A Chronology of the Old Testament

From Creation to the Cross – 4040 Years

Mark W. Fenison

Old Testament Chronology

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From Creation to Exodus – 2513 years

(“FC” = “from Creation” and “BC” = “before Christ”)

From Creation to the Flood 1656 Years

1. Adam lived 130 years to birth of Seth = 130 FC or 3910 BC

2. Seth lived 105 years to birth of Enos = 235 FC or 3805 BC

3. Enos lived 90 years to birth of Cainan = 325 FC or 3715 BC

4. Cainan lived 70 years to birth of Mahalaleel = 395 FC or 3645 BC

5. Mahalaleel live 65 years to birth of Jared = 460 FC or 3580 BC

6. Jared lived 162 years to birth of Enoch= 622 FC or 3418 BC

7. Enoch lived 65 years to birth of Methuselah = 687 FC or 3353 BC

8. Methuselah lived 187 to birth of Lamech = 874 FC or 3166 BC

Adam died - 930 FC

Enoch died - 987 FC

Seth died - 1042 FC

9. Lamech lived 182 years to birth of Noah = 1056 FC or 2984 BC

Enos died - 1140 FC

Cainan died - 1235 FC

Mahaleel died - 1290 FC

Jared died - 1422 FC

10. Noah 502 years to birth of Shem (Gen. 11:10 with 7:6; 5:32) = 1558 FC - 2482 BC

Lamech died - 1651 FC

11. Shem lived 100 years to birth of Arphaxad = 1658 FC or 2382 BC

From the Flood to Call of Abraham - 353 years

12. Noah was 600 years old when Flood occurs - 1656 FC 2384 BC - Methuslah died

13. Arphaxad lived 35 years to birth of Salah = 1693 FC or 2347 BC

14. Salah lived 30 years to birth of Eber = 1723 FC or 2317 BC

15. Eber lived 34 years to birth of Pegleg = 1757 FC or 2283 BC

16. Pegleg lived 30 years to birth of Reu = 1787 FC or 2260 BC

17. Reu lived 32 years to birth of Serug = 1819 FC or 2221 BC

18. Serug lived 30 years to birth of Nahor = 1849 FC or 2191 BC

19. Nahor lived 29 years to birth of Terah = 1878 FC or -2162 BC

20 Terah lived 130 years to birth of Abram = 2008 FC or 2032 BC

Pegleg dies - 1996 FC

Nahor dies - 1997 FC

Noah dies - 2006 FC

Serug dies - 2049 FC

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Genesis 12-50 - Abraham’s call to Exodus - 430 Years

21 Abram 75 years old when God Called Him - Gen. 12:4 = 2083 FC - 1957 BC

Terah dies at 205 years old – 2083 FC

22 Abram 85 years old in Gen. 16:3 = 2093 FC 1947 BC

23 Abram is 86 when Ishmael is born - Gen. 16:16 - 2094 FC - 1946 BC

Arphaxad dies - 2096 FC

24. Ishmael is 13 when Abraham is 99 - Gen. 17:1,24,25 - 2107 FC - 1933 BC

25. Abram is 100; Sarah 90 when Isaac is born - Gen. 17:17; 21:5 - 2108 FC - 1932 BC

27. Sarah dies at 127 years of age - Gen. 23:1 - 2145 FC -1895 BC

28. Isaac marries at 41 years of age - Gen. 25:20 - 2149 FC - 1891 BC

29. Isaac lived 60 years to birth of Jacob and Esau - Gen. 25:60 = 2168 FC - 1872 BC

30. Abraham dies at 175 years of age - Gen. 25:7 - 2183 FC - 1857 BC

Salah dies - 2186 FC

Eber dies - 2187 FC

31. Esau marries at 40 years of age - Gen. 26:34 - 2208 FC - 1832 BC

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(following 32-41 are based on Jacob’s age in #’s 35 and 37; Also Moses birth is

based on 430 years from Genesis 12 (Gal. 3:17) to the Mt.Sina with Acts 7:23-30)

32. birth of Joseph = 2259 FC - 1781 BC

33. Joseph at 17 with family - 2266 FC - 1764 BC

34. Joseph stands before Pharoah at 30 years of age - Gen. 41:46 - 2289 FC - 1751 BC

35. At end of 7 years plenty Joseph is 37 - Gen. 41:29-30 = 2296 FC - 1744 BC

36. 2 years into famine Joseph is 39 and Jacob 130 - Gen. 45:6; 47:9 - 2298 FC- 1742 BC

37. Jacob dies at 147 years of age -Gen 47:28 = 2315 FC - 1725 BC

38. Joseph dies at 110 years of age - Gen. 50:26 = 2369 FC - 1671 BC

39. Birth of Moses - Ex. 2:2 - 2373 FC - Acts 7:23-30 2433 FC- 1607 BC

40. Flight of Moses from Egypt - 2413 FC - Acts 7:23-30- 2473 FC - 1567 BC

41. Exodus of Israel to Mt. Sinai - Ex. 12:41; Gal. 3:17 = 2513 FC - 1527 BC

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Chronology of Egyptian Pharoah’s - 2428 - 2553 FC/1612 - 1501 BC

Hyksos Period (15-16th Dnyasty)

Amenhotep 1 1612 –1592 (Moses born in the 5^th year of Amenhotep – 1607 BC)

(Joseph dead for 64 years)

Egyptian Kings (18th Dynasty)

Thutmose I 1592-1572 BC

Thutmose II 1572-1559 BC (Moses fled Egypt in 1567 BC)

Queen Hatshepsut 1559-1536 BC

Thutmose III 1536-1501 BC (Exodus takes place 1527 BC)

(The World Encyclopedia - “Thutmose III..ranks among the greatest of all the kings in ancient Egypt…After Hatshepsut died, Thutmose III ordered her name erased from monuments and statutes…captives taken in wars provided the means of labor for extensive building operations in Egypt.” He was the oppressive Pharaoh at the height of Egypt’s glory.

