Undated
|
 The Creation of the
UniverseThe creation account, found in the Book of Genesis, forms the beginning of Christian history. While several historians have sought to date this event, there is no universally agreed-upon date that can be set. |
4000 – 2000 BCE
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The Events of Genesis
1-11 Take Place
Chapters 1-11 in the book of Genesis record the Christian creation account, the fall of man, the great flood and Noah’s ark. These verses also act as an introduction to key figures in biblical history including Adam, Eve, Noah, and Abraham. |
c. 3500 BCE
|
The Great Flood and
Noah’s Ark
Displeased with the accumulating sins of mankind, God instructed a man named Noah to build a large ship called an ark. The ark was meant to provide safe haven for Noah, his family, and two of each animal from the earth during the great flood.9 |
2000 – 1700 BCE
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The Events of Genesis
12-50 Take Place
The chapters of Genesis 12-50 mainly record events that involve Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. All four of these men are considered to be important patriarchs of the Christian faith. |
1592 BCE
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Moses is Born
Moses was a famous religious leader of the Israelites. Before his birth, the Israelites were slaves in Egypt. Out of fear of a growing Israelite population, the Egyptian pharaoh has all the newborn Israelite babies killed. Upon his birth, Moses’s mother hides him for three months in fear for his life. After three months, she places him in a basket and sets it in a river. Eventually, he is found and adopted by the pharaoh’s daughter. During his lifetime, Moses saved the Israelites from their slavery in Egypt, and brought them the Ten Commandments. |
1500-1050 BCE
|
The Events of Exodus,
Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges and Ruth Take Place
·
The
book of Exodus record’s the Israelites enslavement to a pharaoh in Egypt, the
ten plagues, and the final exodus of Israelites out of Egypt.
·
Leviticus,
Numbers, and Deuteronomy record the giving of the Mosaic Law. It also records
special instructions to the Israelites for sacrifice, worship, and the
building of the tabernacle.
·
The
book of Joshua records the Israelite’s journey into what was known as the
Promised Land.
·
Judges
covers the time period when men and women ruled Israel before it was a
monarchy.
·
Ruth
is a narrative that tells the story of a woman named Ruth and her marriage to
a man named Boaz.
|
1406 BCE
|
The Israelites Enter
Canaan
Moses, the leader of the Israelites and patriarch of the Christian faith, sent Joshua, his assistant, into the land of Canaan as a spy to explore the land. Joshua became Moses’s successor and led the Israelites to conquer the land of Canaan, which was promised to Moses by God. The Israelites began to settle there, and political unrest ensued.11 |
1050-1000 BCE
|
The Events of 1
Samuel, 1 Chronicles, and Psalms Take Place
·
The
book of 1 Samuel records King Samuel’s kingship to the Israelites.
·
1
Chronicles records the genealogies of the Israelites. It also chronicles the
reign of King David and his preparations for the building of the First Temple
under the rule of Solomon.
·
The
book of Psalms is a book of prayers to God and his responses to his people.
It composed of laments, praise psalms, wisdom, thanksgiving, reflections on
the acts of God, celebration of God, and worship. It is known for its poetic
prose.
|
950-850 BCE
|
The Events of 2
Samuel, 2 Chronicles, Proverbs 1-24, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs Take
Place
·
The
book of 2 Samuel records the ending of King Saul’s rule, and the rise,
climax, and celebration of the reign of King David.
·
2
Chronicles records the reign of King Solomon, the story of Israel until the
exile out of Egypt, and Israel’s state after the exile.
·
The
book of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Song of Songs are part considered to
be “wisdom literature” in the Bible, and are written poetically. These books
discuss practical daily wisdom, the meaning of life for one who follows God,
and a story between two lovers and the celebration of love given by God.
|
1050-931 BCE
|
Israel Unites as a
Monarchy
Israel lived as a confederation of tribes under the reign of the biblical judges, who were prophets of God who gave direction and wisdom to the Israelites. Around 1050 BC, Israel united to form a monarchy for the first time. |
967-960 BCE
|
The First Temple is
Built under King Solomon
During the days in which Israel was a united monarchy, the First Temple, also known as Solomon’s Temple, was built as the main house of worship for the Israelites and remained standing for approximately four hundred years. Descriptions of the First Temple can be found in the Book of Samuel and the Book of Kings. |
931-722 BCE
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The Israelite Monarchy
is Divided
Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, is to be the next king following Solomon’s death. Disputes break out amongst the Israelites about Rehoboam and the duties he will perform as king, and the ten northern tribes rebelled against Rehoboam and form their own independent kingdom of Israel. As a result of these rebellions, the nation of Israel split into two distinct entities: the Kingdom of Israel (Northern Kingdom) and the Kingdom of Judah (Southern Kingdom). |
850 BCE
|
The Events of 2 Kings
Take Place
The book of 2 Kings records more of the history of Israel as a divided monarchy. It discusses the rise of the northern kingdom’s fourth dynasty, the northern kingdom’s decline and fall, as well as the final days of the southern kingdom. |
800 BCE
|
The Events of Joel
Take Place
During this time, a plague of locusts struck the land of Judah, and the people of Judah questioned God’s goodness and mercy. The book of Joel records this plague, the questions of the people, and God’s answer to the people that he gave through a prophecy to a man named Joel. |
750-700 BCE
|
The Events of Hosea,
Amos, Jonah, Proverbs 25-31, Micah, and Isaiah Take Place
The book of Hosea records a small insight into the life of the prophet Hosea and his marriage to an unfaithful wife, which is given as a metaphor for God’s relationship with Israel. The book of Amos is another one of the prophets who brings messages of judgment and woes against Israel, as well as God’s promise to one day restore the nation. Jonah, Micah and Isaiah are additionally all prophetic books that display the relationship between God and his people and the consequences of disobedience to him. However, these books also records promises made by God to his people to send a Messiah to one day restore Israel. The book of Proverbs contains wisdom for daily life. |
c. 700 BCE
|
The City of Rome is
Founded
It is unknown precisely when the city of Rome is founded, but some historians and scholar’s attribute it’s founding to a set of twins named Romulus and Remus. This story holds the date of Rome’s establishment at 753 BCE, but this date is subject to controversy. |
650-550 BCE
|
The Events of Nahum,
Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, Lamentations, and Obadiah
Take Place
·
As
the kingdom of Judah is in danger of being overtaken by the Assyrian empire,
the book of Nahum records prophetic words of comfort about God’s
faithfulness.
