Biblical literalist chronology

The subject of this article is the literalist method of dating the chronology found in the books of the Bible listed in the ancient canon of the Christian Old Testament and accepted by Orthodox and Catholic Christians before the time of the Protestant Reformation.

For a general overview of chronological dating of the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) according to several different approaches, including those of Jewish and ancient Near Eastern and Egyptian chronologies, see Chronology of the Bible.

For New Testament chronologies from which similar literalist chronologies of the New Testament can be erected, see Dating the Bible, Chronology of Jesus, Timeline of Christianity, and Historical reliability of the Acts of the Apostles: Historicity.

A Biblical literalist chronology is a tabulation or reckoning of dates applied to events in the Bible according to the hermeneutical method of Biblical literalism. The method depends upon an exhaustive knowledge of the numbers of years explicitly stated in the Scriptures, comparison to known dates of specific events, and calculation. Such chronologies have given rise to substantial controversy. Their derivation presents several methodological challenges. Absolute consensus regarding the results has not yet emerged, as various tabulations have not yielded identical or harmonized results.

Background

A Biblical literalist chronology is a tabulation or reckoning of dates applied to events in the Bible according to the hermeneutical method of Biblical literalism. This method has been in use since the time of Jose ben Halafta ("Seder Olam Rabbah" 2nd century CE). Succeeding centuries saw its application by Jerome ("Chronicon" c. 380 CE), Bede ("De temporibus" 703 CE, "De temporum ratione" 725 CE), Scaliger ("Thesaurus temporum" 1606), Kepler ("Rudolphine Tables" 1627), John Lightfoot (chronology published 1642–1644), James Ussher ("Annales veteris testamenti, a prima mundi origine deducti" 1650), and Martin Anstey ("The Romance of Bible Chronology" 1913). Some 20th–21st century commentators have noted what they consider a disturbing trend in application of the method since 1878. Modern Biblical literalism has been seen by some observers, such as Karen Armstrong, as largely the product of 19th- and 20th-century Protestant theology, though its roots are considered by others to go further back, at least to 17th- and 18th-century Bible commentaries by Laurence Tomson (Geneva Bible 1560, 1599), Matthew Henry 1708-1710, John Gill 1746-63, John Wesley 1754-65, followed by Adam Clarke 1831, Albert Barnes 1834, R. A. Torrey 1880, David Brown 1882, Marvin R. Vincent 1886, and B. W. Johnson 1891. The 1878 Niagara Bible Conference statement of faith established as the first of its Fourteen Points, "The verbal, plenary inspiration of the Scriptures in the original manuscripts". The 1978 Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy in "A Short Statement" established as its fourth point: "Being wholly and verbally God-given, Scripture is without error or fault in all its teaching."

The method is controversial. Assertions that scientifically verifiable, accurate historical datings are obtainable by using this approach as a guide are firmly disputed by researchers such as Kathleen Kenyon, William G. Dever and Thomas L. Thompson, but are supported by researchers such as William F. Albright, Bryant G. Wood and Norman L. Geisler.

A timeline or chart of biblical dates is erected according to the "plain meaning" of the numbers of the years as found in the text (see Clarity of scripture). Researchers have pointed out that Biblical chronology largely uses numbers which were significant to the biblical authors: the basic numbers are 12, 40 (a "generation"), and 480 (12 generations of 40 years); other significant numbers include 10, 20, 60, and 100. (See Biblical numerology and Significance of numbers in Judaism.)

An historically established date in the common calendar which corresponds to the occurrence of a key biblical event known to history is required as a starting point, drawn from reliable sources outside the Bible. (See extra-biblical sources.) Then an exhaustive knowledge of the numbers of years explicitly stated in the Scriptures and a calculator provide the detailed data. With 587 BCE as an historically established base date and counting back, a chronology of the dates of the reigns of the kings and the judges, of the date of the Exodus, the dates of all the patriarchs back to the Flood, the dates of the antediluvian patriarchs and the date of the formation of Adam in the Garden of Eden, can be stated as a literal interpretation.

While biblical literalists can set out charts and timetables dating events in the Bible, different methods of harmonizing the dates of those events yield differing results, even while they generally agree on the relative order of most events. Even some who accept biblical authority nevertheless argue that many numbers in the Bible are figurative, especially "40" and its multiples—thus, 480 years before the 4th year of the reign of Solomon (12 × 40 years = 480 years) is not necessarily regarded by them as a literal number having historical value. Numerical inconsistencies of dates appear between Kings and Chronicles, and attempts by both scholars and literalists to precisely date events before the reign of Solomon have not been successful. Many biblical scholars discount the Bible's chronological data entirely (Biblical Minimalism), preferring to give priority to archaeological clues in establishing biblical chronology. But even they do not agree in their conclusions. Biblical literalists who reject figurative and symbolic readings prefer to take each biblical number literally, as an expression of their belief in the Bible as the word of truth from God.

Difficulties attending any literal interpretation of the chronology of the Bible can be resolved, according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church: "The literal sense is the meaning conveyed by the words of Scripture and discovered by exegesis, following the rules of sound interpretation." Currently there is no absolute consensus on a definitive literal tabulation of dates in Biblical chronology.

Literal interpretation

Biblical literalism is a term used differently by different authors concerning Bible interpretation. It can have one of two possible meanings. It can equate to the dictionary definition of literalism: "adherence to the exact letter or the literal sense". Alternatively, the term can refer to the historical-grammatical method used extensively by fundamentalist Christians. Those who relate Biblical literalism to the historical-grammatical method, use the word "letterism" to cover interpreting the Bible according to the dictionary definition of literalism and it shall be used here to distinguish the two approaches.

Fundamentalists and evangelicals sometimes refer to themselves as "literalists" or Biblical literalists. Sociologists also use the term in reference to conservative Christian beliefs which include not only literalism but also inerrancy.

There are several aspects to literalism, including choice and integrity of Biblical manuscripts, literal translation, dynamic and formal equivalence, and literal interpretation.

Letterism

Letterism is an hermeneutical method that derives its understanding of a text by rigorous literal analysis of words, emphasizing the "plain, explicit meaning of the biblical text". Given that letterism arrives at its understandings by asserting the inerrant divine authority of the Biblical text, letterism sets aside potential discrepancies with external sources and looks instead only at what the Bible itself says. As such, its derivation of a Biblical chronology relies only on the number of years explicitly stated in the Scriptures along with accurate calculations.

The basic premises are:
• that God exists (Hebrews 11:6 and Psalms 14:1),
• that God cannot lie (Titus 1:2),
• that God is the author of the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20–21),
• that God's word is truth (John 17:17),
• that the word of God abides (remains) forever (John 14:16–17 and 16:13-14; 1 Peter 1:23–25)
• that scripture cannot be broken, annulled, set aside, or destroyed (Greek λυω John 10:35).
From the perspective of letterism, looking to Romans 3:4,

"Let God be true though every man be false, as it is written, 'That thou mayest be justified in thy words, and prevail when thou art judged'", (citing Psalms 51:4)

and 1 John 5:10,

"He who does not believe God has made him a liar".

A coherent literalist viewpoint methodologically rejects any findings and conclusions of scholars and archaeologists that do not agree with the plain, explicit meaning of the biblical text. In response to the controversy, J. Philip Hyatt, a scholar in the field of biblical studies and Professor of Old Testament at Vanderbilt University, and for 20 years Director of Graduate Studies in Religion, wrote:

"The modern Bible reader who consults books about the Bible can profit from paying attention to archaeological discoveries. Yet, he should always remember that an archaeological fact—that is, a specific item discovered by the archaeologist—is sometimes subject to widely varying interpretations. In no other area of biblical study is it so important to seek out the mature, experienced interpreters. Field archaeologists, who do the work of exploration and digging, are sometimes good interpreters of what they and others discover, but sometimes they are not. In some cases experienced 'arm-chair archaeologists,' who study carefully the results of many field archaeologists, are the best interpreters."

Methodological problems

Several problems arise in deriving a letterist chronology.

Translations and versions

The text of the specific manuscript or translation version of the Bible that is consulted can affect the calculation and tabulation of the resulting numbers of the years in a literalist chronology. For example, see the following for textual comparison of the number of years of the reign of Saul:

Masoretic Hebrew-English 1 Samuel 13:1,

Latin Vulgate 1 Samuel 13:1,

Luther Bibel 1545 1 Samuel 13:1,

New International Reader's Version 1 Samuel 13:1,

ScriptureText.com multilingual 1 Samuel 13:1 multiple text comparison with commentaries on differences.

Several literalist translations state that Saul was one (1) year old when he was anointed king: Jubilee Bible 2000, Douay-Rheims Bible, Wycliffe Bible, Young's Literal Translation—see 1 Samuel 13:1 multiple translations.

Archaeological dates

The numerical and chronological notes in various annotated editions of the Bible and Bible commentaries are dissimilar. For example, archaeological datings of the site of Jericho by John Garstang and Kathleen Kenyon do not agree. Historical and archaeological datings of the whole of the ancient biblical period in chronologies by William F. Albright and Edwin R. Thiele do not agree. William G. Dever challenges both of these datings. Conservative literalist Bryant G. Wood argues for the historicity of the Biblical account in support of Garstang's findings, and Woods' researches have in turn been criticised. Differing key base historical dates affect the calculation and tabulation of the resulting numbers of the years in a literalist chronology. The key base historical date for the 11th year of Zedekiah and the destruction of the Temple varies according to different historians: 587 BCE (William F. Albright); 586 BCE (Edwin R. Thiele); or 581 BCE (Bernard Grun). Advances in archaeological methods and theories have prompted scholars to modify particular biblical chronologies, such as the Ussher chronology. Examples are noted below in the Biblical literalist table. (See 1537–1505 Conquest of Canaan in the Table.)

Annotations

The dates assigned to biblical events in annotated Bibles do not always correspond to the arithmetical reckoning found in the text of the Bible. The dates which follow are taken from annotations to the Douay-Rheims Bible (1899 American edition) and the Scofield Reference Bible (1917). "Ante C" is an abbreviation of Latin "Ante Christi", meaning, "Before Christ", "B.C.". "A.M." is an abbreviation of Latin "Anno Mundi", meaning, "Year of the World". Several examples of apparent discrepancies between calculations based on the annotations and those based on the text are observed:

The year Joseph was born (Genesis 30:23–25) is annotated a as Ante C. 1746 (1746 BC). The year Joseph was 16 years old (Genesis 37:1–2) is annotated x and y as Ante C. 1728 (1728 BC). This is an interval of 18 years. The Douay-Rheims Bible says 16 years old, the King James Version says 17 years old (Genesis 37:2).

The year Gideon delivered Israel (Judges 6:11–14) is annotated k as Ante C. 1245 (1245 BC). The land had rest 40 years (Judges 8:28), and then Abimelech began to rule over Israel (Judges 9:1–6 and 9:22). The year Abimelech began to rule (Judges 9:6) is annotated u as Ante C. 1235 (1235 BC). This is an interval of 10 years. The Bible says 40.

The year the Ark of the Covenant was captured (1 Samuel 4:1) is annotated b as Ante C. 1116. It was in the land of the Philistines 7 months, was returned to Israel, and placed in the house of Abinadab at Kiriath-jearim for 20 years (1 Samuel 7:1–2). The year the ark was brought up out of the house of Abinadab by David after 20 years (2 Samuel 6:2–4) is annotated t as A.M. 2959, in the same year annotated y as A.M. 2960, Ante C. 1044 (2 Samuel 7:1). This is an interval of 72 years (1116 – 1044 = 72). The Bible says 20.

King David reigned 33 years over all Israel and Judah, beginning with the annotated date Ante C. 1044. The year King David died (1 Kings 2:1–2 and 2:10-12) is annotated p as A.M. 2990, Ante C. 1014 (1014 BC). This is an interval of 30 years. The Bible says 33.

The 4th year of the reign of King Solomon, after David died, (1 Kings 6:1) is annotated k as A.M. 2992, Ante C. 1012 (1012 BC) —"the 480th year after the children of Israel came out of the land of Egypt". The year of the Exodus (Exodus 12:37–40) is annotated g as A.M. 2513, Ante C. 1491 (1491 BC). This is an interval of 479 years (1491 – 1012 = 479). The Bible says 480 (1 Kings 6:1).

The year the Temple was burned by Nebuzaradan (2 Kings 25:8–9) is annotated i as A.M. 3416, Ante C. 588 (588 BC). The interval between the annotated date of the 4th year of Solomon Ante C. 1012 and the annotated date of Nebuzaradan Ante C. 588 represents a period of 424 years (1012 – 588 = 424). The Bible gives a total count of 431 years (plus 4 to Solomon's 1st year = 435 years), from 2 Kings 25:2–9 back to 1 Kings 6:1 (1018 – 587 = 431).

Apparent textual inconsistencies

Letterism does not necessarily lead to complete agreement upon a single interpretation for a given passage. A generation, for example, can be 100 years, 80, 70, 60, 40, 35, and fewer than 20 years, although 40 years is the traditional meaning of a biblical "generation". Thus, for example, the number of years spanned by the two unspecified "generations" between the death of Joshua and the oppression of the people by Cushan-rishathaim in Judges 2:7–3:8 could be as many as 200 years, or 160, 140, 70, as few as 40 years, or less.

A literalist reading of the explicit text of the Bible presents the reader with difficulties that can only be resolved by a careful reading of various bible texts, collation of data from these texts, and by careful critique of the occasional slightly misleading translations of the original Hebrew (Historical-grammatical method). Martin Anstey provided an important literalist analysis of how apparent contradictions in the bible chronology can be resolved by correlating data from various Bible translations and texts. Edwin Thiele provided additional corroborating historical-cultural background on varying ancient methods of recording chronologies of kings and nations, co-regencies, overlapping reigns, differences in calendars, uses of "rounded numbers"—data vital for an undistorted understanding of the ancient authors' actual literal meaning (the true "literal sense"). At first reading, the Bible chronology has a number of apparent contradictions, such as:

• According to 2 Kings Jehoiachin was 18 years old when he began to reign (2 Kings 24:8).
  According to 2 Chronicles he was only 8 years old when he began to reign (2 Chronicles 36:9).
• The text of 2 Kings 15:30 states that Hoshea slew Pekah the 20th year of the reign of Jotham son of Uzziah.
  According to 2 Kings 15:32–33 Jotham son of Uzziah reigned 16 years.
• In 1 Kings 15:27–28 and 15:33 Baasha of Israel reigned 24 years, beginning the 3rd year of Asa of Judah.
  But according to 2 Chronicles 16:15 Baasha was still reigning the 36th year of Asa, giving Baasha a reign of (at least) 33 years.
• Rehoboam king of Judah and Jeroboam king of Israel began to reign the same year (1 Kings 12:1–20).
  The text plainly shows the reign of Jeroboam began a short time after Rehoboam began to reign.
  According to the plain reading of 1 Kings, Rehoboam reigned 17 years (1 Kings 14:21).
  According to the plain reading of 1 Kings, Rehoboam died the 18th year of King Jeroboam (1 Kings 14:29–15:1).
• Moses states plainly (Deuteronomy 2:14) that the Israelites wandered 38 years in the wilderness until the whole generation of those (except Caleb and Joshua) who were 20 years old and upward had perished.
  According to the Book of Numbers the people had been sentenced to wander 40 years after the spies had been sent out from the wilderness of Paran and had brought up an evil report to the people when they returned (Numbers 14:33–38). They then went from the wilderness of Paran to Kadesh (Numbers 12:15–13:3 through 20:1). The text does not state that the journey from the wilderness of Paran to Kadesh spanned 2 years.
  The Book of Joshua states explicitly that Caleb and the spies were sent out from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land and then the evil report was brought up to the people (Joshua 14:7).
  But a literal reading of Numbers 12:15–13:3 and 20:1 places them in the wilderness of Paran at the time of the evil report, after which they came to Kadesh.
• Using the known historical date of the destruction of the Temple in 587 BCE as a starting point and reckoning the literal number of years back in accordance with the literal numbers of the regnal years, ages of individuals, generations, events, stated in the numerous biblical passages pertaining to them (see table below), to the resulting literal reckoning of the 4th year of Solomon's reign ("1018"), and then calculating back 480 years (1 Kings 6:1) the date is 1498 BCE for the Exodus.
  Reckoning no years (zero 0) between the year Eli began judging Israel (1 Samuel 4:18) and the year Samson died (Judges 16:29–31: Judges 17—1 Samuel 4), and reckoning no years (zero 0) between Cushan-Rishathaim and Joshua in the Book of Judges (Judges 2:8–3:8), and counting all the years explicitly stated in all the numerical texts from the First Book of Kings, chapter 5, back through the Book of Exodus, chapter 12—between Solomon's 4th year and the year the people of Israel came out from the land of Egypt—the minimum literal total count according to those texts is 559 years and the date is 1577 BCE for the Exodus (see table below).
• Add an arbitrarily estimated 40 (?) years for the unknown generation after Joshua's death and the date is pushed back to 1617 BCE (?). Add another arbitrarily estimated 40 (?) years (total 80) for 2 unknown generations (Judges 2:10) and the date for the Exodus is pushed further back to 1657 BCE (?).
  Add about 2 (?) years more (Judges 19–21) for the outrage at Gibeah (Judges 19:30), for the period of the calling out of the men of Israel for the war with Benjamin and the months that followed (Judges 20:8–11 and 20:46-48), for the smiting of Jabesh-gilead (Judges 21:5–12), for the subsequent taking of wives for the survivors during the yearly feast of the LORD at Shiloh and repair of the cities afterward (Judges 21:16–23)—about 2 (?) years between the death of Samson and the year when Eli began to judge Israel—and the date for the Exodus is pushed further back to about 1659 BCE (?).
  None of these added years arbitrarily inserted into the period between Joshua and Eli can be drawn from the text of the Bible alone; they are purely speculative and have no historical value.
  Add another 10 years, at minimum, to the same period, as represented in the Book of Ruth (1:4), and the date for the Exodus is pushed further back to 1669 BCE, or earlier.
  This purely speculative total additional 82 (?) years moves the formation of Adam in the Garden of Eden back to 4328 BCE (see table below).

These apparent contradictions can only be resolved by careful collation and correlation of data from the various extant Bible texts by an historical-grammatical method of exegesis, adhering to the rules of sound interpretation.

Joshua and the period of the conquest

The age of Joshua in the wilderness of Paran when he was sent to spy out the land (Numbers 14:28-30) is determinative for the chronological date of the Exodus as reckoned by literal letterism. Taking the 1st year of Solomon as 1022 BCE and tabulating the numbers of years in the text back to 1505 BCE as the year Joshua died, and taking the age of Joshua when he died at the age of 110, and estimated as 40 (?) years old when he spied out the land of Canaan, and as 78 (?) years old (40 + 38) when he crossed over the Jordan River with the people, the conquest of Canaan under Joshua during his life would have occupied an estimated period of 32 (?) years. Such conclusions are purely speculative and arbitrary. The age of Joshua when he was sent with Caleb and 10 other leaders to spy out the land (Numbers 13:1–16) and when he crossed over the Jordan River (Joshua 1:1–2) cannot be drawn from the Bible alone; the biblical text only states that Joshua was 110 years old when he died. The Bible does not state the number of years of the conquest of Canaan, which according to the text was completed during the lifetime of Joshua "and the land was subdued before them" (Joshua 18:1–10; Judges 2:6).

If he was 20 when sent out, then 90 years had passed when he died in 1505. Plus 2 years back to the Exodus = 92 years before 1505 = 1597 BCE. 20 years old + 38 years in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 2:14) would make him 58 years old when Israel crossed over the Jordan. The conquest would have occupied 72 years until 1505 BCE when he died 110 years old.

Exodus 33:11 states clearly that Joshua was a "young man" (KJV, RSV) when Moses at Sinai received the Law written on tables of stone. However, Joshua was one of the "leaders" in Israel (Numbers 13:2-16). Tradition does not support a 72-year conquest with a reading that interprets the age of a leader of a house in Israel as only 20 years old or less than 30. "From the beginning of Israelite history, the elders were the leaders of the various clans and tribes."
If he was 40 when sent out, then 70 years had passed when he died in 1505. Plus 2 years back to the Exodus = 72 years before 1505 = 1577 BCE. 40 years old + 38 years in the wilderness would make him 78 years old when Israel crossed over the Jordan. The conquest would have occupied 32 years until 1505 BCE when he died.