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Exodus - 144 years and 11½ months - From death of Joseph to the setting up of

the tabernacle

From death of Joseph to birth of Moses - 64 years - Ex. 1:1-2:2 = 1671 – 1607 BC

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The Exodus - 2513FC/1527 BC

From Exodus to Wilderness of Sin - ONE MONTH

15th day of 1st month and 1st year to 15th day of 2nd month first year - Ex.12:2-

6,29-41; Num. 33:3; Ex 16:1

From Wildernesss of Sin to the giving of the Law - ONE MONTH

15th day of 2nd month and 1st year TO 15th day of 3rd month 1st year - Ex. 16:1;

19:1,2

798 years after the flood God gives the law at Mt. Sinai - Ex. 12:41;

Gal. 3:17

From giving of the Law on Sinai TO the erection of the Tabernacle - NINE and Half

Months

15th day, 3rd month 1st year TO 1st day, 1st month of 2nd year - Ex. 19:1-2; Ex.

40:17

Tabernacle finished in 2513 FC 1527 BC

TOTAL YEARS COVERED BY EXODUS - 144 years and 11 and half months (64 years between Joseph’s death and Moses birth; 80 years until Moses returns. Eleven and half months between Exodus and setting up of tabernacle at Mount Sinai) - from flood to close of book - 221 years and nine and half months. (2513 FC) 1527 BC

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Leviticus - One Month

From the erection of the Tabernacle to the first census (numbering) at Sinai - ONE

MONTH

1st day, 1st month, 2nd year TO 1st day, 2nd month, 2nd year

- Ex. 40:1-2,17; Lev. 1:1; Numb. 1:1 (see below) (2514 FC) 1526 BC

The Date and Location of Leviticus

1. Leviticus 1:1 shows that God spoke from within the tabernacle

2. Leviticus 7:38 demonstrates that this took place while the tabernacle was at

Mount Sinai

3. Exodus 40:2,17 shows the exact time when the tabernacle was set up

4. Numbers 10:11 gives the exact time when the tabernacle was taken down and

Israel left Mount Sinai. Hence the book of Leviticus had to take place within this

one month and 20 day period.

5. Numbers 1:1 to Numbers 10:11 demonstrate that the last 20 day period was

taken up with the census or numbering of Israel.

6. This leaves only the 30 day period between Exodus 40:17 and Number 1:1 for

the contents of Leviticus to occur.

TOTAL TIME COVERED BY LEVITICUS - One month - 2514 FC - 1526 BC

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Numbers - 38 Years and 9 Months

From first census to the Address of Moses in the plains of Moab - 38 years and 9 months

1. from first census at Sinai to sending out of spies - 20 days

a. from 1st day, 2nd month, 2nd year - Numb. 1:1

b. to 20th day of 2nd month, 2nd year - Numb. 10:11-12; 13:17-30

2. From sending spies to death of Miram - 37 years 11 months

a. from 20th day, 2nd month, 2nd year - Numb. 10:11-12; 13:17-20

b. to 1st month, 40th year - Numb. 20:1

3. From the death of Miriam to death of Aaron - 3 months 10 days

a. from 1st month, 40th year - Numb. 20:1

b. to 1st day, 5th month, 40th year - Numb. 20:28; 33:38-39

4. From death of Aaron to the address of Moses in the plains of Moab - 6 months

a. from 1st day, 5th month, 40th year - Numb. 20:28; 33:38-39

b. to 1st day, 11th month, 40th year - Deut. 1:3 (2553 FC) 1488 BC

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Deuteronomy - 2½ months

1. from the address of Moses to the entry of Canaan - 30 days

a. from 1st day, 11th month, 40th year - Deut. 1:3

b. to 1st day, 12th month, 40th year - Numb. 14:34; 32:13; Josh. 5:6

2. the thirty days of mourning for Moses - 30 days

a. from 1st day, 12th month, 40th year - Numb. 14:34; 32:13; Josh. 5:6

b. to 1st day, 1st month, 41st year - Deut. 34:8

3. from the end of the 30 days mourning to the entry into Canaan - one half month

a. from 1st day, 1st month, 41st year - Duet. 34:8

b. to 14th day, 1st month, 41st year - Josh 1:11 (3 days); 2:16 (3 days); 3:1 (1 day);

3:2 (3 days); 4:19 (10th day); 5:6 (40 years); 5:10; (14th day)

TOTAL TIME COVERED IN DEUTERONOMY IS TWO AND HALF MONTHS

2553 FC 1487 BC

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JOSHUA - 20 years - 2554 - 2573 FC 1487 - 1467 BC

2553-2560 FC - From entry into Canaan to division of the land – 1487-1480 BC

2560-2573 FC - From division of the land to the oppression of Cushan – 1480-1467 BC

JUDGES - 450 years - (Acts 13:19-20) = (2573 - 3023 FC) 1467 - 1017 BC

This 450 years includes the time of Samuel

2573-2581 FC - (8) Servitude under Cushan – 1459–1467 BC

2581-2621 FC – (40) Rest under Othniel – 1419–1459 BC

2621-2639 FC – (18) servitude under Eglon – 1401–1419 BC

2639-2719 FC – (80) rest under Ehud – 1321–1401 BC

2719-2739 FC – (20) servitude under Jabin – 1301–1321 BC

2739-2779 FC – (40) rest under Barak – 1261–1301 BC

2779-2786 FC – (7) servitude under Midian – 1254–1261 BC

2786-2826 FC – (40) rest under Gideon – 1214–1254 BC

2826-2829 FC – (3) usurpation under Abimelech – 1211–1214 BC

2829-2852 FC – (23) judgeship under Tola – 1188–1211 BC

2852-2874 FC – (22) Judgeship under Jair – 1166–1188 BC

2874-2892 FC – (18) servitude under Ammon – 1148–1166 BC

2892-2898 FC – (6) rest under Jephthah – 1142 –1148 BC

2898-2905 FC – (7) judgeship under Ibzan – 1135–1142 BC

2905-2915 FC – (10) judgeship under Elon – 1125–1135 BC

2915-2923 FC – (8) judgeship under Abdon – 1117–1125 BC

2923-2963 FC – (40) servitude under Philistines – 1077–1117 BC

2963-3003 FC – (40) rest under Eli – 1037–1077 BC

3003-3023 FC – (20) judgeship of Samuel - 1018-1037 BC

Note: 114 years above are under servitude. When this 114 years are deducted it

harmonizes with 1 Kings 6:1 (480 years from I Kings 6:1 to Exodus).