·
The
book of Habakkuk records the aftermath of Judeans living under Assyrian rule.
Christian theologians regard it as a book that addresses the issue of evil.
·
The
books of Zephaniah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, Lamentations and Obadiah are
all prophetic books that served to warn the God’s people of destruction, as
well as reassure them of God’s promise to bring justice to the world.
|
c. 600 BCE
|
The Judeans are Sent
into Exile
After the destruction of the Kingdom of Judah, the Jewish people are exiled from the land of Israel. In captivity, the Jews are forbidden from practicing their own religion. |
586 BCE
|
Jerusalem is Destroyed
by Babylon
A turning point in Israelite history when Jerusalem is seized by Babylon, which ends the Kingdom of Judah. Babylonian invaders destroy the Temple. |
539-331 BCE
|
The Reign of the
Persian Empire
The Babylonian Empire is defeated by the Persian Empire. As a result, the Jewish people become part of the Persian Empire. However, the Persian ruler, Cyrus the Great, allows the Jews to return to their homeland and practice their own religion. He also encourages them to rebuild the First Temple. |
538 BCE
|
The Exiled Jews Begin
Returning to Judea
Following a decree from Cyrus the Great,12 the Jewish people returned from exile. |
520-515 BCE
|
The First Temple is
Rebuilt
Under the rule of Cyrus the Great of Persia and during the re-establishment of the city of Jerusalem, the re-building of the First Temple began. Due to some opposition from those that lived in Jerusalem during Jewish captivity, the re-building of the First Temple was put on hold until the reign of King Darius. It was completed during his sixth year reigning as king. It was during the reign of Herod the Great that the new temple is renovated and re-named the "Second Temple," or "King Herod’s Temple." The city of Jerusalem was also reestablished. |
510-27 BCE
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The Formation of the
Roman Republic
The Roman monarchy is overthrown and a two-consul government is established. This government was advised by the Roman senate, and overtime, a constitution was established. |
c. 500-400 BCE
|
The Events of Haggai,
Zechariah, Esther, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Malachi Take Place. 1-2 Chronicles was
written.
·
The
book of Haggai gives a call and message of encouragement to re-build the
First Temple.
·
Zechariah
and Nehemiah both detail the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
·
Malachi
sets to correct incorrect theology regarding God and his covenant with his
people.
·
Esther
is a narration describing King Xerxes,13 and
a plot against the Jews by Haman, the prime minister appointed by the king.
He is furious with Mordecai, an Israelite from the tribe of Benjamin, for not
worshiping him, and therefore desires to kill all of the Jews in the nation.
·
Ezra
describes the ending of the Babylonian captivity, as well as the completion
of the Second Temple.
|
331-332 BCE
|
The Ruling of
Alexander the Great Begins
Alexander the Great conquers Persia, Syria, Philista, Judea, and Egypt. He is known to history as one of the most successful warriors, undefeated in battle. |
250 BCE -1 CE
|
The Events Found in
Intertestamental Literature Take Place
The Intertestamental period is thought to have lasted about 400 years. This period spans from the events recorded in the book of Malachi and the last of the Old Testament Prophets up until John the Baptist in the early first century AD. These books include 1-2 Maccabees, Jubilees, Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, Psalms of Solomon and the Wisdom of Solomon. Although these book are not considered be canonical in the majority of the Protestant groups, many of these books, and others, are considered to be canonical in both the Catholic14 and Eastern Orthodox15 traditions. |
332-30 BCE
|
The Hellenistic Period
The Hellenistic period was categorized as an era during which culture and society throughout western Asia and the Middle East had been heavily influenced by Greek culture. |
250 BCE
|
The Translation of the
Septuagint
The Old Testament is first translated into Greek. This version is referred to as the Septuagint. |
44-27 BCE
|
The Roman Empire is
Established
The Roman Republic is reorganized into an empire, but the event that marks this transition has not been standardized. Common events marking the foundation of the empire are Julius Caesar’s dictatorship (44 BCE), the Battle of Actium (31 BCE), and the bestowing of the honorific title “Augustus” to Octavian (27 BCE). |
To be Continue...
