Chronology of the Bible Rick Aschmann

Bible chronology main page Español

Last updated: 18-Feb-2022 at 20:14 (See History.) © Richard P. Aschmann

(biblechronology.net/BibleChronologyText.html)

This chart is a text copy of the chart in biblechronology.net/index.html, and is searchable, unlike the chart there, which is an image file. However, most of the clarifying
graphics are missing from this chart, and it is messy in many ways, so search it if you need to, but then go back to the main chart to see things more clearly.

Anytime the following line is seen in the chart:

- - - - - - - - - -

it means that things above it and below it don’t quite line up, because I had to start a new table, but that any vertical lines should be assumed to continue.

All of the teal-colored text showing the corresponding pages in The Narrated Bible is missing from this chart, since there is no need to ever search for this information,
which is almost entirely sequential. I only occasionally show the actual text found in that column, such as the following, since I made and use this file for translation purposes.

Shown in this
Column are the
corresponding
pages in The
Narrated Bible
by F. LaGard
Smith.

I also do not show the dark-red year scale in this chart, for the same reason: it is sequential and need never be searched for.

	Chronology of the Bible (biblechronology.net) © 2022 Richard P. Aschmann
— 2296 Terah born? (Gen. 11:32)	Why does this chronology start with Terah and not with Adam? This depends on the question of whether the genealogies in the Old Testament are complete or not, and it turns out that they very rarely are. What about the genealogies in Genesis 5 and Genesis 11? Aren’t they complete? No, actually a high view of the inerrancy of Scripture requires us to conclude that they are not. Read all about it here. However, there is one part of the chronology of the Bible which can be established prior to Terah, and that is the internal chronology of Noah’s Flood. Either way, both a Young Earth Creationist (YEC) and an Old Earth Creationist (OEC) should be able to agree with the chronology throughout this chart, since it is based on Biblical figures which are independent of this issue.	(born 2296?)
	The Patriarchs	Terah
Names highlighted in red are key individuals whose timelines are shown on the right side.

- - - - - - - - - -

Sarah and Abraham were children of Terah by

Family Tree of the Patriarchs

Terah

different mothers (Gen. 20:12), but this is all we

┌──

───────────

──┴──

───┬───

──────

─────

───┬───

───────

──┐

know about the wives of Terah.

Haran

│

│

│

┌───

──┼──

─────┐

│

│

╔═════

══│══

═══════════

═══════

════╤════

══╗

│

│

│

│

│

╠═════

══│══

═════╤═════

═══╗

│

║

Lot’s wife

═══╤═══

══════════

══ Lot

Iscah

Milcah ═══

══╤══

═ Nahor

Abraham

═╩═╤═══

═Sarah

│

Hagar

│

Keturah

(Gen. 19:26)

│

├──

───────

──┐

(Abram)

│

(Sarai)

│

│

┌───

───┼───

────┐

Bethuel

(others, Gen. 22:20-24)

│

│

│

│

│

│

│

│

│

older

younger

┌─────

──┴──

───┐

│

│

│

daughter─

───┐

daughter──

───┐

Laban

Rebekah

══════

═════

═══╤═══

═ Isaac

Ishmael

Midianites

│

│

│

│

│

(others)

Moab

Ben-Ammi

│

│

Ishmaelites

(Gen. 25:1-4)

│

(Gen. 19:30-38)

│

│

┌──

───┴───

───┐

(Gen. 25:12-18)

Moabites

Ammonites

┌──

─────┴─────

──┐

│

│

│

│

│

│

╔═══

═══╤═══

══════════

═══════

══│══

═══════════

══│══

═══════

══════

╗ │

│

║

│

╔════

═══╤═══

══│══

═══════════

══│══

═══════

══════

╣ │

│

║

│

║

│

│╔═

═════╤═════

══│══

═══════

╗

║ │

│

Bilhah

│

Zilpah

│

Leah

│

Rachel

═══╤═══

╩═════

Jacob

Esau

====== Marriage or sexual relationship

│

│

│

│

│

Dan

Gad

Reuben, Simeon

Joseph,

Benjamin

Edomites

====== Marriage to blood relative

Naphtali

Asher

Levi, Judah

│

(Gen. 36)

Issachar, Zebulon

Ephraim

│

====== Forbidden in Mosaic Law

Dinah

Manasseh

Amalekites

(though this was not yet in force)

— 2226 Haran born? (Terah 70, Gen. 11:26)

The names of Abram’s brother Haran and of the city of Haran,
both mentioned in Gen. 11:31, look identical in English, and one
might wonder if one was named after the other, but in Hebrew
they are completely different names, beginning with different
consonants, the first a simple [h] sound and the second a
pharyngeal sound (made deep in the throat), and they had
different meanings, and would never have been viewed as the
same name, any more than Dick and Nick would be
considered the same name in English. These names are still
pronounced differently in Modern Hebrew.

(born 2226?)

Haran

— 2166 Abram born (Terah 130?, Gen. 12:4, 11:32) ——————————————————————

Terah must have been at least 130 at this time, since Abram was 75 when he entered Canaan, after the
death of his father at age 205 (Gen. 11:32). Abram was evidently the youngest of the three brothers
Haran, Nahor, and Abram mentioned in Gen. 11:26, even though their names are given in reverse,
and presumably Haran the eldest was born when Terah was 70, as stated in Gen. 11:26.

(born 2166)

Abraham

(Abram)

— 2156 Sarai born (Gen. 17:17)

··············· Lot, Milcah, and Iscah, children of Haran, are born (Gen. 11:27,29)

(born 2156)

Sarah

(Sarai)

··············· Haran dies in Ur of the Chaldees (Gen. 11:28)

··············· Abram and Nahor both marry, Sarai barren (Gen. 11:29-30)

··············· The Call of Abram, time uncertain (Acts 7:2-4, Gen. 12:1-3)——————————

··············· Terah moves Abram’s entire clan to Haran (Gen. 11:31) ———————————

God called Abram while he was still living in Ur of the Chaldees (Acts 7:2-4). Terah, perhaps
respecting Abram’s call, takes his whole extended family and leaves Ur, with every intention of going all
the way to Canaan (Gen. 11:31), just as Abram was called to do. However, after they arrive in Haran, he is
apparently unwilling to continue, and Abram seemingly is unwilling to leave him in order to fulfill God’s
command, even though the original command (Gen. 12:1) had been “Leave your country, your people
and your father’s household”!