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UNITED KINGDOM - 120 Years

- Saul - 40 - (3024 to 3064 FC) 1017 - 977 BC

- David - 40 - (3064 - 3104 FC) 977 - 937 BC

- Solomon - 40 (3104 to 3144 FC) 937 - 897 BC

- temple began in 3109 FC or 928 BC

3107/926 480 years from Exodus to 4th year of Solomon - I Kgs

6:1 (after deducting 114 years of servitude in Judges = 480))

1Kngs 6:37 – Temple’s foundation laid in fourth year – 933 BC April-May

1Kngs 6:38 – Temple finished in 11^th year – 926 BC Oct.-Nov.

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KINGS OF JUDAH - 344 years

- Rehoboam - 3144 to 3161 FC - 897-880 BC (17 years)

- Ikngs 14:25 King Shishak of Egypt

comes up against Jerusalem 3141 FC - 892 BC

- Abijam - 3161 to 3164 FC - 880-877 BC (3 years)

- Asa - 3164-3205 FC - 877-836 BC - Elijah 835 BC (41 years)

- Jehoshaphat 3202-3227 FC- 839-814 BC (25 years with 3 years overlap)

- Elijah’s translation - 815 BC

- Elisha begins - 815 BC

- Jehoram - 3222 to 3234 FC - 819-807 BC (12 years with 5 years overlap)

- Ahaziah - 3234 FC – 807 BC (1 year)

- Athaliah - 3234 - 3240 FC - 807-801 BC - Joel writes his book (6 years)

- Joash - 3240 - 3280 FC - 801-761 BC (40 years) Elisha died - 2 Kngs 13:10-20

- Amaziah - 3280- 3309 FC - 761-732 BC - (29 years)

Jonah’s book

- Azariah - 3284 - 3336 FC - 757-705 BC - Amos, Hosea, Micah (52 years overlap 25)

Isaiah called - Isa. 6:1 - 705 BC

- Jotham - 3326 - 3344 FC - 715-697 BC (18 years with 10 overlap)

- Ahaz - 3341 - 3358 FC - 700- 683 BC - Isa. 14:28 - Micah, Hosea (17 years and 3)

- Hezekiah - 3358 - 3387 FC – 683 - 654 BC (29 years)

675 BC fall of Samaria - 2kngs18:10

669 BC Senecerib comes against Judah - 2kngs 18:13; Isa. 36:1; Micah

- Manasseh - 3377 - 3432 FC - 664 - 609 BC (55 with 11 overlap)

- Amon - 3432 - 3434 FC - 609 - 607 BC (2)

-Josiah – 3434 - 3465 FC – 607-576 BC -Jeremiah called - 595 BC Jer. 1:2; Zeph 1:1

- Jehoahaz - 3465 FC - 576 BC

- Jehoiakim - 3465 - 3476 FC - 576-565 BC - Habbakkuk -576 BC (11)

573 BC Daniel taken captive - Dan. 1:1-2

572 BC first year of Nebuchadnezzars reign - Jer. 25:1

572 BC battle of Charchemish - Jer. 46:2

- Jehoichin – 3476 FC – 565 BC (565 BC Ezekiel carried to Babylon)

2Kngs 24:12 - 565 BC

- Zedekiah - 3476 – 3487 FC - 565 - 554 BC

554 BC - Jer. 52:29 - 18th year of Nebuchadnezzar captives taken

549 BC - Jer. 52:30 - 23nd year of Nebuchadnezzar captives taken

530 BC - Jer. 52:31 Evil-merodack releases Jehoiachim from prison

- Temple destroyed – 3488 FC or 553 BC – Jer. 52:12-13 “nineteenth year of

Nebuchadrezzar” 70 year judgement begins

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KINGS OF ISRAEL - Northern Kingdom - 207 years

Jeroboam I - 3144-3165 FC or 897 - 876 BC (21 years)

Nadab - 3165-3166 FC or 876- 875 BC (1 years)

Baasha - 3166-3188 FC or 875 - 853 BC (22 years)

Elah - 3188-3189 FC or 853 - 852 BC (1 years)

Zimri - 3190 FC or 851 BC (1)

Omri - 3190-3201 FC or 851-840 BC (11 years)

Ahab - 3201-3222 FC or 840-819 BC (21 years)

Ahaziah - 3222-3223 FC or 819 -818 BC (1 years)

Joram - 3223-3234 FC or 818-807 BC (11 years)

Jehu - 3234-3261 FC or 807-780 BC (27 years)

Jehoahaz - 3261-3277 FC or 780 -764 BC (16 years)

Jehoash - 3277-3293 FC or 764 - 748 BC (16 years)

Jeroboam II - 3282-3323 FC or 759 – 718 BC (41 years with 11 overlap)

Zachariah – 3323 FC or 718 BC (0 year)

Shallum - 3323 FC or 718 BC (0 year)

Menahem – 3323 - 3333 FC or 718 - 708 BC (10 years)

Peka - 3323 – 3353 FC or 708 – 688 BC (20 years)

Pekahiah - 3353 - 3355 FC or 688 - 686 BC (2 years)

Hoshea - 3355- 3364 FC - or 686 - 675 BC (fall of Samaria - 2Kngs 18:10) (9 years)

(Problem with Hoshea is the Chronology given in 2 Kings 17:1 in contrast to that given in 2 Kings 18:1,9,10. Three witnesses (18:1,9,10) against one (17:1).

