Old Testament Timeline encompasses numerous significant events. Some of the notable ones include:
- The creation of the world (Genesis 1-2)
- The fall of man (Genesis 3)
- The Exodus from Egypt (Exodus 12-14)
- The giving of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20)
- The reigns of David and Solomon (2 Samuel, 1 Kings)
- The division of Israel into two kingdoms (1 Kings 12)
- The Babylonian exile (2 Kings 24-25)
What is the difference between a biblical timeline and a historical timeline?
A biblical timeline focuses specifically on the events and narratives described in the Bible, while a historical timeline encompasses a broader scope of historical events. While some events in the biblical timeline align with other historical records, there may be variances and discrepancies due to different interpretations or lack of corroborating evidence.
Can you provide a timeline of the kings in the Old Testament?
Yes, the Old Testament contains a chronological account of the kings of Israel and Judah. Some of the kings mentioned include:
- Saul (1020-1000 BC)
- David (1010-970 BC)
- Solomon (970-931 BC)
- Rehoboam
- Jeroboam
- Ahab
- Hezekiah
- Josiah
The timeline concludes with the Babylonian captivity and the end of the monarchy.
Is there a timeline of the books in the Old Testament?
Yes, the Old Testament consists of various books written by different authors over centuries. The timeline of the books starts with Genesis believed to have been written around 1445-1405 BC and ends with Malachi, written around 425-400 BC. Some of the books in the Old Testament include:
- Genesis
- Exodus
- Leviticus
- Psalms
- Proverbs
- Ecclesiastes
- Isaiah
- Jeremiah
Is there a specific Old Testament Timeline for the Catholic tradition?
While the Old Testament is the same across different Christian denominations, the Catholic tradition categorizes the books of the Old Testament according to their canonical order. Some of the books that may be arranged differently include Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), Baruch, and First and Second Maccabees. However, the timeline of events and major periods remains the same.
Biblical Old Testament Timeline
FAQ
What is the Biblical Old Testament Timeline?
The Biblical Old Testament Timeline is a chronological account of major events, kings, and books in the Old Testament of the Bible. It provides a structured overview of the historical narrative that spans from the creation of the world to the period of the Second Temple in ancient Jerusalem.
Where can I find an Old Testament Timeline in PDF format?
An Old Testament Timeline in PDF format can be found online, usually in the form of downloadable study guides or reference materials. These PDFs often include dates, events, and additional information related to the timeline.
Is there a printable version of the Old Testament Timeline?
Yes, there are printable versions of the Old Testament Timeline available. These can be convenient for study purposes, allowing you to have a physical copy to refer to and mark up as you explore the different periods and events within the Old Testament.
Can I find information about the Old Testament Timeline on Wikipedia?
Yes, Wikipedia offers a comprehensive article on the Old Testament Timeline. It provides an overview of the major events and periods, as well as references to specific books and characters within the Old Testament.
What are some major events in the Old Testament Timeline?
The Old Testament Timeline encompasses numerous significant events. Some of the notable ones include the creation of the world (Genesis 1-2), the fall of man (Genesis 3), the Exodus from Egypt (Exodus 12-14), the giving of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20), the reigns of David and Solomon (2 Samuel, 1 Kings), the division of Israel into two kingdoms (1 Kings 12), and the Babylonian exile (2 Kings 24-25).
What is the difference between a biblical timeline and a historical timeline?
A biblical timeline focuses specifically on the events and narratives described in the Bible, while a historical timeline encompasses a broader scope of historical events. While some events in the biblical timeline align with other historical records, there may be variances and discrepancies due to different interpretations or lack of corroborating evidence.
Can you provide a timeline of the kings in the Old Testament?
Yes, the Old Testament contains a chronological account of the kings of Israel and Judah. It begins with Saul who ruled around 1020-1000 BC, followed by David (1010-970 BC), Solomon (970-931 BC), and continues with a succession of various kings such as Rehoboam, Jeroboam, Ahab, Hezekiah, and Josiah among others. The timeline concludes with the Babylonian captivity and the end of the monarchy.
Is there a timeline of the books in the Old Testament?
Yes, the Old Testament consists of various books written by different authors over centuries. The timeline of the books starts with Genesis believed to have been written around 1445-1405 BC and ends with Malachi, written around 425-400 BC. This timeline includes books like Exodus, Leviticus, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and many others.