(This seems to be the most logical way to reconcile Genesis 11 and 12 with Acts 7, and is
reflected in several Bible translations which have “The Lord had said to Abram” in Gen. 12:1. Another
view is that God had to call him twice, the first time reflected in Acts 7, and the second time in Genesis
12. Either way he did exercise faith and obeyed God, as Hebrews 11:8 tells us, even if his faith was not
perfect.)

— 2091 Death of Terah (age 205, Gen. 11:32), Abram leaves Haran and settles in Canaan (Gen. 12:4-9)

——————————

Abram arrives in Canaan at
the age of 75 (Gen. 12:4)

——————————

——

2091?

Abram goes to Egypt because of the famine. Separation from Lot, Abram settles in Hebron. War with eastern kings. Promise and covenant first made. (Gen. 12:10-15:21)

— 2081 Abram takes Hagar as wife (Gen. 16:1-14)

— 2080 Ishmael born (Abram 86, Gen. 16:16) (Gen. 16:15-16)

Where exactly were Sodom and Gomorrah?
They have apparently been found!

↓

(born 2080)

Ishmael

— 2067 Covenant confirmed, circumcision (Abram 99, Gen. 17:1,24). Abram & Sarai renamed Abraham & Sarah. Destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah. Move to Gerar, problem with Abimelech. (Gen. 17-20)

— 2066 Isaac born (Abraham 100, Sarah 90, Gen. 17:17, 21:5) (Gen. 21:1-7)

— 2063 Isaac weaned, Ishmael and Hagar sent away (Gen. 21:8-21), treaty with Abimelech (Gen. 21:22-34). Abraham evidently moved to Beersheba sometime in the last 4 years,

(born 2066)

Isaac

and remains there, probably for the rest of his life.

··············· God commands Abraham to sacrifice Isaac (Gen. 22:1-19)

··············· Abraham hears about Nahor’s descendants (Gen. 22:20-24)

Was Hebrew Abraham’s native language? No, the Bible seems to clearly indicate that his
native language was ancient Aramaic, though it’s easy to miss that, because the references are not
very prominent. So what was Hebrew? Hebrew was the language of the wicked Canaanites! Read all
about it here.

But in that case why is he called Abram the Hebrew in Genesis 14:13? The answer is a bit
unexpected: in the Old Testament Hebrew is never used as a term for the Hebrew language (although by
the time of the New Testament it is), but only in reference to a group of people. And in Genesis it
seems clear from its usage that it had a much broader meaning than one referring to just Abraham and
his descendants. So what did Hebrew mean in Genesis? Click here for a discussion of this.

— 2029 Death of Sarah (age 127, Gen. 23:1-2) (Gen. 23)

— 2026 Isaac marries Rebekah (age 40, Gen. 25:20) (Gen. 24, 25:19-20)

-2029

··············· Abraham marries Keturah after Sarah’s death, has more children.
                     (Age at least 137 at remarriage, probably at least 140!) (Gen. 25:1-6)

— 2006 Esau and Jacob born (Isaac 60, Gen. 25:26) (Gen. 25:21-26)

··············· Isaac moves to Beer Lahai Roi at some point before Abraham’s death

(Gen. 25:11), possibly even before his marriage (Gen. 24:62)

— 1991 Death of Abraham (age 175, Gen. 25:7) (Gen. 25:7-10)

··············· Esau and Jacob grown, Esau sells birthright (Gen. 25:27-34)

··············· Isaac, Abimelech, and Rebekah (Gen. 26:1-23)

··············· Isaac settles long-term in Beersheba (Gen. 26:23-33, 28:10)

— 1966 Esau marries 2 heathen wives (age 40, Gen. 26:34) (Gen. 26:34-35, 36:2)

*Indicates a date about which I disagree with F. LaGard Smith

Jacob’s children’s mothers and probable birth years and birth sequence

(Gen. 29:31-30:24, 35:16-26, and 49)

There are many lists in the Bible of Jacob’s sons or of the tribes of Israel, but none seems to give
them in their actual birth order. Instead, most list them according to their mothers, as in Gen. 35:23-
26. However, their order can be deduced with some certainty from Gen. 29:31-30:24 and the fact that
all the sons except Benjamin were born during the second 7 years that Jacob had to work for Leah
and Rachel (Gen. 29:27), which were completed immediately after Joseph’s birth (Gen. 30:25-26).

		Leah	Bilhah	Zilpah	Rachel
	1921	Reuben (1)
	1920	Simeon (2)
	1919	Levi (3)
“Then she stopped having	1918	Judah (4)
children.” (Gen. 29:35 NIV) →	1917		Dan (5?)
	1916	Issachar (6?)	Naphtali (7?)	Gad (8?)
“Afterward she bore a	1915	Zebulun (9?)		Asher (10?)	Joseph (11)
daughter…” (Gen. 30:21 ESV) →	1914	Dinah (12)
	⁞
(Dinah sexually mature) →	1900?				Benjamin (13)

(born 2006)

Jacob

1991

— 1937 Death of Ishmael (age 137, Gen. 25:17)

1937

— 1929 Jacob deceives Isaac to receive blessing, flees to Haran (age 77!). (Gen. 27:1-29:20)

··············· Esau marries a third wife, daughter of Ishmael (Gen. 28:9, 36:3)

— 1922 Jacob marries Leah and Rachel (Gen. 29:21-30) 1921─

··············· Esau moves to Edom/Seir, time uncertain (Gen. 32:3, 36:6-8) 11 sons born

— 1915 Birth of Joseph (Jacob 91, Gen. 30:22-25) 1915─ (see box above)

··············· Isaac moves from Beersheba to Hebron, time uncertain (Gen. 26:23,33, 28:10, 35:27)

— 1909* Jacob leaves Haran, meets Esau, settles in Shechem (Gen. 31-33)

1929─ Jacob works 7 years for Rachel 1929─

before marriage (Gen. 29:15-20), Jacob spends

1922─ works 7 years for Rachel and Leah a total of 20

after marriage (Gen. 29:27-30) (Gen. 29:21-30:26), years in Haran

1915─ and works 6 years for livestock (Gen. 31:41) (Gen. 31:38,41)

(Gen. 30:26-43).

