Christianity is a historical religion. There were men with whom God interacted. These men lived at particular times and places. When we study the bible it helps to understand the relationship that time plays in our study. It is imperative that we understand that Moses lived before Christ; and that Moses lived after Abraham.
We should not be too dogmatic about dates. The dates that I show here should not be taken as absolute, but relative. Their purpose is but to help our understanding of the scripture.
The first diagram is intended to show the period of time that each book of the Bible writes about. In the case of a prophet, such as Isaiah, the indication is intended to show when the prophet is believed to have lived. Notice there are lots of question marks. There are no indications when Job may have lived.
CHRONOLOGY OF OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY
The AGES are arranged (X,Y) where:
x = age when son was born
y = age at death
Year son was born
from beginning BC
THE BEGINNING 0 4174 ADAM (130,930) GEN 5:3-5 130 4044 SETH (105,912) GEN 5:6-8 235 3939 ENOS ( 90,905) GEN 5:9-11 325 3849 CAINAN 395 3779 KENAN ( 70,910) GEN 5:12-14 MAHALALEEL 460 3714 MALELEEL ( 65,895) GEN 5:15-17 JARED 622 3552 JERED (162,962) GEN 5:18-20 ENOCH ( 65,365) GEN 5:21-24 687 3487 METHUSELAH 874 3300 MATHUSALA (187,969) GEN 5:25-27 LAMECH 1056 3118 LEMECH (182,777) GEN 5:28-30 NOAH 1558 2716 NOE (502,950) GEN 5-10 GEN 5:32,7:6,11:10 year of the great FLOOD Gen 7:6 1656 2616 SHEM (100,600) GEN 11:10-11 1658 2516 ARPHAXAD ( 35,438) GEN 11:13 1693 2481 *CAINAN Lk 3:36 SALAH ( 30,433) GEN 11:14-15 1723 2451 EBER ( 34,464) GEN 11:16-17 1757 2417 PELEG ( 30,239) GEN 11:18-19 1787 2387 REU ( 32,239) GEN 11:20-21 1819 2355 SERUG ( 30,230) GEN 11:22-23 1849 2325 NAHOR ( 29,148) GEN 11:24-25 1878 2296 TERAH (130,205) GEN 11:26-32,12:1-4 2008 2166 ACTS 7:4 ABRAHAM (100,175) GEN 21:5,GEN 25:7 2108 2066 ISAAC ( 60,180) GEN 25:26,GEN 35:28-29 2168 2006 JACOB ( 91,147) GEN 47:28,41:29,30,46 2259 1915 GEN 45:6, 47:9 Jacob was 130 when he stood before Pharoah Gen 47:9 2298 1876 Joseph ( ,110) Gen 50:261 Chron 1, and Lk 3 also contain the above genealogy.
* NOTE: This name also appears in some versions of the Septaugint
but does not ocurr in the Hebrew text of Genesis or of
1 Chron 1:18,24. Although present in Luke 3 in most of
the great unicals it is missing from codex BexaeD.
I took the above numbers and placed them in a spreadsheet to creat the charts below. The first one shows how the lifespan of the patriarchs diminished until the time of Joseph. Would you have remembered that the early dip in the curve was due to Enoch, the man that didn't die because God took him?
The next chart will be interesting to anyone wanting to know which of the Patriarchs lived concurrently. The bar chart, which was also made from the spreadsheet, displays which of the patriarchs lived at the same time. It also indicates that Methuselah died in the year of the great flood.
4 GENERATION, 400 YEAR STAY IN EGYPT PROPHESIED GEN 15:13-16, Acts 7:6
430 YEARS IN EGYPT EX. 12:40, Gal. 3:17
Date of Exodus (Ex 12:40-41) 2728 (Year from beginning) 1446 BC (430 years from when Israel entered Egypt)
The chronological link is continued using Ex. 12:40 to establish the date of the Exodus relative to the time of Jacob, and 1 Kings 6:1 to establish the time from the Exodus, through the period of the Judges, to the time of the Monarchy.
NOTE: At this point it is convenient to view a dual genealogy. Judah is used to establish the Jewish monarchy and the lineage of Christ, and Levi to establish the succession of the High Priest.