If he was 60 when sent out, then 50 years had passed when he died in 1505. Plus 2 years back to the Exodus = 52 years before 1505 = 1557 BCE. 60 years old + 38 years in the wilderness would make him 98 years old when Israel crossed over the Jordan. The conquest would have occupied 12 years until 1505 BCE when he died.

If he was 70 when sent out, then 40 years had passed when he died in 1505. Plus 2 years back to the Exodus = 42 years before 1505 = 1547 BCE. 70 years old + 38 years in the wilderness would make him 108 years old when Israel crossed over the Jordan. The conquest would have occupied 2 years until 1505 BCE when he died. The Book of Joshua states that "Joshua made war a long time with all those kings" (Joshua 11:18-23). A literal reading of this text does not support a 2-year conquest. Moreover, a literal reading of Deuteronomy 2:14 and Joshua 14:10 indicates a period of seven (7) years: Caleb 85 years old – (40 years old + 38 years) = 7 years.

Given the established fact that the Bible does not give the age of Joshua when he was sent to spy out the land of Canaan, the date of the Exodus according to a literal reading of the letter of the text varies according to the interpretation of "a long time" and any age a literalist reader arbitrarily assigns to Joshua as "most probable" when, as a leader of a house in Israel, he was sent out from the wilderness of Paran to spy out the land. An exact date for the Exodus according to a literal reading of the letter of the text of the Bible alone does not seem possible, only a general indication of a date some time around 1577 to 1567 BCE for the Exodus, and allowing for a purely arbitrary additional speculative adjustment of ± 10 years gives a broader general indication of a potential date for the Exodus at some time around 1586 to 1556 BCE.

According to Bob R. Ellis and E. Ray Clendenen, those who reckon the 4th year of Solomon as 966/5 BCE and accept the traditional date of the Exodus at about 1445 BCE, based on a literal interpretation of 1 Kings 6:1, place the conquest at about 1400–1350 BCE, over a period of about 50 years, but those who prefer archaeological data over biblical data commonly date the Exodus around 1286 BCE (understanding 1 Kings 6:1 and similar passages as figurative) and they place the conquest at about 1240–1190 BCE, again a period of about 50 years. A literal interpretation of the death of Joshua at the age of 110 at the end of the conquest about 1350 BCE as supposed, with the traditional date of the Exodus as 1445 BCE, makes Joshua ("a leader of a house in Israel") 15 years old at the time they spied out the land, 25 years younger than Caleb at age 40 (Joshua 14:6-7), and 53 years old when Israel crossed over the Jordan, making the period of the conquest 57 years; the ages of 15 and 53 for Joshua still obtain when the date of his death is 1190 BCE at the end of the conquest with the date of the Exodus as 1280 BCE. He would have been 50 years old when Caleb was 85 (Joshua 14:6–10).

According to Joel F. Drinkard, Jr. and E. Ray Clendenen, assuming a literal interpretation of 1 Kings 6:1, and taking 966 BCE as Solomon's 4th year, the Exodus occurred in 1446 BCE, "and the conquest lasted about seven years ending around 1400 BCE." If Joshua died 110 years old at the end of the conquest about 1400 BCE as supposed, that makes him about 66 years old in 1444 BCE, 2 years after the Exodus, when Caleb was 40 and they were sent to spy out the land. Age 66 plus 38 years (Deuteronomy 2:14) would make Joshua 104 years old when Israel crossed into Canaan, and the year would be 1406 BCE, at the beginning of the conquest. Joshua would then have died 6 years later 110 years old 1400 BCE. According to Joshua 13:1–14:11, Joshua was "old and advanced in years" seven (7) years after the beginning of the conquest, when Caleb was 85 years old. If Joshua was only 65 years old (20 years younger than Caleb) he would not be "old and advanced in years". After blessing Caleb, Joshua then apportioned the land to each of the tribes, and then came the subsequent controversy and threat of war over the "altar of great size" built afterward by the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh (Joshua 22:6–33). And then according to Joshua 23:1 Joshua was still alive "a long time afterward". The same term "old and well advanced in years" was used when he died at the age of 110. The phrase "old and advanced in years" is used in the Bible to describe Abraham over 100 years old and Sarah over 90 years old, also Job at 140, King David before he died at 70, and the elders among the people and among the priests of Israel.

Example of literalist chronology

The following tabulation of years and dates is according to the literal letter of the text of the Bible alone. Links to multiple translations and versions are provided for verification. For comparison, known historically dated events are associated with the resultant literal dates. Dates according to the famous Ussher chronology appear in small type italics "A.M." (Latin: "Year of the World"), "Ante C." (Latin: "Before Christ"). In ancient Israel a part year was designated as the previous king's last year and the new king's 1st year. The arithmetic can be checked by starting at the bottom of the table with the date of the destruction of the Temple in 587 and adding the number of years in the Scriptures (books of the Prophets and Chronicles through Genesis) back up to the beginning. Dates with events in italics appearing in small type for historical comparison are according to Bernard Grun's The Timetables of History. For the period after 587 BCE known historical dates are used as referents. Biblical source texts for stated numbers of years are referenced and linked. Reference sources are the RSVCE, The New American Bible The Timetables of History by Bernard Grun, and the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2003).

This table is not definitive. It is a column of known numbers in the Bible sequentially added together. It is not a Biblical harmony. It is not the result of any kind of research and is not here presented as research. The details and dates of events in tables derived by the method of mechanical arithmetic tabulation from the text of the Bible alone are not relied upon by scholars and historians as representing established historical facts. See Prooftext. Problems are briefly noted. This table is an illustrative demonstration only. It is not a recognized reliable resource for a Bible Quiz or a paper.

Adam to the Flood 4246—2590 BC

Before the Common Era (BC)	Event	Bible texts
4246 Ante C. 4004	The year Adam was formed. He lived 930 years (4246–3316). Ubaid period in Northern Mesopotamia 5300–4300 BCE. Ubaid 3 from 4500–4000 BCE. see Neolithic, Bronze Age and Chalcolithic	Genesis 2:7 Genesis 5:5
4116 Ante C. 3874	The year Seth was born. Adam was 130 years old.	Genesis 5:3
4011 Ante C. 3769	The year Enosh was born. Seth was 105, Adam 235 years old.	Genesis 5:6
3921	The year Kenan was born. Enosh was 90, Seth 195, Adam 325 years old.	Genesis 5:9
3851	The year Mahalalel was born. Kenan was 70, Enosh 160, Seth 265, Adam 395 years old.	Genesis 5:12
3786	The year Jared was born. Mahalalel was 65, Kenan 135, Enosh 225, Seth 330, Adam 460 years old.	Genesis 5:15
3624	The year Enoch was born. Jared was 162, Mahalalel 227, Kenan 297, Enosh 387, Seth 492, Adam 622 years old.	Genesis 5:18
3559	The year Methuselah was born. Enoch was 65, Jared 227, Mahalalel 292, Kenan 362, Enosh 452, Seth 557, Adam 687 years old. Disastrous floods in Mesopotamian region near end of –4000 to –3501 period.	Genesis 5:21
3372	The year Lamech was born. Methuselah was 187, Enoch 252, Jared 414, Mahalalel 479, Kenan 549, Enosh 639, Seth 744, Adam 874 years old.	Genesis 5:25
3316	The year Adam died. He was 930 years old (4246–3316). Lamech was 56, Methuselah 243, Enoch 308, Jared 470, Mahalalel 592, Kenan 662, Enosh 752, Seth 857 years old. Testament of Adam. See Pseudepigrapha.	Genesis 5:5
3259 Ante C. 3017	The year Enoch was taken by God. He was 365 years old (3624–3259). Lamech was 113, Methuselah 300, Jared 527, Mahalalel 592, Kenan 662, Enosh 752, Seth 857 years old. See Book of Enoch and Second Book of Enoch	Genesis 5:23–24
3204	The year Seth died. He was 912 years old (4116–3204). Lamech was 168, Methuselah 355, Jared 582, Mahalalel 647, Kenan 717, Enosh 807 years old.	Genesis 5:8
3190 Ante C. 2948	The year Noah was born. Lamech was 182, Methuselah 369, Jared 596, Mahalalel 661, Kenan 731, Enosh 821 years old.	Genesis 5:28–29
3106	The year Enosh died. He was 905 years old (4011–3106). Noah was 84, Lamech 266, Methuselah 453, Jared 680, Mahalalel 745, Kenan 815 years old.	Genesis 5:11
3011	The year Kenan died. He was 910 years old (3921–3011). Noah was 179, Lamech 361, Methuselah 548, Jared 775, Mahalalel 840 years old.	Genesis 5:14
2956	The year Mahalalel died. He was 895 years old (3851–2956). Noah was 234, Lamech 416, Methuselah 603, Jared 803 years old.	Genesis 5:17
2824	The year Jared died. He was 962 years old (3786–2824). Noah was 366, Lamech 548, Methuselah 735 years old. See Second Dynasty of Egypt c. 2890–2686 BCE Gilgamesh, legendary king of Uruk (Erech) (c. –2750)	Genesis 5:20
2690	Noah was 500 years old. Lamech was 682, Methuselah 872 years old. See Sumer Sumer: Early Dynastic Period Old Kingdom of Egypt beginning 2700–2200 BCE or 2686–2181 BCE See Mastaba	Genesis 5:32
2687	The year Shem was born. He was 100 years old 2 years after the Flood, when Noah was 603. Noah was 503, Lamech 685, Methuselah 875 years old. See Third Dynasty of Egypt 2686–2613 BCE Pharaoh Djoser reigned 19 or 28 years c. 2670 BCE Pyramid of Djoser 2630–2611 BCE	Genesis 7:11 Genesis 8:13 Genesis 11:10
2595	The year Lamech died. He was 777 years old (3372–2595). Shem was 92, Noah 595, Methuselah 964 years old.	Genesis 5:31
2590 Ante C. 2348	The year Methuselah died. He was 969 years old (3559–2590). The Flood began. Shem was 97, Noah 600 years old. See Fourth Dynasty of Egypt Pharaoh Khufu (reigned c. 2589–2566 BCE)	Genesis 5:27 Genesis 7:11

The Flood to Abram 2589—2211 BC

Before the Common Era (BC)	Event	Bible texts
2589	The Flood waters dried up, and the ark came to rest on the Mountains of Ararat. Shem was 98, Noah 601 years old.	Genesis 8:4 Genesis 8:13
2587 Ante C. 2204	The year Arpachshad was born, 2 years after the Flood. Shem was 100, Noah 603 years old. The Great Pyramid of Giza (Khufu), built over a period of 20 years c. 2580–2560 BCE	Genesis 11:10
2552	The year Shelah was born. Arpachshad was 35, Shem 135, Noah 638 years old.	Genesis 11:12
2522	The year Eber was born. Shelah was 30, Arpachshad 65, Shem 165, Noah 668 years old. Mis-anni-padda, king of Ur, first recorded ruler in Mesopotamia.	Genesis 11:14
2488	The year Peleg was born. "...in his days the earth was divided." Eber was 34, Shelah 64, Arpachshad 99, Shem 199, Noah 702 years old. See Tower of Babel and Nimrod. Settlement of Aramean nomads from Euphrates area and of Semitic Canaanite tribes in Palestine. –2500 to –2001.	Genesis 10:25 Genesis 11:9
2458	The year Reu was born. Peleg was 30, Eber 64, Shelah 94, Arpachshad 129, Shem 229, Noah 732 years old.	Genesis 11:18
2426	The year Serug was born. Reu was 32, Peleg 62, Eber 96, Shelah 126, Arpachshad 161, Shem 261, Noah 764 years old.	Genesis 11:20
2396	The year Nahor was born. Serug was 30, Reu 62, Peleg 92, Eber 126, Shelah 156, Arpachshad 191, Shem 291, Noah 794 years old. Lugalzaggisi, king of Uruk, defeats the Lagash empire and becomes "King of the Countries" (–2400 to –2350). Puzur-Suen king of Sumer reigned 25 years c. 24th–23rd century BCE	Genesis 11:22
2367	The year Terah was born. Nahor was 29, Serug 59, Reu 91, Peleg 121, Eber 155, Shelah 185, Arpachshad 220, Shem 320, Noah 823 years old. Sargon, first king of Akkadian dynasty, defeats Lugalzaggisi, and creates a vast Semitic empire in Mesopotamia, and calls himself "King of the Four Quarters" (–2350 to –2100).	Genesis 11:24
2297	The year Abram was born. Terah was 70, Nahor 99, Serug 129, Reu 161, Peleg 191, Eber 225, Shelah 255, Arpachshad 290, Shem 390, Noah 893 years old.	Genesis 11:26 Genesis 11:32 Acts 7:4
2287	The year Sarai was born, half-sister of Abram. Abram was 10, Terah 80, Nahor 109, Serug 139, Reu 171, Peleg 201, Eber 235, Shelah 265, Arpachshad 300, Shem 400, Noah 903 years old. Sargon of Akkad reigned c. 2334–2279 BCE Pharaoh Pepi I Meryre c. 2332–2283 BCE Naramsin, ruler of Babylon (-2270 to -2205).	Genesis 17:17 Genesis 20:12–13
2249	The year Peleg died. He was 239 years old (30 + 209) (2488–2249). Sarai was 38, Abram 48, Terah 118, Nahor 147, Serug 177, Reu 209, Eber 273, Shelah 303, Arpachshad 338, Shem 438, Noah 941 years old. Ur, Kush, and Uruk	Genesis 11:18–19
2248	The year Nahor died. He was 148 years old (29 + 119) (2396–2248). Sarai was 39, Abram 49, Terah 119, Serug 178, Reu 210, Eber 274, Shelah 304, Arpachshad 339, Shem 439, Noah 942 years old.	Genesis 11:24–25
2240	The year Noah died. He was 950 years old (3190 BCE–2240 BCE). Sarai was 47, Abram 57, Terah 127, Serug 186, Reu 218, Eber 282, Shelah 312, Arpachshad 347, Shem 447.	Genesis 9:29
2222 Ante C. 1921	The year Abram departed from Haran. He was 75 years old (2297–2222). Sarai was 65, Terah 145, Serug 204, Reu 236, Eber 300, Shelah 330, Arpachshad 365, Shem 465 years old.	Genesis 12:4
2219	The year Reu died. He was 239 years old (32 + 207) (2458–2219). Abram was 78, Terah 148, Serug 207, Eber 303, Shelah 333, Arpachshad 368, Shem 468 years old.	Genesis 11:20–21
c. 2219–2211 Ante C. 1912	"And in the 14th year..." The Battle of the kings in the Valley of Siddim. Abram defeated Chedorlaomer and rescued Lot. Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine and blessed Abram by God Most High. Genesis 14:19.	Genesis 14:1–20
2212–2211 Ante C. 1911	"After Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan..." (2221–2211) Sarai gave her handmaid Hagar to Abram as a wife. 2211. The year Ishmael was born to Abram and Hagar, Sarai's handmaid. Sarai was 76, Abram 86, Terah 156, Serug 215, Eber 311, Shelah 341, Arpachshad 376, Shem 476 years old. Hyksos "Shepherd Kings" rule in Egypt began (-2200 to –1700 BCE).	Genesis 16:3–16

Abraham to Joseph 2198—1936 BC

Before the Common Era (BC)	Event	Bible texts
2198 Ante C. 1897	The Covenant of circumcision. Ishmael was 13, Sarai/Sarah 89, Abram/Abraham 99, Terah 169, Serug 228, Eber 324, Shelah 354, Arpachshad 389, Shem 489 years old. Brimstone and fire rained down on Sodom and Gomorrah. See Zoara, Meteor shower, Impact event, Firestorm	Genesis 17:1–19:29
2197 Ante C. 1896	The year Isaac was born. Ishmael was 14, Sarah 90, Abraham 100, Terah 170, Serug 229, Eber 325, Shelah 355, Arpachshad 390, Shem 490 years old.	Genesis 21:5
2196	The year Serug died. He was 230 years old (2426-2196). Isaac was 1 year old, Ishmael 15, Sarah 91, Abraham 101, Terah 171, Eber 326, Shelah 356, Arpachshad 391, Shem 491 years old.	Genesis 11:22–23
c. 2195–2192 Ante C. 1891	Isaac was weaned about 2–5 years old. Abraham made a great feast. The next morning Hagar and Ishmael were cast out. Ishmael was 17–20 years old, a "child". Genesis 21:14.	Genesis 16:16 Genesis 21:8–14
no date A.M. 2135, Ante C. 1869	The binding of Isaac. The testing of Abraham. "...now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me." Isaac was between the ages of 12 and 20 years, a "lad" (KJV, RSV), a "boy" (NRSV, REB, NAB, NJB), a youth. He was old enough and strong enough to carry on his shoulders the wood for the burnt offering.	Genesis 22:1–19
2162	The year Terah died in Haran. He was 205 years old (2367–2162). Isaac was 35, Ishmael 49, Sarah 125, Abraham 135, Eber 320, Shelah 390, Arpachshad 425, Shem 525 years old.	Genesis 11:32
2160 Ante C. 1859	The year Sarah died at Hebron. She was 127 years old (2287–2160). Abraham bought the field and the cave in Machpelah. The first possession of the promised land in Palestine. Isaac was 37, Ishmael 51, Abraham 137, Eber 322, Shelah 392, Arpachshad 427, Shem 527 years old.	Genesis 23:1 Genesis 23:10–20
2149	The year Arpachshad died. He was 438 years old (35 + 403) (2587–2149). Isaac was 48, Ishmael 62, Sarah 138, Abraham 148, Eber 373, Shelah 403, Shem 538 years old.	Genesis 11:12–13
2137 Ante C. 1836	The year Esau and Jacob were born. Isaac was 60, Ishmael 74, Sarah 150, Abraham 160, Eber 385, Shelah 415, Shem 550 years old. See Eleventh Dynasty of Egypt Mentuhotep I reigned at Thebes c. 2135 BCE	Genesis 25:24–26
2122 Ante C. 1821	The year Abraham died. He was 175 years old (2297-2122). Esau and Jacob were 15, Isaac 75, Ishmael 89, Eber 400, Shelah 430, Shem 565 years old. Intef I reigned 4–16 years c. 2120 BCE	Genesis 25:7–8
2119	The year Shelah died. He was 433 years old (30 + 403) (2552–2119). Esau and Jacob were 18, Isaac 78, Ishmael 92, Eber 403, Shem 568 years old. Intef II reigned almost 50 years 2112–2063 BCE	Genesis 11:14–15
c. 2100	Abraham leaves Ur in Chaldea (c. -2100)	Genesis 11:31
2087	The year Shem died. He was 600 years old (2687–2087). Esau and Jacob were 50, Isaac 110, Ishmael 124, Eber 435 years old.	Genesis 11:10–11
2074	The year Ishmael died. He was 137 years old (2211–2074). Esau and Jacob were 63, Isaac 123, Eber 448 years old.	Genesis 25:17
2060 Ante C. 1759	Jacob was sent away to Paddan-aram to take a wife from the daughters of Laban. Jacob was 77, Esau 77, Isaac 137, Eber 462 years old. Jacob began to serve Laban 7 years for Rachel (2060–2053).	Genesis 28:2–5 Genesis 29:20
2058	The year Eber died. He was 464 years old (34 + 430) (2522–2058). Jacob was 79, Esau 79, Isaac 139 years old.	Genesis 11:16–17
2053 Ante C. 1752	The year Jacob completed 7 years of service to Laban for Rachel (2060–2053). He was given Leah instead. Rachel was given to Jacob in return for another 7 years of service (2053–2046). Jacob was 84, Esau 84, Isaac 144 years old.	Genesis 29:21–30
c. 2051–2050	The approximate time when Levi was born (about 30–33 months after Jacob married Leah). Beginning of the Middle Kingdom of Egypt (2050–1650 BCE)	Genesis 29:31–34 Wisdom 7:1–6
2046 Ante C. 1746	The year Joseph was born. Jacob began to serve Laban another 6 years for his flocks (2046–2040). Jacob was 91, Esau 91, Isaac 151 years old.	Genesis 30:22–34 Genesis 31:41
2040 Ante C. 1739	God commanded Jacob to return to the land of his fathers and to his kindred. Jacob was named "Israel". Joseph was 6, Jacob/Israel 97, Esau 97, Isaac 157 years old.	Genesis 31:3–55 Genesis 32–33
2029 Ante C. 1728	The year Joseph was 17 years old, a mere lad, a boy, he was sold, and taken into Egypt. Jacob/Israel was 108, Isaac 168 years old.	Genesis 37:2–28
2018 Ante C. 1717	11 years had passed. Joseph was 28 years old. In prison he interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh's chief butler and chief baker. The chief butler forgot Joseph for 2 whole years (2018–2016).	Genesis 40:1–41:1
2017	The year Isaac died. He was 180 years old (2197–2017). Joseph was 29, Jacob 120 years old.	Genesis 35:28–29
2016 Ante C. 1715	Joseph was 30 years old when he was brought out of prison and interpreted Pharaoh's dreams. He entered Pharaoh's service, was placed over the whole land of Egypt, and was married to Asenath. The 7 years of plenty began (2016–2009). Jacob/Israel was 121 years old. See Mentuhotep II (reigned 2061–2010 BCE)	Genesis 41:25–32 Genesis 41:46–49
c. 2010	Manasseh and Ephraim were born before the year of famine came. Joseph was 36, Israel 127 years old.	Genesis 41:50–52
2009 Ante C. 1708	The 7 years of famine began. Joseph was 37, Israel 128 years old.	Genesis 41:53–54
2007 Ante C. 1706	The year Israel entered Egypt. Joseph settled his father and his brothers in Egypt, "and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses", also called Avaris, and Qantir. See Land of Goshen. Joseph was 39, Israel 130 years old. 5 more years of famine remained (2007–2002). Israel and his sons, families and servants, dwelt in Egypt 17 years (2007–1990). The people of Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt a total of 430 years (2007–1577).	Genesis 46:1–5 Genesis 46:29–31 Genesis 47:9–11 Genesis 47:28 Exodus 12:40
1990 Ante C. 1689	The year Israel died. He was 147 years old (2137–1990). Joseph was 55 years old (2045–1990).	Genesis 47:28
1977	30 years after Israel entered Egypt, the Egyptians began to enslave the Israelites. Abraham's "posterity would be aliens in a land belonging to others, who would enslave them and ill-treat them 400 years" (1977–1577 BCE). Joseph was 69 years old (2046–1977). He lived another 41 years. Ephraim and Manasseh were about 39, Levi about 74 years old. See Amenemhat I (reigned 1991–1962 BCE) also Senusret I (coregency 1971–1962, reigned 1971–1926 BCE)	Genesis 15:13–16 Acts 7:6–7
1936 Ante C. 1635	The year Joseph died. He was 110 years old (2046–1936). See Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs The beginning of the peak period of Hyksos rule in Egypt (500 years –2200 to –1700 BC).	Genesis 50:26