(Dating for the period of the kings was taken from “A Chronology of the Hebrew Kings” by Edwin R. Thiele and “Nelson’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Bible Facts” by J.I. Packer, Merrill C. Tenney and William White Jr.)

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70 Year Babylonian Captivity from the destruction of the temple in 3480 FC/553 BC to the command of Cyrus in 3557 FC/483 BC- 2 Chron. 36:17-23; Ezra 1:1-4;

Dan 9:2; Isa. 44:28; Dan. 9:24

Daniels 69 weeks of years (483 years) to Christ

- 483 years from Cyrus Command to death of Christ - Dan. 9:24; Lk. 2:11

3557 FC/483 BC to 4040 FC/28 AD

- Birth of Christ ( 4006/6 BC)

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Total Numbers Used in this Chronology by Periods

483 years from Cyrus command to Christ’s death

70 years from Cyrus command to destruction of temple by Nebuchadnezzar

344 years from Rehoboam to destruction of temple by Nebuchadnezzar

120 years for Saul, David and Solomon

450 years for Judges

20 years for book of Joshua

1 month for book of Leviticus

38 years 9 months for book of Numbers

2½ months for book of Deuteronomy

11½ months from Exodus to setting up tabernacle at Mount Sinai

2513 years from Creation to Exodus

4040 FC Total Years to the Cross (4006 FC year of Christ’s birth)

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Kings of Assyria

Shalmaneser I. – 1268 B.C.

Nebuchadnezzar I. – 1102 B.C.

Tiglath-Pileser I. – 1068 B.C.

Ashurnasirpal II – 851-825 B.C.

Shalmanezer III – 826 – 792 B.C. (I Kings 20:13-34)

Tiglath-Pileser – 713 – 695 B.C.

Shalmanezar V 695 – 691 B.C. (2 Kings 17)

Sargon- 690 - 673 B.C.

Sennacherib – 673-649 B.C. (2 Kings 18:10)

Esarhaddon – 649 – 638 B.C.

Fall of Ninevah – 580 B.C.

Kings of Babylon

- Kings of Babylon leading up to Cyrus’s conquest of Babylon

Nabopalasser - 3449 - 3470 FC or 580-572 BC

Nebuchadnezzar - 3470 - 3524 FC or 572-516 BC

Evil Murduk - 3524 - 3526 FC or 516-514 BC

Neriglissar - 3526 - 3529 FC or 514-511 BC

Labash Murduk - 3529 FC or 511 BC

Nabonidus - 3529 - 3546 FC or 511-494 BC

Belshazzar - 3546 - 3557 FC or 494-483 BC - 483 BC fall of Babylon by

Cryus with Darius the Mede

Kings of Media and Persia

- Kings of Mede’s and Persians from conquest of Babylon

Reign of Cyrus - 3541 - 3566 FC - 495 -474 BC

Dan. 9:2; 11:1 - 3557 FC 483 BC

Ezra 3:8 - 3558 FC temple work began - 482 BC

Dan.10:1 - 3560 FC - 480 BC

Cambyses II - 3566 - 3573 FC - 474 - 467 BC

Gaumata (psuedo-Smerdis) 3573 FC – 467 BC (7 months (Artaxerxes of Ezra 4:7)

Darius of Ezra - 3573 - 3607 FC - 467 - 433 BC

Zechar. 1:1,7; Haggai 1:1; 2:10; Ezra 4:24 - 3575 FC - 465 BC

Zech. 7:1 - 3576 464 BC

Ezra 6:14-15 - 3579 FC (temple finished) 461 BC

Xerxes (Ahaserus of Esther) 3607 - 3628 FC - 433 - 412 BC

Esther 1:3 - 3671 FC 430 BC

Esther 3:7 - 3680 FC 421 BC

Artaxerxes I (Ezra and Nehemiah) - 3628 - 3659 FC - 412 - 381 BC

Ezra 7:7-8 - 3635 FC - 405 BC

Nehemiah 1:1; 2:1 - 3647 FC - 392 BC

Neh. 5:14 3647 - 3659 FC - 392 - 380 BC

From Antiochus Epiphanes to Herod

Antiochus IV (Epiphanes) – 175-163 BC

Judas Maccabaeus - 166-161 BC

Jonathan Maccabaeus – 160-143 BC

Dead Sea Community – ca. 150 BC

Simon Maccabaeus 143-135 BC

Aristobulus I - 104-103 BC

Alexander Jannaeus 103-76 BC

Hycanus II and Salome 76-67 BC

Hyrcanus II and Aristobulus II - 67-40 BC

Pompey – 63 BC

Herod – 40-4 BC

Chronological Times of Some Old Testament books & Events

Book of Psalms – 977-937 BC

Song of Solomon – 937-920 BC

Proverbs – 910-897 BC

Ecclesiastes – 900-897BC

(ministry of Elijah begins 835 BC and ends in 815 BC)

(ministry of Elisha begins in 815 BC)

Book of Obadiah – 816 BC

Book of Joel – 776-761 BC

Book of Jonah – 766 - 750 BC

(Elisha dies around 762 BC - 2 Kings 13:10-20)

Book of Amos – 725 - 690 BC

Book of Hosea – 711 - 678 BC

Book of Isaiah – 707 - 639 BC

(Isaiah called to ministry in 705 BC - Isa. 6:1)

(675 BC fall of Northern Kingdom - Israel)

Book of Micah – 695-650 BC

Book of Nahum - 606 BC

Book of Zephaniah – 606 - 596 BC

Book of Jeremiah – 595 - 516 BC - (Jeremiah called to ministry - 595 BC - Jer. 1:2)

