Great Exile to Babylon
2 Kings 25
Judges 3-21, 1 Samuel 1-9
"Time of the Judges and Transition to Monarchy": This period, as described in the Book of Judges and the early chapters of 1 Samuel, showcases a cycle of Israelite history where the people repeatedly turn away from God, face oppression, cry out for help, and are then delivered by judges God raises up. These judges, including figures like Deborah, Gideon, and Samson, are not just legal authorities but also military leaders and deliverers. This era is characterized by the phrase "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes." The period concludes with the transition to monarchy, marked by the rise of Samuel, the last judge, who anoints the first kings of Israel.
The book of Joshua tells the story of the Israelites entering the Promised Land and conquering the people who inhabit that land. According to Joshua 11:15–12:24, the Israelites conquer thirty-one kings and cities during this period.
2 Chronicles 36,
Jeremiah 25,
Daniel 1-6
"Babylonian Conquest and Destruction of Jerusalem": This pivotal moment in Jewish history is marked by the Babylonian siege and subsequent capture of Jerusalem, led by King Nebuchadnezzar II. The fall of Jerusalem is a culmination of years of political and religious turmoil in the southern kingdom of Judah. The Babylonians devastate the city, destroy the First Temple (Solomon's Temple), and carry away a significant portion of the population into exile. This catastrophic event not only signifies a profound loss of political autonomy and religious center for the Jewish people but also initiates the period of the Babylonian Captivity, profoundly influencing the development of Jewish identity and faith.
1051-1011 BC
A little more than a century after the Assyrians conquer the ten northern tribes, Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians sack Jerusalem and deport its residents to Babylon. During the destruction of Jerusalem, the Babylonians destroy Solomon’s temple. God famously urges the exiles to ”pursue the well-being of the city I deported you to” (Jer 29:7), but we know little of the life of these exiles outside of the first six chapters of Daniel. Their experience before, during, and after the exile profoundly shapes the Old Testament.
1011-971 BC
Reign of King Saul
Reign of King David
1 Samuel 10-31, 1 Chronicles 10-20
2 Samuel 5, 1 Kings 1-2
"Saul's Rule and the Establishment of Monarchy": The reign of King Saul, as recounted in 1 Samuel and 1 Chronicles, marks the beginning of the Israelite monarchy. Chosen by God and anointed by the prophet Samuel, Saul initially proves to be a successful military leader, uniting the tribes of Israel against various enemies. However, his reign is marred by disobedience to God's commands, leading to a tragic downfall. Saul's kingship lays the groundwork for the future monarchy, setting the stage for the transition of power to David and illustrating the challenges of Israel's shift from a tribal confederation to a centralized kingdom under a single ruler.
After the death of Saul and a short civil war with Saul’s son, Ishbosheth, thirty-year-old David is crowned king of a united Israel. This is the high point of a period of Israel’s history that would become known as the United Kingdom, which roughly extended from 1051 to 931 BC (the reigns of Saul, David, and David’s son Solomon).
535-444 BC
Temple & Jerusalem Wall Rebuilt
971-931 BC
Reign of King Solomon
964 BC
Ezra 3
1 Kings 3-11,
2 Chronicles 1-9
Solomon's Temple Completed
"Era of Wisdom and Prosperity Under Solomon": Solomon's reign, detailed in 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles, is noted for Israel's unprecedented peace and prosperity. Known for his wisdom, granted by God, Solomon makes astute judgments and composes proverbs. His rule is marked by diplomatic relationships and trade, enhancing Israel's wealth and influence. The most significant achievement of his reign is the construction of the First Temple in Jerusalem, centralizing worship in the kingdom. However, Solomon's later years are marred by idolatry and political troubles, foreshadowing the eventual division of the kingdom.
1 Kings 7,
2 Chronicles 6
After seventy years in exile, Cyrus the Great decrees the return of the exiles to their homeland. The books of Ezra and Nehemiah describe three “waves” of return to Jerusalem. In the first wave, Ezra 1–3 describes a Zerubbabel-led effort to rebuild the temple. The second wave, described in Ezra 7–10, focuses on religious reform and the re-establishment of proper religious practices in Jerusalem. During the third wave, Nehemiah leads a group that rebuilds the city walls. The Old Testament story ends with a battered but partially restored Israel committing the very same sins that brought them ultimately into exile.