Egypt to the Exodus 1914—1577 BC

Before the Common Era (BC)	Event	Bible texts
c. 1914	The approximate year that Levi died. He was 137 years old (c. 2051–1914).	Exodus 6:16
18th century c. 1848–1686	Hammurabi, king of Babylonia, reunited the kingdom (18th century B.C.). Hammurabi began reign in 1848, 1792, or 1736 B.C.—he reigned 1792 BC to 1750 BC according to the middle chronology, 1728 BC to 1686 BC according to the short chronology. Amraphel cannot be equated with Hammurabi or any other king of whom records are available from the ancient Near East. The Code of Hammurabi c. 1750, has much in common with the other cuneiform collections of Ur-Nammu (21st century B.C.), Lipit-Ishtar (19th century B.C.), the kingdom of Eshnunna (c. 1800 B.C.), the Hittite laws (16th or 15th century B.C.), the Middle Assyrian laws (15th or 14th century B.C.), and the Neo-Babylonian laws (7th century). Egypt prospered under the pharaohs of the Twelfth Dynasty and conducted extensive trade with all the nations of the Near East. Merneferre Ay, 1700–1677 BCE, reigned 23 years, 18 months, and 18 days. Salitis ?–1674 BCE Yaqub-Har reigned during the 17th or 16th century BCE, during Egypt's fragmented Second Intermediate Period. See List of Thirteenth Dynasty pharaohs Fourteenth Dynasty	Genesis 14:1–16 Acts 7:22
1660	The year Aaron was born. Miriam's age is not given. See Apepi/Apophis and Khamudi List of pharaohs of the Fourteenth Dynasty	Exodus 7:7 Numbers 20:1 Numbers 33:39
c. 1659	The cities of Pithom and Ra-amses/Rameses were built (c. 1659–1638).	Exodus 1:8–11
c.1659—1657 Ante C. 1571	Pharaoh decreed that every son born to the Hebrews be thrown into the Nile. Apepi (reigned 35–40 years 1675–1640 BCE) Wazad Sekheperenre (reigned 2 mo./2 yrs between 1690 and 1649 BCE) See List of pharaohs and Chronology of the Second Intermediate Period The current state of Egyptian chronology cannot identify with certainty the sequence, and the length and years, of reigns of pharaohs of the Second Intermediate Period.	Exodus 1:22
1657 Ante C. 1571	Moses was born, and hidden 3 months. —interval between death of Joseph 2936 BCE and birth of Moses 1657 BCE = 299 years literal count. (2936 – 1657 = 299 years.) Aaron was 3 years old and was not affected by Pharaoh's decree. It is possible, by no means certain, that Miriam was older than her brother Aaron. Compare Exodus 2:4-8. Apepi and Khamudi —to c. 1648 BCE (?) See Salitis, reign began around 1648 BC Sakir-Har Second Intermediate Period of Egypt Fifteenth Dynasty of Egypt	Exodus 2:1–9 Exodus 7:7 Numbers 20:1 Deuteronomy 34:7
1617 Ante C. 1531	Moses was 40 years old (1657–1617) when he killed the Egyptian. Pharaoh sought to kill him, and Moses fled. Aaron was 43 years old. Moses stayed in the land of Midian 40 years (1617–1577). reigning pharaohs (uncertain) 1650–1550 BCE: Khyan (?) Apepi I (?) Apepi II (?) The current state of Egyptian chronology cannot identify with certainty the sequence, and the length and years, of reigns of pharaohs of the Second Intermediate Period.	Exodus 2:11–15 Acts 7:23–30
1615	The year Joshua was born (if like Caleb he was 40 years old when he was sent forth as a leader with the spies from the wilderness of Paran to spy out the land 2 years after the Exodus). Moses was 42, Aaron 45 years old. See Khyan 1600–1580 BCE Rahotep c. 1585 BCE	Exodus 7:7 Numbers 13:2–16 Deuteronomy 2:14 Joshua 14:6–13 Joshua 24:29
1577 Ante C. 1491	Moses was 80 years old (1657–1577) when he was sent back to Egypt. Aaron was 83 years old. The Ten Plagues and the Passover. 1577. The Exodus—"And at the end of 430 years...all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt." Exodus 12:40. 1577 BCE is the resultant date of the Exodus according to the literal counting of 559 years before Solomon laid the foundation of the Temple in the 4th year of his reign (in 1018 BCE by literal reckoning 1018 + 559 = 1577). Joshua was 38 (?), Moses 80, Aaron 83 years old. (The age of Miriam is not given, Exodus 2:1-4, Numbers 20:1) See Sobekemsaf and Sobekemsaf II c. 1570s BCE Seventeenth Dynasty of Egypt 1580–1550 BCE Turin King list The liberation of Egypt from Hyksos rule by Amosis I in 1575 BCE marked the beginning of the New Kingdom –1575 to –1200. See Minoan eruption and Tempest Stele.	Exodus 7:7–12:51

The Wilderness Period to the Conquest of Canaan 1576—1505 BC

Before the Common Era (BC)	Event	Bible texts
1576 Ante C. 1490	The Tabernacle was erected 1 year after the people of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the first month, on the first day, at the beginning of the second year. Joshua was 39 (?), Moses 81, Aaron 84 years old. According to Exodus 33:11, Joshua was a "young man", not yet 20 years old.	Exodus 33:11 Exodus 40:17 Numbers 9:1–5
1575	Moses sent out Hoshea/Joshua the son of Nun and 11 other leaders in Israel from the wilderness of Paran to spy out the land of Canaan. Caleb was 40 years old. At their report the congregation cried out, and God decreed the people would wander in the wilderness 40 years. Joshua was 40 (?), Moses 82, Aaron 85 years old. Joshua 14:7 plainly says that Caleb and the brethren who went up with him to spy out the land were sent from Kadesh-barnea, not the wilderness of Paran. Deuteronomy 2:14 plainly says that the time from their leaving Kadesh-barnea until the entire generation, the men of war, had perished was 38 years, "as the LORD had sworn to them." (1575–1537) See Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt Seqenenre Tao reign began 1560/1558 BCE Kamose c. 1555–1550 BCE Amenhotep I 1555–1530 BCE	Numbers 12:16–13:3 Numbers 13:25–14:37 Numbers 20:1 Deuteronomy 2:14–15 Joshua 14:6–7
c. 1538/7	Miriam died (age not given) 1537 (?)—see the interval of time in Numbers between the death of Miriam and the death of her brother Aaron. Numbers 20:1–33:38.	Numbers 20:1 Numbers 33:38
1537 Ante C. 1452	The 40th year after the people of Israel had come out of Egypt (1577–1537). Aaron died. He was 123 years old (1660–1537). Moses also died. He was 120 years old (1657–1537). Joshua was 78 (?) years old (40 + 38) (if he like Caleb was 40 years old when he was sent forth with the spies from the wilderness of Paran to spy out the land.) See Apocalypse of Moses and Assumption of Moses	Numbers 20:1 Numbers 33:38–39 Deuteronomy 34:7 Joshua 14:6-7 Psalms 90
1537–1505 —→Ante C. 1434	The conquest of Canaan, a period of 32 (?) years, beginning with Jericho (1536). The Bible does not state the number of the years of the conquest of Canaan during the lifetime of Joshua, only that Joshua was 110 years old when he died. See Ai and Hazor John Garstang and Kathleen Kenyon See Mesopotamian dynasties: mid-second millennium	Deuteronomy 2:14 Joshua 6:2 Joshua 6:20–21 Joshua 6:26 Joshua 8:21–29 Joshua 11:10–22 Joshua 14:7–10
1505 Ante C. 1434	The year Joshua died. He was 110 years old (1615–1505). "...Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua..." (Joshua 24:30-31). Joshua added statutes and ordinances to the Book of the Law. Joshua 24:25-26. See Deuteronomy 34:1-9. A plain, explicit number representing the remaining days of life of the elders who outlived Joshua cannot be drawn from the text of the Bible; the Bible does not tell the period of time elapsed between the burial of Joshua and the day when "all that generation also were gathered to their fathers." Judges 2:10.	Deuteronomy 34:1–9 Joshua 14:7-10 Joshua 24:25–26 Joshua 24:29–30

The Judges to the United Monarchy 1505—1018 BC

Before the Common Era (BC)	Event	Bible texts
1505	"...the people served the LORD...all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua...and there arose a generation after them, who did not know the LORD...." A plain, explicit meaning for the exact period of "the days of the elders" and of the "generation after them" cannot be drawn from the text of the Bible alone; the Bible text does not explicitly state the number of days of that generation. The "300 years" of Judges 11:26 is not useful here in determining the period of that generation and does not correspond to the literal numbering of the years stated plainly in all the chronological texts of the Bible tabulated from David back to Joshua, from 2 Samuel through Joshua (Jephthah 1186 BCE back to Cushan-Rishathaim 1505 BCE: 1505–1186 BCE = 319 years). The "450 years" of Acts 13:19-20 for the period of the judges exactly corresponds to the literal tabulation of the years in this table, from 1505 BCE, after Joshua, to 1055 BCE, when David began to rule over all Israel and Judah (1505 – 1055 = 450), but it does not correspond to the literal tabulation of the years of the "judges until Samuel the prophet" 1115/1075 BCE. (1505–1115 BCE = 390 years, and 1505–1075 BCE = 430 years.) This text too is not useful in determining the number of days and length of years of the 2 generations after Joshua. "...whenever the judge died, they turned back and behaved worse than their fathers..." (Judges 2:18-19)	Judges 2:7 Judges 2:10 Judges 2:18–19 Judges 11:26 Acts 13:19–20 "about 450 years" to c. 1055 BCE (1505 – 450 = 1055)
1505–1497	Israel served Cushan-Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia 8 years. See Kassites and Aram-Naharaim 1498. The Exodus—"And at the end of 430 years...all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt." 1498 BCE is the resultant date of the Exodus according to the literal counting of 480 years (1 Kings 6:1) before Solomon laid the foundation of the Temple in the 4th year of his reign (1018 BCE by literal reckoning 1018 + 480 = 1498 BCE). See Thutmose I, Thutmose II, Hatshepsut pharaohs of Egypt about this time.	Judges 3:8
1497–1457	Othniel, son of Kenaz the younger brother of Caleb, judged Israel. The land had rest for 40 years 1497–1457, then Othniel died. Judges 3:9-11. The ages of Othniel and Kenaz are not given in the Bible. 1486. Moses and Joshua defeat Sihon king of the Amorites. (Jephthah in the Book of Judges calls them "Ammonites".) See Judges 11:4-28 and Numbers 21:21-31. Jephthah (1186–1180 BCE) declared that 300 years before him (in 1486 BCE literal count), Israel took the land of Sihon king of the Ammonites, from the Arnon to the Jabbok and from the wilderness to the Jordan, and during 300 years (1486–1186) the Ammonites had not taken it back. Moses and Joshua took the land of Sihon before Israel had crossed over the Jordan and taken Jericho.	Numbers 21:21–31 Deuteronomy 2:16–37 Judges 3:9–11 Judges 11:4–28
1457–1439	Israel served Eglon king of Moab 18 years.	Judges 2:19 Judges 3:12–14
1439–1359	Ehud delivered Israel and the land had rest for 80 years. Amenhotep IV (Iknaten, –1385 to –1358) builds his new residence Amarna.	Judges 3:15–30
1359	After Ehud died, Shamgar delivered Israel.	Judges 3:31–4:1
1359–1339	Jabin king of Canaan cruelly oppressed the people of Israel for 20 years. Sisera was slain. Jabin was subdued and finally destroyed.	Judges 4:1–7 Judges 3:31
1339–1299	The land of Israel had rest 40 years.	Judges 5:31
1299–1292	Israel was in the hand of Midian 7 years.	Judges 6:1
1292–1252 Ante C. 1245→	Gideon/Jerubbaal delivered Israel (1292). The land of Israel had rest 40 years in the days of Gideon (1292–1252). Pharaoh Ramesses II reigned 1279–1213 BCE The Israelites, led by Moses, leave Egypt, reach Canaan.	Judges 6:11–14 Judges 8:28
1252–1249 Ante C. 1235→	Abimelech ruled over Israel 3 years.	Judges 9:1–6 Judges 9:22
1249–1226	Tola judged Israel 23 years.	Judges 10:1–2
1226–1204	Jair judged Israel 22 years.	Judges 10:3
1204–1186	Israel was crushed and oppressed in the hand of the Philistines and in the hand of the Ammonites 18 years. Crossing of the Jordan by the Israelites. Destruction of Troy during the Trojan War (–1193, sixth level).	Judges 10:7–9
1186–1180 Ante C. 1187→	Jephthah judged Israel 6 years. Ruth 1:1 Ante C. 1298. A period of famine began (10 years, c. 1183—c. 1173). Elimelech and Naomi, with their two sons Mahlon and Chilion went into the country of Moab. Elimelech died, and Naomi and her sons remained there about 10 years (Ruth 1:4). Mahlon and Chilion took Moabite wives, Ruth and Orpah. See Bronze Age collapse (1206–1150 BCE)	Judges 12:7 Ruth 1:1–4
1180–1173	Ibzan judged Israel 7 years. The famine in Israel continued. Mahlon and Chilion died childless. Eli was born (1173).	Judges 12:8–10 Ruth 1:3–6
1173–1163	Elon judged Israel 10 years 1173–1163 c. 1172. The famine in Israel ended. Orpah went back to her people. Naomi returned with Ruth, and Boaz took Ruth as his wife. c. 1172 Obed, son of Boaz, was born about this time—the 1st generation, c. 40 years 1172–1132—the 1st of 2 generations (80 years, literalist estimate) before the birth of David 1092.	Judges 12:11–12 Ruth 1:6–18 Ruth 4:13–17 1 Samuel 4:15–18
1163–1155	Abdon judged Israel 8 years.	Judges 12:13–15
1155–1115	Israel was in the hand of the Philistines 40 years. This can be divided into 2 periods: 1155–1135. First, Israel was in the hand of the Philistines 20 years 1155–1135. c. 1132 Jesse, son of Obed, was born about this time, 2nd generation, c. 40 years 1132–1092, literalist estimate, before the birth of David 1092. 1135–1115. (beginning Ante C. 1137→) Then Samson judged Israel 20 years during the latter half of the same period "in the days of the Philistines" (1135–1115 BC).	Judges 13:1–5 Judges 15:20 Judges 16:31
no date	Unknown period of time (from Samson to Eli): for the outrage at Gibeah and the sending out of the messengers for the calling out of the men of Israel for the war with Benjamin and the months that followed for the smiting of Jabesh-gilead afterward for the subsequent taking of wives for the survivors during the yearly feast of the LORD at Shiloh and diplomatic negotiation and settlement of grievance for the repair of the cities. Judges 19–21.	Judges 19:30 Judges 20:8–11 Judges 21:5–12 Judges 21:16–23
1115	Eli was 59 years old (1174–1115), and he judged Israel 40 years (1115–1075). Hannah brought her son Samuel to Eli, as soon as the child was weaned (about 2 to 5 years old), to "lend him to the LORD". Samuel grew and the LORD was with him. "And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the LORD...And the word of Samuel came to all Israel."	1 Samuel 1:1–18 1 Samuel 3:19–4:1 1 Samuel 4:18
1115-1105	Eli was 68 years old (1173–1105) and judge of Israel 40 years (1115–1075). Saul was anointed king over Israel by Samuel the prophet "when Samuel became old" and Samuel was judge over Israel. 1 Samuel 6–10. Saul reigned 42 years (1105–1063/2), according to 1 Samuel 13:1. According to 1 Samuel 4:10-10:24, Eli the high priest and judge at Shiloh died 98 years old, when the ark of the covenant was captured by the Philistines, after he had judged Israel 40 years—Eli seems to have died years before Samuel anointed Saul king over Israel. A literal reckoning of a 42-year reign has Saul anointed king 30 years before the ark was captured by the Philistines and Eli died, 50 years before David brought the ark up to Jerusalem after it had been in the house of Abinadab 20 years.	1 Samuel 4:10-18 1 Samuel 6:1-3 1 Samuel 7:2 1 Samuel 8:1 1 Samuel 8:22 1 Samuel 9:25-10:1 1 Samuel 10:17-26 1 Samuel 13:1 1 Samuel 14:52
1103	Eli was 70 years old and judge of Israel 40 years (1115–1075). 1 Samuel 4:15-18. Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, was anointed king over Israel by Samuel the prophet "when Samuel became old" and Samuel was judge over Israel. 1 Samuel 6–10. Saul reigned 40 years (1103–1063/2), according to Acts 13:21, and according to some readings of 1 Samuel 13:1. A literal reckoning of the beginning of the 40-year reign of Saul according to Acts 13:21 gives a resultant date of 1103 BCE: —beginning of David's reign over all Israel 1055 BCE —beginning of David's prior 7 year 6 month reign over the house of Judah 1063/2 (1055 BCE + 7 years 6 months = 1063/2 BCE) —beginning of Saul's 40-year reign over Israel 1103 (1063/2 BCE + 40 years = 1103 BCE) See Translations and versions: variant readings of the reign of Saul	1 Samuel 4:8-10 1 Samuel 6:1-3 1 Samuel 7:2 1 Samuel 8:1 1 Samuel 8:22 1 Samuel 9:25-10:1 1 Samuel 10:17-26 1 Samuel 13:1 Acts 13:21
1095	Eli was 88 years old and judge of Israel (1115–1075). Saul was anointed by Samuel the prophet "when Samuel became old" and Samuel was judge over Israel. 1 Samuel 6–10. Saul reigned 32 years (1095–1063/2) according to 1 Samuel 13:1. According to 1 Samuel 4:10–10:24 Eli the high priest and judge over Israel died 98 years old when the ark of the covenant was captured by the Philistines, and after he had judged Israel 40 years—Eli seems to have died years before Samuel anointed Saul king over Israel. A literal reckoning of a 32-year reign has Saul anointed 20 years before the ark was captured by the Philistines and Eli died (1075), 40 years (1095–1055) before David removed it from the house of Abinadab and brought it up to Jerusalem 8 years after Saul died (32 + 8 = 40).	1 Samuel 6–10
1092	The year David son of Jesse was born. Eli was 82 years old and judge of Israel (1115–1075). Saul had been king over Israel 13 years (1105–1092), 11 years (1103–1092), 3 years (1095–1092).	1 Samuel 13:1 2 Samuel 5:4–5 2 Samuel 6:1–2
1075 Ante C. 1116	The ark of the covenant was captured by the Philistines. Eli died. He was 98 years old (1173–1075); he had judged Israel 40 years (1115–1075). The ark remained in the land of the Philistines 7 months. David was 17 years old (1092–1075). Samuel judged all Israel after Eli died. 1 Samuel 4:10–7:17 Saul had remained king over Israel 30 years (1105–1075), 28 years (1103–1075), 20 years (1095–1075), and he continued to reign 12 more years (he reigned a total of 42 years 1105–1063/2, 40 years 1103–1063/2, 32 years 1095–1063/2).	1 Samuel 4:10–6:1 1 Samuel 7
1075	The ark of the covenant was sent back to Israel, and it remained in the house of Abinadab 20 years at Kiriath-Jearim (1075–1055).	1 Samuel 6:2–16 1 Samuel 7:1–2 2 Samuel 5:4–6:11
1075–1064 Ante C. 1096–1057	Samuel judged Israel 11 years after Eli died (1075–1064). He made his sons judges (Ante C. 1096). He anointed Saul king (Ante C. 1095). 1065. Saul was one (1) year old when he began to reign (1066–1065 BCE). He reigned 2 years (1065–1063/2). 1 Samuel 13:1. When Saul was rejected Samuel anointed David as king (Ante C. 1070). David slew Goliath (Ante C. 1062), and entered Saul's service. Psalm 151 Saul began to fear David, and sought some way to kill him. Jonathan made a covenant with David. David fled into the wilderness (Ante C. 1060). Saul killed the priests at Nob. Samuel died (c. 1064) (Ante C. 1057). Saul searched for David, to kill him.	1 Samuel 7:15–8:7 1 Samuel 9-12 1 Samuel 13:1 1 Samuel 15:1 1 Samuel 16:1–13 1 Samuel 18:3 1 Samuel 19:1 1 Samuel 20:8–17 1 Samuel 22:17–19 1 Samuel 25:1 1 Samuel 26:2 Psalm 151
1064–1063/2	David fled and dwelt at Ziklag 1 year 4 months.	1 Samuel 27:1–4 1 Samuel 27:7
1063/2 Ante C. 1055	The year Saul was slain on Mount Gilboa with his sons. He died 72 years old, 70 years old, 32 years old, 3 years old, age unknown. Compare Acts 13:21, 1 Samuel 7:2; 13:1 and 2 Samuel 5:4-6:11 David departed from Ziklag, and went to Hebron. David was 30 years old (1092–1062).	1 Samuel 7:2 1 Samuel 13:1 1 Samuel 31 2 Samuel 1:1–2:3 2 Samuel 5:4–6:11 Acts 13:21
1062–1055	David at Hebron was anointed king over the house of Judah (1062). He reigned over Judah 7 years 6 months (1062–1055).	2 Samuel 2:4–7 2 Samuel 5:4–5
1055 Ante C. 1044	David was anointed king over Israel by all the elders of Israel. David took Jerusalem, and brought the ark up to Jerusalem from the house of Abinadab where it had been kept 20 years (1075–1055). When Uzzah died, David placed the ark in the house of Obed-edom 3 mo. After Obed-edom was blessed, David brought the ark into the city of David. David was 37 years old.	2 Samuel 5:3–10 2 Samuel 5:17–6:11
1055–1022	David reigned over all Israel and Judah 33 years. According to 2 Samuel 15:1-12 (Hebrew text ) during the period of David's 33-year reign over Israel (long before David had become "old and advanced in years" 1 Kings 1:1, see 2 Samuel 3–24) —years after David had exiled his son Absalom —2 years after Absalom had been brought back Absalom gradually "stole the hearts of the men of Israel" and "It came to pass after forty years / At the end of forty years" Absalom then made final preparations to be declared king at Hebron. He and his forces were defeated, Absalom was killed, and David continued to reign—through the rebellion of Sheba son of Bichri, through a subsequent 3-year famine, through another war with the Philistines, and afterward through his census of the nation and the plague following which ended with the purchase of the threshing floor for sacrifice, and through the entire period when Adonijah moved to usurp David as king (1 Kings 1–2). It is evident that a literal 40-year period cannot be inserted as being only one of the many episodes which marked David's literal 33-year reign. Some translations "speculatively" render the number as four years based on the Greek and Syriac translations as against the Hebrew text which some commentaries declare to be in error. See ScriptureText.com multilingual 2 Samuel 15:7 multiple text comparison with multiple commentaries on the number "forty" in the Hebrew text of 2 Samuel 15:7. Book of Psalms. See Psalms of Asaph	2 Samuel 5:4-5 2 Samuel 15:7 1 Kings 2:10–11 1 Chronicles 16:4–37
1022 Ante C. 1014	The year David died. He was 70 years old (30 + 40) (1092–1022). Solomon sat upon the throne of David, and he reigned 40 years (1022–982). Rehoboam was born (1022).	1 Kings 2:11–12 1 Kings 11:42–43 1 Chronicles 29:26–28 2 Chronicles 1:1
1018 Ante C. 1012	Solomon began to build the house of the LORD the 4th year of his reign (1022–1018). From the end of the reign of Zedekiah and the burning of the temple, back to the 4th year of the reign of Solomon, the literal biblical total is 431 years. The 4th year of Solomon (1018) according to a literal reading of 1 Kings 6:1 was the 480th year after the people of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, giving the date of the Exodus as 1498 BCE (431 + 480 = 911 years, 1498–587 BCE). The literal biblical sum of the years 2 Chronicles through Exodus from the 4th year of Solomon (1018) back to the Exodus is 559 years, giving the date of the Exodus as 1577 BCE (431 + 559 = 990 years, 1577–587 BCE).	1 Kings 6:1 Psalms 72 Psalms 127
1011	Solomon finished building the house of the LORD the 11th year of his reign (1022–1011). He was 7 years building it (1018–1011). See Book of Proverbs and Song of Songs Proverbs of Agur and The Words of King Lemuel Psalms of Solomon and Odes of Solomon The Bible does not give the name of the author of Ecclesiastes or the name of the author of The Wisdom of Solomon; the name of Solomon does not appear in the texts of those books of the Bible. The Odes of Solomon should not be confused with the Book of Odes.	1 Kings 6:37–38
1002	Saul becomes first king of Israel (-1002 to -1000) and is defeated by Philistines.	1 Samuel 8–31
1000	Accession of David as king of united kingdom of Judah and Israel (-1000 to -960).	2 Samuel 5:3-5

