Newsletter 07: Biblical Chronology
Biblical Chronology
We felt it was important to provide you with a copy of our Biblical chronology since there are so many different ideas as to Biblical dates. We have simply taken the information given in the Bible and pieced it together. We spent a great deal of time and research on this chronology and do not claim it to be perfect.
We have taken into consideration the dates arrived at by scholars, such as Thiele; we have taken into account the three year error in our present calendar- see article in this newsletter.
The Bible does not give a continuous line of dates to work with. But the information is there. In some cases, dates must be arrived at by going backwards from known dates. In these cases, it is still possible to determine if the date is accurate by checking it with other Biblical information. Below, we have explained how we arrived at the date of the Exodus, which was more to ascertain.
Date of the Exodus
Between Joseph’s death and Moses’ birth, we have a void of information – we cannot determine the exact number of years between these two events unless we find another point of reference to work from. There is one Biblical date which we believe to be absolutely confirmed – one which gives us a firm basis on which to work backwards from. This is the destruction date of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC.
Edwin R. Thiele, in his book “THE MYSTERIOUS NUMBERS OF THE HEBREW KINGS” gives a most thorough evidence of the accuracy of this date by Babylonian records which can be astronomically verified. We highly recommend this book for a full explanation.
In order to arrive at the date of the Exodus, we took this date of 586 BC and added to it the years of the kings of Judah after Solomon. These years of reign totalled 345. (586 + 345 = 931) This brings us to the last year of Solomon’s reign, 931 BC. Since we know Solomon reigned 40 years, this means his 1st year would have been 970 BC. Note, that in counting years of reign, we must be sure and count the first year. To say he ruled from 971 to 931 is incorrect, even though you are adding 40 years to his last year of reign, 970. You must subtract 1 year from your total to take into account the first year.
With his first year of reign as 970 BC, this would place his 4th year at 966 BC- the year he began work on the temple. And it is from this date that we arrive at another date, the date of the Exodus: 1KI 6:1 And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD.
Of note: here, unlike above where we had to be sure and count Solomon’s 1st year of reign, 970 BC, as year one, in figuring the next date, we do not do this in the same manner. The above scripture states in the 480th year “after” the children of Israel were come out”…. Therefore, we count the first year after they came out as year 1. To arrive at the date, we simply add the entire 480 years….
The Biblical date of the Exodus is now established- the children of Israel came out of Egypt exactly 480 years before Solomon began work on the temple in 966 BC., or in 1446 BC. Keep in mind that this, as all dates, are approximate but we believe they are within a three or four year margin.
The 3 Year Error in our Calendar
It is common knowledge that when the calendar we use today, based on the BC/AD system, was developed, it contained a known four-year error. In the 6th century AD, a dispute in the early church as to the correct date of Easter resulted in the development of this calendar. Prior to this, the early Roman calendar was in use. This was based on dates as occurring relative to the founding of Rome, AUC,- “ab urbe condita”, which means “from the founding of Rome”.
Dionysius Exiguus, a monk of Sythian birth, resident in Italy, invented our current calendar which relates all events in years prior to or after Christ’s birth- BC, (before Christ) and AD (anno Domini, which means, “In the year of our Lord”). By studying the old records, Exiguus reckoned the date of the birth of Christ to have occurred in 754 AUC, but this proved to be in error. In fact, based on the earlier calendar, Christ’s birth is proved to have occurred at the latest in 750 AUC because of the fact that Christ was born during the time of Herod the Great, who died in this year.
Therefore, in simple terms, here is the result of the new calendar. Exiguous placed all dates in relation to Christ’s birth, which he called year “1 AD”. Events one year prior to this were called 1 BC (1 year before Christ). There was no year “0”, lessening the error by one year. However, because of this miscalculation of the date of Christ’s birth, our calendar does not present an accurate picture:
Exiguus’ Dating | True Dating | Date | True Date |
4 BC | Christ born | 1990—————-> | 1993 |
3 BC | 3 BC | 1991—————-> | 1994 |
2 BC | 2 BC | 1992—————-> | 1995 |
1 BC | 1 BC | 1993—————-> | 1996 |
1 AD | 1994—————-> | 1997 |
This information relating to the true reckoning of the calendar to the birth of Christ is very important and the evidence on which it is based- the death of Herod the Great- is solid. The error in time was discovered soon after the Exiguus developed the calendar, however it still went into effect. The following information on Herod the Great is from the 1985 Encyclopaedia Britannica, under “Chronology”:
- “Somehow Dionysius reckoned the birth of Christ to have occurred in 754 AUC; but the Gospels state that Christ was born under Herod the Great-, i.e., at the latest in 750 AUC….Nevertheless, it has continued in use to the present day, and as a result, the Nativity is reckoned to have taken place in or shortly before the year 4 BC, when Herod died.”
