All of the major stories from the Old Testament are told in chronological order, featuring the key characters and events that shaped Israel’s history. This is the most comprehensive and accessible introduction to the Old Testament available. Designed for ages nine to twelve, this book walks readers through dozens of Bible stories and includes nearly 250 illustrations, maps, chronologies, time lines, and character profiles. Whether you are a student or a parent looking for an easy way to understand all of the major Bible stories; whether you are new to Christianity or have been reading your Bible for years; whether you want a fun way to support your children’s faith development—this book is designed for you.
Did you know that God had a plan for your life before He created the earth? And did you know that every word of Scripture was inspired by God? The Chronological Old Testament Bible Timeline tells you when each book of the Old Testament was written and reveals the unfolding themes of redemption, restoration and revelation.
The Old Testament is composed of 39 books, written over a period of about 1,500 years. The first five books—Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy—are known as the Pentateuch or Torah. These first five books are also sometimes referred to as the Law.
The next several books—Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel—form what is known as the Historical Books of the Old Testament. This section of scripture describes God’s relationship with man from creation onward through Israel’s conquest of Canaan under Joshua’s leadership (Joshua) and the Israelite judges (Judges). It also covers the life of King David (1 Samuel) and his son Solomon (2 Samuel).
The third section contains poetry or wisdom literature such as Psalms and Proverbs which contain songs or poems praising God; general instructions for daily life like those found in Proverbs; and specific instructions on how one can live a good life based on faith in God. The fourth section includes prophetic books such as Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel which describe God’s plans for redemption through his people Israel after their disobedience has led to exile from their land (or exile from Egypt if they were slaves).
Churchgists will provide you with all the relevant information you are looking for on 27 books of the new testament in chronological order, chronological order of the old testament prophets, books of the bible in chronological order and so much more.
Chronology Of Old Testament Books in Biblical Order
- Genesis
- Exodus
- Leviticus
- Numbers
- Deuteronomy
- Joshua
- Judges
- Ruth
- 1 Samuel
- 2 Samuel
- 1 Kings
- 2 Kings
- 1 Chronicles
- 2 Chronicles
- Ezra
- Nehemiah
- Esther
- Job
- Psalms
- Proverbs
- Ecclesiastes
- Song of Solomon
- Isaiah
- Jeremiah
- Lamentations
- Ezekiel
- Daniel
- Hosea
- Joel
- Amos
- Obadiah
- Jonah
- Micah
- Nahum
- Habakkuk
- Zephaniah
- Haggai
- Zechariah
- Malachi
The Old Testament of the Bible is a compilation of religious texts and stories that were written over a span of many centuries. Understanding the chronological order of these books can provide insight into the historical context and development of the Hebrew faith. The following is the chronological order of the Old Testament books in biblical order:
Genesis is the first book of the Old Testament and serves as the foundation for the rest of the Bible. It tells the story of creation, the fall of man, and the establishment of the Israelite nation. Many important figures are introduced in Genesis, such as Adam, Eve, Noah, and Abraham.
Exodus continues the narrative of Genesis and tells the story of the Israelites’ escape from slavery in Egypt. The book introduces the central figure of Moses and the Ten Commandments.
Leviticus focuses on laws and regulations pertaining to religious ceremonies and rituals. It provides guidelines for holy living and emphasizes the importance of purity and obedience to God’s commands.
Numbers recounts the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness and includes a census of the tribes. It also records instances of rebellion and God’s punishment.
Deuteronomy is a collection of speeches given by Moses to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land. It reiterates the importance of obedience to God’s laws and warns against idolatry.
Joshua tells the story of the Israelites’ conquest of the land of Canaan under the leadership of Joshua. It details battles and the distribution of land among the tribes.
Judges describes a period of tribal leadership and the cycle of apostasy, oppression, and deliverance. It introduces various judges, including Samson and Deborah.
Ruth is a narrative that takes place during the time of the judges and focuses on the loyalty of Ruth, a Moabite woman, to her Israelite mother-in-law, Naomi.
1 Samuel begins with the birth of Samuel, the last judge of Israel, and follows the rise of Saul as the first king. It also introduces the character of David, who becomes the king after Saul’s downfall.
2 Samuel continues the story of David’s reign as king, including his victories and failures. It also introduces the prophet Nathan and Bathsheba.
1 Kings covers the reigns of King Solomon and subsequent kings of Israel and Judah. It includes the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem and the division of the kingdom.
2 Kings continues the historical account of the Israelite kings and their relationship with God. It concludes with the exile of the Israelites and the destruction of Jerusalem.
1 Chronicles retells the history of Israel from Adam to the reign of King David. It focuses on genealogies, the temple, and the Davidic Covenant.