The Divided Monarchy to the Destruction of the Temple 982—587 BC

Before the Common Era (BC)	Event	Bible texts
982 Ante C. 975	The year Solomon died (age not given). He had reigned 40 years (1022–982). Rehoboam began to reign. Beginning of the Divided Monarchy: the Kingdom of Judah and the Kingdom of Israel.	1 Kings 11:42–12:20 2 Chronicles 9:30–10:17
982–965/4	Rehoboam reigned 17 years (982-965), and he died. He was 58 years old (41 + 17) (1022–964) 977. The 5th year of the reign of Rehoboam. Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem: "he took away everything". 965. According to 1 Kings 14:21 Rehoboam died the 17th year of his reign. 964. According to 1 Kings 15:1 he died the 18th year of the reign of Jeroboam, who had begun his own reign shortly after the beginning of Rehoboam's reign.	1 Kings 12:1–2 1 Kings 12:20 1 Kings 14:21 1 Kings 14:25–15:1 2 Chronicles 12:2–13
964–961 Ante C. 958→	Abijam reigned 3 years.	1 Kings 15:1–2 2 Chronicles 13:1–2
961–920 Ante C. 955→	Asa reigned 41 years. 933. King Solomon dies (-933), succeeded by his son Rehoboam I as king of Judah (to -917).	1 Kings 15:9–10 2 Chronicles 16:13–17:1
920–895 →Ante C. 889	Jehoshaphat reigned 25 years, and he died. He was 60 years old (35 + 25). Micaiah was prophet. 917. The 3rd year of Jehoshaphat. Micaiah was sent with others to teach in the cities of Judah. 2 Chronicles 17:7-9. 895. Micaiah foretold the death of Jehoshaphat.	1 Kings 22:8–28 1 Kings 22:42 2 Chronicles 17:7–9 2 Chronicles 18:7–27 2 Chronicles 20:31
895–887	Jehoram/Joram reigned 8 years, and he died. He was 40 years old (32 + 8).	2 Kings 8:16–17 2 Chronicles 21:5
887–886	Ahaziah reigned 1 year, and he died. According to 2 Kings, he was 23 years old when he died (22 + 1). According to 2 Chronicles, he was 43 years old when he died (42 + 1).	2 Kings 8:25–26 2 Chronicles 22:2
886–879	Athaliah reigned 6/7 years, and was slain.	2 Kings 11:1–16 2 Chronicles 22:10–23:15
879–839 Ante C. 878→	Jehoash/Joash reigned 40 years, and he died. He was 47 years old (7 + 40).	2 Kings 11:21–12:1 2 Chronicles 24:1
839–810 →Ante C. 810	Amaziah reigned 29 years, and he died. He was 54 years old (25 + 29). Hosea and Jonah were prophets. 824. The 15th year of Amaziah's reign. Jeroboam II (reigned 824–783) restored the borders of Israel according to the word of the LORD which he had spoken by Jonah son of Amittai. 2 Kings 14:23-25. Hosea's prophetic ministry began during the reign of Jeroboam II.	2 Kings 14:1–2 2 Kings 14:23–25 2 Chronicles 25:1 Hosea 1:1 Jonah 1:1
810-758 Ante C. 810→	Azariah/Uzziah reigned 52 years, and he died. He was 68 years old (16 + 52). Hosea, Jonah, Amos were prophets. Nineveh, capital of Assyria, flourished 800–612 BCE. Jonah son of Amittai was sent to Nineveh to cry against it. Hosea continued his prophetic ministry during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah (c. 783–726). Amos the prophet from Judah exercised his ministry during the reign of Uzziah beginning c. 767–762 BCE. "In the days of Uzziah...2 years before the earthquake." Amos 1:1; Zechariah 14:5 Traces of a major earthquake (dated 765–760 BCE) have been found at Hazor. c. 761–758. During the reign of Menahem over Israel (reigned 771–761), Tiglath-pileser/Tiglath-pilneser/Pul king of Assyria came against the land. According to current historical dating based on Assyrian chronology, Tiglath-pileser reigned 745–727 BCE.	2 Kings 15:1–2 2 Kings 15:17–20 1 Chronicles 5:6 1 Chronicles 5:26 2 Chronicles 26:3 Hosea 1:1 Amos 1:1 Jonah 1:1 Jonah 3 Zechariah 14:5
758–742 Ante C. 758→	Jotham reigned 16 years, and he died. He was 41 years old (25 + 16). Hosea, Jonah, Amos, Isaiah, Micah were prophets. 758. The year of Isaiah's vision of the LORD in the Temple, and his call. Isaiah 6:1-8 "Here am I! Send me!" Isaiah exercised his prophetic ministry during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah (c. 759–697 inclusive). He was told to prophesy until the land was utterly desolate and men were moved far away, which did not occur until the beginning of the Exile (587). c. 742. Micah of Moresheth exercised his prophetic ministry during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah (c. 742–697 inclusive). Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah, Hosea and possibly Amos.	2 Kings 15:32–33 2 Chronicles 26:23–27:1 2 Chronicles 27:9 Isaiah 1:1 Isaiah 6:1–13 Micah 1:1
742–726	Ahaz reigned 16 years, and he died. He was 36 years old (20 + 16). Hosea, Jonah, Amos, Isaiah, Micah were prophets. 733. The 9th year of the reign of Ahaz. Isaiah foretold the sign of Immanuel when Rezin king of Syria and Pekah king of Israel came up to wage war against Jerusalem and besieged it. 732. Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser/Tiglath-pilneser/Pul king of Assyria asking for rescue from Rezin and Pekah. Pul carried away the Reubenites, Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh into exile.	2 Kings 16:2–9 2 Kings 17:1–6 2 Kings 17:24 1 Chronicles 5:6 1 Chronicles 5:25–26 2 Chronicles 27:9–28:1 2 Chronicles 28:20
726–697 Ante C. 727→	Hezekiah reigned 29 years, and he died. He was 54 years old (25 + 29). Hosea, Jonah, Amos, Isaiah, Micah, Joel were prophets. 726. Joel was the name of a Levite who helped Hezekiah cleanse the Temple 1st year of his reign (726). 725–722. Shalmaneser V king of Assyria (726–722 BCE) came against Hoshea king of Israel (who reigned 730–721), and besieged Samaria 3 years (725–722). The position of the Book of Joel among the early prophets in the Hebrew canon is considered evidence for an early date. "A nation from the north", "the northerner", had come up against the land in a time of drought like a plague of locusts, "their appearance like the appearance of horses, like war horses they ran, as with the rumbling of chariots, like a powerful army drawn up for battle." Joel 2:4-5. An unprecedented plague of locusts was a metaphor and symbol of the Day of the Lord. (Tobit 1:1-2, 11-13; Judith 2:20; Joel 1:6-12, 17-20; 2:2-11; Nahum 3:15-17.) Joel 1:17-20 does not mention locusts, only "seed shrivels under the clods", "fire has devoured the pastures", "the water courses are dried up", a time of severe drought. The drought is also mentioned in Jeremiah 14:1-6 and Amos 7:1-6. The LORD plainly told Amos the plague would not be locusts: "This shall not be.". Tobit and his fellow Naphtalites were taken captive into the land of the Assyrians to Nineveh into exile. Tobit 1:2-3. 722. Sargon II king of Assyria began to reign 722. He sent his commander-in-chief to take Ashdod. Sargon finished the destruction of Samaria begun by his brother Shalmaneser V. Sargon was succeeded by his son Sennacherib. Tobit 1:18. 714. The 14th year of Hezekiah (714), Sennacherib king of Assyria took all the fortified cities of Judah, and came against Jerusalem. The angel of the LORD slew 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians, and Sennacherib went back to Nineveh. Sennacherib commanded the death of Tobit. Tobit 1:21-24. c. 704. Merodach-baladan (reigned 721–711 and 704) sent a gift and envoys to Hezekiah. During the reign of Sargon II, Merodach-Baladan was little more than a puppet of Assyria, answering to Sargon.	2 Kings 18:1–2 2 Kings 18:13 2 Kings 19:20–36 2 Kings 20:12 2 Chronicles 28:27–29:1 2 Chronicles 29:12–19 Tobit 1:1–22 Judith 2:11 DR Judith 2:20 NRSV Isaiah 6:9–13 Isaiah 7:10–20 Isaiah 36:1 Isaiah 37:33–37 Isaiah 39:1 Jeremiah 14:1–6 Joel 1:6–20 Joel 2:2–11 Amos 7:1–6 Nahum 3:15–17
697–642 Ante C. 698→	Manasseh reigned 55 years, and he died. He was 67 years old (12 + 55). Isaiah and Nahum were prophets. 681. The 16th year of Manasseh. Sennacherib king of Assyria was killed by his sons (681 BCE). 2 Kings 19:37; 2 Chronicles 32:21; Tobit 1:21. Esarhaddon then reigned (681–669 BCE). Ahikar immediately interceded for Tobit, who then became blind. Tobit was 56 years old (DR), 58 years old (RSV), 62 years old (NRSV, REB, NAB, NJB) when he became blind. Tobit 1:22-2:10; 14:2. Prophets warn that the LORD will cast off Jerusalem like Samaria and the house of Ahab. 2 Kings 21:10-15. The LORD brought upon them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria. 673. After 8 years (681–673) Tobit was cured of his blindness. He was 64 years old, 66 years old, 68 years old. Tobit 14:2. Manasseh was taken with hooks, bound, and brought to Babylon. He repented, and was brought back to Jerusalem, returning from exile. He then purified the house of the LORD. 2 Chronicles 33:10-16; Judith 4:3. Prayer of Manasseh Nahum exercised his prophetic ministry sometime after 650 BCE, before the death of Manasseh (642). Nahum 3:8-10 refers to the destruction of the Egyptian capital No-amon or Thebes (663) which had already occurred. 642. Manasseh died. His son Amon succeeded him.	2 Kings 19:36–37 2 Kings 21:1–2 2 Kings 21:16–18 2 Chronicles 32:21 2 Chronicles 33:1 2 Chronicles 33:10–16 2 Chronicles 33:20 Tobit 1:22–2:11 Tobit 14:3 Judith 2:20 Judith 4:3 Isaiah 7:18–20 Isaiah 37:36–38 Joel 1:6-12 Micah 1:1 Micah 5:1 Nahum 3:8–10 Nahum 3:15-17 Prayer of Manasseh
642–640 Ante C. 643→	Amon reigned 2 years, and he died. He was 24 years old (22 + 2). Isaiah and Nahum were prophets.	2 Kings 21:19 2 Chronicles 33:21–25
640–609 Ante C. 641→	Josiah reigned 31 years, and he died. He was 39 years old (8 + 31). Isaiah, Jeremiah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Huldah, Zephaniah were prophets. 637. The year Tobit died 102 years old (DR). 630. The Book of Zephaniah. 628. The 12th year of the reign of Josiah, he purged the land, and broke down the idols and altars of the Baals. 627. The 13th year of Josiah son of Amon (627), the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah (1:2). The year Tobit died 112 years old (NRSV, REB, NAB, NJB). 623. The 17th year of Josiah (623). The year Ezekiel was born (in 593 BCE he was 30 years old, the 5th year of Jehoiachin's exile). Ezekiel 1:1. "I am rousing the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation." Habakkuk 1:6-11. Habakkuk was a prophet of the late 7th century before the fall of Nineveh. In the Book of Habakkuk the Babylonians are called Chaldeans, so named for the region from which their rulers came. 622. The 18th year of the reign of Josiah (622). The Temple was repaired, the Book of the Law was found, and the Jews were gathered (2 Kings 23:4-25; 2 Chronicles 34:3-18, 33; 35:17-19; Judith 4:1-3). Josiah in Jerusalem was king over Israel, "and made all who were in Israel serve the LORD their God". He gathered קהל‎ qahal the elders, priests and people together, and preached the book of the law to all the people both great and small, exhorting them to join in the covenant with the LORD (2 Kings 23:15-23; 2 Chronicles 34:29-33; 35:18; Ecclesiastes 1:12). The Pesach that year surpassed all those celebrated in the days of the judges and the days of all the kings of Israel and Judah. 2 Kings 23:15-23. Josiah was told all the evil that would befall the people and all the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem after his death. 2 Kings 22:15-20; 2 Chronicles 34:23-28. The Book of Ecclesiastes. "Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher [Qoheleth], vanity of vanities; all is vanity." 1:2 612. The 28th year of Josiah (612). Nineveh the Assyrian capital fell to Nabopolassar and Cyaxares. Nahum 2. 609. The 39th year of Josiah (609). 3 years after the fall of Nineveh, Pharaoh Neco/Necho/Nechoh, Second Pharaoh of the Twenty-sixth Dynasty, began to reign (reigned 609–594 BCE). When Neco advanced toward Carchemish, Josiah met him in battle and was killed (609).	2 Kings 22:1 2 Kings 22:15–23:25 2 Kings 23:29–30 2 Chronicles 34:1–3 2 Chronicles 34:8–18 2 Chronicles 34:23–33 2 Chronicles 35:16–25 Tobit 14:2–11 DR Tobit 14:2–11 NRSV Judith 4:3 Ecclesiastes 1:12 Ecclesiastes 2:9 Sirach 49:1–5 Jeremiah 1:1–2 Ezekiel 1:1 Nahum 2 Habakkuk 1:6–11 Zephaniah 1:1 Zephaniah 2:13–15
609 Ante C. 610	Jehoahaz reigned 3 months, and Pharaoh Neco took him away. Neco installed Eliakim/Jehoiakim as king of Judah. Isaiah, Jeremiah and Zephaniah were prophets.	2 Kings 23:31–34 2 Chronicles 36:1–3
609–598 Ante C. 610→	Eliakim/Jehoiakim reigned 11 years, and he died. He was 36 years old (25 + 11). Isaiah, Jeremiah, Zephaniah and Daniel were prophets. 609. Jeremiah 26. Jeremiah spoke in the Temple, and was threatened with death. Pharaoh Neco seized Gaza as a base. Jeremiah 47:1. 606. The 3rd year of Jehoiakim. Daniel 1:1-5. Jehoiakim and the treasures of the Temple were taken to Babylon, and Daniel, Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael, young men, were taken with them. (see below —598. The 11th year of the reign of Jehoiakim. Nebuchadnezzar bound Jehoiakim in fetters to take him to Babylon and carried off with him part of the vessels of the Temple. 2 Chronicles 36:4-7.) In Babylon, young Daniel saved Susanna from the false witness of the elders. Daniel 13:41-51, 60-62. 605. The 4th year of Jehoiakim. Jeremiah called Baruch, who wrote on a scroll the words of the LORD. Jeremiah 46:2. Pharaoh Neco was defeated at Carchemish by Nebuchadnezzar. Nabopolassar died. The 1st year of Nebuchadnezzar II king of babylon (605). He reigned 43 years, 605–562 BCE. Jeremiah declared the decree of the LORD that peoples will serve the king of Babylon 70 years. (Reckoning from this date 605 – 70 years = 535 BCE.) Nebuchadnezzar defeated Pharaoh Neco at Carchemish, completing Babylon's conquest of Palestine. 2 Kings 24:7; Jeremiah 46:2. 603. The 6th year of Jehoiakim (603). Daniel 1:5, 17-20. Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon found Daniel, Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael ten times better than all magicians and enchanters in his kingdom. He gave them Babylonian names, "Belteshazzar", "Shadrach", "Meshach" and "Abednego". 601. The 8th year of Jehoiakim (601). Darius the Mede was born (he was 62 years old in 539). 599. The 10th year of Jehoiakim (599), the 7th year of Nebuchadnezzar. Jeremiah 52:28. The king of Babylon carried away 3,023 persons. (See below 591 BCE—3,023 persons carried away "In the 7th year" of Ezekiel 20:1.) 598. The 11th year of the reign of Jehoiakim, the 7th year of Nebuchadnezzar. According to 2 Kings 24:6 Jehoiakim died (598) and slept with his fathers. According to 2 Chronicles 36:4-7 Nebuchadnezzar bound Jehoiakim in fetters to take him to Babylon and carried off with him part of the vessels of the Temple. (see above —606. The 3rd year of Jehoiakim. Jehoiakim and the treasures of the Temple were taken to Babylon. Daniel 1:1-5.) The Bible does not say that Nebuchadnezzar released Jehoiakim during or after his 3rd year to allow him to return to Jerusalem and then took him away a second time to Babylon in his 11th year—such a conclusion, however reasonable, is speculative only and cannot be drawn solely from a plain reading of the strict letter of the text of the Bible alone according to the method of letterism, which only presents an apparent inconsistency, but which entirely accords with the grammatico-historical method of exegesis which a priori presumptively takes both texts as reliable, consistent and historically factual, and as such, provides an illustrative example of the difference in the two literalist methodologies. See Inference.	2 Kings 23:36 2 Kings 24:6 2 Chronicles 36:5–7 Isaiah 6:9–13 Jeremiah 25:1–12 Jeremiah 26 Jeremiah 46:2 Jeremiah 47:1 Daniel 1:1–7 Daniel 13:41–51 Daniel 13:60–62
598 Ante C. 590	Jehoiachin/Jeconiah/Coniah reigned 3 months and ten days. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Zephaniah and Daniel were prophets. Ezekiel was taken to Babylon along with King Jehoiachin and 10,000 others, including political and military leaders and skilled craftsmen. Mordecai was one of the captives taken to Babylon with Jeconiah. Esther 11:4. According to 2 Kings 24:6-17 Jehoiachin was 18 years old when he was carried away to Babylon. According to 2 Chronicles 36:9-10 he was 8 years old.	2 Kings 24:6–17 2 Chronicles 36:9–10 Esther 11:2–4 Jeremiah 22:24–30 Jeremiah 24:1 Jeremiah 29:1–2 Jeremiah 37:1
598–588 Ante C. 590→588	Mattaniah/Zedekiah was 21 years old (598) when he was made king of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar. He reigned 11 years, until he was 32 years old (587). Isaiah, Zephaniah, Jeremiah and Daniel were prophets. 598. In the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah (598/7) Jeremiah put yoke-bars on his neck, and warned the envoys of Edom, Moab, Sidon, and the court of Judah. Jeremiah 27:1-3. Hananiah broke the bars, and died the same year. Zedekiah sent Elasah and Gemariah to Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar. Jeremiah sent word by them to the elders and to the priests that 70 years must be completed (598/7 – 70 = 528/7 BCE). Zephaniah reported to Jeremiah the false prophesy from Babylon, and Jeremiah declared Shemaiah of Nehelam in Babylon to be a false prophet, to be punished by God. Jeremiah 29:1-3, 8-10, 24-32. 597. The siege of Jerusalem in the 9th year of Nebuchadnezzar, the 2nd year of Zedekiah. 594. The 4th year of Zedekiah king of Judah, the 12th year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar over the Assyrians in Nineveh. Nebuchadnezzar made war against King Arphaxad/Cyaxares who ruled over the Medes in Ecbatana. Judith 1:1-6. 593. The 5th year of Zedekiah king of Judah, the 5th year of the exile of Jehoiachin/Jeconiah/Coniah. "in the 5th year at the time when the Chaldeans took Jerusalem and burned it with fire", Baruch read to Jeconiah son of Jehoiakim "this book". Baruch took the vessels that had been carried away from the Temple to return them to the land of Judah. Offerings could still be made on the "altar of the Lord our God", and prayer for "Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and for the life of Belshazzar his son". Baruch 1:1-12. Ezekiel's vision of the LORD and his call at the age of 30, the age priests normally were inducted into office (593). Ezekiel 1:1; Numbers 4:30. 592. The 6th year of Zedekiah king of Judah, the 6th year of Jehoiachin (592). Ezekiel's vision of the appearance of a man clothed in linen. Ezekiel 8:1. 591. The 7th year, the word of the LORD when the elders came to query Ezekiel. Ezekiel 20:1. 3,023 persons were carried away by Nebuchadnezzar. Jeremiah 52:28. (See above 599 BCE "the 7th year of Nebuchadnezzar" Jeremiah 52:28—6 years before the call of Ezekiel in "the 5th year of the exile of King Jehoiachin" 593 BCE Ezekiel 1:2.) 589. The 9th year, 10th month, 10th day. "The king of Babylon has this day laid siege to Jerusalem." 2 Kings 23:31–24:1; Ezekiel 24:1-2. The 9th year of Zedekiah, Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem. Jeremiah 39:1. Zephaniah was the priest whom Zedekiah sent to Jeremiah asking him to pray for the nation. Jeremiah 21:1-7; 37:3-21. Pharaoh Hophra began his 19-year reign in Egypt (589–570 BCE). At the beginning of his reign he tried to drive the Babylonian army away from its siege of Jerusalem. Jeremiah 37:5; 46:17. Jeremiah was imprisoned. 589/8. Jeremiah continued in prison, in the court of the guard, then the princes lowered him into the cistern to die. Ebed-melech interceded for Jeremiah, drew him out, and Jeremiah was put back into the court of the guard. Jeremiah 38. 588. The 10th year of Zedekiah, the 17th year of Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar overthrew and utterly destroyed Arphaxad, and plundered Ecbatana. Judith 1:13-15. Ezekiel prophesied against Pharaoh and all Egypt. Ezekiel 29:1-2; 2 Kings 24:7. Jeremiah in prison bought the field. Jeremiah 32:1-15. Zedekiah freed the slaves, but they were taken back. Jeremiah 34:8-11	Numbers 4:30 2 Kings 23:36 2 Kings 24:17–25:7 2 Chronicles 36:11–20 Judith 1:1–6 Judith 1:12–15 NRSV Judith 2:1–14 NRSV compare Judith 2 DR Jeremiah 21:1–7 Jeremiah 27:1–3 Jeremiah 28:1–29:3 Jeremiah 29:24–32 Jeremiah 32:1–15 Jeremiah 34:8–11 Jeremiah 37:3–21 Jeremiah 38:1–13 Jeremiah 39:1 Jeremiah 46:17 Jeremiah 52:28 Baruch 1:1–12 Ezekiel 1:1 Ezekiel 20:1 Ezekiel 24:1–2 Ezekiel 29:1–2 Daniel 5:18–22
587	The 11th year of Zedekiah, the 18th year of Nebuchadnezzar. Isaiah, Zephaniah, Jeremiah, Daniel and Ezekiel were prophets. 587. Nabuchodonosor/Nebuchadnezzar sent his general Holofernes to take revenge on the whole territory of Cilicia, Damascus, Syria, Moab, Ammon, all Judea, and Egypt. Judith 2:1. The Jews had only recently returned from the captivity (2 Chronicles 34-35), and all the people of Judea were newly gathered together, and the sacred vessels and the altar had been newly consecrated after their profanation. Judith 4:1-3. Judith beheaded Holofernes, the Assyrian army was dismayed and they fled. Judith 14:18–15:2. "no one ever again spread terror among the people of Israel in the days of Judith or for a long time after her death." Judith 16:25. Ezekiel declared that Pharaoh of Egypt will be brought down. Ezekiel 31:1. The Siege of Jerusalem. The 11th year of Zedekiah, the 4th month, the wall was breached. Zedekiah was captured, his sons and the nobles were put to death (Jeremiah 39:2-9). Zephaniah, the Second Priest, was put to death (Jeremiah 52:24-27). Zedekiah, 32 years old, was blinded and taken to Babylon. The Temple was burned, and the people taken into exile. 832 persons were taken captive. Jeremiah 52:29. Jeremiah prophesied "until the captivity of Jerusalem in the 5th month." Jeremiah 1:3; 52:29. Esau/Edom rejoiced and gloated over the destruction of Jerusalem, looted the city, cut off the fugitives, and handed over the survivors. Lamentations 4:21-22; Ezekiel 36; Obadiah 10-14. Gedaliah was appointed ruler of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. 587 BCE marked the beginning of the 70 years of serving the king of Babylon according to Jeremiah 25:8-12 (70 years = 587–517 BCE). The 19th year and 1st year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar (587 BCE).	2 Kings 25:2–9 2 Kings 25:22 2 Chronicles 34–35 2 Chronicles 36:17–19 Judith 2:1-14 Judith 4:1–3 Judith 13:4–10 Judith 14:8–15:2 Jeremiah 39:2–9 Jeremiah 52:24–29 Lamentations 4:21–22 Baruch 1:11–12 DR Ezekiel 31 Ezekiel 36 Obadiah 10–14