1909*─ 1909*─

Levi

(born 1919)

(born 1915)

Joseph

- - - - - - - - - -

— 1900? Rape of Dinah (age 14?), murder of Shechemites; move to Bethel, then Bethlehem; birth of Benjamin (Jacob 106!), death of Rachel; Reuben’s

incest (age 22?) (Gen. 34:1-35:22). Jacob reunited with Isaac, settles in
Hebron (Gen. 35:27), probably until move to Egypt (Gen. 37:14).

The trials of Job

— 1898 Joseph sold into slavery (age 17, Gen. 37:2) (Gen. 37)

Potiphar’s household, prison (Gen. 39)

— 1887 Joseph interprets dreams of butler and baker (Gen. 40)

————————————————————————————————————

— 1885 Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dream, becomes ruler of Egypt (age 30, Gen. 41:46) (Gen. 41:1-49) ─ 7 years

— 1878 Start of seven years of famine (Gen. 41:53-57) ─ of plenty

— 1886 Death of Isaac (age 188, Gen. 35:28) (Gen. 35:27-29)

1898?—

1877?—

See box
below
for
Judah’s
story

1886

— 1876 Second visit of Joseph’s brothers, move to Egypt (Jacob 130, Gen. 47:9) (Gen. 43:1-47:12, Exo. 1:1-5) —————

─ 7 years

—————————

The Israelites move to Egypt
(Gen. 46, 430 years before
the Exodus, see Exo. 12:40-41)

—————————

Senusret II

(Sesostris II)

1897

— 1871 End of seven years of famine ─ of famine

Senusret III

(Sesostris III)

1843

1839

Probable ruling
periods of the
pharaohs in the
Joseph story
(See this page,
this page and
this page.)

— 1859 Death of Jacob (in Egypt 17 years, age 147, Gen. 47:28) (Gen. 47:28-50:21)

— 1805 Death of Joseph (age 110, Gen. 50:22) (Gen. 50:22-26)

— 1782 Death of Levi (age 137, Exo. 6:16)

Judah’s Story (Genesis 38) As can be seen from the following chart, there is just enough time for all of the events in the Judah story if each of his sons marries quite young. (Judah apparently did not marry until after Joseph was sold into slavery, Gen. 38:1.) For a discussion of the chronology of Judah’s story, and the issue of Perez’s two sons mentioned in Gen. 46:12, see Mathewson. (The actual events of Genesis 38 occur from 1898 to 1877.)
— 1918 Judah born Judah	— 1918 Judah born
— 1898? Judah (age 20?) marries Shua’s daughter— — — — 1892? Shelah born Shelah — 1883? Er (age 15?) marries Tamar, dies — 1882? Onan (age 15?) marries Tamar, dies — 1878? Shelah age 15, Tamar seduces Judah — 1877? Perez and Zerah born	— 1897? Er born — 1896? Onan born — 1897? Shelah born — 1877? Perez born
————Israelites move to Egypt————

1859

1805

1782?

Before the period of the kings of Judah and Israel, no one mentioned in the Bible appears in the contemporary archaeological record. Does this cast
doubt on the reliability of the Bible? No, among other reasons it shows that the archaeological record is far from complete. See this page for details.

··············· All of Joseph’s generation dies, Israelites multiply and become exceedingly numerous (Exo. 1:6-7)

Slavery in Egypt

“Then a new king, who did not know about Joseph, came to power” (Exo. 1:8-14). This was the start of the oppression of the Israelites, time unknown. Genesis 15:13 says that the
oppression is to last 400 years, but this must be a round number, since both Joseph (based on biblical figures) and the Pharaoh of the years of famine (probable, see above) were still alive
in 1846, 400 years before the Exodus. Either that, or it should be understood as applying to the entire time in Egypt, not just the oppression, in which case it would still be a round number,
but it would be 30 years shorter than the more precise 430 years given in Exo. 12:40-41! This 400-year figure is repeated in Acts 7:6 in a citation of Genesis 15:13-14, with obviously the
same interpretive issues. The 450-year figure in Acts 13:20 has similar issues: it seems to be made up of this 400-year figure + the 40 years in the desert + the first 10 years of the conquest of
Canaan, and thus has the same issues as the 400-year figure. (This is according to the interpretation of most modern translations, including the NIV and the ESV. The King James and
others parse the verse differently, and assign the 450 years to the time of the Judges, but this is far too long, as can be seen by following the chronology of the 480 years below.) For more
discussion about this pharaoh, click here.

The Israelites were in Egypt for 430 years, as stated in Exo. 12:40-41.

How many generations were they there? See this page for a discussion of this.
Also see section 7. Appendix 1 on that page for a discussion of why the 430
year figure applies only to the time in Egypt and not to the time the patriarchs
spent in Canaan, as many have suggested.

When was Hebrew (Canaanite) first written?
Both the Bible itself and archeological and
other external evidence suggests that it was
after the time of Joseph, but before the time
of Moses. See this page for details.