Is there a specific Old Testament Timeline for the Catholic tradition?
While the Old Testament is the same across different Christian denominations, the Catholic tradition categorizes the books of the Old Testament according to their canonical order. The timeline of events and books remains the same, but the arrangement and categorization may differ slightly based on the Catholic Church’s canon.
Biblical Old Testament Timeline
CHRONOLOGY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
| B.C. | Sequence of Events in the Days of the Early Patriarchs | |
|---|---|---|
| 4000 | Fall of Adam.Ministry of Enoch.Ministry of Noah; the Flood.Tower of Babel.Ministry of Melchizedek.Death of Noah (Gen. 9:28). | (Those desiring calculated dates on these events may wish to consult published chronologies.) |
| Birth of Abram.Birth of Isaac.Birth of Jacob.Birth of Joseph.Joseph sold into Egypt (Gen. 37:2).Joseph stands before Pharaoh (Gen. 41:46).Jacob and his family go down to Egypt.Death of Jacob.Death of Joseph.Birth of Moses.The Exodus when Moses was 80 years old.Death (translation) of Moses.Death of Joshua. | In the days of Abram we meet with the names of Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, and Amraphel, king of Shinar. Egypt was manifestly a powerful kingdom before and during the patriarchal times, but the early annals of Egypt as they have come down to us help us to few synchronisms that can be relied on. | |
| After the death of Joshua was the period of the Judges, of whom the first was Othniel and the last Samuel, but the arrangement and dates of the rest are very uncertain. | The commencement of the Assyrian empire appears to have been somewhere in the period of the Judges, but much of the chronological data preserved in Assyrian tablets is of a mythical character. |
In this section approximate dates are suggested, some help being derived from synchronisms with secular history, which become more numerous with every succeeding century.
| B.C. | The Undivided Kingdom | Persons and Events of External History |
|---|---|---|
| 1095 | Commencement of Saul’s reign. Samuel lives for a great part of Saul’s reign. | Nahash, king of Ammon.Tiglath-pileser Ⅰ, king of Assyria.Agag, king of Amalek.Achish, king of Gath. |
| 1063 | David anointed by Samuel. | |
| 1055 | David king in Hebron. | |
| 1047 | David king in Jerusalem. Nathan and Gad, prophets. | Hiram, king of Tyre.Hadadezer, king of Zobah.Toi, king of Hamath.Hanun, son of Nahash, king of Ammon. |
| 1015 | Solomon made king. Death of David. | |
| 1012 | Solomon begins to build the temple. | Hiram, king of Tyre. |
| 1004 | Solomon begins to build his own house. | |
| 991 | The buildings are finished. | Hadad the Edomite is protected in Egypt.Genubath, son of Hadad.Rezon, king of Zobah.Shishak, king of Egypt, shelters Jeroboam. |
| 975 | Death of Solomon. The ten tribes revolt from Rehoboam. |
In the following table the first column of dates follows the books of Kings and Chronicles; the third column contains a revised chronology derived from inscriptions on Assyrian and other monuments. The kings of Judah are printed in heavy type, and the kings of Israel in capitals.