Book of Lamentations – 554-555 BC

Book of Habakkuk – 576 - 565 BC

Book of Daniel - 564-480 BC

(Daniel carried into captivity - 573 BC)

(Ezekiel carried into captivity - 565 BC)

(temple destroyed by Nechadnezzar - 553 BC - 2 Ch. 36:19)

(70 year captivity of Israel begins 553-483 - 2 Ch. 36:21)

Book of Ezekiel - 563-538 BC

Book of Ezra - 483-404 BC

(Cyrus and Darius the Mede take Babylon -483 BC - Dan. 4:31)

(Daniel understands 70 years come to end in 483 BC - Dan. 9:1-2)

(Cyrus makes decree to rebuild Jersualem -483 BC - Ezra 1:1-4)

(70 weeks of Daniel begin in 483 BC - Dan.9:24 with Isa. 44:28)

Book of Haggai - 465 BC

Book of Zachariah – 465-463 BC

(temple rebuilt by Zerubbabel - 461 BC - Ezra 6:15)

Book of Esther – 410-401 BC

Book of Nehemiah - 392 - 380 BC

Book of Malichi - 380 BC

Using my own dating system of the Kings I took the arguments for the order of books from Gleason L Archer - (See Gleason L. Archer’s book “A Survey of Old Testament Introduction”. For the chronological arrangement of the kings I used Edwin R. Thiele’s book “A Chronology of the Hebrew Kings” along with “Nelson’s Illustrated Enclycopedia of Bible Facts” edited by J.I. Packer, Merril C. Tenny and William White Jr.

The Jewish Year

Month	Sacred Year	Civil Year	English Equivilent
Abib or Nisan (ear of Corn)	1^st	7^th	March - April
Ziv or Ivar (brighteness)	2^nd	8^th	April - May
Sivan (bush or thorn)	3rd	9^th	May - June
Tammuz (concealed)	4^th	10^th	June - July
Ab (Father)	5^th	11^th	July - August
Elul (cry)	6^th	12^th	August - September
Ethanim or Tisri (strong)	7^th	1^st	September - October
Bul or Marchesvan (perishing)	8^th	2^nd	October - November
Chisleu (confidence)	9^th	3^rd	November - December
Tebeth (good)	10^th	4^th	December - January
Sebat (scepter)	11^th	5^th	January - February
Adar (high or eminent)	12^th	6^th	February - March

Chronology in Ezra (483 BC – 404 B.C) 79 years

Ezra 3:1 – “When the seventh month was come” – 483 B.C. Sept. – Oct

(Sacred calendar because feast of trumpets in Ezra 3:6 & Zech 1:7; 7:1)

Ezra 3:8 – “Now in the second year of their coming…in the second month” – 482 B.C. Apr. –

May

Ezra 4:6 – “And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign” – 475 BC

(This is Cambyses not the Ahasuerus of Esther)

Ezra 4:7 – “and in the days of Artaxerxes wrote – 469 B.C. (Gaumata)

The work on the house ceased in 469 B.C. until 465 B.C. or 4 years

Ezra 5:1 – “Then the prophets, Haggai the Prophet, and Zechariah…prophesied” – 465 BC

Haggai 1:1-14 “In the second year of Darius…in the sixth month, in the first day of

the month ” – 465 BC Aug. – Sept.

Haggai 1:15 - “In the four and twentieth day of the sixth month, in the second year of

Darius…” - 465 BC Aug.-Sept.

Haggai 2:1-17 – “In the seventh month…” – 465 B.C. Sept.-Oct

Zechariah 1:1-6 – “In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius” – 465 B.C.

October - November

Hag. 2:18 - “from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day

that the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid…” – (482 BC to 465 BC Nov. –

Dec.) - 17 years from the foundation being laid to beginning of work on temple

Zechariah 1:7- 6:15 – “Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which

is the month of Sebat, in the second year of Darius…” 465 B.C. Jan-Feb

Zech. 7:1-14:21 “…in the fourth year of…Darius..in the fourth day of the ninth

month… even in Chisleu” – 463 BC Nov. – Dec.

Ezra 6:15 – “…This house was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, which was in the

sixth year of the reign of Darius the King.” – 461 BC Feb-March (after 21 years)

Esther 1:1-3 “in the third year of his reign” – 410 B.C

Ezra 7:1,8-9 - “And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the

king. For upon the first day of the first month he began to go from Babylon, and on the

first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God

upon him.” - 406 B.C. Mar. – Apr. - he left Babylon and arrived in summer (July –Aug) of

same year 55 years after temple is built and 76 years after return under Cyrus)

Ezra 7:9b – “on the first day of the fifth month…” – 406 B.C. July – Aug.

Esther 2:16 - “tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

406 B.C. December-January

Ezra 8:31 – “…we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month” – 405

B.C. – Mar – April

Ezra 10:9 – “It was the ninth month on the twentieth day of the month” – 405 BC Nov. – Dec.

Ezra 10:16 – “in the first day of the tenth month” – 405 BC Dec.- Jan.

Ezra 10:17 – “by the first day of the first month” – 404 BC – Mar.- Apr.

Esther 3:7 In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king

Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from

month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar. 401 B.C. March-April to

February-March

Esther 8:9 “And the scribes of the king are called, at that time, in the third month--it is the

month of Sivan--in the three and twentieth of it, and it is written…” 401 B.C. May-

June

Esther” 9:1 “And in the twelfth month--it is the month of Adar--on the thirteenth day of it…”

401 B.C. February-March

Esther 9:15 “And the Jews who are in Shushan are assembled also on the fourteenth day

of the month of Adar…” – 401 B.C. February-March

Esther 9:21 “to establish on them, to be keeping the fourteenth day of the month of Adar,

and the fifteenth day of it, in every year and year” – 401 B.C. February-March

Chronology of Nehemiah – 392-380 B.C. or 12 years

Neh. 1:1 – “in the month of Chisleu, in the twentieth year” – 392 B.C. Nov. – Dec.