2 Chronicles continues the narrative from 1 Chronicles and covers the reigns of the Davidic kings. It emphasizes the importance of worship and the consequences of disobedience.
Ezra describes the return of the Israelites from the Babylonian exile and the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. It emphasizes the restoration of the law and the importance of religious purity.
Nehemiah tells the story of Nehemiah’s leadership in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and restoring the city. It also addresses issues of economic and social inequality.
Esther recounts the story of Queen Esther, who saves the Jewish people from persecution in Persia. It highlights the themes of faith, courage, and divine providence.
Job is a poetic and philosophical exploration of suffering and God’s sovereignty. It raises questions about the nature of righteousness and the mystery of human suffering.
Psalms is a collection of religious poems and songs attributed to King David and other authors. It expresses a range of human emotions, including praise, lament, and petition to God.
Proverbs offers practical wisdom and moral guidance through short, pithy sayings. It encourages readers to seek knowledge, avoid foolishness, and pursue righteousness.
Ecclesiastes reflects on the meaninglessness of life and the pursuit of pleasure, wealth, and knowledge. It ultimately concludes that true meaning can only be found in fearing God and keeping His commands.
Song of Solomon is a poetic celebration of love and desire between a bride and her bridegroom. It is often interpreted allegorically as symbolizing the love between God and His people.
Isaiah contains prophecies of judgment, restoration, and the coming of the Messiah. It addresses the faithlessness of the Israelites and offers hope for redemption.
Jeremiah records the prophetic warnings and messages of Jeremiah to the people of Judah. It highlights their idolatry, disobedience, and the impending destruction of Jerusalem.
Lamentations mourns the destruction of Jerusalem and the suffering of the Israelites. It reflects on the consequences of sin and the need for repentance.
Ezekiel prophesies the downfall of Jerusalem and the restoration of Israel. It also includes visions of God’s glory and the promise of a new covenant.
Daniel tells the story of Daniel’s experiences in the Babylonian exile and his interpretation of dreams and visions. It emphasizes faithfulness to God in the face of persecution.
Hosea prophesies against the idolatry and unfaithfulness of Israel using his marriage as an allegory. It emphasizes God’s love and desire for reconciliation.
Joel announces a day of judgment and emphasizes the importance of repentance and turning to God. It also prophesies the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Amos condemns the social injustices and religious hypocrisy of Israel. It emphasizes the need for justice, righteousness, and true worship.
Obadiah pronounces judgment against Edom for its pride and mistreatment of Israel. It reminds readers of God’s sovereignty and justice.
Jonah recounts the story of Jonah and his reluctant obedience to God’s command to preach to Nineveh. It reflects on God’s mercy and compassion.
Micah prophesies against the corruption, injustice, and false worship in Israel. It emphasizes the importance of doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with God.
Nahum pronounces judgment against Nineveh for its violence and oppression. It assures the destruction of the city and the vindication of God’s people.
Habakkuk questions God’s justice in allowing evil to prosper and the suffering of the righteous. It emphasizes faith and trust in God’s ultimate plan.
Zephaniah announces the coming of the day of the Lord and warns of judgment for the wicked. It also promises restoration and salvation for the remnant.
Haggai encourages the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem and emphasizes the importance of prioritizing God’s house. It promises blessings for obedience.
Zechariah prophesies about the restoration of Jerusalem and the coming of the Messianic King. It highlights the future glory of God’s people.
Malachi addresses the spiritual apathy and unfaithfulness of the Israelites. It emphasizes the need for true worship and the coming of a messenger to prepare the way for the Lord.
Chronology Of Old Testament Books in Historical Order
- Job
- Genesis
- Exodus
- Leviticus
- Numbers
- Deuteronomy
- Joshua
- Judges
- Ruth
- 1 Samuel
- 2 Samuel
- 1 Kings
- 2 Kings
- Obadiah
- Joel
- Jonah
- Amos
- Hosea
- Isaiah
- Micah
- Nahum
- Zephaniah
- Habakkuk
- Jeremiah
- Lamentations
- Ezekiel
- Daniel
- Haggai
- Zechariah
- Malachi
- Ezra
- Nehemiah
- Esther
- Psalms
- Proverbs
- Ecclesiastes
- Song of Solomon
The historical order of the Old Testament books provides a different perspective on the timeline of events and their historical context. This order is arranged according to when the events or writings occurred:
Job, although not directly connected to historical events, is traditionally placed at the beginning of the canon due to its antiquity. It explores themes of suffering, faith, and God’s sovereignty.
