Timeline of Biblical History--Bible Study

 

Okay, here's a timeline of events based on the sources, focusing on the ancient Near East and the Biblical narrative, with some key events in other regions included:

Timeline of Ancient Events

• Around 1500 B.C. - Brick-making in Egypt: A painting in the tomb of Rekshare depicts the process of brick-making using captive laborers, potentially Hebrews.

• 1250 B.C. (approx) - Derceto.

• 1200 B.C. - Divanukha (or Divanurish).

• 1150 B.C.- Tiglath-Pileser I was defeated.

• Around 1000 B.C. - 600 B.C. - The rise and fall of the Assyrian Empire. The Assyrians subjugated neighboring districts and significantly influenced the Israelites.

• 747 B.C. - Era of Nabonassar

• 747 - 721 B.C. - A series of kings reigned in Babylon, including Nabonassar, Nadius, Chinzinus and Porus, and Elulæus.

• 726 B.C. - Elulæus

• 721 B.C. - Arceanus

• 720-696 B.C. - Reign of Tirhakah, an Ethiopian king who was a contemporary of Hezekiah.

• 625 B.C. - The city of Nineveh was destroyed by Cyaxares, king of Media, and Nabopolassar, king of Babylon.

• 628-586 B.C. - Time period of Jeremiah's prophecies.

• 606 B.C. - (or earlier) Winer places the destruction of Nineveh

• 605 - 539 B.C. - Chaldean-Babylonian Empire under Nabopolassar and his successors, until the Persian conquest.

• 588 B.C. - Nebuchadnezzar takes Jerusalem.

• 588 B.C.- Destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar.

• 586 B.C. - Destruction of the Temple.

• 586-539 B.C. - Babylonian Captivity of the Jews.

• 585 B.C. - Possible date for eclipse related to the destruction of Nineveh, according to Mr. Galloway.

• 539 B.C. - Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon, allowing the Jews to return to their land.

• 538 B.C. - The Jews return from exile.

• 522 B.C. - Cambyses (Ahasuerus) and the Pseudo-Smerdis (Artaxerxes).

• 520 - 516 B.C. - Rebuilding of the Jewish Temple delayed from the time of Cyrus to that of Darius Hystaspis

• 520 B.C.- Accession of Darius Hystaspis to the throne of Persia.

• 458 B.C. - Decree of Artaxerxes Longimanus.

• 445 B.C. - Nehemiah's return and rebuilding of Jerusalem walls.

• 330 B.C. - End of the Persian Monarchy.

• 323 B.C. - Death of Alexander the Great.

• 312 B.C. - The era of the Seleucidae begins.

• 176-161 B.C. - Time period covered in 2 Maccabees.

• 167 B.C. - Mattathias commences his patriotic course, beginning the Maccabean revolt.

• 167-63 B.C. - Maccabean period of Jewish history; Jewish freedom is established under Simon.

• 120-100 B.C. - Estimated time period of Jason's life, author of the larger work on which 2 Maccabees was based.

• 20 B.C. - Herod begins rebuilding the Jewish temple

• 7 B.C. - Possible date for the birth of Jesus, based on Mr. Pratt's calculations.

• 4 B.C. - Ussher places the birth of Christ 4000 years after creation.

• A.D. 30-33 - Public ministry of Jesus.

• A.D. 30/33 - Death of Jesus.

• A.D. 40-50 - Estimated time of the writing of the Gospel of Mark.

• A.D. 60-61 - Porcius Festus appointed procurator of Judea.

• A.D. 63 - Date assigned to the writing of the Acts of the Apostles.

• A.D. 64- Final completion of the rebuilt temple

• A.D. 360- Rabbi Hillel settles the Jewish calendar.

Note on Chronology:

• The sources highlight that there are variations in the dates given by different chronologers.
• The dates of events in the Bible are often calculated from the lifespans of the patriarchs and the reigns of kings, leading to some uncertainty.
• There are discrepancies between the Hebrew, Samaritan, and Septuagint texts, which contributes to varying chronological calculations.

This timeline gives a sense of the major events and periods mentioned in the sources. Keep in mind that many of these dates are approximate and subject to debate. You can use this timeline as a starting point for more in-depth research into any of these areas.