A Chronology of the Biblical Period

A Chronology of the Biblical Period

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[Approximate] Date…….Event..……………………………………………………….Biblical References

1850-1700 BCE Age of Abraham & Sarah: Nomadic Hebrews roam the Fertile Crescent Genesis 12-50

1250 BCE Moses leads Hebrew slaves out of Egypt Exodus 13-34

1200 BCE Israelite tribes settle in Canaan Joshua, Judges

1020 BCE Saul anointed first king in Israel 1 Samuel 8-9

1000 BCE David becomes king over all Israel 2 Samuel 2-21

950 BCE Solomon builds temple in Jerusalem 1 Kings 3-11

922 BCE Israel splits into rival kingdoms, Judah (south) and Israel (north) 2 Kings 12-13

860-840 BCE Prophets Elijah and Elisha denounce influence of Canaanite religion in Israel
1 Kings 17-22

2 Kings 9

750 BCE Prophets Amos and Hosea active in northern kingdom Amos, Hosea

721 BCE Assyrian armies destroy northern kingdom; prophet Isaiah active in southern kingdom
2 Kings 17-20

Isaiah 36-37

621 BCE King Josiah reforms Judah; Book of Deuteronomy found in temple during renovations 2 Kings 22-23

587 BCE Babylonians destroy Jerusalem; end of Davidic dynasty 2 Kings 24

587-538 BCE "Exile," or Babylonian captivity of Judah’s survivors; Deuteronomistic History compiled and priests work to preserve and edit Torah (Books of Moses/Pentateuch)

538 BCE Cyrus of Persia conquers Babylon, encourages exiled people, including Jews, to return to homelands
Ezra 1-6

Haggai 2

538-330 BCE Persian empire rules Judah; influence of Persian Zoroastrianism promotes belief in cosmic dualism, angelology

515 BCE New temple constructed on site of Solomon’s temple

445 BCE Ezra brings edition of Torah from Babylon and promulgates reforms in Jerusalem Nehemiah 8

336-323 BCE Alexander of Macedonia (the Great) conquers most of known world, brings Greek culture and ideas 1 Maccabees 1

167-164 BCE Greek-Syrian king Antiochus IV attempts to eradicate Judaism; Maccabean revolt begins. Book of Daniel, adapting Zoroastrian dualism to trust in YHWH, predicts final conflict between Good and Evil
2 Maccabees 4

Daniel 1-12

142-63 BCE Hasmonean (Maccabean) kings rule Judah 1 Maccabees

63 BCE Roman general Pompey makes Judea part of Roman Empire

40-4 BCE Herod the Great rules in Jerusalem, refurbishes temple

4 BCE Jesus born in Judea Luke 2, Matt. 1-2

26-36 CE Pontius Pilate serves as Roman governor in region of Judea

30 CE Death of Jesus; first Christian community formed in Jerusalem Acts 1-2

35-62 CE Paul, a Diaspora Jew converted to Christianity, founds Christian communities throughout Mediterranean world Acts 9-28

66-73 CE Jews revolt against Rome; first gospel, Mark, written

64 CE Nero blames great fire in Rome on Christians; vicious, local persecutions follow

70 CE Roman armies sack Jerusalem, destroy temple

80-90 CE Gospels of Matthew and Luke written

90 CE Jewish council at Jamnia plans reconstruction of Judaism, settles canon of Hebrew Bible (Old Testament)

96 CE Roman emperor Domitian institutes emperor worship; books of John and Revelation respond to ensuing crisis of persecution against Christians

313 CE Emperor Constantine converts to Christianity, makes Christianity first legal, then the religion of the empire

1850-1700 BCE	Age of Abraham & Sarah: Nomadic Hebrews roam the Fertile Crescent	Genesis 12-50
1250 BCE	Moses leads Hebrew slaves out of Egypt	Exodus 13-34
1200 BCE	Israelite tribes settle in Canaan	Joshua, Judges
1020 BCE	Saul anointed first king in Israel	1 Samuel 8-9
1000 BCE	David becomes king over all Israel	2 Samuel 2-21
950 BCE	Solomon builds temple in Jerusalem	1 Kings 3-11
922 BCE	Israel splits into rival kingdoms, Judah (south) and Israel (north)	2 Kings 12-13
860-840 BCE	Prophets Elijah and Elisha denounce influence of Canaanite religion in Israel	1 Kings 17-22 2 Kings 9
750 BCE	Prophets Amos and Hosea active in northern kingdom	Amos, Hosea
721 BCE	Assyrian armies destroy northern kingdom; prophet Isaiah active in southern kingdom	2 Kings 17-20 Isaiah 36-37
621 BCE	King Josiah reforms Judah; Book of Deuteronomy found in temple during renovations	2 Kings 22-23
587 BCE	Babylonians destroy Jerusalem; end of Davidic dynasty	2 Kings 24
587-538 BCE	"Exile," or Babylonian captivity of Judah’s survivors; Deuteronomistic History compiled and priests work to preserve and edit Torah (Books of Moses/Pentateuch)
538 BCE	Cyrus of Persia conquers Babylon, encourages exiled people, including Jews, to return to homelands	Ezra 1-6 Haggai 2
538-330 BCE	Persian empire rules Judah; influence of Persian Zoroastrianism promotes belief in cosmic dualism, angelology
515 BCE	New temple constructed on site of Solomon’s temple
445 BCE	Ezra brings edition of Torah from Babylon and promulgates reforms in Jerusalem	Nehemiah 8
336-323 BCE	Alexander of Macedonia (the Great) conquers most of known world, brings Greek culture and ideas	1 Maccabees 1
167-164 BCE	Greek-Syrian king Antiochus IV attempts to eradicate Judaism; Maccabean revolt begins. Book of Daniel, adapting Zoroastrian dualism to trust in YHWH, predicts final conflict between Good and Evil	2 Maccabees 4 Daniel 1-12
142-63 BCE	Hasmonean (Maccabean) kings rule Judah	1 Maccabees
63 BCE	Roman general Pompey makes Judea part of Roman Empire
40-4 BCE	Herod the Great rules in Jerusalem, refurbishes temple
4 BCE	Jesus born in Judea	Luke 2, Matt. 1-2
26-36 CE	Pontius Pilate serves as Roman governor in region of Judea
30 CE	Death of Jesus; first Christian community formed in Jerusalem	Acts 1-2
35-62 CE	Paul, a Diaspora Jew converted to Christianity, founds Christian communities throughout Mediterranean world	Acts 9-28
66-73 CE	Jews revolt against Rome; first gospel, Mark, written
64 CE	Nero blames great fire in Rome on Christians; vicious, local persecutions follow
70 CE	Roman armies sack Jerusalem, destroy temple
80-90 CE	Gospels of Matthew and Luke written
90 CE	Jewish council at Jamnia plans reconstruction of Judaism, settles canon of Hebrew Bible (Old Testament)
96 CE	Roman emperor Domitian institutes emperor worship; books of John and Revelation respond to ensuing crisis of persecution against Christians
313 CE	Emperor Constantine converts to Christianity, makes Christianity first legal, then the religion of the empire