Old Testament Historical Timeline
Genesis
In the beginning…
Creation
The earth formed, Adam and Eve in Eden
(Gen 1-2)
Adam and Eve sin and are exiled from
the Eden – “the fall” (Gen 3)
Cain and Abel – (Gen 4)
Noah and the Flood – (Gen 6-9)
Genesis Exodus Joshua
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Early Age – Dates uncertain
The start of the nation of Israel Israel comes out of slavery Conquest of the Promised Land
God commends Abraham to leave his When the Israelites grew into a
homeland and go to the promised land. mighty people, the Egyptians Joshua (Moses’ sidekick) leads
God promised to bless Abraham, make him feared them and forced them to the Israelites in the battle to
a great nation, and give land to his become slaves. (Exodus 1) drive the foreign nations from
descendants. (Gen 12 – 15) the Promised land.
God sends Moses to rescue the
This family is called The Patriarchs Israelites from the oppression of Israel settled among the
(continued through Genesis). the Egyptians and bring them out Canaanites instead of driving
into the land God promised them from the land as God
Abraham Abraham. Pharaoh released the commanded.
Isaac, son of Abraham Israelites after God sent 10
Jacob, son of Isaac (had 12 sons) plagues. (Exodus 2 – 12) However, many Israelites
The 12 tribes of Israel adopted the Canaanite religions.
Reuben Simeon Levi Judah Moses received the Ten The Israelite worship of pagan
Dan Naphtali Gad Asher Commandments and other laws idols brought constant
Isaachar Zebulun Joseph Benjamin from God. (Exodus 19+, Lev and judgement from God.
Num). After God led the Israelites
Joseph was sold into slavery by his jealous to the promised land, they
brothers. While Joseph was a slave in refused to go in because they
prison in Egypt, God gave him the ability to were scared of the nations living
interpret a dream for Pharaoh. As a in the land. God then tells the
reward, Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of all Israelites to wander in the desert
his affairs. When Joseph's brothers came for forty years. (Deut 1 and 2)
to Egypt for food during a famine, Joseph God provided food and protected
invited them and their father Israel to move the Israelites during this time.
to Egypt. (Gen 37 -50)
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 Old Testament Historical Timeline

Judges 1 and 2 Samuel 2 Chronicles

Ruth 1 Chronicles 1 and 2 Kings
Song of Songs, Proverbs, Psalms Song of Songs, Proverbs, Psalms
Early Age – Dates uncertain 1000 BC 900BC – 800BC
The Judges of Israel Kings of the United Monarchy

During the period of the Judges, in response to Israel demanded a king to judge them and fight their Israel (Northern Kingdom)
Israel’s sin, God allowed foreign armies to come up battles instead of relying on God. (1 Sam 8-10)
against Israel to encourage repentance. • Saul 1020 – 1000BC 922 – 722 BC
• David 1000 – 960 BC
The oppressors included Canaanites, Philistines, • Solomon 960 – 922 BC The Kingdom was rules by 19 kings from
Moabites, Ammonites, Midianites, and Amalekites. different dynasties
The Nation of Israel Divides
When Israel repented, God raised up Judges to When Solomon dies, his son continued Solomon's Judah (Southern Kingdom)
deliver the Israelites from the oppressors. unfair treatment of the people of Israel. This unfair
treatment caused the nation of Israel to split into the 922-586 BC
Judges Northern kingdom of Israel and the Southern kingdom
Othniel Ehud Shamgar Deborah of Judah. Jerusalem, the home of the Temple and the The kingdom of Judah continued the
Gideon Tola Jair Jephthah religious centre for the entire nation, was located in dynasty started by David
Ibzan Elon Abdon Samson Judah. As a result, Jeroboam I, king of Israel, built
temples at Dan and Bethel in the Northern kingdom.
He put golden calves in the temples which became a
focus for Pagan worship.

2

2 Chronicles
2 Kings
Song of Songs, Proverbs, Psalms
800 - 750BC
Israel (Northern Kingdom)
The End of the Kingdom - Assyria destroys
Samaria, the capital of Israel, in 722 BC.
The Assyrians deported citizens of Israel
and brought captives from other areas to
resettle Samaria (a common method to
destabilise a nation).
Prophets: Amos, Hosea
Judah (Southern Kingdom)
Prophets: Isaiah, Micah, Joel
Prophets: Jonah, Nahum, Obadiah
Old Testament Historical Timeline
2 Chronicles
2 Kings
Song of Songs, Proverbs, Psalms
750 - 630BC
Israel (Northern Kingdom)
Assyria occupies the promised land of Israel
(North).
Judah (Southern Kingdom)
Prophets: Zephaniah, Habakkuk, Jeremiah
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2 Chronicles
2 Kings
Lamentations
Daniel
Song of Songs, Proverbs, Psalms
600BC - 550BC
Israel (Northern Kingdom)
Babylon overthrows Assyria, Babylon occupies
the promised land of both Kingdoms.
Judah (Southern Kingdom)
Babylon occupies Judah (forces them to pay
tributes). The End of The Kingdom - Each time
Judah rebelled against Babylon, the leaders of
Judah and many people residing in Jerusalem
were deported to Babylon. Eventually, tiring of
these rebellions, Babylon destroyed Jerusalem
and the temple in 586 BC. With the temple
destroyed, the Israelites began to worship God
in Synagogues. Teachers of the law called
Rabbis replaced the temple priests.
Prophets: Haggai and Zechariah (~550BC)

Ezra
Esther
Nehemiah
550 – 350BC
Persia occupies the promised land.
After defeating Babylon, Persia allowed
Israelites to return to the promised land
and commanded that the Jerusalem
temple be rebuilt. The returning exiles
completed the rebuilding of the temple in
520 BC.
(This begins the start of what is
commonly referred to as the “second
temple period” which goes until 70AD)
Ezra and Nehemiah return to Jerusalem
and call for a spiritual renewal of the
Israelites. The city of Jerusalem is
refortified.
Israelites live in the promised land as a
community of Jews under foreign rule.
Prophets: Malachi (~450BC)
Old Testament Historical Timeline
350BC – 168 BC
Greece occupies the promised
land.
Israelites live in the promised land
as a community of Jews under
foreign rule. However, in 168 BC,
Antiochus IV desecrated the
Jerusalem Temple and made the
practice of Jewish religion a capital
offense.
167 BC – 30 BC 30 BC – 0 BC
Independent Jewish state Rome occupies the promised
land.
In 167 BC the Jewish priest
Mattathias began the Maccabean Rome seizes Jerusalem when
Revolt against the Greek rulers and asked by the Jews to settle a
their pagan practices. civil war between two Jewish
leaders.
Judas gained religious freedom for
the Jews in 164 BC. Simon gained
political freedom for the Jews in 142
BC.
Then there are Jewish state leaders
up until about 63 BC.