Genesis follows Job and serves as the foundation for the rest of the Bible. It contains the narratives of creation, the fall, and the beginnings of humanity.
Exodus describes the Israelites’ escape from slavery in Egypt and their journey to the Promised Land. It introduces the figure of Moses and the Exodus event.
Leviticus focuses on laws and regulations for worship, sacrifices, and cleanliness. It establishes the priesthood and emphasizes the holiness of the Israelite community.
Numbers details the Israelites’ wanderings in the wilderness and includes a census and various experiences during their journey.
Deuteronomy consists of Moses’ speeches to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land. It reiterates the importance of following God’s laws and the consequences of disobedience.
Joshua recounts the conquest of the land of Canaan and the division of the land among the tribes of Israel.
Judges describes a period of tribal leadership and the cycle of apostasy, oppression, and deliverance. It introduces various judges, such as Gideon and Samson.
Ruth takes place during the time of the judges and focuses on the loyalty of Ruth to her Israelite mother-in-law, Naomi.
1 Samuel begins with the birth of Samuel, the last judge of Israel, and follows the rise of Saul as the first king. It also introduces the character of David.
2 Samuel continues the story of David’s reign as king, including his victories, struggles, and sins.
1 Kings covers the reigns of Solomon, as well as subsequent kings of Israel and Judah. It includes the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem and the division of the kingdom.
2 Kings continues the historical account of the Israelite kings, including their relationships with God, and concludes with the exile of the Israelites and the destruction of Jerusalem.
Obadiah pronounces judgment against Edom for its mistreatment of Israel and encourages hope for God’s restoration.
Joel announces a day of judgment and encourages repentance, while also prophesying the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Jonah recounts the story of Jonah’s mission to Nineveh and God’s mercy towards both Jonah and the Ninevites.
Amos condemns the social injustices and religious hypocrisy of Israel while emphasizing the need for justice and righteousness.
Hosea uses the prophet’s marriage as an allegory to highlight God’s love and faithfulness to an unfaithful Israel.
Isaiah contains prophecies of judgment, restoration, and the coming of the Messiah. It addresses the faithlessness of the Israelites and offers hope for redemption.
Micah prophesies against corruption, injustice, and false worship in Israel, emphasizing the importance of justice, kindness, and humility.
Nahum pronounces judgment against Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, for its violence and oppression.
Zephaniah warns of judgment against Judah and the nations, but also promises future restoration and salvation.
Habakkuk questions God’s justice and wrestles with the problem of evil, ultimately finding faith and trust in God’s sovereignty.
Jeremiah prophesies the fall of Jerusalem and the exile of Judah, addressing their rebelliousness and idolatry.
Lamentations mourns the destruction of Jerusalem, reflecting on the consequences of sin and the need for repentance.
Ezekiel prophesies against the idolatry of Israel and the fall of Jerusalem, while offering messages of restoration and hope for the future.
Daniel tells the story of Daniel’s experiences in Babylon and his interpretation of dreams and visions, emphasizing faithfulness to God during persecution.
Haggai encourages the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem and emphasizes the importance of prioritizing God’s house.
Zechariah contains prophecies of the restoration of Jerusalem and the coming of the Messiah, highlighting the future glory of God’s people.
Malachi addresses the spiritual apathy and unfaithfulness of the Israelites, emphasizing the need for true worship and announcing
Chronology Of Old Testament Books
For those who are curious about the history of the Bible, you may be wondering what is the chronological order of the Old Testament. The Old Testament itself is a compilation of several books that cover all of Biblical History. This article will give you an overview on how you can read the Old Testament in chronological order.
Moses – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy
Moses was not just a legendary figure of the Old Testament; he was an actual person who lived during the middle of the second millennium B.C. His life story is chronicled in four books: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers. Within these books we find out that Moses was born when his parents were already old (Exodus 2:1). He lived in Egypt at this time and became known as a Hebrew slave there (Exodus 2:10-11). Eventually he led his people out of bondage from Egypt under God’s guidance. Later on, he wrote down much of what had happened during this time period for future generations to read about their history (Deuteronomy 34).
Joshua – Joshua
You couldn’t have a discussion about the Old Testament without talking about Joshua. He was one of the main characters in the book of Joshua, and is mentioned in other books as well.
Joshua was an important military leader for God, who helped lead His people into new places like Canaan (the promised land).
After Moses died, it was up to Joshua to lead these people into this promised land.
Elders who outlived Joshua – Judges, Ruth
There are two books in the Old Testament that cover a period of history after Joshua, but before Samuel and Saul. These books are Judges and Ruth.