The Babylonian Captivity to the Decree of Cyrus 586—539 BC

Before the Common Era (BC)	Event	Bible texts
586 Ante C. 588	The 19th year and 2nd year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar. The 12th year of the exile of Jehoiachin/Jeconiah/Coniah. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel and Ezekiel were prophets. Ezekiel 32:1. Lamentation over Pharaoh king of Egypt. Jeremiah 52:12-16. Nebuzaradan burned the house of the LORD and every great house, the army broke down all the walls around Jerusalem. Isaiah 6:13; Jeremiah 37:8-10; 2 Kings 25:8-9. Gedaliah was appointed governor of Judah. 2 Kings 24:22; Jeremiah 40:1-12. Daniel 2. In the 2nd year Daniel interpreted the dream of the great image. Daniel was made ruler over the whole province of Babylon. Daniel 3. Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold. Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael (Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego) were thrown into the furnace. They came out unharmed, and were promoted.	2 Kings 25:8–9 2 Kings 25:22 Isaiah 6:11–13 Jeremiah 37:8–10 Jeremiah 39:2-9 Jeremiah 40:1–12 Jeremiah 52:12–16 Ezekiel 32:1–16 Daniel 2–3
582 Ante C. 587	The 23rd year and 6th year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel and Ezekiel were prophets. Jeremiah 52:30. Nebuzaradan carried away captive 745 persons. The book of Lamentations was written about this time by an eyewitness—similarities between Lamentations and Jeremiah in tenor, theology, themes, language, and imagery favor authorship by Jeremiah. Ishmael son of Nethaniah murdered Gedaliah the appointed governor (Ante C. 587).	2 Kings 25:23–25 Jeremiah 40:13–41:10 Jeremiah 52:30
582/1	The 24th year and 7th year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel and Ezekiel were prophets. Johanan son of Kareah and the forces with him fought against Ishmael, but Ishmael escaped. Johanan led the people to Egypt against God's word, to escape Babylonian retaliation, and forced Jeremiah to go with them. The end of Isaiah's prophetic ministry. Isaiah 6:9-13. Jeremiah in Egypt foretold the capture and exile of Pharaoh Hophra (reigned 589–570 BCE) See Martyrdom of Isaiah	Isaiah 6:11–12 Jeremiah 41:11–44:30
581	Tobit, 158 years old (RSVCE, KJV), told his son to "leave Nineveh, because what the prophet Jonah said will surely happen", and then he died. (The destruction foretold by Jonah, described by Nahum and Zephaniah, occurred in 612 BCE.) Nebuchadnezzar II burns Jerusalem (-581). Historians do not agree precisely on the date Jerusalem was burned and destroyed by the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar II, who ended the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah (see section "Archaeological dates" above; also Zedekiah and Siege of Jerusalem). Taking Bernard Grun's proposed 581 BCE as the key historical base date in a literalist table moves forward by 6 years all the dates above in this table, as well as all those dates below which are arithmetically calculated therefrom. Given that a secure historial date has not been established, the choice of a particular base date from among the range of various dates proposed by archaeologists, scholars and historians is substantially arbitrary.	Tobit 14:1–4 DR Tobit 14:1–4 NAB Tobit 14:1–4 NRSV Tobit 14:2-11 RSVCE, KJV Jonah 3 Nahum 2 Zephaniah 2:13-15
571	The 27th year of the exile of Jehoiachin/Jeconiah (598–571). The word of the LORD to Ezekiel that Nebuchadnezzar will be given the land of Egypt and its wealth for his army as recompense for his labor for the LORD.	Ezekiel 29:17–21
562 Ante C. 562	Nebuchadnezzar II died (reigned 605–562 BCE). He was succeeded by his son Evil-merodach/Awel-marduk. Daniel was prophet.	2 Kings 25:27
561–560	Evil-merodach/Awel-marduk began to reign in 561. Daniel was prophet. Jehoiachin was freed from prison the 37th year of his exile (598–561), the first year of the reign of Evil-Merodach/Awel-marduk (reigned 561–560). Evil-merodach died 560 BCE.	2 Kings 25:27–30 Jeremiah 52:31–34
560–539	From the reign of Neriglissar (560) to the 1st year of Cyrus (539). Daniel was prophet. 560. Neriglissar, king of Babylon 560–558 c. 559. Cyrus organized the Persians into an army, revolted, defeated his father Astyages and grandfather Cambyses I, and assumed the throne (reigned 559–530 BCE). 557. Labashi-Marduk ruled Babylon briefly. 556. Nabonidus, king of Babylon 556-539. 555. The year Tobiah, son of Tobit, died 99 years old, 82 years after the death of his father (637). Tobit 14:16 (DR). 553. Belshazzar son of Nabonidus was made co-regent, and given charge of the defense of Babylon (553–539). The Bible plainly says that Belshazzar was the son of Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel 5:1, 10-11, 22; Baruch 1:11-12. The names of Neriglissar, Labashi-Marduk and Nabonidus are not in the Bible. 553. The 1st year of Belshazzar (553). Daniel's vision of 4 beasts and the Ancient of Days. 550. The 3rd year of Belshazzar (550). Daniel's vision of the ram and the he-goat. Gabriel interpreted the vision. 539. The last year of Nabonidus, and of Belshazzar.	Tobit 14:16 DR Baruch 1:11–12 Daniel 5:1–22 Daniel 7:1–14 Daniel 8:1–17
539 Ante C. 536	The 17th year of Nabonidus, and the 14th year of Belshazzar. Belshazzar's feast. Daniel interpreted the writing on the wall. Belshazzar proclaimed Daniel/Belteshazzar the 3rd ruler in the kingdom. 539. The Persian Cyrus II the Great entered Babylon without a fight. Belshazzar was slain, and Darius the Mede, son of Ahasuerus, a Mede, received the kingdom 62 years old (601–539). Daniel 5:30; 8:3-4. Daniel 6:28 seems to indicate that Cyrus and Darius ruled simultaneously. 539. The 1st year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by birth a Mede. Daniel 9. Daniel's prayer regarding the 70 years of Jeremiah. Gabriel came and revealed that 70 weeks of years are decreed. Daniel 9:1-2, 21-25. The identity of Darius cannot be drawn from the text of the Bible alone; the Bible does not say that Darius the Mede and Darius I Hystaspes are different persons, the text does not say they are the same. (see below—522. The 1st year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by birth a Mede.) 539. The 1st year of King Cyrus (reigned 559–530 BCE). The Decree of Cyrus (539) freed the captives Babylon had taken. The first group of about 50,000 exiles, led by Sheshbazzar prince of Judah, departed and came to the house of God at Jerusalem. The literal reading of Ezra 1-7 does not say that Cyrus issued a decree that the city of Jerusalem was to be restored and rebuilt, but only the house of God. After their arrival in Jerusalem, Sheshbazzar was replaced by Zerubbabel, a leader of the people together with Jeshua/Joshua the high priest. 539. Daniel continued until the 1st year of King Cyrus, and prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian. Daniel was a companion of Cyrus the king, and the most honored of his friends. Daniel 1:21; 6:28; 14:1-2.	2 Chronicles 36:22–28 Ezra 1 Ezra 2:1–2 Ezra 3:1–2 Ezra 4:1–3 Daniel 1:21 Daniel 5:30–31 Daniel 6:28 Daniel 8:3–4 Daniel 9:1–2 Daniel 9:21–25 Daniel 14:1 DR Daniel 14:2 NAB