Neh. 2:1 – “in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes” – 392 B.C. Mar. – Apr.

Neh. 5:14 – “from the time I was appointed…governer…from the twentieth year even the two

and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes, that is twelve years” – 392 B.C. to 380 B.C.

Neh. 6:15 – “So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty two

days.” – 392 BC (3^rd day of Ab to 25^th day of Elul – July - September)

Neh. 7:73 – “when the seventh month came the children of Israel were in their cities.” –

392 B.C. Sept. – Oct.

Neh. 8:2 – “upon the first day of the seventh month” – 392 B.C. Sept. – Oct.

Neh. 8:9 – “this day is holy” – 392 B.C. Sept. – Oct. (first day of seventh month)

Neh. 8:13 – “second day” – 392 B.C. Sept.-Oct. (second day of the seventh month)

Neh. 8:18 – “on the eighth day” – 392 B.C. Sept.-Oct. (eighth day of seventh month)

Neh. 9:1 – “Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month…” – 392 B.C. Sept.-Oct (Neh. 9-10)

Neh. 10 – 12:44 - Occur at the dedication of the wall (12:27,44) 392 B.C. Sept. – Oct.

Neh. 12:47 – “in the days of Nehemiah” – 392 B.C. Sept.-Oct to 380 B.C.

Neh 13:4-6 - And before this, Eliashib the priest….But in all this time

was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes…came I unto

the king…” 380 B.C. (Some days He was absent when Eliashib was in charge)

Neh. 13:1-6 “on that day they read….And before this, Eliashib the priest….But in all this time

was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes…came I unto

the king…” – 380 B.C. (the day of his return the scriptures were read but the time

that described in Neh. 13:4-5 Nehemiah was absent)

Chronology of Ezekiel 563-538 B.C.

Ezek. 1:2-7:27 – “In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of King Jehoichin’s

captivity.” 560 B.C

Ezek 8:1-19:14 – “And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the

month…” 559 B.C. – Aug. – Sept.

Ezek. 20:1- 23:49 – “ And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of

the month…” 558 B.C. Sept.- Oct.

Ezek. 24:1-25:17 – “…in the ninth year, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month…” –

556 B.C. – Dec. – Jan.

Ezek. 29:1-16 - “in the tenth year, in the tenth month, in the twelvth day of the month”

– 555 B.C.

Ezek. 26:1-28:26 – “in the eleventh year, in the first day of the month” – 554 B.C. March - April

Ezek. 30:20-26 – “in the eleventh year, in the first month, in the seventh day of the month” – 554

B.C. Mar. – Apr.

Ezek. 31:1-18 – “in the eleventh year, in the third month, in the first day of the month…” – 554

B.C. May – June

Ezek. 32:1-16– “in the twelvth year, in the twelvth month, in the first day of the month” – 553

B.C. Feb. – March

Ezek. 32:17-33:20– “in the twelvth year, in the fifteenth day of the month..” 553 B.C. Feb. –

Mar.

Ezek. 33:21-39:29 – “in the twelvth year of our captivity, in the tenth month, in the fifth day of the

month” – 553 B.C. Dec. – Jan.

Ezek. 40:1-48:35 – “In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in

the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was smitten, in

the self same day..” – 540 B.C. March - April

Ezek. 29:17-30:16 – “in the seven and twentieth year, in the first month, in the first day of the

month” 538 B.C. Mar.-Apr.

Chronology of Jeremiah – 593 to 527 B.C.

Jer. 1:2 – “in the days of Josiah…in the thirteenth year” - 595 B.C.

Jer. 1:3 – “unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah…unto the carrying away of Jerusalem

captive in the fifth month.” 554 B.C. July-Aug

Jer. 25:1 – “…in the fourth year of Jehoiakim…that was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of

Babylon.” – 572 B.C.

Jer. 25:3 – “From the thirteeth year of Josiah…unto this day, that is the three and twentieth

year…” 595 B.C. – 572 B.C.

Jer. 28:1 – “…the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedikiah…in the fourth year, and in

the fifth month…” – 560 B.C. July-Aug.

Jer. 28:16-17 – “…this year thou shalt die….So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the

seventh month.” – 560 B.C. Sept.-Oct

Jer. 32:1 – “…in the tenth year of Zedikiah…which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar”

– 555 B.C.

Jer. 36:1 – “in the fourth year of Jehoiakim….” 572 B.C.

Jer. 36:9 – “in the fifth year of Jehoiakim, in the ninth month…” 571 B.C. Aug.-Sept

Jer. 36:22 – “…in the ninth month” – 571 B.C. Aug.-Sept.

Jer. 39:1-2 – “in the ninth year of Zedekiah…in the tenth month, came Nebuchadnezzar…and

all his army against Jersualem, and they besieged it. And in the eleventh year of

Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, the city was broken up.” –

556 B.C. to 554 B.C. Nov.-Dec.

Jer. 45:1 – “in the fourth year of Jehoikim..” 572 B.C.

Jer. 46:2 – “Against Egypt, against the army of Pharoh-necho king of Egypt, which was by the

river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadrezzar…smote in the fourth year of

Jehoiakim..” – 572 B.C.

Jer. 51:59 – “…when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah into Babylon in the fourth year of

his reign…” – 572 B.C.

Jer. 52:1 – “Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned

eleven years in Jerusalem…” – 565-554 B.C.

Jer. 52:4-6 – “…in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month,

that Nebuchadrezzar…came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and pictched

against it, and built forts against it round about. So the city was besieged unto the

eleventh year of King Zedekiah. And in the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the

famine was sore in the city, so that there was no bread for the people in the land.” – 556

B.C. Dec.-Jan unto 554 B.C. June – July

Jer. 52:12-13 – “in the fifth month, in the tenth day of the month, which was the nineteenth year

of Nebuchadrezzar….came Nebuzaradan…and burned the house of God…” 553 B.C. July-

Aug.