The Exodus and the Entry into Canaan

*Indicates a date about which I disagree with F. LaGard Smith

— 1529 Aaron born (Exo. 7:7)				Aaron
··············· ······························	Pharaoh orders the killing of all newborn Hebrew boys (Exo. 1:15-22)
— 1526 Moses born, adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter (Exo. 2:1-10)				Moses
		For a very tentative identification of some of the pharaohs of the Exodus period, click here.
				(born 1495*??) Joshua
— 1486 Moses flees to Midian (age 40, Acts 7:23) (Exo. 2:11-22)			For more on the dates of Joshua, Caleb, the elders, and Othniel, click here.	(born 1485) (Jos. 14:6-12) Caleb
··············· Pharaoh dies, people groan, God hears. (Exo. 2:23-25) — 1447? Burning bush. First confrontation with Pharaoh and backlash (Exo. 3:1-7:9) ——————————————		———————————————————		(born 1465 or later) (Num. 14:29-38) Elders who outlived Joshua (Jos. 24:31, Jdg. 2:7) ┐
— 1446 Plagues. Exodus. Mt. Sinai. Law. Golden calf. Tabernacle. (Exo. 7:10-40:16) —————————————————— — 1445 Tabernacle completed. First Passover after Egypt. Journey to Canaan. Spies and rebellions. (Exo. 40:17 - Num. 19:22)		The Exodus from Egypt (Exo. 12:40-41, 430 years after Israelites move to Egypt) (1 Kings 6:1, 480 years before foundation of temple in 967)		—— │ │ │ ├── │ │ │ │ │	————————— For a detailed, month-by- month chronology of the key years of the Exodus from Egypt, click here.	———————— Othniel (nephew of
	38 years of wandering in the desert (1445 - early 1407, Deu. 2:14-16)
— 1407 Return to Kadesh. Travel to Mount Hor, Aaron dies. (Num. 20-21) — 1406 Reach Plains of Moab (Num. 22-36). Deuteronomy address, Joshua appointed, Moses dies (Deu. 1-34). Cross Jordan, Passover (Jos. 1:1-5:12).—————— ··············· Initial conquest of Canaan (Jos. 5:13-12:24)				│ │— ┘	The Israelites enter Canaan (Joshua 3)	Caleb) ————————
— 1400 The Lord appears to Joshua, final disposition of land (Jos. 13-21). Joshua’s address to eastern tribes and aftermath (Jos. 22). Caleb receives Hebron at 85 (Jos. 14:6-12)

— 1385*?? Joshua’s final address and death (Jos. 23:1-24:30, Jdg. 2:8-9)

Additional conquests and failure to complete conquest (Jdg. 1:1-2:5) “And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua…” (Jdg. 2:7)

1385*??

From Judges
through the reign
of David the
corresponding
pages in The
Narrated Bible
are shown on
the right in the
column with the
gray
background. I do
this because I
prefer M. A.
Cragg’s
chronology over
Smith’s for the
period of the
Judges.

— 1379?

1379?

Oppression by Mesopotamians 8 years (Jdg. 3:8)

The Judges

Israelites do evil (Jdg. 3:7) Oppression by Mesopotamians 8 years (Jdg. 3:8)

1380? —

1380 ??

— 1371?

Othniel (nephew of Caleb) delivers Israel and becomes judge for 40 years (Jdg. 3:9-11)

Colors used through the period of the Judges: Years as judge Possible additional years as judge (uncertain) Years of peace, not necessarily matching a judge

The Berlin Statue Pedestal Relief mentions “Israel”, sometime between 1406 and 1349.

Years when the Israelites do evil (only in Smith’s chronology)

— 1349

Chronology of M. A. Cragg

Years of oppression red figures: Time span provided in the text

Chronology of

(I have added one year to all of his dates to bring them into conformity with the rest of this chronology.)

Othniel (nephew of Caleb) delivers Israel and becomes judge for 40 years (Jdg. 3:9-11)

The Narrated Bible

— 1331?

1331?

Southwest Israel

Southeast Israel

Central and

1327?—

1331? 1327?

Israelites do evil (Jdg. 3:12)

1322?

Northern Israel

1322?—

Oppression by Moabites 18 years (Jdg. 3:13-14)

Oppression by Moabites 18 years (Jdg. 3:13-14)

Moabites

— 1313?

1313?

Deliverance by Ehud (Jdg. 3:15-30)

┌────┐ │Ruth? │ └────┘

The land has peace for 80 years. (Jdg. 3:30)

Deliverance by Ehud (Jdg. 3:15-30)

┌────┐ 1304?│Ruth? │           └────┘

1304?—

The chronology of the book of Judges is difficult, since if we add together all of the time periods specified, it takes up quite a bit more time than there is available between the Exodus and the founding of the temple, so some of the events must have occurred simultaneously and been only regional. Here I have very tentatively followed M. A. Cragg’s chronology, but I have also included the chronology from The Narrated Bible in a second column for comparison. A quite different third arrangement can be seen in the timeline on this page. However, keep in mind that any such arrangement is highly uncertain, in fact largely guesswork, since there are almost no fixed points throughout this whole period. For more information click here. “After Ehud came Shamgar” (Jdg. 3:31)

The land has peace for 80 years, at least in the southeastern part of Israel, near the Moabites. Ehud and Shamgar are the deliverers during this time, though they are not referred to as judges. (Jdg. 3:30-31)

Ehud

1274—

The Battle of Kadesh

“After Ehud died, the Israelites once again did evil in the eyes of the LORD. 2 So the LORD sold them into the hands of Jabin” (Jdg. 4:1-2)

1253?? Philistines 1248??

1253?

1253? evil (Jdg. 4:1)

1253?—

— 1233? — 1220? — 1213?

1233? Jabin 1213?- 1203—

The Merneptah Stele mentions “Israel”. Deborah, Gideon

Northwest Israel 1233? Oppression by Jabin and the Canaanites 20 years (Jdg. 4:2-3) 1213? Deliverance by Deborah (Jdg. 4:4-5:31) The land has peace for 40 years (Jdg. 5:31). It appears that Deborah’s judgeship began before this time (Jdg. 4:4-5), and we have no information about when it ended.