Jacob (1 Chron 2) Jacob (1 Chron 6)
JUDAH LEVI (,137) Ex 6:16
PHAREZ KOHATH (,133) Ex 6:18
HEZRON [ESROM] AMRAM (,137) Ex 6:20
ARAM +AARON [and Moses, Miriam]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
LEADERSHIP ESTABLISHED DURING THE EXODUS, 40 YEARS, AND TAKING OF CANAAN
MOSES ( ,120) Dt 34:7
Moses was succeeded by
JOSHUA ( ,110) JUDGES 2:8
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
AMINIDAB +ELEAZAR priest under Moses/Joshua Jos 24:33
NAASON [NAHSHON] NUM 7:12,2:3, +PHINEHAS priest under Joshua, battled against Benjamin Jud 20:28
NUM 10:14
SALMON [SALMA] +ABISHUA
BOAZ +BUKKI
OBED +UZZI
JESSE +ZERAHIAH
+MERAIOTH
AMARIAH
AHITUB
ZADOK (2 Sam 8:17 priest under David)
(1 Kin 1:39 annointed Solomon)
AHIMAAZ (2 Sam 18:19 carried word to David on battle)
AZARIAH
JOHANAN
+AZARIAH (EXECUTED OFFICE IN SOLOMON'S TEMPLE)
+AMARIAH
+AHITUB
+ZADOK
+SHALLUM
+HILKIAH
+AZARIAH
+SERAIAH (2 Kings 25:18 ordered slain by Nebucadnezar Jer 52:24-27)
JEHOZADAK (NEBUCHADNEZZAR CARRIED INTO CAPTIVITY)
Ezra presents an incomplete geneology in Ezra 7:1-5 showing himself to be the son of Seraiah. Names identified with + appear in Ezra's list.
The period of the Judges is not well documented from a Chronological point of view. When dates and times are given, it is not always clear what is meant.
Acts 13:20 says that there were judges for a period of about 450 years. 1 Kings 6:1 says that the 4th year of Solomon's reign was 480 years after the Exodus. For additional information on this era, please refer to the Chronology of the Old Testament by Martin Anstey, published by Kregel Publications.
CHRONOLOGY OF OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY THE PERIOD OF THE JUDGES
------------------------------------------------------------
[ACTs 13:20] and after that he gave unto them Judges - about the space of 450 years until Samuel the prophet.
[Judges 2:16-19] Nevertheless the Lord raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them. And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the Lord; but they did not so. And when the LORD raised them up judges, the LORD was with the judge and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them. And it came to pass when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.
ISRAEL FELL IN BONDAGE TO
Chushranrishathaim KING OF MESOPOTAMIA SERVED 8 YR
DELIVERED BY
1. Othniel who judged 40 years JUDGES 3:8-11
ISRAEL FELL IN BONDAGE TO
Eglon KING OF MOAB SERVED 18 YRS
DELIVERED BY
2. Ehud who judged 80 years JUDGES 3:12-30
3. SHAMGAR
ISRAEL FELL IN BONDAGE TO
Jabin KING OF CANAIN SERVED 20 YRS
DELIVERED BY
4. Deborah and Barak who judged 40 years JUDGES 4-5
ISRAEL FELL IN BONDAGE TO
KING OF MIDIAN SERVED 7 YRS
DELIVERED BY
5. Gideon who judged 40 years JUDGES 6-7
6. ???? Abimelech JUDGES 9
7. Tola who judged 23 years JUDGES 10
8. Jair who judged 22 years JUDGES 10
ISRAEL FELL IN BONDAGE TO
PHILISTINES AND CHILDREN OF AMMON SERVED 18 YRS
DELIVERED BY
9. Jephthah who judged 6 years JUDGES 10-12
10. Ibzan who judged 7 years JUDGES 12
11. Elon who judged 10 years JUDGES 12
12. Abdon who judged 8 years JUDGES 12
ISRAEL FELL IN BONDAGE TO
PHILISTINES SERVED 40 YRS
DELIVERED BY
13. Samson who judged 20 years JUDGES 13-16
14. Eli who judged 40 years 1 SAM 1-4 1 SAM 4:18
15. Samuel (Who was also a prophet)1 SAM 7:15 Acts 13:20
A CHRONOLOGY OF OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY -- THE PERIOD OF THE KINGS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
DATES for the reign of the Kings TAKEN FROM MYSTERIOUS NUMBERS OF THE HEBREW KINGS BY EDWIN R. THIELE 1983 by ZONDERVAN. This book is really great in the way it explains the Chronology of the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah.
