Old Testament Dates

Old Testament Dates

Book Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Joshua Judges Ruth 1st Samuel and 2nd Samuel 1st Kings and 2nd Kings

Date Written 1450-1410 B.C. 1450-1410 B.C. 1445-1444 B.C. 1450-1410 B.C. 1407-1406 B.C. 1405-1383 B.C. 1086-1004 B.C. Approx. 1046-1035 B.C. (Mentions David in 4:17,22) 930 B.C. (Soon after David’s reign 1010-970 B.C.) 560-538 B.C. (After Jehoiachin’s release from prison in 562 B.C. and before the end of the Babylonian exile in 538 B.C. {Northern Kingdom}.)

--Kingdom splits in 931 B.C. --Northern Kingdom goes into Captivity in 722 B.C. to Assyria. --Southern Kingdom goes into Captivity in 586 B.C. to Babylon. --Captivity ends in 538 B.C. (Jews begin returning to Jerusalem.) 1st Chronicles and 2nd Chronicles Approx. 430 B.C. (Records the beginning of the Babylonian exile in 586 B.C.) Ezra Approx. 440 B.C. (Records events up to 450 B.C. when Israel returns to Jerusalem and rebuilding of the temple). Nehemiah Approx. 430 B.C. (Records the events of returning to Jerusalem and rebuilding the walls in 445 B.C.). Esther Approx. 470 B.C. (In Persia. Esther became queen in 479 B.C.) Job 2000-1800 B.C. (Time of the Patriarchs)

Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Solomon (Song of Songs) Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah

Micah

Beginning the time of Moses 1440 B.C. and thru the captivity in 586 B.C. During Solomon’s reign 970-930 B.C. Late in Solomon’s life, approx. 935 B.C. During Solomon’s reign 970-930 B.C. Approx. 700 B.C. (Chapters 40-66, written later in his life approx. 681 B.C.) During Jeremiah’s ministry 626-586 B.C. (Also by Jeremiah, written soon after the fall of Jerusalem 586 B.C., he was an eyewitness.) Approx. 571 B.C. (date is accurately precise because this book contains more dates than any other book.) Approx 530 B.C. (writings include events of the Babylonian captivity in 560-536 B.C.) Approx 715 B.C. (records events from 753-715 B.C. including the Northern Kingdom fall in 722.) Approx. 841-835 B.C. (Before the fall and exiles of the Northern and Southern Kingdoms.) 760-750 B.C. (just before the fall of the Northern Kingdom to Assyria.) Difficult to date. Possibly 853-841 B.C. or 605-586 B.C. Approx. 785-760 B.C. (before Assyria conquered Israel’s Northern Kingdom. Nineveh’s repentance must have been short lived; it was destroyed in 612 B.C.) 742-686 B.C. warning the Northern

Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah

Malachi

and Southern Kingdom shortly before the Northern Kingdom’s fall in 722 B.C.) 663-612 B.C. (Just before the fall of Nineveh in 612 B.C.) 612-589 B.C. ( Just before the fall of Judah in the Southern Kingdom) 630 B.C. (Just before the fall of Judah in the Southern Kingdom). {Post-Exile} 520 B.C. (Call to complete the temple in Jerusalem; finished in 515 B.C.) {Post-Exile} Chapters 1-8 written in 520-518 B.C.(Before the temple completed). Chapters 9-14 written approx. 480 B.C. (After the temple is completed). Approx. 430 {Post-Exile}.

Intertestamental Period -- 4oo Years of Silence