| B.C. | Kings of Judah and Israel | Rev. Chr. | Internal History | External History | Synchronisms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 975 | RehoboamJEROBOAM Ⅰ | 953 | Ahijah the Shilomite prophesies, also Shemaiah.Penuel built (1 Kgs. 12:25). | Shishak, king of Egypt. | |
| 949 | Shishak plunders Jerusalem. | ||||
| 957 | Abijam | 932 | |||
| 955 | Asa | 929 | |||
| 954 | NADAB | 927 | Oded and Azariah prophesy. | Asa’s war with Zerah the Ethiopian. | |
| 953 | BAASHA | 925 | War of Israel against Judah.Hanani and Jehu prophesy. | ||
| 930 | ELAH | 901 | Asa’s alliance with Benhadad Ⅰ. | ||
| 929 | ZIMRI | 899 | |||
| 929 | OMRI (at war with Tibni) | 897 | |||
| 925 | OMRI (victorious) | Benhadad Ⅰ conquers Omri (1 Kgs. 20:34). | |||
| 918 | AHAB | 875 | Samaria built (1 Kgs. 16:24). | Ethbaal (Eithobalus), king of Zidon. | |
| 914 | Jehoshaphat | 873 | Elijah the Tishbite.Jericho rebuilt.Micaiah son of Imlah prophesies. | Syrian invasion of Samaria (1 Kgs. 20:34). | |
| Moab rebels against Israel. | Mesha, king of Moab. | ||||
| 898 | AHAZIAH | 853 | Jahaziel prophesies (2 Chr. 20:14).Eliezer of Mareshah prophesies (2 Chr. 20:37). | ||
| 897 | JEHORAM | 851 | Elisha prophesies.Obadiah prophesies (?). | Battle of Ramoth-gilead. | Hazael, king of Syria. |
| 893 | Joram | 848 | |||
| 885 | Ahaziah | 844 | |||
| 884 | AthaliahJEHU | 843 | |||
| 878 | Joash | 837 | Joash buys off Hazael’s invasion (2 Kgs. 12:18). | Syrian victories over Israel (2 Kgs. 10:32). | Sardanapalus dies. |
| 856 | JEHOAHAZ | Joel prophesies (?). | |||
| 842 | JEHOASH | 798 | |||
| 841 | Amaziah | 797 | Shalmaneser Ⅱ. | ||
| 826 | JEROBOAM Ⅱ | 790 | Hosea prophesies.Jonah prophesies (2 Kgs. 14:25). | Amaziah subdues Edom (2 Kgs. 14:7). | Shalmaneser Ⅲ. |
| 811 | Azariah or Uzziah | 792 | Amos prophesies. | ||
| 773 | ZECHARIAH | 749 | First Olympiad. | ||
| 772 | SHALLUM | 748 | |||
| 772 | MENAHEM | 748 | There is much uncertainty about the chronology of the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, and Pekah, and from 2 Kgs. 15:1–2, and 30–32, it is clear that there is some confusion in the biblical numbers. Uzziah’s name is now thought to have been discovered in an Assyrian inscription 740 B.C. If that proves correct, the commencement of Isaiah’s prophecy cannot date before that year, and the time of Jotham’s regency may have been counted as regnal years. In these tables the biblical numbers have been adhered to, as far as possible, but they require further elucidation, which we may hope for as the Assyrian chronology becomes more assured. | Pul, king of Assyria (= Tiglath-pileser Ⅲ?). | |
| 761 | PEKAHIAH | ||||
| 759 | PEKAH | Rezin, king of Syria. | |||
| 758 | Jotham | 740 | Isaiah begins to prophesy. | Rome founded.Era of Nabonassar, 747.Tiglath-pileser Ⅲ, king of Assyria (747–734).So, king of Egypt. | |
| Pekahiah (rev. chr.) | 737 | ||||
| Pekah (rev. chr.) | 735 | ||||
| 742 | Ahaz | 734 | |||
| 730 | HOSHEA | 733 | |||
| 726 | Hezekiah | 728 | Shalmaneser Ⅴ, king of Assyria, 727. | ||
| 721 | End of the Northern kingdom | 722 | Micah prophesies. | Sargon.Merodach-baladan, king of Babylon, 722.Death of Sennacherib, 681.Esarhaddon.Median kingdom formed. | |
| 697 | Manasseh | 697 | Psammetichus, king of Egypt, 670.Fall of No-amon (Thebes), 660. | ||
| 642 | Amon | 642 | Nahum prophesies (?). | Assurbanipal (667–626). | |
| 640 | Josiah | 640 | Huldah the prophetess.Jeremiah begins to prophesy, 628.Zephaniah prophesies. | Pharaoh Necho, king of Egypt.Nabopolassar, king of Babylon, 625–604. | |
| 609 | Jehoahaz | 609 | Obadiah prophesies (?). | Fall of Nineveh, 606. | |
| 609 | Jehoiakim | 609 | Daniel carried captive, 606. | Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, 604–561. | |
| 598 | Jehoiachin | 598 | Habakkuk prophesies. | ||