Jer. 52:28 – “…in the seventh year…” 565 B.C.

Jer. 52:29 – “…in the eighteenth year of Nebucahdrezzar…’ 554 B.C.

Jer. 52:30 – “In the three and twentieth year of Nebuchadnezzar – 549 B.C.

Jer. 52:31 – “…in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoichin..” – 527 B.C.

Chronology of Daniel – 573 – 480 B.C.

Dan. 1:1 – “In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim…came Nebuchadrezzar…and besieged

it.” – 573 B.C.

Dan. 1:21 – “And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus” – 483 B.C. (continued

in public office – too old after that)

Dan. 2:1 – “…in the second year of …Nebuchadrezzar” – 573 B.C.

Dan. 7:1 – “In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon…” – 494 B.C.

Dan. 8:1 – “In the third year of king Belshazzar…” - 491 B.C.

Dan. 9:1 – “In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus…” – 483 B.C.

Dan. 10:1 – “In the third year of Cyrus…” – 480 B.C.

Dan. 11:1 – “..in the first year of Darius the Mede” – 483 B.C.

Chronology of Isaiah – 707 –639 B.C.

Isa. 6:1 – “In the year King Uzziah died…” – 705 B.C.

Isa. 14:28 – “In the year that king Ahaz died was this burden.” - 683 B.C.

Isa. 36:1 – “…in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, that Seeacherib king of Assyria came up

against all the defenced cities of Judah, and took them.” – 669 B.C.

Isa. 38:5 – “…I will add unto thy days fifteen years.” – 669 B.C. - 654 B.C.

Chronological Problems of the Old Testament

A. Note about the 539 BC date of the fall of Babylon and dating in

general

We reject the 539 B.C. dating of the fall of Babylon by Cyrus. Ancient events are dated by secular chronologists living a thousand or more years from the event. Such dates were established primarily by a few ancient chronologers (Timaeus Sticulus, Eratosthenes, Ptolemy and Censorinus). Much guess work and juggling of data was involved by these chronologers. Martin Anstey says of them,

“The important thing to note is that this fixing of the dates is not based on contemporary testimony like that of Jeremiah 25, in which we are distinctly told that the 4^th year of Jehoikim was the 1^st year of Nebuchadnezzar, but is arrived at by a process of computation worked out 1,000 after the event, and resting ultimately upon the shadowy calculations of Erathosthenes and Timaeus, who obtain their data by multiplying the number of Ephors, Kings, Archons or Priestesses by the number of years which they imagined each of these various officers would be likely to have occupied these several posts.” – Martin Anstey, Chronology of the Old Testament. p. 24

Astronomical observations and calculations are considered by many as the most accurate way to fix dates for various historical events. However, there are many sources of error that can play a part in astronomical dating. First, the astronomer depends upon sightings recorded by ancient writers. Second, the astronomer attempts to correlate astronomical calculations with the accepted general time of the historians life. Reported eclipses are considered to be one of the most accurate ways to correlate astronomical calculations with historical records. One of the most celebrated of these eclipses is that known as the “Eclipse of Thales.” Accepting the secular chonologists general time that Thales lived, the astronomer calculates how many eclipses occurred during that general time frame. There were five eclipses that occurred within the accepted time frame. Hence, the “eclipse of Thales” has been dated astronomically at five different times. These five span a period of 21 years. The assumption is that such an eclipse occurred within this 21 year period at one of these five times. However, the question might be asked, what if, the secular general time frame for Thales is in error by more than 50 years or so? If this was the case, then the astonomer would have to recalculate by considering any eclipse that occurred at that point of time. Hence, as you can see there is no absolute precision even according to astronomical dating.

On the other hand, the Bible many times precisely dates an event by another event through inspired writers living at the time the actual events occur. For example, Jeremiah tells us that the first year of Nebuchadnezzar occurs during the fourth year of the reign of Jehoikim (Jer. 25:1). The Bible provides its own system of cross dating events.

The Bible clearly predicts that Cyrus would give the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem along with the temple (Isa. 44:31; 45:13; 2 Chron. 36:21-23; Ezra. 1:1-3). No other king was named in advance by God to do this other than Cyrus. God interrupted Daniel as he prayed for the return and rebuilding of Jerusalem and told Daniel that his prayer would be answered by the going forth of a decree. At the time of this interrupted prayer, Daniel was at least 85 years old. The only decree to go forth with Jerusalem in view during the life of Daniel was the decree of Cyrus. In fact, this decree went forth shortly after Daniel prayed in the very same year. This is more than mere conincidence. Daniel could not have possibly accepted any other decree as the answer to his prayer. For example, the decree by Artaxerxes in Ezra 7 occurs 78 years afterward and it is only a reaffirmation of the decree of Cyrus. There is no mention of a decree going forth in Nehemiah. The only thing Nehemiah says is that he was personally given permission to go back to Jerusalem. Nehemiah returned 91 years after the decree of Cyrus. The only decree that Daniel could possibly live to see go forth was that of Cyrus. I reject the secular calculation of 539 BC as the first year of Cyrus but rather date it according to Daniel chapter nine as the year 483 BC. I believe that the decree that Cyrus issued shortly after the prayer of Daniel was the beginning point for the 70 weeks of Daniel as well as the ending point of the 70 years the land of Palestine rested between the destruction of the temple and the prayer of Daniel in Daniel 9:1-2.