Judges is a book of the Bible that tells the story of the Israelites during the period of the Judges. The story begins when they enter Canaan, and continues until they have reached their final resting place in Gilgal (at which point Samuel begins his ministry). Ruth is the story of a Moabite woman who marries an Israelite man, and her loyalty to her mother-in-law Naomi during their time as widows.
Samuel – 1 & 2 Samuel
Samuel was born in Ramah. He was a prophet, judge and author of the first five books of the Old Testament (Genesis through II Chronicles).
Kings of Judah and Israel – 1 & 2 Kings
1 & 2 Kings were written by a single author, but there are some disagreements about who that author may be.
Some say it was the same person who wrote 1 & 2 Chronicles (written in the 5th century BCE). This is because they have similar themes and both books focus on Israel’s history, kingship and worship practices.
Others claim the two books were written by two different authors who lived during the Babylonian Exile of 586 BCE, when Israel was conquered by Nebuchadnezzar II and forced into exile for 70 years. This theory is supported by linguistic analysis of Hebrew texts from that period.
After studying all this information carefully I’ve come up with my own theory: that there are actually three authors who wrote 1 & 2 Kings each contributing their own unique style to this important historical narrative about what happened before and after God’s chosen people left Jerusalem forever (except for those who returned under Cyrus).
Jeremiah – Jeremiah, Lamentations, Baruch
Jeremiah was a prophet who lived in Jerusalem during the Babylonian exile. He was also a contemporary of the prophets Ezekiel and Daniel. He is known for predicting both the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple (Jeremiah 7:1-15), as well as predicting that this destruction would be followed by an exile (Jeremiah 25:11-12; 29:10).
Ezekial – Ezekiel
Ezekiel, a priest and prophet of Judah, was among the first to prophesy during the Babylonian captivity. He was one of three prophets who were contemporaries with Jeremiah and Daniel; some believe that he lived in Babylon as well.
Ezekiel wrote about many things including Jerusalem’s destruction by Nebuchadnezzar II; he also prophesied about the Second Temple’s destruction and exile after it was built.
Daniel – Daniel
Daniel was a prophet, and he wrote his book during the Babylonian captivity of Israel. He is one of the most famous Old Testament prophets, alongside Isaiah and Jeremiah.
Daniel was taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar (a king of Babylon) when he was very young. Daniel became an officer in Nebuchadnezzar’s court, but he refused to eat food that had been sacrificed to idols as part of a banquet thrown by his master. This act of faith led to Daniel being thrown into a lions’ den where he survived for three days with God’s help before being rescued by His angel Gabriel (6:22-23).
The main theme of this book is faith—faith in God despite all odds and circumstances; faith in His Word even when it seems impossible; faith even when one does not understand why certain things happen or what purpose they serve in His plan for our lives—and vv 6-9 show us how important it is for us as Christians today! Our Lord wants us to use every opportunity we have here on earth wisely so that we can prepare ourselves spiritually for heaven someday soon 🙂
Ezra – Ezra and Nehemiah
Ezra is one of the most important biblical figures to be mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. He is a priest and scribe, who led the first group of Jews to return to Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. Ezra’s arrival in Jerusalem signaled a new era for Israelites that now had to reconstruct their society and religion after centuries of separation from their homeland. Ezra himself played an integral role in helping establish this new form of Judaism by determining which laws should be kept or discarded, such as reinstating circumcision as an essential part of Jewish life (Nehemiah 10:28-39).
Haggai – Haggai and Zechariah
- Haggai and Zechariah were prophets.
- They wrote in the post-exilic period.
- They wrote their books in the middle of the 5th century BC.
Malachi – Malachi
Malachi was a prophet who lived about 450 years before Jesus. His name means “my messenger” and he wrote the last book of the Old Testament. Malachi warned of God’s judgment on the people of Israel, but also predicted the coming of the Messiah. In fact, it has been said that there are more references to Jesus in this book than any other Old Testament book!
Paul of Tarsus – 13 books in NT (Romans-Philemon)
Paul was a Roman citizen, but he was also a Pharisee. Paul had been born into Judaism and became one of the most zealous Jews of his day. He persecuted Christians until God’s miraculous intervention caused him to change his mind about who Jesus is and what he has done for us. In fact, when you read Paul’s writings in the New Testament (Romans through Philemon), you’ll see how much he changed from being a self-righteous persecutor to being an apostle who gave up everything to help spread the gospel message throughout the Roman world.
Conclusion
All in all, this chronology shows that the Bible is a history book. It records accurately events which have occurred in time and space. It also illustrates clearly how the Old Testament was built on the foundation of prophecy, with each prophet calling for a greater understanding of God’s will and plan for humanity than those who had come before.