Creation of the Universe
Genesis 1:1-31
During the fourth year of his reign, David’s son Solomon fulfills his father’s great ambition to build a temple for God, a permanent place for him to dwell with Israel. The Bible shares an extensive record of the seven-year effort to build the temple. In total, the temple is ninety feet long, thirty feet wide, and forty-five feet high.
The Bible starts with God’s creation of “the heavens and the earth” in seven days according to Genesis 1. The Bible describes the creation of light (day one), space and water (day two), plant life (day three), sun, moon, and stars (day four), fish and fowl (day five), and land animals and people (day six). On the seventh day, the Bible says God rests.
Old Testament Historical Timeline
931 BC
Creation of Adam
The Kingdom of Divided
Genesis 1:26–31; 2:8–25
1 Kings 12,
2 Chronicles 10
God creates Adam and Eve in his image, and as the pinnacle of his creation. He places them in a perfect paradise called the garden of Eden. He gives humankind a series of five commands: Rule over creation (Gen 1:26, 28), Fill the earth through procreation (Gen 1:28), Cultivate and care for the garden of Eden (Gen 2:1), Eat from any tree in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen 2:16–17), Name all the other animals (Gen 2:19–20).
"Division of the United Monarchy into Israel and Judah": Following Solomon's death, internal conflicts and tribal tensions lead to the division of the kingdom. Rehoboam, Solomon's son, ascends the throne in Jerusalem but his harsh policies cause the northern tribes to rebel. They establish their own kingdom of Israel under Jeroboam I, while Rehoboam retains control of Judah. This division marks a significant shift in the biblical narrative, setting the stage for differing destinies of the northern and southern kingdoms.
The Fall of Man
Before 3000 BC
Genesis 3:1–24
From Adam to Noah
A serpent tempts Eve to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil by encouraging her to doubt God. After she eats the fruit, she tempts Adam, who also succumbs. God banishes Adam and Eve from Eden so they cannot eat from the tree of life and “live forever.” He also promises negative consequences from the fall: the woman’s childbirth and her relationship to her husband will both be harmed. The man will face a lifetime of strenuous and often frustrating labor. And all mankind will face their new enemy: death.
Genesis 5
"Ancestral Lineage from Creation to the Flood": Genesis 5 presents the generational lineage from Adam to Noah, chronicling the descendants of the first human beings in the aftermath of their exile from Eden. This chapter maps the succession of Adam's lineage through ten generations, emphasizing the extraordinary longevity of these early ancestors. It serves as a bridge in the biblical narrative, linking the fall of humanity with its eventual redemption through Noah. This genealogy sets the stage for the impending Great Flood, a pivotal event where Noah emerges as a key figure in God's plan to preserve life amidst widespread corruption on Earth.
Before 2500 BC
The Great Flood
Table of Nations - Descendants of Noah
Genesis 6:9–9:17
Genesis 10
The legacy of Adam’s sin wreaks havoc in the creation over which he was made ruler. The Bible says, “The Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth” (Gen 6:6). God tells Noah to build a big boat (an “ark”) and to save a small number from every species of animal on earth; these will be protected from the great flood he is sending. Rain falls for forty days and forty nights, filling the earth with water and destroying every living being not on the boat. After the flood, God sends a rainbow as his promise never to destroy the earth through a flood again.
931-586 BC
List of the descendants of Noah
Era of the Kings of Israel & Judah
Before 2100 BC
1 Kings 12,
2 Kings 25,
2 Chronicles 10-36
2166-1991 BC
Tower of Babel
Life of Abraham
Genesis 11:1–9, Deuteronomy 32:8-9
"Period of Separate Monarchies and Prophetic Activity": This era witnesses the parallel histories of the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah, each with its line of kings. The books of Kings and Chronicles detail their reigns, highlighting themes of faithfulness and apostasy towards God. This period is also marked by the work of prophets who call the people and their leaders to repentance and adherence to the covenant. The era culminates with the fall of the northern kingdom to Assyria in 722 BC and the southern kingdom's survival until the Babylonian conquest in 586 BC.