The Second Temple to Alexander the Great 538—334 BC

Before the Common Era (BC)	Event	Bible texts
538 Ante C. 535	The beginning of the 2nd year of the coming to the house of God at Jerusalem. Daniel was prophet. The builders laid the foundation of the Temple of the LORD. Ezra 3:8-13. The people of the land intimidated the Jews, brought accusations against them. Work on the house of God ceased (18 years, 538–520). Ezra 4:4-5, 24.	Ezra 3:8–13 Ezra 4:1–5 Ezra 4:24
536 Ante C. 536	The 3rd year of Cyrus king of Persia. Daniel was prophet. Daniel's vision of a man in linen, who revealed what was to befall his people in the latter days. Daniel 10-12. In –536 Cyrus II, the Great, of Persia (–553 to –529) freed the Jews from the Babylonian Captivity and aided their return to Israel. 536 BCE.	2 Chronicles 36:22-23 Ezra 1:1-4 Daniel 10:1–14
530–520	Cyrus the Great died 4 December 530. He was succeeded by Cambyses II son of Cyrus (reigned 530–522). 527. The year that Tobiah, son of Tobit, died 117 years old, 100 years after the death of his father (627). "Before dying he rejoiced over Nineveh's destruction" (612 BCE), and he praised God. Tobit 14:14-15 (NRSV, REB, NAB, NJB). 522. Cambyses was killed. Following the death of Cambyses II, Darius I Hystaspes the Great seized power (reigned 18 years, 522–486). 522. The 1st year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by birth a Mede. Daniel 9. Daniel's prayer regarding the 70 years of Jeremiah. Gabriel came and revealed 70 weeks of years are decreed. The identity of Darius cannot be drawn from the text of the Bible alone; the Bible does not say that Darius the Mede and Darius I Hystaspes are different persons, the text does not say they are the same. (see above—539. The 1st year of Darius son of Ahasuerus, by birth a Mede.) During this period work on the Temple had stopped (538–520), until the 2nd year of Darius (520).	Ezra 4:24 Tobit 14:14 Daniel 9:1–3 Daniel 9:23–27
520–519 Ante C. 519	520. The 2nd year of Darius the king (520). Haggai and Zechariah were prophets. The Jews resumed rebuilding the house of God with the support of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah. Ezra 5:1-2. 29 August 520, 2nd year, 6th month, 1st day of the month. Haggai's 1st message. Haggai 1:1-11. See Book of Haggai 21 September 520, 2nd year, 6th month, 24th day of the month. Temple building resumed. Haggai 1:12-15 17 October 520, 2nd year, 7th month, 21st day of the month. Haggai's 2nd message. Haggai 2:1-9 October–November 520, 2nd year, 8th month. Zechariah's ministry began. Zechariah 1:1-6. See Book of Zechariah 18 December 520, 2nd year, 9th month, 24th day of the month. Haggai's 3rd and 4th messages. Haggai 2:10-23 15 February 519, 2nd year, 11th month, 24th day of the month. Zechariah's night visions. Zechariah 1:7–6:8. Literally, "the going forth of the word of the LORD to restore and rebuild Jerusalem" (Daniel 9:24-27) was announced by Zechariah in Jerusalem in the 2nd year, 11th month, 24th day of the month. Zechariah 1:14-17. 70 weeks of years = 490 years, from 519 to 29 BCE. See Herod the Great. Zechariah was also a leading priest at the time of Joiakim's high priesthood, possibly the same as the prophet. Nehemiah 12:16.	Daniel 9:23-27 Haggai 1:1–2:23 Zechariah 1:1–6:8
518–517	The 4th year of Darius the king (reigned 522–486 BCE). Zechariah and Obadiah were prophets. 518. Zechariah continued his prophetic ministry. He removed 3 corrupt leaders. The people rejected his leadership, and weighed out 30 pieces of silver as his wages. Zechariah chapters 7–14. 517. The end of the 70 years of serving the king of Babylon (587–517 BCE) according to Jeremiah 25:8-13. The Jews began rebuilding the city, finishing the walls and repairing the foundations. Ezra 4:12 The Book of Obadiah historically belongs to the early postexilic period at the end of the 6th century (c. 525–501). The Nabataeans infiltrated Edom and Moab from a homeland southeast of Petra (which later became their capital). Indications that this was already happening at the time the book was written can be seen in Obadiah 1, 6-7 See Darius I: early reign Behistun Inscription Achaemenid Empire	Ezra 3:12 Jeremiah 25:12–13 Obadiah 1 Obadiah 6–7 Zechariah 7:1 Zechariah 11:4–14
486	"...and in the reign of Ahasuerus in the beginning of his reign they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Jerusalem." Ezra 4:6. The Hebrew name Ahasuerus is usually identified with Xerxes I who reigned 486–465/4, known in Esther as "Ahasuerus" and as "The Great King Artaxerxes", son of Darius the Great and grandson of Cyrus the Great.	Ezra 4:4–6 Esther 1:1–2 Esther 11:2 Esther 13:1 Esther 16:1
484–483 Ante C. 519	The 2nd year of the reign of "Artaxerxes the Great"/Ahasuerus. Mordecai's dream. Esther 11:2–12:6. Mordecai reported the plot of eunuchs Gabatha and Tharra to kill Artaxerxes. Haman son of Hammedatha in great honor with the king, sought injury to Mordecai and his people because of the eunuchs. Esther 11:2–12:6. 483. The 3rd year of the reign of Ahasuerus (483), Vashti was deposed. Beautiful young virgins were sought, and Hadassah/Esther was made queen. Esther 1:1-3, 12-21; 2:1-4, 8, 16-17.	Esther 11:2–12:6 Esther 1:1–2:17
479–478 Ante C. 515	The 7th year of Ahasuerus (reigned 486–465/4 BCE). Ezra went up from Babylon to Jerusalem, from the 1st month to the 5th month. At his word, from the 9th month to the 1st month (479–478), the Jews separated from the people of the land and put away their foreign wives and children.	Ezra 7:1–7 Ezra 10:10–12
474–473 Ante C. 510→508	The 12th year of Ahasuerus. 474. The pur ("lot", plural purim, "lots") was cast before Haman in the 1st month. An edict was issued in the king's name to annihilate all the Jews on the 14th day of the 12th month (473 BCE). Haman was exposed, and executed. Mordecai was given Haman's position. He issued a decree authorizing the Jews to defend themselves and destroy those who hated them. 473. They smote their enemies, and the days of Purim were fixed.	Esther 3:7–13 Esther 13:1–7 Esther 7:5–8:12 Esther 16:1–24 Esther 9:11–32
471	The year that Tobiah, son of Tobit, died 127 years old, 110 years after the death of his father (581). "But before he died he heard of the destruction of Nineveh" (612 BCE), and he rejoiced.	Tobit 14:14-15 RSVCE, KJV
c. 460–445	The Book of Malachi is not dated by a reference to a ruler or specific event. Internal evidence (Malachi 1:6-11; 2:1-3; 3:1, 10) as well as its position in the canon favors a postexilic date. The social and religious problems Malachi addressed reflect the situation in Ezra 9 and 10 and Nehemiah 5 and 13, suggesting dates either before Ezra's return (c. 460) or just before Nehemiah's second term as governor (Nehemiah 13:6-7) (c. 435).	Malachi 1:6–11 Malachi 2:1–3 Malachi 3:1 Malachi 3:10
c. 446/5	"...and in the days of Artaxerxes..." (Artaxerxes I who reigned 465–424) Bishlam, Mithredath and Tabeel, and Rehum and Shimshai, obtained in writing from Artaxerxes king of Persia authorization to make a decree that the men rebuilding the wall and the city of Jerusalem cease. They went in haste and by force and power made them cease.	Ezra 4:7–23
445 Ante C. 454	The 20th year of Artaxerxes. Hananiah came to Susa. He told Nehemiah, cup-bearer to the king, that the wall of Jerusalem was broken down and the gates had been burned with fire. Nehemiah obtained a decree from the king that Jerusalem be rebuilt. He went to Jerusalem, and inspected the wall. Nehemiah 1:1–2:15. 490 years from the decree of Artaxerxes (445 BCE) through Nehemiah to the governors of province Beyond the River that "the city may be rebuilt", according to Daniel 9:25, gives a date of AD 45 CE (445 + 45 = 490) during the reign of the Roman emperor Claudius (reigned AD 41–54 CE). The wall was rebuilt in 52 days and finished in the 7th month, 1st day. Nehemiah 6:15. Nehemiah the governor gave his brother Hanani and Hananiah, governor of the cattle, charge over Jerusalem. Nehemiah 7:2. The people were enrolled by genealogies. 1 in 10 volunteered to live in Jerusalem. When the 7th month came Ezra read the Law before the Water Gate, to an assembly of 42,360 persons and 7,337 servants. Nehemiah 7:5, 66-67; 8:1-2. The 24th day of the 7th month the Israelites separated themselves from all foreigners. Nehemiah 9:1-2.	Nehemiah 1:1–2:15 Nehemiah 6:15 Nehemiah 7:2–5 Nehemiah 7:73–8:1 Nehemiah 7:66–67 Nehemiah 8:1–2 Nehemiah 9:1–2 Nehemiah 12:27–45 Nehemiah 13:1–3
445–433 →Ante C. 442	Nehemiah was governor of Judah 12 years, from the 20th year to the 32nd year of Artaxerxes (reigned 465–424, 41 years). 433. Nehemiah returned to Artaxerxes in the 32nd year of Artaxerxes. After some time (date not stated in the Bible) he received leave to return to Jerusalem, and he cleansed the Temple. The sabbath rest was enforced.	Nehemiah 5:14 Nehemiah 13:6–12
c. 445–333	High priests recorded in Book of Nehemiah 12:10-11: Jeshua, father of Joiakim (c. 586–537 BCE) Ezra 2:2, 36, 40 Joiakim, father of Eliashib (c. 510 BCE) Nehemiah 12:10, 12, 26 Eliashib, father of Joiada, Nehemiah 3:1, 20; 12:10; 13:28; Ezra 10:6 Joiada, father of Jonathan (c. 425 BCE) Nehemiah 12:10-11, 22; 13:28 Jonathan, father of Jaddua, Nehemiah 12:11, 14	Nehemiah 12:1–26
c. 7th–5th century	See: Book of Job The author of the book of Job is not known; it was composed some time between the 7th and 5th centuries B.C. "There was a man in the land of Uz..."	Job 1:1–3 Obadiah 8
356–334	Alexander was born in 356 BCE, son of Philip of Macedon. 336 BCE. Philip of Macedon was assassinated, and Alexander at the age of 20 became king of the Greeks (reigned 336–323 BCE). 334 BCE. Alexander won a series of victories over the Persians. Daniel 8:5-7.	Daniel 7:7 Daniel 7:23 Daniel 8:5–7 Daniel 11:3 1 Maccabees 1:1–4

Jaddua the high priest to John Hyrcanus 333—104 BC

Before the Common Era (BC)	Event	Bible texts
c. 333	Jaddua, son of Jonathan, was high priest probably at the end of the Persian period when Alexander the Great approached Jerusalem about 333 BCE.	Nehemiah 12:1–11 Nehemiah 12:22
	See: First Book of Maccabees (333–124 BCE)
333–323 →Ante C. 323	Alexander, son of Philip of Macedon defeated Darius, and became king of the Persians and Medes (333 BCE). 1 Maccabees 1:1. 333. Alexander continued his victorious military march into Syria, Egypt, Persia, Media, northern India. Daniel 7:7, 23; 8:6-7. 323 (Ante C. 323). He returned to Babylon where he died at the age of 33.	Daniel 7:7 Daniel 7:23 Daniel 8:6–7 1 Maccabees 1:1–7
323–217	"Then his officers began to rule, each in his own place. They all put on crowns after his death, and so did their sons after them for many years; and they caused many evils on the earth" (323–175). 1 Maccabees 1:8-9. Compare Daniel 8:5-7; 11:3-44. 323. Onias I became high priest (323–300 or 290). c. 309–300. (Ante C. 187) A letter was sent to Onias I the high priest from Arius I king of the Spartans (reigned 309–265 BCE) stating that the Spartans and the Jews are brothers. 1 Maccabees 12:7, 19-23.	Daniel 8:8 Daniel 11:3–44 1 Maccabees 1:8–9 1 Maccabees 12:7 1 Maccabees 12:19–23
281–246	Reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphus His marriage to Arsinoe I. Her line afterward was not recognized. Daniel 11:5-6. c. 250. The marriage of Antiochus II Theos and Berenice Syra of Egypt which ended in tragedy. Daniel 11:6 Establishment of the Library of Alexandria Letter of Aristeas: Greek translation of the Torah. See Ptolemaic rulers	Daniel 11 NAB literalist footnotes Daniel 11:5–6
219	Simon, son of Jochanan/Onias, became high priest (219-196 BCE). The house of God was renovated, the Temple was reinforced, the wall was built with turrets for the Temple precincts, and the reservoir was dug vast like a sea.	Sirach 50:1–4 1 Maccabees 12:7
	See: Third Book of Maccabees (217 June–c. 216/215)
217–c. 215	Persecution under Ptolemy IV Philopator 22 June 217 BCE. Ptolemy IV Philopator defeated Antiochus III at the Battle of Raphia. 3 Maccabees 1:1-5; Daniel 11:11. c. 216. Philopator issued a decree condemning all Jews to be destroyed. c. 215. He reversed his command and freed them, and ordered that no one harm them. Those who had renounced Judaism to save themselves were executed.	Daniel 11:11 3 Maccabees 1:1–5 3 Maccabees 3:1–5 3 Maccabees 3:12–29 3 Maccabees 6:38–7:16
200	Syria defeated Egypt at the Battle of Paneas. Daniel 11:13. The siege of Sidon after the Battle of Paneas. Daniel 11:15	Daniel 11:13–15
197	Antiochus III betrothed his daughter to Ptolemy V Epiphanes.	Daniel 11:17
	See: Second Book of Maccabees (c. 196–161 BCE)
196–175	Onias III became high priest (196–175 BCE). 190. Roman general Scipio defeated Antiochus at Magnesia. Daniel 11:18. Seleucus, the king of Asia (187–175 BCE), defrayed from his own revenues the expenses connected with the sacrificial services in the Temple.	Daniel 11:18 2 Maccabees 3:1–3
177 or 78–77 Ante C. 177	"The 4th year of the reign of Ptolemy and Cleopatra, Dositheus, who said that he was a priest and a Levite, and Ptolemy his son brought to Egypt the...Letter of Purim..." The specific identities of this particular Ptolemy and his co-regent Cleopatra together with the period of their reign cannot be drawn from the Bible. Two dates have been proposed for the 4th year of the reign of the otherwise unspecified Ptolemy and Cleopatra. The New American Bible annotation suggests that Ptolemy refers to Ptolemy XII Auletes and Cleopatra to Cleopatra V Tryphaena, and the date referred to as 78–77 B.C. during their reign; the Douay-Rheims Bible (1899 American edition) suggests in its footnote annotation to Esther 11:1 "Ante C. 177" (177 BC). This date falls within the reign of Ptolemy VI Philometor, who ruled jointly with his mother, Cleopatra I Syra, until her death in 176 BC. See Ptolemaic rulers and consorts. List of Ptolemies. Letter of Purim Rabbinic Greek translation of the Jewish scriptures	Esther 11:1
no date	During the high priesthood of Onias III 196–175 BCE. Seleucus, the king of Asia (187–175), sent Heliodorus "a collector" to Jerusalem to take the treasures of the Temple. When he entered he was struck down and flogged. Onias interceded in prayer with an offering for his life, he lived, and with his forces went back to the king.	Daniel 11:20 2 Maccabees 3:1–35
175	Seleucus IV Philopator king of Syria died. He was succeeded by Antiochus IV Epiphanes.	Daniel 8:9 Daniel 11:21 Maccabees 3:1-35 2 Maccabees 4:7
175–170 Ante C. 175→	175. Antiochus Epiphanes began to reign in the 137th year of the kingdom of the Greeks (175 BCE). 1 Maccabees 1:10; Daniel 7:8. 175. Onias III, son of Simon II, high priest (196–175 BCE), was deposed by Jason (175 BCE), who had obtained the office of the high priesthood by corrupt means. 2 Maccabees 4:7. Jason introduced Hellenism, and built a Greek gymnasium in sight of the Temple. Menelaus obtained the high priesthood by outbidding his brother Jason. He was high priest until his execution in 162 BCE. 2 Maccabees 4:1-14. "Jason and his company revolted from the holy land and the kingdom and burned the gate and shed innocent blood." 2 Maccabees 1:7-8; 4:26. 174. Onias III "the prince of the covenant" was murdered by Andronicus at the request of Menelaus. 2 Maccabees 4:23-35; Daniel 11:22. 174–170. Antiochus invaded Egypt with a strong force, engaged Ptolemy in battle, captured the fortified cities, and plundered Egypt. 1 Maccabees 1:16-19; Daniel 7:24; 11:22.	Daniel 7:8 Daniel 7:24 Daniel 11:20–22 1 Maccabees 1:10 1 Maccabees 1:16–19 2 Maccabees 4:7 2 Maccabees 4:23–35
169–167 Ante C. 170→168	The persecution under Antiochus Epiphanes. 169. (Ante C. 170) Antiochus returned in the year 143 (169 BCE). He went up against Israel, and entered the Temple. He murdered many. 1 Maccabees 1:20-24; Daniel 11:28. 168. Antiochus sent his 2nd expedition into Egypt. 2 Maccabees 5:1; Daniel 11:29-30. 167. (Ante C. 168) A chief collector of tribute came from Antiochus. He killed many, plundered the city, burned it, and fortified the city of David (the citadel) against the Jews. By decree of the king Judaism was forbidden. Daniel 7:25; 8:10-12. Early in December, 167 BCE, on the 15th day of the month Chislev in the year 145, "they erected a desolating sacrilege upon the altar of burnt offering." 1 Maccabees 1:29-54; Daniel 11:31; 12:11. In Modein, Mattathias slew the king's officer who was monitoring the sacrifices, tore down the pagan altar, fled with many, and revolted. They received "a little help" when the Hasideans joined him. 1 Maccabees 2:15-44; Daniel 11:33-35.	Daniel 7:25 Daniel 8:10–12 Daniel 11:28–31 Daniel 11:33–35 Daniel 12:11 1 Maccabees 1:20–24 1 Maccabees 1:29–54 1 Maccabees 2:15–44 2 Maccabees 5:1
166–164	The Maccabean revolt 166. Mattathias died in the 146th year of the kingdom of the Greeks (166 BCE). 1 Maccabees 2:70. Judas Maccabeus took command and led the revolt against the Greeks (166–160 BCE). 1 Maccabees 3–9; 2 Maccabees 5:27-15:37; Daniel 11:32-35; 12:1-3. 165. The Greek generals Apollonius and Seron were crushed by Judas. Antiochus sent Lysias to wipe out Judea and Jerusalem, and crossed over the Euphrates river in the 147th year (165 BCE) to collect revenues from Persia. Lysias, Ptolemy, Nicanor and Gorgias, also Philip, Timothy and Bacchides, were repeatedly defeated in battle (165–164). 1 Maccabees 3:10-4:35; 2 Maccabees 8:8-9:1 164. The Dedication of the Temple (Hanukkah) in the 148th year (164 BCE). 1 Maccabees 4:36-56; 2 Maccabees 10:1-9; Daniel 12:12.	Daniel 8:13–14 Daniel 11:32–35 Daniel 12:1–3 Daniel 12:12 1 Maccabees 2:65–3:1 1 Maccabees 3:10–4:35 1 Maccabees 4:36–56 2 Maccabees 5:27 2 Maccabees 8:8–9:1 2 Maccabees 10:1–9
163–160	The death of Antiochus IV to the death of Judas Maccabeus. 163. Antiochus the king died in the 149th year (163 BCE) in the mountains somewhere between mount Zion "the glorious holy mountain" and "the sea" in Persia. He had departed from Ecbatana and was driving furiously toward Jerusalem when he was struck down. See Zagros Mountains. 1 Maccabees 6:1-16; 2 Maccabees 9:1-28; Daniel 7:26; 11:44-45; 12:11. Antiochus Eupator was set up as king (163 BCE). He invaded Judea. Antiochus ordered Menelaus executed. He was thrown into a tower full of ashes and suffocated to death. 2 Maccabees 9:1-10, 28; 13:1-8. 162. Judas besieged the citadel in the 150th year (162). 1 Maccabees 6:19-20. 161. (Ante C. 162) Demetrius began to reign in the 151st year (161–152 BCE). Alcimus presented a large bribe to Demetrius, and incited the king against Judas. Demetrius set up Alcimus as high priest. Nicanor was sent to kill Judas, but he hesitated. When Judas avoided him, Nicanor threatened to destroy the Temple. Judas' vision of the high priest Onias and the prophet Jeremiah. Nicanor was slain in battle and beheaded (161 BCE). "And from that time the city has been in the possession of the Hebrews." 1 Maccabees 7:1, 26-35, 43-50; 2 Maccabees 14:3-4, 12-14; 15:12-16, 25-37 160. Bacchides and Alcimus encamped against Jerusalem in the 152nd year (Ante C. 161). Judas Maccabeus was slain at the Battle of Elasa (160 BCE). 1 Maccabees 9:1-18.	Daniel 11:44–45 Daniel 12:11–12 1 Maccabees 6:1–16 1 Maccabees 6:19–20 1 Maccabees 7:1 1 Maccabees 7:26–35 1 Maccabees 7:43–50 2 Maccabees 2:1–10 1 Maccabees 9:1–18 2 Maccabees 9:28 2 Maccabees 13:1–8 2 Maccabees 14:3–4 2 Maccabees 14:12–14 2 Maccabees 15:12–16 2 Maccabees 15:25–37
159–140 Ante C. 160→140	Jonathan Apphus accepted the leadership and took the place of his brother Judas (160/159 BCE). 1 Maccabees 9:28-31. 159. (Ante C. 160) Alcimus gave orders to tear down the wall of the inner court of the sanctuary in the 153rd year (159 BCE). He was stricken with paralysis and died in great agony. 1 Maccabees 9:54-56. 152. (Ante C. 153) In the 160th year (152 BCE) Alexander Epiphanes landed and occupied Ptolemais. Demetrius marched out to meet him, and was killed. Alexander appointed Jonathan Apphus, brother of Judas Maccabeus, high priest. October 23–30, 152 BCE, Jonathan discharged his office as high priest. 1 Maccabees 10:1-21. 150. Ptolemy set out from Egypt with his daughter Cleopatra, came to Ptolemais in the 162nd year (150 BCE), and gave her to Alexander in marriage. Jonathan was given honor, and clothed in purple. 1 Maccabees 10:55-62. 147. (Ante C. 148) Demetrius son of Demetrius came from Crete, and appointed Apollonius governor of Coelesyria. He came against Jonathan with a large force in the 165th year (147 BCE), and was defeated. 1 Maccabees 10:67-85. 145. (Ante C. 145) Alexander was beheaded by Zabdiel the Arab, Ptolemy died 3 days later, and Demetrius became king in the 167th year (145 BCE). 1 Maccabees 11:14-19. 143. (A.M. 3861, Ante C. 143) Trypho treacherously shut up Jonathan and his men in the city of Ptolemais and slew them. 1 Maccabees 12:39-48. In the reign of Demetrius in the 169th year (143 BCE), the Jews in Jerusalem wrote to the Jews in Egypt in the critical distress which came upon them in the years after Jason and his company had revolted from the holy land and burned the gates and shed innocent blood. 2 Maccabees 1:7-8. 142. (Ante C. 143) In the 170th year (142 BCE) the yoke of the Gentiles was removed from Israel. The 1st year of Simon, great high priest and commander and leader of the Jews. The land had rest all the days of Simon. 1 Maccabees 13:41-42; 14:4. 141. (Ante C. 142—141) The citadel was cleansed, and the Jews entered it with praise in the 171st year (141 BCE). Simon made his son John commander with his residence at Gazara. 1 Maccabees 13:51-53 140. (Ante C. 140) The 3rd year of Simon the great high priest, he agreed to be high priest, and commander and ethnarch of the Jews and priests and protector. Demetrius marched into Media to make war against Trypho in the 172nd year (140 BCE). Arsaces sent a commander, who defeated and took him. 1 Maccabees 14:1-3; 14:47.	1 Maccabees 9:28–31 1 Maccabees 9:54–56 1 Maccabees 10:1–21 1 Maccabees 10:55–62 1 Maccabees 10:67–85 1 Maccabees 11:14–19 1 Maccabees 12:39–48 1 Maccabees 13:41–42 1 Maccabees 13:51–53 1 Maccabees 14:1–4 1 Maccabees 14:47 2 Maccabees 1:7–8
138–104 Ante C. 139→124	The 5th year of Simon the great high priest to the death of John Hyrcanus son of Simon. 138. (Ante C. 139→138) In the 174th year (138 BCE), Antiochus son of Demetrius I and younger brother of Demetrius II besieged Dor, and shut Trypho in. Antiochus broke off relations with Simon, Trypho escaped, and Cendebeus invaded Judea. Judas and John, sons of Simon the high priest, took Simon's place at the head of the army and defeated Cendebeus. 1 Maccabees 15:10-14, 37-41; 16:1-10. 134. (Ante C. 135→133) In the 177th year, Ptolemy son of Abubus and son-in-law of the high priest killed Simon and 2 of his sons at Dok. John Hyrcanus son of Simon killed the assassins sent against him and became high priest of an independent Judea in the 177th year (134 BCE). Daniel 7:27; 1 Maccabees 16:14-24. 132. The 38th year of the reign of Ptolemy VIII Physcon Book of Sirach/Ecclesiasticus: "I arrived in Egypt in the 38th year of the reign of King Euergetes, and while there, I found a reproduction of our valuable teaching. I therefore considered myself in duty bound to devote some diligence and industry to the translation of this book." Sirach Foreword (Sirach 1:1). 124. (Ante C. 124) The Jews in Jerusalem and Judea in the 188th year (124 BCE) sent a letter to the Jews in Egypt that they are to see that the feast of booths is kept. 2 Maccabees 1:9. 104. John Hyrcanus died. John was ruler and high priest from 134 BCE until his death in 104. The Book of Wisdom has been dated to about a hundred years before the coming of Christ, written by a devout Jew as an admonition to his fellow rulers and kings. The Book of Judith—"The unknown author composed this edifying narrative of divine providence at the end of the second or the beginning of the first century B.C."—c. 100 BCE. "During the life of Judith and for a long time after her death, no one again disturbed the Israelites." Judith 16:25 (NAB). See Book of Jubilees	Sirach 1:1 Daniel 7:27 1 Maccabees 15:10–14 1 Maccabees 15:37–41 1 Maccabees 16:1–10 1 Maccabees 16:14–24 2 Maccabees 1:1–9