Southwest Israel Philistines (Jdg. ?                 3:31) Deliverance by Shamgar (southwest only?) ?

Eastern Israel Oppression by Midianites 7 years (Jdg. 6:1-10) Deliverance by Gideon (Jdg. 6:11-8:27) The land has peace for 40 years (Jdg. 8:28)

The land has peace for 40 years, at least in central and northern Israel (Jdg. 5:31). Israelites do evil (Jdg. 6:1) Oppression by Midianites 7 years (Jdg. 6:1-10) Deliverance by Gideon (Jdg. 6:11-8:27)

Shamgar (southwest only?) 1224?

Peace continues only in the southeast?

1244? Jabin and Canaanites 1224? Deborah

1224?— 1184?— 1177?—

— 1173? — 1170? — 1147? — 1125? — 1116?

1173? 1170? Tola 1147? Jair 1125? 1116?

Abimelech

(born 1174?) 1116?

“After the time of Abimelech …Tola… rose to save Israel. …He was followed by Jair” (Jdg. 10:1-3) Judges 12: 7 “Jephthah led Israel” 8 “after him, Ibzan” 11 “after him, Elon” 13 “after him, Abdon”

Around 1175— first known historical references to the Philistines

Abimelech king in Shechem 3 years (Jdg. 8:33-9:57) Tola 23 years (Jdg. 10:1-2) 1147? Jair 22 years in Gilead (Jdg. 10:3-5) 1125? Oppression by Ammonites 18 years (Jdg. 10:6-9)

The land has peace for 40 years (Jdg. 8:28) Abimelech king Tola 23 years (Jdg. 10:1-2) Israelites do evil (Jdg. 10:6)

evil (Jdg. 10:6)

Abimelech Tola 1111?

1137?— 1134?— 1111?—

— 1107?

———

—————

—————

300 years after conquest of trans-Jordan mentioned by Jephthah (Jdg. 11:26)

——————————

—————————

————————————

————

——————

—————

1107?—

——

— 1101?

1101?

Oppression by Philistines 40 years (Jdg. 13:1)

Eli judge 40 years (1 Sam. 4:18) (1 Sam. 2:12-36)

1096?? born (1 Sam. 1:1-23) -1093?? Weaned      (1 Sam. 1:24-2:11) (born God speaks 1080?) ······(1 Sam. 3:1-18) (1 Sam. 3:19-21)

? Samson leads Israel 20 years (Jdg. 15:20, 16:31) ?

Jephthah 6 years (Jdg. 10:10-12:7) Ibzan 7 years (Jdg. 12:8-10) Elon 10 years (Jdg. 12:11-12) Abdon 8 years (Jdg. 12:13-15)

Oppression by ┌────┐ Ammonites 18 years │Ruth? │ (Jdg. 10:6-9) └────┘ Deliverance by Jephthah 6 years (Jdg. 10:10-12:7) Ibzan 7 years (Jdg. 12:8-10)

1090? Philistines 1080?

Ammonites 1089? Jephthah 1083?

Jair 1089?

1090?— 1089?— 1083?— 1080?—

— 1076?

1076?

1076?

1076? (1 Sam. 4-6)

Samson

(born 1081)

1076?—

— 1056?

—

People repent after 20 years, Philistines defeated (1 Sam. 7:1-14)

Samuel judge (1 Sam. 7:15-17)

(birth year unknown) (Jonathan, Saul’s eldest son and David’s friend, never ruled.)

Elon 10 years (Jdg. 12:11-12) Abdon 8 years (Jdg. 12:13-15)

1060?

(Jonathan)

1066?— 1060?— 1058?—

— 1050?

———

————————————

——————1050?: Acts 13:21

—————————— (born 1050?)

Institution of kings in Israel 1 Sam. 13:1 (1 Sam. 8-12)

1050?

(born 1051?)

1050?—

— 1048??

God deposed Saul as king: 1 Sam. 13:1, 15:23,28

(1 Sam. 15)

Institution of kings in Israel 1 Sam. 13:1 (1 Sam. 8-12)

————

————

————

1043?—

- - - - - - - - - -

	(born 1040? 2 Sam. 5:4)										Early kings of Tyre and Sidon mentioned in the Bible or important to the chronology
			Saul	DYNASTY OF SAUL				Saul	DYNASTY OF SAUL
— 1025??	Samuel anoints David, David kills Goliath (1 Sam. 16-17)					— 1026??	Samuel anoints David, David kills Goliath (1 Sam. 16-17)			1026??—
— 1010?	David king over Judah in Hebron: 1 Sam. 28:1 - 2 Sam. 2:9 (2 Sam. 5:4-5)		1010?	Ish-Bosheth 1008?: 2 Sam. 2:10		— 1011	David king over Judah	1011	Ish-Bosheth 1009?: 2 Sam. 2:10	1011—
— 1003?	David king over all Israel in Jerusalem: 2 Sam. 5:1-3, 1 Chr. 11:1-3			1003?: 2 Sam. 2:11, 5:4-5		— 1004	David king over all Israel		1004?: 2 Sam. 2:11, 5:4-5	1004—
	David (born 991?)			Chronology of M. A. Cragg			David (born 991?)	Chronology of The Narrated Bible			(born 1000)
	DYNASTY OF DAVID			(I have added one year to all of his dates to bring them into conformity with the rest of this chronology.)			DYNASTY OF DAVID	(He makes no attempt to estimate the years of the judgeships of Eli or Samuel.)			980 Hiram I
— 971? — 970?	(born 972?) ———— 971 Solomon co-regent?					971				971—
— 967	———————————	—————	———————	Foundation of the First Temple (1 Kings 6:1, 480 years after the Exodus)	———	————	———————————	———————————————		967—	Friendly commerce
						Solomon					with David