| 598 | Zedekiah | 598 | Ezekiel prophesies. | ||
| 587 | Capture of Jerusalem | 587 |
| B.C. | Jewish History | External History | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 561 | Jehoiachin’s captivity relaxed. | Evil-merodach, king of Babylon. | |
| 559 | Commencement of the Persian Empire under Cyrus. | Neriglissar, king of Babylon, 559–555. | |
| 555 | Belshazzar co-regent with Nabonidus. | ||
| 538 | Union of Media and Persia under Cyrus. | Fall of Babylon. | |
| 537 | Decree of Cyrus for the return of the Jews. | ||
| 536 | Joshua, high priest. | ||
| 529 | Ahasuerus (Ezra 4:6). | =Cambyses, king of Persia, 529–521. | |
| 525 | Egypt conquered by Cambyses. Birth of Aeschylus. | ||
| 521 | Artaxerxes (Ezra 4:7). | =Pseudo-Smerdis. | |
| 521 | Darius Ⅰ (Ezra 4:5). | =Darius Hystaspes. | |
| 520 | The hindered temple building resumed. Haggai and Zechariah prophesy. | Sophocles born, 495. | |
| 490 | Battle of Marathon. | ||
| 486 | Ahasuerus (Esth. 1:1). | =Xerxes, 486–465. | Egypt revolts from Persia for 2 years. |
| 483 | Joiakim, high priest. | Battles of Thermopylae and Salamis, 480. | |
| 465 | Artaxerxes (Ezra 7:1). | =Artaxerxes Longimanus. | |
| 458 | Commission of Ezra. | ||
| 453 | Eliashib, high priest. | ||
| 444 | Nehemiah appointed governor of Judea. | ||
| 432 | Nehemiah’s second mission to Jerusalem. Prophecy of Malachi. | Plato born, 429. | |
| 424 | Darius Ⅱ. | =Darius Nothus. | |
| 414 | Egypt and Media both revolt from Persia. | ||
| 413 | Joiada, high priest. | ||
| 404 | Artaxerxes Mnemon. | ||
| 401 | Battle of Cunaxa.Demosthenes born, 382. | ||
| 373 | Johanan, high priest. | ||
| 359 | Philip, king of Macedon. | ||
| 358 | Darius Ochus. | Plato dies, 348. | |
| 341 | Jaddua, high priest. | ||
| 337 | Arses. | ||
| 336 | Darius Ⅲ (Neh. 12:22). | =Darius Codomannus. | Philip of Macedon slain. |
| 332 | Jaddua goes out to meet Alexander. | Alexander in Syria and Egypt. | |
| 331 | Battle of Arbela. | ||
| 330 | Darius slain. End of the Persian power. | ||
| 323 | Ptolemy Lagides obtains Egypt. | Death of Alexander the Great and dismemberment of his empire. |
| B.C. | Jewish History | Egypt | Syria |
|---|---|---|---|
| 321 | Onias Ⅰ, high priest. | ||
| 320 | Ptolemy (Lagides) Soter takes Jerusalem. | ||
| 314 | Antigonus conquers Palestine from Ptolemy. | ||
| 312 | Seleucus (Nicator). | ||
| 311 | Palestine by treaty assigned to Antigonus. | ||
| 302 | Palestine retaken by Ptolemy. | During this disturbed period many Jews migrated from Palestine and settled in Egypt and in parts of Asia Minor; they were held in much esteem by the rulers of those countries in which they settled. | |
| 301 | Battle of Ipsus. Antigonus defeated by Seleucus. | ||
| 300 | Simon the Just, high priest. | ||
| 292 | Eleazar, high priest. | ||
| 284 | Ptolemy Philadelphus. | ||
| 280 | About this time the Septuagint version of the Hebrew scriptures appears to have been commenced in Alexandria, though it was not finished for more than a century after. | Antiochus (Soter). | |
| 277 | Manasseh, high priest. | ||
| 260 | Antiochus (Theos). | ||
| 250 | Onias Ⅱ, high priest. | ||
| 246 | Ptolemy Euergetes. | ||
| 245 | Seleucus Callinicus. | ||
| 225 | Tribute due to Egypt not paid by Onias. | Seleucus Keraunus. | |
| 223 | Antiochus the Great. | ||
| 221 | Ptolemy Philopator. | ||
| 217 | Simon Ⅱ, high priest. | Ptolemy’s outrage in the Jewish temple. | |
| 216 | Battle of Raphia. | Treaty between Antiochus and Ptolemy. | |
| 204 | Ptolemy Epiphanes. | ||
| 195 | Onias Ⅲ, high priest. | ||
| 187 | Seleucus Philopator. | ||
| 180 | Ptolemy Philometor. | ||
| 176 | Heliodorus sent to plunder the temple. | ||
| 175 | Onias deposed by Antiochus. Jason, high priest. | Antiochus Epiphanes. | |
| 173 | Cleopatra, guardian of Philometor, dies. | ||