Esther 11:1—the 4th year of Ptolemy and Cleopatra as possibly 78–77 BC

Before the Common Era (BC)	Event	Bible texts
177 or 78–77	"The 4th year of the reign of Ptolemy and Cleopatra, Dositheus, who said that he was a priest and a Levite, and Ptolemy his son brought to Egypt the...Letter of Purim..." See above entry at "177 or 78–77 BC" See List of Old Testament Pseudepigrapha	Esther 11:1

2 Maccabees 1:10-12—Aristobulus II 66–63 BC

Before the Common Era (BC)	Event	Bible texts
66–63	"...To Aristobulus, who is of the family of the anointed priests, teacher of Ptolemy the king...Having been saved by God out of grave dangers we thank him greatly for taking our side against the king. For he drove out those who fought against the holy city." See Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Book 14, Chapters 2—4 2 Maccabees 1:13-16 relates the death of Antiochus X Eusebes and his men, during the course of a military expedition, as locked inside the temple of Nanea in Persia, stoned to death and beheaded by the priests. (This Antiochus should not be confused with the earlier Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who failed to take Elymais and its temple, and afterward died of parasitic infection and decay in the mountains of Persia. 1 Maccabees 6:1-16; 2 Maccabees 9:1-10, 28.) Pompey besieged Jerusalem, and took it (63 BC). End of Jewish independence.	2 Maccabees 1:10–16

Literalist difficulties in tabulating the chronology of the kings of Israel and Judah

The literal reading of the letter of the text of the Bible according to the method of letterism presents a particular difficulty when the comparative chronology of the kings is calculated, correlated and tabulated from the Bible alone.

Numerical totals of the reigns

Reference texts for Biblical data presented here are the RSVCE and KJV. Bible links are provided for verification and for multiple comparisons of different translations and versions of the Bible. All resulting figures are numerically derived from cited texts in published Bibles using plain arithmetic. The data presented here should not be regarded as definitive. This is not research, nor is this presented as research. This is an illustrative demonstration of simple mechanical arithmetic only, using known numbers in the Bible.

A literal count of the years of the chronology of the kings of Israel and Judah gives the following totals for the Divided Monarchy:

Kingdom of Judah: Rehoboam to Hezekiah

Rehoboam 17 years 1 Kings 14:21. ——Rehoboam 18 years 1 Kings 14:31–15:1
Abijam/Abijah 3 years 1 Kings 15:1–2
Asa 41 years 1 Kings 15:9–10
Jehoshaphat 25 years 1 Kings 22:41–42
Jehoram/Joram 8 years 2 Kings 8:16–17
Ahaziah 1 year 2 Kings 8:25–26
Athaliah 7 years 2 Kings 11:1–16
Jehoash/Joash 40 years 2 Kings 11:21–12:1
Amaziah 29 years 2 Kings 14:1. ——Amaziah 30 years 2 Kings 13:10; 14:7; 14:23
—(15th year + 15 years = 30 years)
Azariah/Uzziah 52 years 2 Kings 15:1–2
Jotham 16 years 2 Kings 15:32–33. ——Jotham 20 years 2 Kings 15:30
Ahaz 16 years 2 Kings 16:1–2
Hezekiah 29 years 2 Kings 18:1–2 The 12th year of the reign of Hezekiah of Judah saw the end of the Kingdom of Israel:

2 Kings 17:3–6; 18:10-11
12th year to the 29th year of Hezekiah = 29 – 12 = 17 years past the end of the Kingdom of Israel.

Reckoning 12 years of the reign of Hezekiah, and beginning with Rehoboam son of Solomon:
17 + 3 + 41 + 25 + 8 + 1 + 7 + 40 + 29 + 52 + 16 + 16 + 12 of Hezekiah = 267 years.
18 + 3 + 41 + 25 + 8 + 1 + 7 + 40 + 30 + 52 + 20 + 16 + 12 of Hezekiah = 273 years.

Kingdom of Israel: Jeroboam to Hoshea

Jeroboam son of Nebat 22 years 1 Kings 14:20
Nadab 2 years 1 Kings 14:20; 15:25
Baasha 24 years 1 Kings 15:27–28; 15:33. ——Baasha 33 years 2 Chronicles 16:1–5
—(3rd year to the 36th year = 36 – 3 = 33 years)
Elah 2 years 1 Kings 15:8; 15:16
Zimri, Tibni and Omri 12 years 1 Kings 16:10–29 verses 10, 15, 18, 21-23, 29. ——Zimri, Tibni and Omri 11 years
—(27th to the 31st year = 4 years, and 31st to the 39th year = 7 years: 4 + 7 = 11.)
Ahab 22 years 1 Kings 16:28–29
Ahaziah 2 years 1 Kings 22:48–51
Jehoram/Joram 12 years 2 Kings 1:17; 2 Kings 3:1
Jehu 28 years 2 Kings 10:36
Jehoahaz 17 years 2 Kings 13:1–2
Jehoash/Joash 16 years 2 Kings 13:10
Jeroboam II 41 years 2 Kings 14:16; 14:23
Zechariah 6 months 2 Kings 15:8.
Shallum 1 month 2 Kings 15:10; 15:30. ——Zechariah and Shallum 7 months, Zechariah and Shallum 1 year 2 Kings 15:8; 15:17
Menahem 10 years 2 Kings 15:14; 15:17.
Pekahiah 2 years 2 Kings 15:22–23
Pekah son of Remaliah 20 years 2 Kings 15:25–27
Hoshea son of Elah 9 years 2 Kings 15:30–32

22 + 2 + 24 + 2 + 12 + 22 + 2 + 12 + 28 + 17 + 16 + 41 + 6 months + 1 month + 10 + 2 + 20 + 9 = 241 years 7 months.
22 + 2 + 33 + 2 + 11 + 22 + 2 + 12 + 28 + 17 + 16 + 41 + 1 year of 12 months + 10 + 2 + 20 + 9 = 250 years.

Kingdom of Judah (to the 12th year of Hezekiah) 267/273 years.
Kingdom of Israel (to their exile) 241 years 7 months (242 years)/250 years.

By a literal count according to the Bible, the Kingdom of Israel was dissolved and the people taken into exile by Shalmaneser the 241st/242nd, 250th, 267th, 273rd year after Solomon 982 BCE.

• 982 BCE – 241/242 years = 741/740 BCE
• 982 BCE – 250 years = 732 BCE
• 982 BCE – 267 years = 715 BCE
• 982 BCE – 273 years = 709 BCE

For the period of the Divided Monarchy, most historians follow either of the older chronologies established by William F. Albright or Edwin R. Thiele, or the newer chronologies of Gershon Galil and Kenneth Kitchen. See Kingdom of Israel (Samaria).

Jehoram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah were killed at the same time. Hoshea was king of Israel during the reign of Hezekiah king of Judah. Precise historical dates for the reigns of the kings of ancient Israel and Judah cannot be given. A general chronology is presented here without dates.

Biblical numberings of the years of the kings

In the following table the apparent internal numerical inconsistencies in all the numerical textual data relating to each ruler, together with the resultant numerical differences in reckoning the length and the beginning and ending dates of his reign, are carried forward and applied to the beginning and ending dates of the succeeding ruler. The mechanical arithmetical results in this table are thus cumulative.