- - - - - - - - - -

Solomon	The	Kings	DYNASTY OF JEROBOAM SON OF NEBAT (NORTHERN KINGDOM)	and Prophets of Israel						Neo-Assyrian Dynasty (Not named in Bible until Tiglath-Pileser III, but extra-biblical sources show they interacted with the	(2 Sam. 5:11) and Solomon 947
								Egypt 945
——————	931———————	Division of the kingdom	———————931	———————	———————	———————	——————	————————————	—	——————	——————
	Rehoboam 914		Jeroboam I	DYNASTY OF BAASHA	See this page for a summary chart for the kings of Judah and Israel following McFall’s chronology, and the corresponding biblical references.			Shishak (Sheshonq I) (1 Ki. 11:40, 14:25-26, 2 Chr. 12:2-9) 924		Israelites as early as Shalmaneser III, as seen in boxes at left, and later with Jonah.)	(born 915)
	Abijah 911 (Abijam)	(born 908?)	910 909 Nadab	909						912
	Asa	Kingdom of Judah (South)	Kingdom of Israel (North)	Baasha 886	Zimri king for a week 885	Tibni com- petes with Omri for 4 years 885	DYNASTY OF OMRI 885	Those rulers mentioned by name in the Bible, whether Israelite or foreign, are highlighted in red.		Adad-nirari II 891 Tukulti-Ninurta II 884
		(born 880?)				881	Omri
	870 Jehoshaphat 848? Jehoram	— 873 Jehoshaphat co-regent? (born 863) — 853 Jehoram 853— co-regent?	Ahab fights in the Battle of Qarqar and the Battle of Ramoth Gilead, dies.			874? Elijah’s ministry in Israel ——852?——	874 Ahab ——853—— Joram	Obadiah’s prophecy about Edom    854 Ahaziah co-regent?    853 Ahaziah 852———————————		Ashur-nasir-pal II 859 —————————— Shalmaneser III	878 Ithobaal (Ethbaal I) Father of Jezebel wife of Ahab (1 Kings 16:31) 847
	841 Ahaziah (Jehoahaz) Queen Athaliah 835	(born 841)	841  —— 841 -	Jehu pays tribute to Shalmaneser III.				841			(born 841?) 831

- - - - - - - - - -

	Joel’s ministry in Judah —814 Temple repaired (2 Ki. 12:4-16, 2 Ch. 24:4-14) Joash (Jehoash) 796	(born 821) (born 807*) 791* Uzziah    co-regent?	Jehu 814 Jehoahaz 798 Jehoash	DYNASTY OF JEHU 793 Jeroboam II       co-regent?	Elisha’s ministry in Israel 796?	Founding of Carthage, which helps date the start of construction of Solomon’s Temple.		- 825		————————— 824 Shamshi-Adad V 811 Adad-nirari III	———— Pygmalion (Pu’mayyaton, Pummay)
	Amaziah		782							783	785
*Indicates a date about which I disagree with F. LaGard Smith 739 (Is. 6:1) Isaiah’s ministry	767 Uzziah (Azariah) 739 Jotham 731*	(born 776*) (born 755*) —751* Jotham co-regent? (born 740*) 735* Ahaz co-regent? 729* Hezekiah	Jeroboam II 753 752 Zechariah 737—	Shallum king for a month 752 Menahem pays tribute to Tiglath-Pileser III (a.k.a. Pul).	DYNASTY OF MENAHEM 752 Menahem 742 Pekahiah 740* ———————	Jonah’s prophecy in Nineveh and Israel (2 Kings 14-25) PEKAH *752 Pekah ———————————— *731	HOSHEA *731 Hoshea	Amos’s prophecy in Israel and Judah Hosea’s ministry in Israel ————————————— Fall of Aram-Damascus (Syria) to Assyria (2 Ki. 16:7-9)		Shalmaneser IV 773 Ashur-Dan III 755 Ashur-nirari V 745 Tiglath-Pileser III (Pul) (2 Ki. 15-16, 1 Ch. 5, 2 Ch. 28) -732—————— 727	For information about the kings of Aram (Syria) and Damascus see this page. ——————————
Micah’s           in Judah ministry in Judah	Ahaz *715	co-regent?	—————	Fall of Israel (northern kingdom) to Assyria 723		————————————	723 —————	————————————— 722 Merodach-Baladan (Marduk-apla-iddina II)		——————— 722	Shalmaneser V (2 Ki. 17-18) Sargon II
——————————	——————————	——————	——711—	Assyria captures Ashdod (Is. 20:1). See Hezekiah.				710			(Isa. 20:1)
		(born 709*)								705
	—701 ←See Hezekiah. —700* Merodach-Baladan’s	697*		Lives and Reigns of the Kings (Same colors used for governors): Years as king Possible additional years as king (uncertain) Years as co-regent with father Years prior to becoming king (or after being deposed from kingship) Years prior to becoming king (or after being deposed from kingship), uncertain birth (or death) date  Ministries of the Prophets: Known period of ministry (years fairly certain) Approximate period of ministry (general time period fairly certain) Assumed period of ministry (time period not known) Life prior to start of ministry (birthdate not completely certain)				703 702 (died 700?)	(Click here for details.)		Sennacherib (2 Ki. 18-19, 2 Ch. 32,
letter                             Hezekiah *686 —681 Sennacherib assassinated (2 Ki. 19:37,            2 Ch. 32:21c, Is. 37:38),            Manasseh repents (2 Ch. 33:10-13) Manasseh		Manasseh co-regent? (born 663)								681 669	Isa. 36-37 Esarhaddon (2 Ki. 19:37, Ezra 4:2, Isa. 37:38) 668