The Grecian-Roman Chronology after 300 A.D. is still a matter of guess work among modern scholarship. One modern chronologist says concerning the early Roman-Greek era:

“Methodology Of Computing Roman Chronology

One might expect that since the Romans had a relatively fixed list of magistrates, one could simply equate the system with Greek chronology at the late Republic when there was no dispute as to the correspondence, and then calculate back within the Roman list. Unfortunately, the emphasis in the expression "relatively fixed" is on the "relatively." While there was general agreement over most of the magistrates in the list, there were a few uncertainties, which meant that there was not a single, absolutely authoritative list that went back without interrruption to the foundation of the Republic. Furthermore, since it was clear that the list needed a little modification to make it correspond to the Greek dates that were thought to be known with certainty, the habit arose of manipulating the Roman list to make it fit in with pre-conceptions as to various points at which it was thought that it had to correspond to the Greek chronological lists. These fixed correspondances are known as "synchronism." On the basis of synchronisms and certain evidence that indicates the passage of time between events, the absolute Olympic dates of Roman events could be "established," and then the fasti would be manipulated to make them fit this overall chronology…..

The Varronian system dated the establishment of the city to 509 BC, Dionysius to 507, Polybius to 506, the respective dates for the foundation of the city being 753, 751 and 750.

Judged purely on the basis of the fasti, the chronology adopted in antiquity for the fourth century is at least four if not five years too long, and the synchronism of the sack with the Peace of Antalcidas erroneous. This would pull the date of the establishment of the Republic down to 505-02. In the absence of any reliable method to assess the accuracy of the synchronism or of the number of years claimed on the census document as having passed since the establishment of the Republic, it is impossible to be more specific than to say that the Republic was founded in the last decade of the sixth century.” - Christopher S. Mackay

B. Why This Chronology?

Nearly all modern chonologies are dependent upon secular sources. Why? Because the Bible’s own dating is rejected by secular chronologists as faulty and in error. You will notice that modern chronologies begin their dating from Christ (BC or BCE) and work back to Creation instead of working from Creation to Christ? Why? There are a number of reasons. Those who reject either special creation or an early creation can leave a date for creation open to skepticism. Those who reject the miracle of prophecy can adjust the dates so that certain prophecies are either current with or after the supposed prophetic occurrence. Starting with Genesis confines you to Biblical creationism and a young earth and few modern chronologists want to be placed in that category.

A few scholars have relied wholly upon the dating methods of the Bible alone for their dating. Bishop Usher and Martin Anstey are two Biblical scholars that attempt to stick with the Biblical information for their chronologies. Usher and Anstey differ with each other at some minor points in their chronologies. I have arrived at my own figures independently first and then checked my work with Usher and Anstey. The result was that in some particulars I have had to conform my chronology to theirs and yet in other points I differ from both.

When all is said and done, Martin Anstey gives the birth of Christ 4038 from creation. Bishop Usher gives the date of 4004. I give it as 4006. As a matter of faith, I personally believe that Christ was born in the year 4000 but as a matter of evidence I can only reasonably demonstrate the year 4006 (6 B.C. by our calendars) as His birth and therefore the year 4040 (28 A.D. on our calendars) as the date of His death.

To determine whether the student agrees with my chronology over Anstey or Usher is very simple to do. Merely study the information concerning a few key events. (1) date of the Exodus; (2) dates of the kings of Judah and Israel. (3) the date when Judah went into captivity; (4) the date when the 70 weeks of Daniel began and (5) the date when the 69th week of Daniel ends.

However, regardless of the chronology you choose to follow, the value of a Biblical centered chronology is immeasurable to anyone who wishes to grasp a better and quicker understanding of the events and prophecies of the Old Testament. Each chronology (Usher, Anstey, Fenison) is consistent within its own system and therefore can be used to see the order of events as they relate to each other. What is provided in this paper is a very simple basic chronology that the student can build on and develop more thoroughly in his or her own studies. If you keep it beside your Bible as you study the Old Testament you will be able to grasp much more.

C. The Significant factors in making a Biblical Chronology

1. The genealogies of Genesis 5 and 11

2. The New Testament dates of Old Testament events

a. Acts 7:6; Gal 3:17 with Ex. 12:41 (430 years between ratifications of

covenants)

b. The 400 years from Isaac’s weaning to Exodus)

c. Acts 7:23-30 (two 40 year periods of Moses)

d. Acts 13:20 (450 year period of Judges)

3. Old Testament dates

a. 483 years from Daniel 9 to the Messiah - Dan. 9:25-26

b. 70 years captivity from destruction of temple Daniel 9:2; 2 Chron. 36:17-23

c. I Kings 6:1 - 480 years from 4th year of Solomon to Exodus (114 years of

pagan rule not counted in this total, when added it comes to 594 years)

d. the four 40 year periods of Samuel, Saul, David, Solomon

D. Major Problem Areas in Chronology

1. The exact beginning point of the 430 years of ratification of Abrahamic covenant

whether it begins in Gen. 12 or Gen. 15 (Gen. 16:3) -

2. Exact beginning and ending date of 483 years of Daniel 9:24; whether it begins

with Cyrus (Ezra 1:1-3) , 7^th year of Artaxerxes (Ezra 7) or the 20^th year of Artaxerxes

(Neh. 2) or whether it ends with Christ’s birth, baptism or death?

3. Exact chronology of the kings of Judah and Israel (344 Thiele versus 396 Anstey)

4. The dating of Cyrus’ first year whether it is 539 BC or 483 BC

5. The birth of Christ whether it occurred in 1, 5, or 6 BC

E. The Major factors in my Chronology: In this chronology the Exodus is pinpointed by using I Kings 6:1 (480 years) plus the passing over of 114 years of gentile domination during the judges or a total of 594 from the 4th year of Solomon. From the other direction the Exodus is pinpointed by subtracting 430 years from the call of Abraham. The call of Abraham is established by the Chronologies of Genesis 5 and 11. The chronology of the kings is pinpointed by the joint beginning year of Rehoboam with Jeroboam and then the simultaneous death of Judah’s and Israel kings with the rise of Jehu. Also the 3^rd year of Hoshea with the first year of Hezekiah. The beginning of the 70th week of Daniel is pinpointed by adding 70 years to the date of the destruction of Jerusalem according to 2 Chron. 36:21-25 and starting the countdown with the command of Cyrus to Messiah the Prince at His triumphant entry into Jerusalem.