As for the knowledge of the date of Herod the Great, his life is extremely well documented, especially in the detailed information furnished in the Jewish History of Josephus. Herod’s association with other well-know and well documented historical figures, such as his life-long friend, Mark Antony, give us precise information as to the dating of his life events and his death. This next quote is from the same encyclopaedia, under “Herod the Great”:
- “In his last years, Herod suffered from arteriosclerosis. He had to repress a revolt, became involved in a quarrel with his Nabataean neighbors, and finally lost the favor of Augustus. He was in great pain and in mental and physical disorder. He altered his will three times and finally disinherited and killed his firstborn, Antipater. The slaying, shortly before his death, of the infants of Bethlehem was wholly consistent with the disarray into which he had fallen. After an unsuccessful attempt at suicide, Herod died at Jericho at the end of March or beginning of April in 4 BC. His final testament proved that, subject to Augustus’ sanction, his realm would be divided among his sons….”
There is another thing which we must consider. In 1650, when James Ussher calculated the chronology of the Old Testament, he reckoned the creation of Adam to have been in 4004 BC- exactly 4,000 years before the birth of Christ. If Exiguus’ calendar had been calculated correctly, the creation of Adam would have been in 4000 BC; the birth of Christ in 1 AD, and today’s date would be 1997. In 3 years, we will reach the 6,000 year mark- and for those who believe this is significant, time is shorter than we think.
BIBLICAL CHRONOLOGY CHART
Time begins- creation of Adam (Chronology given in Genesis 5) | 4004 BC |
Adam 130 yrs at birth of Seth | 3874 BC |
Seth 105 yrs at birth of Enosh | 3769 BC |
Enosh 90 yrs at birth of Kenan (Cainan) | 3679 BC |
Cainan 70 yrs at birth of Mahalaleel | 3609 BC |
Mahalaleel 65 yrs at birth of Jared | 3544 BC |
Jared 162 yrs at birth of Enoch | 3382 BC |
Enoch 65 yrs at birth of Methuselah | 3317 BC |
Methuselah 187 yrs at birth of Lamech | 3130 BC |
Adam dies at 930 yrs | 3074 BC |
Enoch taken to heaven at 365 yrs | 3017 BC |
Seth dies at 912 yrs | 2962 BC |
Lamech 182 yrs at birth of Noah | 2948 BC |
Enosh dies at 905 yrs | 2864 BC |
Cainan dies at 910 yrs | 2769 BC |
Mahalaleel dies at 895 yrs | 2714 BC |
Jared dies at 962 yrs | 2582 BC |
Lamech dies at 777 yrs | 2353 BC |
Methuselah dies at 969 yrs | 2347 BC |
Noah 600 yrs at time of the Flood (Genesis 7:11) | 2348 BC |
Arphaxad born 2 yrs after Flood (Genesis 11:10) | 2346 BC |
Arphaxaad 35 yrs at birth of Shelah (Chronology given in Genesis 11:10-32) | 2311 BC |
Shelah 30 yrs at birth of Eber | 2281 BC |
Eber 34 yrs at birth of Peleg (Division of the earth) | 2247 BC |
Peleg 30 yrs at birth of Reu | 2217 BC |
Reu 32 yrs at birth of Serug | 2185 BC |
Serug 30 yrs at birth of Nahor | 2155 BC |
Nahor 29 yrs at birth of Terah, Abraham’s father | 2126 BC |
Peleg dies at 239 yrs | 2008 BC |
Nahor dies at 148 yrs | 2007 BC |
Noah dies at 950 yrs | 1998 BC |
Terah 130 yrs at birth of Abraham | 1996 BC |
Reu dies at 239 yrs | 1978 BC |
Serug dies at 230 yrs | 1955 BC |
Abraham 75 yrs when he leaves Haran (Genesis 12:4) | 1921 BC |
Abraham 86 yrs when Ishmael born (Genesis 16:16) | 1910 BC |
Arphaxad dies at 438 yrs | 1908 BC |
Destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah when Abraham is 99 yrs old (Genesis 17:21-25) | 1897 BC |
Abraham 100 yrs at birth of Isaac (Genesis 21:5) | 1896 BC |
Shelah dies at 433 yrs | 1878 BC |
Abraham called by God to offer Isaac This event marks the beginning of the prophecy of the 430 years. The next verses tell us that the “law” meaning the law of sacrifices and the Mosaic Law, was given 430 years after the covenant with Abraham:
GAL 3:17
This promise, or covenant, had been given to Abraham earlier, but it was only when he was faithful in his willingness to offer Isaac to God that it was confirmed. Here, the Lord tells that it was at this time that the promise or covenant was ratified: GEN 22:16