- - - - - - - - - -

Nahum’s prophecy about Nineveh (p. 929)			*642	(born 648) (born 632)	Sons of Josiah			Kings of Babylon, Media and Persia (p. 1221)			Ashurbanipal (Osnappar) (Ezra 4:10)
			Amon  *640	| (born	The Exile	and		Media & Persia		Babylon 626	627
—631 Josiah’s reforms —621 Temple repaired (2 Ki. 22:8-23:20,   2 Ch. 34:8-33)	626	Zephaniah’s prophecy Habakkuk’s prophecy		633) (born 615) |     (born 618)	(born 622?) the	Return				Nabopolassar	Final weak kings —612 Nineveh destroyed
——————————	Jeremiah’s prophecy	Jehoahaz —————— (Shallum) Jehoiakim (Eliakim)	609 *609 —————	————	—605* (1:1-17) —————— —604* (1:18-2:49)	First deportation 605		Egypt 610   ——————— Neco	————	———————————————	605
——————————	————	*Dec. 598 ———Jehoiachin—— (Jeconiah, Apr. 597	—————	————	—————————————	Great deportation 597		(2 Ki. 23:29‑24:7,    2 Ch. 35:20-24,    ——————— 36:1-4, 595	(born 601) ————	———————————————
——————————	586 ———	592 Coniah) —————————— Ezekiel’s	—————	Zedekiah ————	————————————— —584? Fiery furnace (Ch. 3)	Fall of Judah 586 Temple destroyed		Jer. 46:2ff)   ———————	————	———————————————	Nebuchadnezzar II (Nabû‑kudurri‑uṣur) (2 Ki. 24-25, 2 Ch. 36, Daniel 1-5, etc.)
70 years		prophecy			—581 Final deportation (Jer. 52:30) Daniel’s life and ministry			Darius the Mede (Daniel 5:31, 6, 9:1, 11:1) (Click here for extra-biblical			Evil-Merodach (Amel-Marduk)       |   (2 Kings 25:27, Jer. 52:31)
	562*	Jehoiachin released (2 Kings 25:27-30)	—562*—		—563? Nebuchadnezzar repents(Ch. 4)			identifications)		562* 560* 556*	Nergal-sar-ezer (Neriglissar) (Jer. 39:13) Labashi-Marduk
	70 years (2 Chr. 36:21, Jer. 25:8-14, 29:10, Daniel 9:2, Zec. 1:12, 7:5)				—553* Daniel’s first vision (Ch. 7) —551* Daniel’s second vision (Ch. 8)					553*	Nabonidus (Nabû-nāʾid)
——————————	—539 Cyrus’s decree (Ezra 1:1-4) —————————————			————	—539* Wall (Ch. 5), Prayer (Ch. 9), Lions (Ch. 6), retires (1:21, 6:28)				539 —	Fall of Babylon to Persia 539	Belshazzar (Dan. 5,7,8) 539
	—538 First Return under Zerubbabel (Sheshbazzar) (Ezra 1:5-3:6) Foundation of temple laid 536 (Ezra 3:8-12)			538	—536 Daniel’s last vision (Ch. 10-12)				Cyrus the Great (2 Ch. 36:22-23, Ezra 1-6, Is. 44:28, 45:1, Dan. 1:21, 6:28, 10:1)
	—529 Accusation lodged (Ezra 4:6) —522 Temple construction halted (Ezra 4:7-24)			Zerubbabel (Sheshbazzar) governor (grandson of Jehoiachin)				522	530 Cambyses II (Ahasuerus/Xerxes, Ezra 4:6)
	—521 Temple construction restarted (Ezra 5:1-2) Temple completed 515* (Ezra 6:14b-22)			520 —	Haggai’s prophecy	519— 518—	Zechariah’s prophecy
						Gaumata (Pseudo-Smerdis) (Artaxerxes, Ezra 4:7-23, 6:14)			Darius I king of Persia (Ezra 4-6, Haggai 1-2, Zechariah 1,7)
*Indicates a date about which I disagree with F. LaGard Smith
—490 The watershed Battle of Marathon, in which Greece prevents the Persian Empire under Darius from gaining a foothold in Europe —483 Xerxes’ banquet, Vashti removed as queen (Esther 1) —480-479 Second Persian invasion of Greece under Xerxes, ultimately unsuccessful ———————————————————————— —478* Esther becomes queen (Esther 2) —474* Haman plots the destruction of the Jews (Esther 3-8) —473* The Jews are saved from destruction, institution of Purim (Esther 9-10)						—————————— For a more detailed chronology of the book of Esther click here.		——————— 486 ——————— Xerxes I (Esther 1-10)	= Ahasuerus
—458-457 The “Second Return” under Ezra (Ezra 7-10) ministry of Ezra the priest			Decree to rebuild— (Daniel 9:25)		Those rulers mentioned by name in the Bible, whether Israelite or foreign, are highlighted in red.			465
—445 Nehemiah gets news and prays (Neh. 1) —444 Nehemiah goes to Jerusalem, completion of wall (Neh. 2:1-12:26) —432 Nehemiah returns to Susa (Neh. 13:6) (Neh. 13:4-5) —425? Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem, wall dedicated (Neh. 13:7-31, 12:27-47, 13:1-3)				444 Nehemiah governor 432 425?	49 years (“7 sevens”, Daniel 9:25)	Malachi’s prophecy			Artaxerxes I (Longimanus) (Ezra 7:1-8:1, Neh. 2:1, 5:14, 13:6) 424   Xerxes II 423
—408?? Completion of the rebuilding of Jerusalem? (Daniel 9:25)					The completion of Malachi and Nehemiah marks the close of the Old Testament Canon. After this no more books of the Bible are written until the first century A.D., not counting the Apocryphal books, which are not accepted by Protestants, Jews, Jerome the translator of the Vulgate, or even most church scholars before the Reformation. The intervening years are often called the Intertestamental Period.				Darius II (Nothos) (Darius the Persian?, Nehemiah 12:22) 404 Artaxerxes II

- - - - - - - - - -

The Intertestamental			Period 483 years (“7 sevens + 62 sevens”, Daniel 9:25-26) from 457 B.C. to the start of the ministry of Jesus the Messiah (The Anointed One) in 27 A.D.	358 Artaxerxes III 338 Artaxerxes IV Arses 330	(Darius the Persian??,                                                    Nehemiah 12:22) 336 Darius III (Codomannus)
——————————————	Fall of Persia to Alexander the Great, beginning the period of Greek influence	——————————————	——————————————————————————	————————	———————————————————————————— 329
		27 A.D.			Bessus (Artaxerxes V)

—167 Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid Empire, led by Judas Maccabeus

—142 Founding of the Hasmonean dynasty of high priests by Simon, brother of Judas, who were rulers of Judea, which was largely independent of both the Seleucid
Empire and the Roman Empire for much of this time. Before gaining full independence they were called “ethnarchs”, Greek for “rulers of a nation (or ethnic group)”.