UNITED KINGDOM
SAUL 1 CH 10
ISHBOSH (2) 2 Sam 2:8-11
Rule of Israel - not Judah. Kingdom is divided
DAVID (40) 1 CH 11-29
PROPHET SAMUEL 1 CH 29:29
NATHAN 1 CH 29:29
GAD 1 CH 29:29,2 Sam 24:11
(David's Seer)
SOLOMON (40) 1 Kings 11:42
PROPHET-AHIJAH 1KINGS 11:29
IDDO 2 CH 9:29
In 4th year of Solomon, 480 yrs after leaving Egypt,
Construction on Solomon's temple is begun (1 Ki 6:1)
JUDAH'S KINGS ISRAEL'S KINGS
REHOBOAM (17) 1 KI 12-14 JEROBOAM (22) 1 KI 11-14
2 CH 10-12
PROPHET SHEMAIAH 1 KI 12:22 PROPHET AHIJAH 1 KI 14:2
2 CH 11:2
IDDO 2 CH 12:15
ABIJAM (ABIJAH) (3) 1 KI 15
2 CH 13
PROPHET IDDO 2 CH 13:22 NADAB (2) 1KI 15
[son of Jeroboam]
ASA (41) 1 KI 15 BAASHA (24) 1 KI 15,16
2 CH 14-16 2 CH 16
PROPHET HANANI 2 CH 16:7 PROPHET JEHU SON OF Hanani
AZARIAH 2CH 15:1 1 KI 16:1
1 Ki 15:14 Asa's heart was perfect
with the LORD all his days. ELAH (2) 1 KI 16
[son of Baasha}
BC
slain as he was drinking himself
drunk
ZIMRI (7 DAYS) 1 KI 16
TIBNI (-) 1 KI 16
OMRI (12) 1 KI 16
Built Samaria, did evil above all
that were before him.
JEHOSHAPHAT (25) 1 KI 15,22
2 CH 17-20
PROPHET ELISHA 2 KI 3:11
JEHU 2 CH 19:2 AHAB (22) 1 KI 16-22
JAHAZIEL 2 CH 20:14 2 CH 18
son of Omri
PROPHET ELIJAH 1 KI 17:1
MICAIAH 1KI 22:8
2CH 18:8
AHAZIAH (2) 1 KI 22
son of Ahab
PROPHET ELIJAH 2 KI 1:3
JEHORAM (8) 1 KI 22
2 CH 21
(3321-3333)
PROPHET *ELIJAH 2 CH 21:12
2 Kings 8:16 co-regent with father
AHAZIAH (1) ** 2 KI 8, 2CH 22
son to Athalia
JEHORAM (12) 2 KI 1,3
2 CH 22
son of Ahab
JEHU (28) 1 KI 19, 2KI 9-10
2 CH 22
PROPHET ELISHA 2 KI 9:1
promised 4 generations would
QUEEN ATHALIAH (7) 2KI 11 follow him
2CH 22
daughter to Omri king of Israel
wife of Jehoram king of Judah
JEHOASH (JOASH) (40) 2 KI 11-13
2 CH 23-24
PROPHET ELISHA 2 KI 13:14
ZECHERIAH 2 CH 24:20 JEHOAHAZ (17) 2 KI 13
NOT WRITER OF THE son of Jeuh
BOOK OF ZECHERIAH
JEHOASH (JOASH) (16) 2 KI 13-14
2 CH 25
son of Jehoahaz
AMAZIAH (29) 2 KI 12,14
2 CH 24-25
JEROBOAM (41) 2 KI 14
son of Jehoash
PROPHET JONAH 2 KI 14:25
HOSEA HOSEA 1:1
AMOS AMOS 1:1
AZARIAH(UZZIAH) (52) 2 KI 14-15
2 CH 26
PROPHETS ZECHARIAH 2 CH 26:5
ISAIAH 2 CH 26:23
IS 1:1
HOSEA HOS 1:1
AMOS AMO 1:1
ZACHARIAH (6 MONTHS) 2 KI 14-15
son of Jeroboam
SHALLUM (1 MONTH) 2 KI 15
MENAHEM (10) 2 KI 15
PEKAHIAH (2) 2 KI 15
PEKAH (PEKAHIAH) (20) 2 KI 15
2 CH 28
PROPHET ODED 2 CH 28:9
JOTHAM (16) 2 KI 15, 2 CH 27
PROPHETS ISAIAH IS 1:1
MICAH MICAH 1:1
HOSEA HOS 1:1
AHAZ (16) 2 KI 16
2 CH 28
PROPHETS ISAIAH IS 1:1
MICAH MICAH 1:1
HOSEA HOSEA 1:1
