The timeline below is divided into three categories:
Kingdoms and Empires. The history of the major political powers in the ancient near east and Mediterranean. Much of this purely "political" history played a role both in the narrative of the bible (column #2) and in the history of the production of the biblical texts (column #3), but much of our historical information for these political powers derives from sources outside of the Bible.
Biblical History. The historical overview found within the texts of the Bible, or adjacent to the biblical story. Many of the incidents and dates (particularly in the early part of this history) are speculative; only in the later biblical history do we begin to have confirmation (or disconfirmation) of events recounted in the Bible itself.
Biblical Composition. The history of the sources, texts, and canonization of the Bible itself.
|
Date |
KINGDOMS AND EMPIRES |
BIBLICAL HISTORY |
BIBLICAL COMPOSITION |
|
|
3000- |
Sumeria |
Egypt |
|
|
|
2300- |
Akkadia |
Egypt |
|
|
|
2100- |
(Old) Assyria |
Egypt |
|
|
|
1800- |
(Old) Babylonia |
Egypt |
Patriarchs (?) |
|
|
1200- |
Sea Peoples attack Near Eastern Kingdoms |
Children
of Israel in Egypt (?) |
Circulation of very early myths, songs, and hymns (?) |
|
|
1000- |
(New) Assyria |
Egypt |
United
Kingdom (ca. 950) Divided Kingdoms: Israel (north), Judah (south) |
"J" source writing, circa 900 B.C.E.(?) "E" source writing, circa 800 B.C.E. (?)
Earliest prophets (Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Micah), circa 750-700 B.C.E. |
|
|
(New) Babylonia |
Egypt |
Fall of Israel (north) to Assyria (722) (destruction of 1st Temple) |
Deuteronomistic Historian Priestly Writer
Prophets of exile and return (Jeremiah, 2nd Isaiah, Zephaniah, Habakkuk, Ezekiel, Haggai, Zechariah)
"R" puts together the Torah |
|
|
Persia |
Egypt |
BABYLONIAN EXILE (586-530) |
Latter prophets (Joel, Jonah) circulate
Nonhistorical writings come together (Psalms, Wisdom Literature, other stories and songs) |
|
333- |
Alexander the Great
Greek Kingdoms: Antigonids (Greece), Seleucids (Syria), Ptolemies (Egypt) |
Independent Kingdom of Judea (134-63) |
Prophets put together (circa 200)
Early Septuagint (Greek Hebrew Bible) translations made
Daniel written
|
|
|
63 B.C.E.- |
Roman Empire |
Rule of Herodians Jewish sects (Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes) Ministry of Jesus (circa 30 C.E.)
Ministry of Paul and apostles (circa 50-70 C.E.)
66-72 C.E.: First Jewish Revolt (destruction of 2nd Temple)
|
Various versions of Writings coming together
Dead Sea Scrolls written, buried
Gospels circulate (circa 70-100 C.E.)
Paul's letters collected (circa 100-150 C.E.)
New Testament canons begin coming together (circa 200-300 C.E.)
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