Christian Konnections: Chronology

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	Page Updated 07/13/07


	Bible Chronology

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		Old Testament Chronology
		New Testament Chronology


	Old Testament Chronology

There was no uniform chronological system in the ancient Near East, and writers often sought to glorify the subjects about whom they were writing by grossly exaggerating their length of life (one king in an ancient document is said to have reigned for 36,000 years). Dates of earlier epochs can sometimes be derived in general terms from inscriptions and writings found in Egypt and Mesopotamia, and in more precise terms in later periods from Syria, Greece and Asia Minor. The dates offered below reflect the changing results from analysis of the ancient sources.

The most likely time of the events just prior to and during the Exodus of Israel from Egypt is the nineteenth Egyptian dynasty: ca. 1350–1200 bce. The following probable dates may be inferred from this chronological base:

2500–2000 bce	Patriarchal period
1700–1300	Sojourn of the tribes of Israel in Egypt
1250–1200	The Exodus and the period in the Sinai
1200–1100	Entry and occupation of the land of Canaan
1050–1000	Reign of Saul


	The first reasonably firm dates in Israel's history begin with the reign of David:

1000–962 bce	Reign of David
962–922	Reign of Solomon


	The division of Israel into the northern kingdom and the southern kingdom (based in Jerusalem) begins in 924 bce.

	Judah		Israel
924–907 bce	Rehoboam	924–903 bce	Jeroboam I
907–906	Abijah
905–874	Asa
		903–902	Nadab
		902–886	Baasha
		886	Elah
		885	Zimri
		885–873	Omri
874–850	Jehoshaphat
		873–851	Ahab
850–843	Joram	851–849	Ahaziah
		849–843	Jehoram
843	Ahaziah
843–837	Athaliah	843–816	Jehu
837–?	Joash	816–800	Jehoahaz
?	Amaziah
?	Azariah or Uzziah
		800–785	Jehoash
?–742	Jotham	785–745	Jeroboam II
		745	Zechariah
		745	Shallum
742–727	Ahaz	745–736	Menahem
		736–735	Pekahiah
		735–732	Pekah
727–698	Hezekiah	732–723	Hoshea
		722	Fall of Israel (Samaria)
697–642	Manasseh
642–640	Amon
639–609	Josiah
609	Jehoahaz
608–598	Jehoiakim
597	Jehoiachin
597	Babylonian Conquest of Jerusalem
597–586	Zedekiah
586	Destruction of Jerusalem

The exile of Israel in Assyria after the fall of Samaria in 722, and the exile of Judah in Babylon after the fall of Jerusalem in 586, came to an end over a period of time when the Persians allowed the Israelites to return to their land. This seems to have been a protracted process, which took place in four stages:

A return under Cyrus about 538; work began on the Temple.
A return under Darius I around 500; Temple completed; support from the prophets Haggai and Zechariah.
A return under Artaxerxes I, led by Nehemiah, around 440.
A return under Artaxerxes II, led by Ezra after 400.

After the invasion of the Middle East by Alexander the Great (334–330), followed by the dividing up of the region by his successors, Palestine was alternately controlled by the Syria-based Seleucids and the Egypt-based Ptolemies. The Jewish priests continued to preside over the Temple in Jerusalem until the Seleucid ruler, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, intervened to convert the temple to a shrine in his own honor, and began to designate the high-priest.

175 bce	Onias deposed by Antiochus, Jason high-priest.
172	Menelaus, Jason's brother, nominated high-priest.
172	Onias III murdered about this time.
169	Jason seizes Jerusalem, which Antiochus attacks on his return from Egypt and pollutes the Temple.
168	Daily sacrifice interrupted.
166	Battle of Emmaus. Victory of Judas Maccabaeus.
165	Dedication of the Temple.
163	Lysias defeated by Judas at Bethsura. Alcimus, high-priest. Menelaus put to death.
161	Nicanor defeated at Capharsalama. Death of Judas Maccabaeus at Eleasa.
160	Decree of the Roman Senate in favor of the Jews.
159	Death of Alcimus.
156	Jonathan, brother of Judas, ruler of Judaea.
153	Jonathan made high-priest by Balas.
150	Jonathan honored by Philometor and Balas.
143	Jonathan put to death by Trypho. Simon, high-priest.
142	Simon, "Prince of the Jews." Jews allowed to coin money.
135	Murder of Simon. John Hyrcanus, high-priest.
109	Hyrcanus wars on Samaria and destroys the temple on Gerizim.
106	Hyrcanus dies. Aristobulus (his son), first king of the Jews.
105	Alexander Jannaeus made king of the Jews.
94	The Pharisees hostile to Jannaeus.
93	War of Jannaeus in Gilead and Moab.
88	Jannaeus defeated at Shechem.
78	Death of Jannaeus. Alexandra, his widow, rules after him. Hyrcanus II, high-priest.
69	Aristobulus II seizes the government.
64	Disputes between Aristobulus and Hyrcanus.
63	Jerusalem taken by Pompey. Hyrcanus again high-priest.
54	Palestine divided into five districts.
51	Crassus plunders the Temple.
48	Antipater made procurator of Judaea.
44	Hyrcanus, "Prince of the Jews."
41	Herod and Phasael, joint tetrarchs of Judaea.
40	Herod flees to Rome. Antigonus set up in his stead.
38	Herod marries Mariamne.
37	Herod takes Jerusalem.
29	Mariamne put to death.
25	Herod rebuilds Samaria.
17	Herod restores the Temple.
6	Alexander and Aristobulus put to death.


	New Testament Chronology

	Christian History	Jewish History
4	Birth of Jesus Christ.	Death of Herod the Great.
ce
6		Banishment of Archelaus.
7		Coponius procurator of Judaea; Annas high-priest.
8	Jesus at Jerusalem in the Temple.	Cyrenius completes 'the taxing' commenced 4 bce
17		Caiaphas, high-priest.
26	Beginning of the ministry of the Baptist	Pontius Pilate, procurator.
30	The Crucifixion.
33		Death of Herod Philip.