| 172 | Menelaus, Jason’s brother, nominated high priest. | ||
| 172 | Onias Ⅲ murdered about this time. | ||
| 170 | Antiochus defeats the Egyptians. | ||
| 169 | Jason seizes Jerusalem, which Antiochus attacks on his return from Egypt and pollutes the temple. | Second invasion of Egypt. | |
| 168 | Daily sacrifice interrupted. | Ptolemy Physcon set up for a time in Egypt but soon makes common cause with his brother Philometor. | Third attack on Egypt. |
| 167 | Mattathias the Hasmonean revolts. | ||
| 166 | Battle of Emmaus. Victory of Judas Maccabaeus. | ||
| 165 | Dedication of the temple. | ||
| 164 | Antiochus Eupator. | ||
| 163 | Lysias defeated by Judas at Bethsura. Alcimus, high priest. Menelaus put to death. | ||
| 162 | Demetrius Soter. | ||
| 161 | Nicanor defeated at Capharsalama. Death of Judas Maccabaeus at Eleasa. | Contests between Philometor and Physcon. Appeals to Rome. | |
| 160 | Decree of the Roman Senate in favor of the Jews. | ||
| 159 | Death of Alcimus. | ||
| 156 | Jonathan, brother of Judas, ruler of Judea. | ||
| 153 | Jonathan made high priest by Balas. | Alexander Balas set up against Demetrius. | |
| 150 | Jonathan honored by Philometor and Balas. | Alexander Balas, king of Syria. | |
| 149 | Onias, son of Onias Ⅲ, made commander-in-chief in Egypt. | ||
| 146 | Ptolemy Philometor opposes Alexander Balas. | ||
| 145 | Ptolemy Physcon (Euergetes Ⅱ). | Demetrius Nicator. | |
| 143 | Jonathan put to death by Tryphon. Simon, high priest. | ||
| 142 | Simon, “Prince of the Jews.” Jews allowed to coin money. | ||
| 139 | Antiochus Sidetes. Tryphon put to death. | ||
| 135 | Murder of Simon. John Hyrcanus, high priest. | ||
| 130 | Demetrius Nicator. | ||
| 126 | Zebina. | ||
| 123 | Antiochus Grypus. | ||
| 116 | Ptolemy Lathyrus (Soter Ⅱ). | ||
| 109 | Hyrcanus wars on Samaria and destroys the temple on Gerizim. | Cleopatra and Alexander. | |
| 106 | Hyrcanus dies. Aristobulus (his son), first king of the Jews. | ||
| 105 | Alexander Jannaeus made king of the Jews. | ||
| 96 | Jannaeus captures Gaza. | Ptolemy, king of Cyrene, bequeaths his kingdom to the Romans. | Seleucus succeeds his father Grypus. |
| 94 | The Pharisees hostile to Jannaeus. | ||
| 93 | War of Jannaeus in Gilead and Moab. | ||
| 92 | Philip, brother of Seleucus, gains the throne. | ||
| 88 | Jannaeus defeated at Shechem. | ||
| 87 | Ptolemy Lathyrus recalled. | ||
| 83 | Tigranes, king of Armenia, set over Syria. | ||
| 80 | Ptolemy Alexander. | ||
| 78 | Death of Jannaeus. Alexandra, his widow, rules after him. Hyrcanus Ⅱ, high priest. | ||
| 69 | Aristobulus Ⅱ seizes the government. | ||
| 66 | Pompey conquers Syria for the Romans. | ||
| Roman Affairs | |||
| 65 | Ptolemy Auletes. | ||
| 64 | Disputes between Aristobulus and Hyrcanus. | ||
| 63 | Jerusalem taken by Pompey. Hyrcanus again high priest. | ||
| 54 | Palestine divided into five districts. | Crassus defeated by the Parthians at Carrhae, 53. | |
| 51 | Crassus plunders the temple. | Cleopatra. | |
| 48 | Antipater made a governor over Judea. | Battle of Pharsalia.Battle of Thapsus, 46. | |
| 44 | Hyrcanus, “Prince of the Jews.” | Assassination of Caesar. | |
| 42 | Battle of Philippi. | ||
| 41 | Herod and Phasael, joint tetrarchs of Judea. | ||
| 40 | Herod flees to Rome. Antigonus set up in his stead. | ||
| 38 | Herod marries Mariamne. | ||
| 37 | Herod takes Jerusalem. | ||
| 31 | Battle of Actium.Augustus, emperor, 31 B.C.–A.D. 14. | ||
| 30 | Cleopatra dies. Egypt becomes a Roman province. | ||
| 29 | Mariamne put to death. | ||
| 25 | Herod rebuilds Samaria. | ||
| 17 | Herod restores the temple. | ||
| 6 | Alexander and Aristobulus put to death. |
Chronology Of Old Testament Prophets
The table below shows where in time the prophets fit within the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah.