Bible texts	The numbers and totals of the years of reigns reckoned according to the literal letter of the text
Solomon
1 Kings 11:42–43	Solomon reigned 40 years and died, and his son Rehoboam began to reign over all Israel and Judah.
Rehoboam
1 Kings 14:21 1 Kings 12:1–20 1 Kings 14:31–15:1 1 Kings 14:31	Rehoboam of Judah began to reign the 40th year of Solomon. After Rehoboam began to reign the Monarchy became divided. Rehoboam reigned 17 years, from the 40th year of Solomon to the 17th year of Jeroboam. Rehoboam reigned 18 years, from the 40th year of Solomon to the 18th year of Jeroboam. Rehoboam died the 17th year of Jeroboam of Israel. Rehoboam died the 18th year of Jeroboam of Israel. Rehoboam died, and his son Abijam/Abijah began to reign over Judah.
Abijam/Abijah of Judah
1 Kings 14:31–15:1 1 Kings 14:20 1 Kings 15:1–2 2 Chronicles 13:1–2 2 Chronicles 13:19–21 1 Kings 14:20 1 Kings 15:8	Abijam/Abijah son of Rehoboam of Judah began to reign the 18th year of Jeroboam. Abijam/Abijah reigned 3 years, from the 17th year of Jeroboam to the 20th year of Jeroboam. (17th to the 20th year = 3 years: 20 – 17 = 3.) Abijam/Abijah reigned 3 years, from the 18th year of Jeroboam to the 21st year of Jeroboam. Abijam/Abijah reigned 3 years, from the 20th year of Jeroboam to the 1st year of Nadab son of Jeroboam of Israel. Abijam/Abijah of Judah outlived Jeroboam of Israel. Abijam/Abijah of Judah died the 20th year of Jeroboam of Israel Abijam/Abijah of Judah died the 21st year of Jeroboam of Israel Abijam/Abijah of Judah died the 1st year of Nadab son of Jeroboam of Israel. Abijam/Abijah died, and his son Asa began to reign over Judah.
Jeroboam of Israel
1 Kings 12:17–20 2 Chronicles 10:12–17 1 Kings 11:42–12:20 1 Kings 14:20–21 1 Kings 15:1-2 2 Chronicles 12:16–13:2 1 Kings 15:9 1 Kings 15:25 1 Kings 12:17-20 2 Chronicles 10:12-17 2 Chronicles 13:19–21 1 Kings 14:20	Jeroboam son of Nebat of Israel began to reign the 1st year of Rehoboam of Judah. Jeroboam of Israel reigned 22 years, from the 40th year of Solomon son of David to the 1st year of Asa son of Abijam/Abijah of Judah. (Rehoboam 18 years, Abijam/Abijah 3, 1st year of Asa 1 = 22 years: 18 + 3 + 1 = 22.) Jeroboam of Israel reigned 22 years, from the 40th year of Solomon to the 2nd year of Asa of Judah. (Rehoboam 17 years, Abijam/Abijah 3, 2nd year of Asa 2 = 22 years: 17 + 3 + 2 = 22.) Jeroboam of Israel reigned 22 years, from the 1st year of Rehoboam son of Solomon to the 3rd year of Asa of Judah. (1st year of Rehoboam 17 – 1 = 16 years, Abijam/Abijah 3, 3rd year of Asa = 22 years: 16 + 3 + 3 = 22.) Jeroboam of Israel died before Abijam/Abijah of Judah died, before the 20th/21st year of the Kingdom of Judah, before the end of the reign of Abijam/Abijah. Jeroboam of Israel reigned 22 years, from the 38th/39th year of Solomon to the 2nd/3rd year of Abijam/Abijah of Judah. (The 38th/39th year to the 40th year of Solomon = 2/1 years, Rehoboam 17/18, Abijam/Abijah 2nd/3rd year = 22 years of Jeroboam of Israel: 2 + 18 + 2nd year = 22 years: 2 + 17 + 3rd year = 22 years of Jeroboam of Israel: 1 + 18 + 3rd year = 22 years.) Jeroboam died the 2nd year of Abijam/Abijah of Judah. Jeroboam died the 3rd year of Abijam/Abijah of Judah. Jeroboam died the 1st year of Asa son of Abijam/Abijah of Judah. Jeroboam died the 2nd year of Asa son of Abijam/Abijah of Judah. Jeroboam died the 3rd year of Asa son of Abijam/Abijah of Judah. Jeroboam of Israel died, and his son Nadab began to reign over Israel.
Asa of Judah
1 Kings 15:9–10 1 Kings 16:29 1 Kings 22:41 1 Kings 15:24	Asa son of Abijam/Abijah of Judah began to reign the 20th year of Jeroboam of Israel. Asa reigned 41 years, from the 20th year of Jeroboam of Israel to the 11th year of Omri of Israel. (Rehoboam 17 years, Abijam/Abijah 3, Asa 41 = 61 years of the Kingdom of Judah: 17 + 3 = 20 years + 41 years = 61. Jeroboam 22 years, Nadab 2, Baasha 24, Elah 2, Zimri-Tibni-Omri 12 = 62 years – 1 year = 61 years of the Kingdom of Israel = 11th year of Omri of Israel.) Asa reigned 41 years, from the 21st year of Jeroboam of Israel to the 12th year of Omri of Israel. (Rehoboam 18 years, Abijam/Abijah 3, Asa 41 = 62 years: 18 + 3 + 41 years = 62. Jeroboam 22 years, Nadab 2, Baasha 24, Elah 2, Zimri-Tibni-Omri 12 = 62 years = 12th year of Omri of Israel.) Omri reigned 12 years, and his son Ahab began to reign. Ahab son of Omri began to reign the 38th year of Asa of Judah. Asa reigned 41 years, from the 1st year of Baasha of Israel to the 3rd year of Ahab of Israel: 24 + 2 + 12 = 38 + 3rd year of Ahab = 41 years. This makes the 1st year of Jeroboam of Israel the 38th year of King Solomon who reigned 40 years: thus Jeroboam began to reign 3 years before Rehoboam son of Solomon began to reign, from the 37th year of Solomon forward to the 40th year = 3 years, Rehoboam 18 years, Abijam/Abijah 3, Asa 41 = 65 years: 3 + 18 + 3 + 41 = 65; in Israel, Jeroboam 22 years, Nadab 2, 1st year of Baasha 1 = 25 years + Baasha 23 more years, Elah 2, Zimri-Tibni-Omri 12, 3rd year of Ahab 3 = 65 years: 22 + 2 + 24 + 2 + 12 + 3 = 65. The 4th year of Ahab results with a reckoning of 17 years for the reign of Rehoboam.) Counting literally back 41 years of Asa from the 3rd year of Ahab son of Omri (and Ahab began to reign the 38th year of Asa), the resultant year of the beginning of Asa's reign is the 1st year of Baasha of Israel. Asa died the 11th year of Omri of Israel. Asa died the 12th year of Omri of Israel. Asa died the 3rd year of Ahab son of Omri of Israel. Asa died the 4th year of Ahab son of Omri of Israel. Asa of Judah died, and his son Jehoshaphat began to reign over Judah.
Nadab of Israel
1 Kings 15:25 1 Kings 14:21 1 Kings 14:31-15:1 1 Kings 15:27–28	Nadab son of Jeroboam of Israel began to reign the 2nd year of Asa of Judah. Nadab reigned 2 years, from the 2nd year of Asa of Judah to the 4th year of Asa of Judah. (Rehoboam 17 years, Abijam/Abijah 3, 4th year of Asa 4 = 24 years: 17 + 3 + 4 = 24 years to the 4th year of Asa. Jeroboam 22 years, Nadab 2 = 24 years: 22 + 2 = 24 to the 4th year of Asa.) Nadab reigned 2 years, from the 1st year of Asa of Judah to the 3rd year of Asa of Judah. (Rehoboam 18 years, Abijam/Abijah 3, 3rd year of Asa 3 = 24 years: 18 + 3 + 3 = 24 years to the 3rd year of Asa. Jeroboam 22 years, Nadab 2 = 24 years = 22 + 2 = 24 years to the 3rd year of Asa of Judah.) Nadab reigned 2 years. from the 1st year of Abijam/Abijah of Judah to the 3rd year of Abijam/Abijah, when Asa son of Abijam/Abijah began to reign 41 years and Baasha of Israel began to reign 24 years. (Baasha 24 years, Elah 2, Zimri-Tibni-Omri 12, 3rd year of Ahab 3 = 41 years of Asa: 24 + 2 + 14 + 3 = 41 years.) Nadab was killed by Baasha son of Ahijah of Israel the 4th year of Asa of Judah. Nadab was killed by Baasha son of Ahijah of Israel the 3rd year of Asa of Judah. Nadab was killed by Baasha son of Ahijah of Israel the 3rd year of Abijam/Abijah son of Rehoboam when Asa began to reign 41 years. Nadab was killed, and Baasha son of Ahijah began to reign over Israel.
Baasha of Israel
1 Kings 15:23 2 Chronicles 16:1–5 1 Kings 16:6	Baasha son of Ahijah of Israel began to reign the 3rd year of Asa son of Abijam/Abijah of Judah. Baasha reigned 24 years, from the 4th year of Asa of Judah to the 28th year of Asa of Judah. Baasha reigned 24 years, from the 3rd year of Asa of Judah to the 27th year of Asa of Judah. Baasha reigned 24 years, from the 3rd year of Abijam/Abijah son of Rehoboam to the 24th year of Asa of Judah. Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah the 36th year of Asa of Judah. Baasha reigned 33 years, from the 3rd year of Asa of Judah to the 36th year of Asa of Judah, or later (?) Baasha died the 28th year of Asa. Baasha died the 27th year of Asa. Baasha died the 24th year of Asa. Baasha died the 36th year of Asa, or later (?) Baasha died, and his son Elah began to reign over Israel.
Elah of Israel
1 Kings 16:8 2 Chronicles 16:1–5 1 Kings 16:9–10	Elah son of Baasha of Israel began to reign the 26th year of Asa of Judah. Elah reigned 2 years, from the 28th year of Asa of Judah to the 30th year of Asa of Judah. Elah reigned 2 years, from the 27th year of Asa of Judah to the 29th year of Asa of Judah. Elah reigned 2 years, from the 26th year of Asa of Judah to the 28th year of Asa of Judah. Elah reigned 2 years, from the 24th year of Asa of Judah to the 26th year of Asa of Judah. Elah reigned 2 years, from the 36th year (or later) of Asa of Judah to the 38th year (or later) of Asa of Judah. Elah was killed by Zimri, and Zimri began to reign over Israel.
Zimri of Israel
1 Kings 16:15 1 Kings 16:18 1 Kings 16:21–22	Zimri began to reign over Israel the 27th year of Asa of Judah. Zimri reigned 7 days the 38th year of Asa (or later). Zimri reigned 7 days the 30th year of Asa. Zimri reigned 7 days the 29th year of Asa. Zimri reigned 7 days the 28th year of Asa. Zimri reigned 7 days the 27th year of Asa. Zimri reigned 7 days the 26th year of Asa. Zimri fled from Omri, and burned the king's house over himself, and died. Half the people of Israel followed Omri, and half followed Tibni son of Ginath to make Tibni king of Israel. Omri's people overcame Tibni's people, Tibni died, and Omri began to reign over Israel.
Omri of Israel
1 Kings 16:15–23 1 Kings 15:9–10 1 Kings 16:23 1 Kings 12:1-20; 14:20 1 Kings 14:31-15:1 1 Kings 16:15 1 Kings 16:29 1 Kings 16:28	Omri of Israel contended 4 years with Tibni of Israel for the Kingdom of Israel, from the 27th year of Asa of Judah to the 31st year of Asa of Judah. Omri of Israel began to reign the 31st year of Asa of Judah, 4 years after the 27th year of Asa and 10 years before the 41st year of Asa when Asa died. Omri reigned 12 years, from the 31st year of Asa of Judah to the 2nd year of Jehoshaphat of Judah. (31st year of Asa + 12 years = 31st to the 41st year of Asa = 10 years of Asa + 2 years of Jehoshaphat = 12 years: 10 + 2 = 12 years of Omri.) The calendar year assigned to the 31st year of Asa will vary according to the reckoning of the length of the reign of Rehoboam son of Solomon: 17 years or 18 years (1 Kings 12:1-20; 14:20; 14:31-15:1). Omri reigned 12 years, from the 30th year of Asa of Judah to the 1st year of Jehoshaphat of Judah. Omri reigned 12 years, from the 29th year of Asa of Judah to the 41st year of Asa. Omri reigned 12 years, from the 28th year of Asa of Judah to the 40th year of Asa. Omri reigned 12 years, from the 27th year of Asa of Judah to the 39th year of Asa. Omri reigned 12 years, from the 26th year of Asa of Judah to the 38th year of Asa. Omri died, and his son Ahab began to reign over Israel.
Ahab of Israel
1 Kings 16:29 1 Kings 22:42 1 Kings 22:50 2 Kings 8:16–17 1 Kings 16:29 compare 1 Kings 22:29–40 Ahab died during the reign of Jehoshaphat of Judah. 1 Kings 22:40	Ahab son of Omri of Israel began to reign the 38th year of Asa of Judah. Ahab reigned 22 years, from the 9th year of Jehoshaphat son of Asa of Judah to the 6th year of Jehoram/Joram son of Jehoshaphat of Judah. Ahab reigned 22 years, from the 2nd year of Jehoshaphat of Judah to the 24th year of Jehoshaphat of Judah. Ahab reigned 22 years, from the 1st year of Jehoshaphat of Judah to the 23rd year of Jehoshaphat of Judah. Ahab reigned 22 years, from the 41st year of Asa son of Abijam/Abijah of Judah to the 22nd year of Jehoshaphat son of Asa of Judah. Ahab reigned 22 years, from the 40th year of Asa son of Abijam/Abijah to the 21st year of Jehoshaphat son of Asa of Judah. Ahab reigned 22 years, from the 39th year of Asa son of Abijam/Abijah to the 20th year of Jehoshaphat son of Asa of Judah. Ahab reigned 22 years, from the 38th year of Asa son of Abijam/Abijah to the 19th year of Jehoshaphat son of Asa of Judah. Ahab died from battle, the 6th year of Jehoram/Joram son of Jehoshaphat son of Asa of Judah. (According to 2 Chronicles 16:1-5 Baasha, who killed Nadab son of Jeroboam of Israel, reigned to the 36th year of Asa, then according to a literal count Elah son of Baasha reigned 2 years to the 38th year of Asa, Omri reigned 12 years to the 9th year of Jehoshaphat son of Asa, and Ahab reigned 22 years to the 6th year of Jehoram/Joram son of Jehoshaphat of Judah and died from battle wounds during the reign of Jehoram/Joram of Judah.) Ahab died the 6th year of Jehoram/Joram son of Jehoshaphat of Judah (Joram reigned 25 years). Ahab died the 24th year of Jehoshaphat son of Asa of Judah. Ahab died the 23rd year of Jehoshaphat son of Asa of Judah. Ahab died the 22nd year of Jehoshaphat son of Asa of Judah. Ahab died the 21st year of Jehoshaphat son of Asa of Judah. Ahab died the 20th year of Jehoshaphat son of Asa of Judah. Ahab died the 19th year of Jehoshaphat son of Asa of Judah. Ahab died, and his son Ahaziah began to reign over Israel.
Jehoshaphat of Judah
1 Kings 15:24 1 Kings 15:33 2 Chronicles 16:1–5 1 Kings 15:24 2 Kings 8:16–17	Jehoshaphat son of Asa of Judah began to reign the 4th year of Ahab son of Omri of Israel. see above: Asa son of Abijam/Abijah of Judah. Asa died the 11th year of Omri Asa died the 12th year of Omri Asa died the 3rd year of Ahab of Israel Asa died the 4th year of Ahab son of Omri (1 Kings 15:24–From the 11th year of Omri to the 4th year of Ahab = 5 years.) see above: Ahab son of Omri of Israel. Ahab died the 24th year of Jehoshaphat Ahab died the 23rd year of Jehoshaphat Ahab died the 22nd year of Jehoshaphat Ahab died the 21st year of Jehoshaphat Ahab died the 20th year of Jehoshaphat Ahab died the 19th year of Jehoshaphat (From the 19th year of Jehoshaphat to the 24th year of Jehoshaphat = 5 years.) According to 1 Kings 15:33 Baasha reigned 24 years. According to 1 Kings 15:33 and 2 Chronicles 16:1-5 Baasha reigned (at least) 33 years, from the 3rd year of Asa of Judah to the 36th year of Asa of Judah. From 24 to 33 is an increase of 9 years in the reckoning of the years of the Kingdom of Israel. According to 1 Kings 22:51 Ahaziah son of Ahab of Israel reigned 2 years. According to 1 Kings 22:51 and 2 Kings 3:1 Ahaziah son of Ahab reigned 1 year. 2 years to 1 year is a decrease of 1 year in the reckoning of the years of the Kingdom of Israel: + 9 – 1 = 8 years. The reigns of the kings of Israel which are correlated to the years of the reign of Jehoshaphat of Judah will vary according to the reckoning of the years, all drawn from the literal letter of the texts of the Bible. A literal count of the years from the 1st year of Rehoboam son of Solomon to the end of the reign of Jehoshaphat son of Asa of Judah gives a variant total of 86 or 87 years (1 Kings 14:21; 14:31-15:1). Rehoboam 17/18 years, Abijam/Abijah 3, Asa 41, Jehoshaphat 25 = 86/87 years: 17/18 + 3 + 41 + 25 = 86/87 representing a difference of 1 year. A literal count of the years from the 1st year of Jeroboam son of Nebat to the 86th or 87th year of the Kingdom of Israel ends variously in the reigns of Omri, Ahab son of Omri, Ahaziah son of Ahab, and of Jehoram/Joram brother of Ahaziah son of Ahab. Jeroboam 22 years, Nadab 2, Baasha 24/33, Elah 2, Zimri-Tibni-Omri 12, Ahab 22, Ahaziah 2/1, Jehoram/Joram 12 years = 98/106 years representing a difference of 8 years. 98 years to the end of the reign of Jehoram/Joram of Israel and 86/87 years to the end of the reign of Jehoshaphat of Judah represents a difference of 12/11 years (1 Kings 14:21; 14:31-15:1). Jeroboam to the 1st year of Jehoram/Joram of Israel = 87 years. 22 + 2 + 24 + 2 + 12 + 22 + 2 + 1st year of Jehoram 1 = 87. Jeroboam to the 2nd year of Jehoram/Joram of Israel = 87 years. 22 + 2 + 24 + 2 + 12 + 22 + 1 + 2nd year of Jehoram 2 = 87. Jeroboam to the 16th year of Ahab son of Omri of Israel = 87 years. 22 + 2 + 33 + 2 + 12 + 16th year of Ahab son of Omri = 87. Ahab son of Omri of Israel died the 24th, 23rd, 22nd, 21st, 20th, 19th year of Jehoshaphat of Judah: 6 different years. Asa son of Abijam/Abijah of Judah died the 11th, 12th year of Omri of Israel and the 3rd, 4th year of Ahab son of Omri of Israel: 4 different years, each as the beginning of the reign of Jehoshaphat son of Asa of Judah. In a table displaying the correlated years of the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah the 9 years extending the 24-year reign of Baasha of Israel to 33 years from the 3rd year of Asa of Judah to the 36th year of Asa of Judah places the reigns of Omri, Ahab and Ahaziah of Israel 9 years farther from the 87th year of the Kingdom of Judah (9 years later) and the end of a 1-year reign of Ahaziah son of Ahab of Israel 8 years farther (8 years later). The 11th year of Omri of Israel when Asa died then becomes the 3rd year of Omri of Israel when Asa died and the 1st or 2nd year of Jehoram/Joram son of Ahaziah son of Ahab, as the year Jehoshaphat died, becomes the 17th year of Ahab of Israel, as the year Jehoshaphat died. All of the above data, taken directly from the text of the Bible itself, strictly according to the letter of the text, and arithmetically reckoned mechanically, provides the following resultant figures: Jehoshaphat reigned 25 years: from the 3rd year of Omri to the 16th year of Ahab, when Jehoshaphat died from the 4th year of Omri to the 17th year of Ahab, when Jehoshaphat died from the 7th year of Omri to the 20th year of Ahab, when Jehoshaphat died from the 8th year of Omri to the 21st year of Ahab, when Jehoshaphat died from the 11th year of Omri to the 2nd year of Ahaziah, when Jehoshaphat died from the 12th year of Omri to the 1st year of Jehoram/Joram of Israel, when Jehoshaphat died from the 12th year of Omri to the 2nd year of Jehoram/Joram of Israel, when Jehoshaphat died from the 3rd year of Ahab to the 5th year of Jehoram/Joram of Israel, when Jehoshaphat died from the 4th year of Ahab to the 5th year of Jehoram/Joram of Israel, when Jehoshaphat died from the 4th year of Ahab to the 6th year of Jehoram/Joram of Israel, when Jehoshaphat died. Jehoshaphat of Judah died, and his son Jehoram/Joram began to reign over Judah. Jehoram/Joram son of Jehoshaphat of Judah should not be confused with Jehoram/Joram son of Ahab of Israel.

The table to this point illustrates the complex problem of constructing a literal chronology of the reigns of the kings of Israel and Judah according to the letter of the text of the Bible alone. Understanding the actual intent of the Biblical authors through the historical-grammatical method of literalist exegesis provides a means of harmonizing apparent inconsistencies according to the literal sense.

Historical-grammatical method in Biblical literalist chronology

Main article: Historical-grammatical method

The apparent numerical inconsistencies highlighted by letterism can be harmonized and resolved by interpretation of the Biblical data according to the historical-grammatical method, which aims at discovering the sensus literalis historicus, or literal sense of the text.

Every person who approaches bible study, usually to learn about the historical events it relates, is heavily influenced by the hermeneutical theory, or interpretive understandings, he or she brings to the text, consciously or unconsciously. According to Dr. J. Philip Hyatt, very little of the Bible relates history for its own sake, or for the purposes that a modern historian would adopt. It is, therefore, history of a special order, designed not simply to inform the reader, but to awaken in the reader a response to what the Lord of history has done.

"A person who is not open to the possibility of God entering the historical process in a very tangible and real way is not going to get very far with the meaning of those events." —Dr. Donald A. Hagener, Fuller Theological Seminary

The aim of the historical-grammatical method is to strive to discover the Biblical author's original intended meaning in the text, to discover that meaning of the passage and that message which the original author would have intended and what the original hearers would have understood without adding to or taking away from the meaning of the message. Almost all of the books of the Old Testament were written to be read aloud to an assembly of persons. A fundamental principle of exegesis or exposition of the text is that the words and sentences can have but one significance in one and the same connection: a text has at least one meaning, and one's interpretations of that meaning will be right or wrong. The moment this principle is neglected the message of the author becomes obscured by uncertainty and conjecture, and exegesis becomes eisegesis. Eisegesis is severely condemned according to many literalist readings of the text of the Book of Deuteronomy and the Book of Revelation:

"Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish aught from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you." KJV —Deuteronomy 4:2 "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophesy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophesy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." KJV —Revelation 22:18–19

In an effort to avoid any deviation from the literal meaning of the text, Biblical literalist chronology draws data from the best available textual evidence. Using the best textual readings of letterism as a beginning, a literalist chronology can be established and sometimes also be corroborated by the most reliable extant extra-biblical findings of archæologists and textual historians (see Biblical manuscript). Where widely varying interpretations obtain, those most closely supporting the literal reading of the letter of the Biblical text are adopted by Biblical literalist researchers, such as Donald G. Bryant, Gershon Galil and Kenneth Kitchen. Apparent internal inconsistencies in the textual data can often be harmonized, not always to the satisfaction of everyone, by recognizing such common practices in antiquity as coregencies or overlapping reigns of a king and his successor, and rival kings contending for the rule of the kingdom and differences between the records of Israel and Judah in the manner of counting the years of a king's reign. Uncertainty remains at many points. Biblical chronology includes numbers which were significant to the biblical authors, and at times integral to their message. Differences between ancient and modern calendars often necessitates the giving of alternate dates, a resultant year both earlier and later by modern reckoning (such as 587/586 BCE). Furthermore, different methods of harmonizing the dates of Biblical kings yield slightly different results.

Moses Maimonides: figurative and literalist readings

Moses Maimonides wrote that passages in the Bible which, in their literal sense, contain statements that can be refuted with proof, must and can be interpreted other than literally in a figurative manner, but that a mere argument in favor of a certain proposed theory which rejects literal readings is not enough reason to reject the literal meaning of a Biblical text and interpret it figuratively when the literalist theory can be supported by an equally good argument in its favor. (Guide for the Perplexed, Chapter XXV.)

Lack of consensus

A comparison of literalist chronologies such as those listed in the External links below and those which have been established by William F. Albright, Edwin R. Thiele, Donald G. Bryant, Gershon Galil and Kenneth Kitchen present some apparent differences which to date have not been completely resolved, and research continues. See Biblical archaeology.

Given current difficulties of harmonizing the numerical dating of plainly stated numbers of years in the chronology of the Biblical text, together with a lack of precision due to unknown numbers of years not included by the Biblical authors, a self-consistent, textually-based Biblical literalist chronology leading to total and complete consensus on the fixing of precise historical dates in the Bible by the methods of literal letterism and historical-grammatical exegesis does not at present appear possible. Currently, Biblical literalists have agreed that more recent literalist chronologies constructed from data in the Bible together with historical-critical findings provide useful approximations of datings as they begin to converge. More recent scientific datings of historical archaeological findings are seen to be in closer harmony with the chronology of the Biblical text. What has been called an "unreasonable" insistence on only figurative meanings has begun to decline, yet the theory still remains influential. (B. Ramm, W. A. Elwell, J. P. Hyatt, Pontifical Biblical Commission, J. F. Drinkard, Jr., E. R. Clendenen). See Biblical Minimalism and Historicity of the Bible.

See also

• Chronology of the Bible
• Council of Jamnia
• Dating creation
• History of ancient Israel and Judah
• Intertestamental period
• Universal history
• Young earth creationism

External links

• Bible Timeline (Biblehub.com) —Retrieved 27 December 2013
• Bible World History timeline (bibleworldhistory.com) —Retrieved 27 December 2013
• Bible Time Lines and Chronology (teachinghearts.org) —Retrieved 27 December 2013
• Timeline of Biblical and World Events (gbgm-umc.org) —Retrieved 27 December 2013
• Searchable text of the 1917 version of Scofield Reference Bible reference notes including the Ussher chronology
• Bratcher, Dennis, "The Date of the Exodus: The Historical Study of Scripture" —Retrieved 27 December 2013
• Bratcher, Dennis, "The Modern Inerrancy Debate" —Retrieved 27 December 2013
• CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Biblical chronology (literalism)
• Biblical World History (Biblical World History) —Retrieved 27 March 2016