—110 Full independence achieved under John Hyrcanus

—104 The Hasmonean rulers begin calling themselves “kings” under Aristobulus I, in spite of not being descendants of King David.

Lives and Reigns of Herodian kings and tetrarchs, and various other rulers: Years as ruler Years as co-regent with father Years prior to becoming ruler (or after being deposed) Years prior to becoming ruler (or after being deposed), uncertain birth (or death) date

Those rulers mentioned by name in the Bible are highlighted in red in the charts below. (Sometimes their biblical descriptions or territories are also highlighted in red, as are a few of their family members who were not rulers.) Obviously several others are referred to indirectly, as when Paul appeals to Caesar in Acts 25:11, the current Caesar being the infamous Nero, who eventually ordered Paul’s execution. Earlier when Paul commanded the Romans to submit to their governing authorities in Romans 13:1-7 this same Nero had already become emperor.

HERODIAN DYNASTY (born 74)

(See also here, especially the last two links.)

—63 Conquest of Judea by the Roman Empire. The “kings” are demoted to ethnarchs again. Antipater the Idumean, father of King Herod the Great, gains more and more influence and political power, though he does not become ruler in his own right.

(born before 20)

Sons of Herod the Great mentioned in the Bible

—43 Antipater the Idumean assassinated by poisoning. —39 Herod the Great, son of Antipater, is elected “King of the Jews” by the Roman senate. —37 Herod captures Jerusalem with the support of the Romans, and executes Antigonus, the last Hasmonean ruler. —20-19 Herod the Great begins rebuilding the Jewish temple in Jerusalem, as mentioned by Jesus 46 years later in April, 27 A.D. (John 2:20).

King Herod the Great (Mat. 2, Luke 1:5) died

| 37 (27) (23) —

Herod Philip (a.k.a. Herod II) first husband of Herodias (Mat. 14:3, Mark 6:17). He was never a ruler.

ROMAN EMPERORS 27

Jewish high priests mentioned in the New Testament

The New Testament

4 B.C. (March/

(10)

—5

B.C.?—

Birth of Jesus Christ

Roman Prefects and

April)

408 B.C.

procurators of Judea

Herod

Augustus

Archelaus,

(Luke 2:1)

—9 A.D. The boy Jesus in the temple (Luke 2:41-51)

(End of “62

6 9 12 15

Coponius Marcus Ambivulus Annius Rufus

tetrarch 6 A.D. of Judea, Samaria and Idumaea (Mat. 2:22)

Philip, tetrarch of

14

-12 Tiberius co-regent?

Annas       6 (Luke 3:2, John 18, Acts 4:6) 15

Are the genealogies of Jesus complete? Click here for a discussion of this.

sevens”)

Valerius Gratus

(died 18)

Iturea and

Caiaphas 18

Trachonitis

Tiberius

(Mat. 26,

—27

Jesus baptized, begins ministry

26

(Luke 3:1)

(Luke 3:1)

Luke 3:2,

—30?

Jesus’ death, resurrection, ascension

Day of Pentecost

Ministry of Jesus

“1 seven”

Herod Antipas,

John

—34?

Martyrdom of Stephen, persecution by Saul, church scattered

Pontius Pilate

tetrarch of

34

11:49

—35?

Conversion of Saul of Tarsus (Paul)

36

Marcellus

Galilee & Perea

|

37

John 18,

—38?

Saul visits Peter & James in Jerusalem, goes home to Tarsus

37

Marullus

(exiled 39)

(died

Caligula

Acts 4:5)

—43

Founding of church at Antioch

44 James killed by king Herod (Agrippa I)

41

34)

41

??

First Missionary Journey

44

Cuspius Fadus

King Herod Agrippa I

47 Ananias

—

Early 49? Council in Jerusalem

46

Tiberius Julius Alexander

(reunited kingdom)

Claudius

(Acts

Late 49-Late 51 Second Missionary Journey

Galatians—?? 1 & 2 Thessalonians 50-51

48

Ventidius Cumanus

(Acts 12) 48

(Acts 11:28,

23, 24)

1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians 57?

52

18:2)

54

Late 53?-58 Third Missionary Journey

Romans 57-58?

Marcus Antonius Felix

King Herod Agrippa II

58-63 Paul a prisoner

58-60 Caesarea

(limited kingship)

59

61-63 Rome

Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon 61-63

60

Porcius Festus

(Acts 25-26)

Nero

(Acts 63?)

1 Timothy, Titus 64-66?

62

Lucceius Albinus

—

67? Martyrdom of Paul under Nero

2 Timothy 67-68?

64

Gessius Florus

66

(died 66)

66

Marcus Antonius Julianus

68

69

70

Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple

Paul’s Letters

70

Vespasian

79

Titus

81

Domitian

(died 93)

—95? Completion of the Canon of Scripture with the writing of (Revelation) by the Apostle John.

96

Nerva

98

The letters explicitly attributed to Paul in the New Testament are mostly fairly easy to date within the framework of Acts and its historical background, as shown above, except for Galatians. However, the dates of writing of the other books of the New Testament are much more difficult, and I have only given the tentative dates of two of these, the Book of Acts and the Book of Revelation.

Trajan

117

Hadrian

For greater
detail from 25
A.D. to 75
A.D., and for
the corre-
sponding
pages in The
Narrated
Bible, click
here.