| Period | Northern Kings | Northern Prophets | Southern Kings | Southern Prophets |
| United kingdom under Saul, David, Solomon, c. 1030 – 931 | ||||
| Divided kingdom | Jeroboam (931-910)Nadab (910-909)Baasha (909-886)Elah (886)Zimri (885)Omri (885-874)Ahab (874-853)Jehoram (852-841)Jehu (841-814)Jehoahaz (814-798)Jehoash (798-782)Jeroboam II (793-753)Zechariah (753-752)Shallum (752)Menahem 752-742)Pekahiah (742-740)Pekah (752-732)Hoshea (732-722) | Elijah Elisha AmosJonah Hosea | Rehoboam (931-913)Abijah (913)Asa (911-870) Jehoshaphat (873-848)Jehoram (853-841)Queen Athaliah (841-835)Joash (835-796)Amaziah (796-767)Uzziah (790-740)Jotham (750-731) Ahaz (735-715)Hezekiah (715-686)Manasseh (695-642)Amon (642-640)Josiah (640-609)Jehoahaz (609)Jehoiakim (609-597)Jehoiachin (597)Zedekiah (597-586) | ObadiahJoel Isaiah Micah JeremiahZephaniah Huldah NahumHabakkuk |
| Babylonian exile | EzekielDaniel | |||
| Post-exilic prophets | Zerubbabel, governor Nehemiah, governor | HaggaiZechariahMalachi |
How Long Did It Take To Write The Old Testament Of The Bible
Over a period of about 1,500 years, various authors penned the books that make up the Bible. It’s true that God’s Word was revealed in stages over the course of 1,500 years, but that doesn’t mean it was written in that time. Most scholars agree that Moses wrote Genesis or Job around 1400 BC, or 3,400 years ago. These books are considered the oldest in the Bible. Around the year 90 CE, the book of Revelation was completed.
There was a break between the composition of various biblical books. The final book of the Old Testament, Malachi, was written 400 years before the first book of the New Testament, Matthew, was written. There was a “400 years of silence” because no Scripture was inspired by the Holy Spirit during that time. While Matthew’s gospel is traditionally considered to be the first book of the New Testament, scholars now agree that the epistle of James, written between AD 44 and 49, was the first New Testament book written. All of the New Testament was written in a span of about 50 years, from AD 44 to AD 90 or 95.
Time spent writing a book by individual authors is unknown. In a span of about 40 years (1445-1405 BC), Moses penned the first five books of the Old Testament. Does that mean that for the past 40 years he has been a prolific writer? The truth is, we have no idea. Many of Paul’s letters to the churches in the New Testament, especially the shorter ones like Philemon, may have been written in a single sitting. Likewise, 2 John and 3 John are brief letters addressed to specific individuals.
One thing we do know for sure is that each of the Bible’s authors wrote only as much and for as long as they felt inspired to do so. It was the Holy Spirit who “breathed out” the Scriptures into the authors’ minds and onto the pages. Peter elaborates on this phenomenon, saying, “Prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21; cf. 2 Timothy 3:16).