Approximate Chronology of Israel's Literature
Period of Judges and United Monarchy
|
12-11 |
Song of Miriam (Exodus 15); Song of Deborah (Judges 5); Testament of Jacob (Genesis 49); Blessing of Moses (Deuteronomy 33); Oracles of Balaam (Numbers 22-24) |
|
10 c |
"J"; History of David's Rise (1 Samuel 16-2 Samuel 5); Succession Narrative (2 Samuel 9-20; 1 Kings 1-2); Ark Narrative (1 Samuel 4-6; 2 Samuel 6) |
Divided Kingdom
|
Southern Kingdom 922-586 |
Northern Kingdom 922-721 |
|
|
9 c |
"E"; Elijah; Elisha |
|
|
8 c |
Isaiah; Micah; "J-E" |
Amos; Hosea |
|
7 c |
Jeremiah; Deuteronomy Zephaniah; Nahum; Habakkuk |
Exile and Post-Exile
|
6c |
Ezekiel 593-571; Lamentations; Deuteronomistic History (Joshua-2 Kings) 550; Second Isaiah (40-55) 547-540; "P"; Obadiah; Third Isaiah (56-66) after 515; Haggai; Zechariah 1-8 |
|
5 c |
Malachi; Ezra-Nehemiah ca. 400; Ruth?; Joel (6-4 c); Jonah (6-4c); Zechariah 9-14 |
|
4 c |
1-2 Chronicles; Esther? |
|
3 c |
Ecclesiastes |
|
2 c |
Daniel |
Uncertain
Job; Psalms (some early; probably gathered together gradually); Proverbs; Song of Solomon
© Ralph W. Klein
September 16, 2000