Genesis 12-25
People attempt to build a tower in a valley in the land of Shinar in order to make a name for themselves. According to Genesis 11:5–6, God comes down to look at the tower and objects to what humans might do as a unified people; so God confuses the people’s language and scatters them.
God calls Abram (later “Abraham”) to leave his homeland of Ur and go to a place that the Lord will later show him. He tells Abram that one day he will be the father of a great nation, will receive a special land, and will be a blessing to all families of the earth. Abram starts on the journey with his wife, Sarai (Sarah), his nephew Lot, and all of his possessions.
2066-1859 BC
863-848 BC
Life of Isaac & Jacob
1914-1805 BC
Genesis 21-49
722-721 BC
Era of the Prophets Elijah & Elisha
Life of Joseph
Before 4000 BC
"Patriarchal Narratives of Isaac and Jacob": This period covers the lives of Isaac, the son of Abraham and Sarah, and Jacob, Isaac's son. Isaac's story, though less prominent, includes the famous account of his near-sacrifice by Abraham and his marriage to Rebekah. Jacob, later named Israel, is a central figure known for his twelve sons who become the progenitors of the twelve tribes of Israel. His life is marked by significant events: the acquisition of his brother Esau's birthright, his dream of a ladder reaching to heaven, his marriage to Leah and Rachel, and his wrestling with an angel, after which he is named Israel. These narratives not only continue the covenantal promises made to Abraham but also lay the foundation for the formation of the nation of Israel.
Genesis 37-50
The story of the northern kingdom’s destruction
1 Kings 17, 2 Kings 7
From the favorite son to slavery and then to a position of power in Egypt the savior of the people of Israel
2 Kings 17:1–23
1446-1406 BC
The Exodus
1446-1445 BC
After years of disobedience to God, the Lord allows the Assyrians, led by King Tiglath-Pileser III and later King Shalmaneser V, to sack the northern ten tribes of Israel (Judah and Benjamin in the south are spared). The Assyrians take the Israelites captive and end their history as a distinct political entity. Eventually, the northern tribes disappear completely through cultural and marital assimilation into Assyrian culture.
"Ministries of Elijah and Elisha in Israel": Elijah and Elisha are prominent prophets during the reign of Ahab and his successors in the northern kingdom. Elijah is known for his confrontation with Ahab and Jezebel, and his challenge to the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. Elisha, his successor, is notable for his miracles and guidance to Israel's kings. Their ministries are characterized by their opposition to idolatry and their efforts to bring the people of Israel back to the worship of Yahweh.
Exodus 3-31, Numbers, Deuteronomy
The Ten Commandments
Exodus 12:31–42; 14:1–31 Now slaves in Egypt, God calls Moses to lead Abraham’s descendants (the “Israelites”) out of bondage and toward the land he has promised to their forefathers. God brings a series of ten plagues to convince Pharaoh to let the people go. After the tenth plague, the death of every firstborn son, the Egyptian leader relents and lets the people go. As Moses leads the people out of Egypt, Pharaoh and his officials change their minds and order their soldiers to pursue the Israelites through the wilderness to the Red Sea. Trapped with the soldiers on one side and the Red Sea on the other, the Israelites cry out to God. God then divides the sea so the Israelites can cross on dry land. He crushes the Egyptians with the water when they try to pursue.
Exodus 20:1–17
In the wilderness, as the Israelites encamp between Egypt and the Promised Land, God lays down a series of laws that define their relationship to one another and to him. The foundation of those laws is a series of Ten Commandments that God gives at Mount Sinai. These commandments often represent the entirety of the Mosaic law. God forbids service to other gods, idol worship, misusing the Lord’s name, murder, adultery, theft, dishonesty, and covetousness. God also tells the Israelites to honor the Sabbath and their parents.
586 BC
1406-1350 BC
586-516 BC
The Fall of Jerusalem to Babylon
1350-1050 BC
The Military Reign of Joshua
Era of the Judges of Israel
Joshua 1-24