HOSHEA (9) 2 KI 15,17
CARRIED AWAY BY THE KING
OF ASSYRIA
HEZEKIAH (29) 2 KI 18-20
2 CH 29-32
IS 36-39
PROPHETS ISAIAH 2 CH 32:20
2 KI 19:2
IS 1:1
MICAH JER 26:18
HOSEA HOSEA 1:1
MANASSEH (55) 2 KI 21, 2 CH 33
PROPHET HOSEA
AMON (2) 2 KI 21, 2 CH 33
JOSIAH (31) 2 KI 22-23, 2 CH 34-35
PROPHET JEREMIAH 2 CH 35:25
JER 1:2
ZEPHANIAH ZEPH 1:1
HULDAH 2 CH 34:22
JEHOAHAZ (3 MONTHS) 2 KI 23, 2 CH 36
PROPHET JEREMIAH JER 1:1
carried away into Egypt where he died
ELIAKIM (JEHOIAKIM) (11 ) 2 KI 23;JER 25-27,35,36,45
son of Josiah, brother to Jehoahaz
NEBUCHADNEZZAR CARRIED HIM TO
BABYLON 2 CH 36:6
PROPHET JEREMIAH JER 1:1
2 CH 36:21
JEHOIACHIN (3 MONTHS) 2 KI 24, 2 CH 36
(JECONIAH OR CONIAH)
son of Jehoiakim,
was in captivity at least 37 years II Ki 25:27
PROPHET JEREMIAH JER 1:1
JER 24:1
JER 27-28,32,34,37-39,52
ZEDEKIAH (11) 2 KI 24-25
(MATTANIAH)
PROPHETS JEREMIAH 2 CH 36:12
JER 1:1
JER 21:1
EZEKIEL EZ 1:2
ZEDEKIAH was the son of JOSIAH Jeremiah 37:1
GEDALIAH 2 KI 25 JER 40,41
ABBREVIATIONS KI-KINGS, CH-CHRONICLES JER-JEREMIAH ZEPH-ZEPHANIAH
* HOW THIS OCURRED IS NOT CERTAIN. APPARENTLY ELIJAH WAS ALREADY DEAD
** THERE APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH THE AGE THAT THIS KING
BEGAN HIS RULE.
Chronology of the Old Testament History
Foreign Domination and the Period Between the Testaments
From Historical and Other Non-Biblical Sources
Israel falls to Assyria. 722 BC
Judah falls to Babylonia. 586 BC
Cyrus gives permission for first group of Jews to return. 536 BC
336 BC Alexander assumes Macedonean throne.
334 BC Alexander defeats Persians at Granicus.
332 BC Alexandria founded in Egypt.
323 BC Alexander dies.
Alexander's Generals Divide the Empire
The Hasmonean Rulers to 63 BC
Matthias 167-167
Judas 167-161
Jonathan 161-143
Simon 143-135
John Hyrcanus 135-105
Aristobulus I 105-104
Alexander Janneus 104- 78
Alexandra 78- 69
Hyrcanus II 69- 63
Aristobulus II 69- 63
BIBLIOGRAPHY
The Holy Bible
The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings, by Edwin R. Thiele, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1983 ISBN 0-310-36010-2
Backgrounds of Early Christianity, by Everett Ferguson,William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1987 (reprinted 1990) ISBN 0-8028-0292-3
Chronology of the Old Testament, by Martin Anstey, Kregel Publications, ISBN 0-8254-2212-8
New Testament History, by Richard L. Niswonger, Academie Books, Grand Rapids (Zondervan Publishing House) 1988 ISBN 0-310-31200-0