And at this time, when the covenant was ratified, the prophecy of 400 years, given in Gen 15:13, begins: GEN 15:13
This 400 years is included in the 430 years of the next passage: EXO 12:40
However, be sure and note that the Scriptures do not say that they will be held in bondage in Egypt for 430 years- it says that their “sojourning” was for 430 years. From the time the covenant was ratified by Abraham’s obedience in being willing to offer his only son, until the Exodus was exactly 430 years. The earlier passage said that for 400 years they would: 1- be strangers in a land not theirs, 2- that they would be subject to, or serve, the nations in which they dwelled, and finally, 3- they would be afflicted. They were in fact only in Egypt from 1706 BC until 1446 BC, or 260 yrs. |
1876 BC |
Isaac 40 yrs when he marries Rebekah (Genesis 25:20) | 1856 BC |
Isaac 60 yrs when Jacob and Esau born (Genesis 25:26) | 1836 BC |
Abraham dies at 175 yrs | 1821 BC |
Eber dies at 464 yrs | 1817 BC |
Jacob 91 yrs when Joseph born (Genesis 41:46,47; 45:6,9,10; 47:9) | 1745 BC |
Joseph sold by his brothers at age 17 yrs (Gen. 37:2) | 1728 BC |
Isaac dies at 180 yrs | 1716 BC |
Joseph promoted to 2nd in authority to pharaoh at age 30 yrs (Genesis 41:46) | 1715 BC |
Jacob 130 yrs when comes to Egypt to live (Genesis 47:9) | 1706 BC |
Joseph dies at 110 yrs | 1635 BC |
Moses born | 1526 BC |
Moses flees from Egypt at age 40 yrs | 1486 BC |
THE EXODUS | 1446 BC |
Moses dies at 120 yrs (Deu. 34:7) Joshua succeeds Moses at age 81 (Joshua 14:10) Entry into Promised Land | 1406 BC |
Joshua dies at 110 yrs (Joshua 24:29) | 1377 BC |
Period of the Judges | |
Saul becomes Israel’s first king (Acts 13:21) and reigns for 40 yrs | 1050 BC |
David becomes Israel’s 2nd king and reigns 40 yrs (Samuel 5:4,5) | 1010 BC |
Solomon becomes Israel’s 3rd king & reigns 40 years (1Kings 11:42) | 970 BC |
Construction begins on the temple in Solomon’s 4th year (1Kings 6:37) | 966 BC |
Solomon’s reign ends & Israel is divided into Israel & Judah | 931 BC |
KINGS OF ISRAEL/KINGS OF JUDAH | |
Jeroboam rules 22 yrs | 930-909 BC |
Rehoboam rules 17 yrs | 930-913 BC |
Abijah rules 3 yrs | 913-910 BC |
Asa rules 41 yrs | 910-869 BC |
Nadab rules 1 yr | 909-908 BC |
Baasha rules 24 yrs | 908-885 BC |
Elah rules 2 yrs | 885-884 BC |
Zimri rules 7 days | 884 BC |
Omri rules 12 yrs | 884-873 BC |
Ahab rules 22 yrs | 873-852 BC |
Jehoshaphat rules 25 yrs (4 with ASA) | 873-848 BC |
Ahaziah rules 2 yrs | 852-851 BC |
Joram rules 12 yrs (co-rules with 2 above) | 857-845 BC |
Jehoram rules 8 yrs 5 with Jehoshaphat) | 853-846 BC |
Ahaziah rules 1 yr | 845 BC |
Jehu rules 28 yrs | 844-818 BC |
Athalia rules 7 yrs | 844-838 BC |
Jehoahaz rules 17 yrs | 818-802 BC |
Joash rules 40 yrs | 838-799 BC |
Jehoash rules 16 yrs | 802-786 BC |
Amaziah rules 29 yrs (2 with Joash) | 800-772 BC |
Jeroboam II rules 41 yrs (13 with Jehoash) | 798-758 BC |
Uzziah rules 52 yrs (25 with Amaziah) | 796-745 BC |
Zechariah rules 6 months | 758 BC |
Menahem rules 10 yrs | 758-748 BC |
Pekahiah rules 2 yrs | 747-746 BC |
Peka rules 20 yrs (2 with Pekahiah) | 747-728 BC |
Jotham rules 16 yrs (2 with Uzziah) | 747-731 BC |
Ahaz rules 16 yrs (8 with Jotham) | 739-723 BC |
Hosea rules 9 yrs/ ISRAEL (Northern Kingdom) CONQUERED by Assyria & CEASES TO EXIST | 727-719 BC |
Hezekiah rules 29 yrs (3 with Ahaz) | 725-697 BC |
Mannasseh rules 55 yrs | 696-642 BC |
Amon rules 2 yrs | 641-640 BC |
Josiah rules 31 yrs | 639-609 BC |
Jehoahaz rules 3 mos | 608 BC |
Jehoiakim rules 11 yrs | 608-598 BC |
BEGINNING OF CAPTIVITY OF JUDAH (Southern Kingdom) | |
DANIEL TAKEN TO BABYLON | 605 BC |
Jehoiachin rules 3 mos | 597 BC |
Zedekiah rules 11 yrs. | 597-586 BC |
ISRAEL INTO BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY | 586 BC |
Nebuchadnezzar destroys the temple | 586 BC |
Persian general, Cyrus, takes Babylon. Darius now Persian ruler of Babylon | 537 BC |
Darius dies. Cyrus king- frees Judah at end of 70 year captivity (began 605 BC) with his decree | 535 BC |
Usurper king Artaxerxes (Smerdis) stops newly begun work on temple in Jerusalem | 521 BC |
Darius King | 521 BC |
Darius yr 2 – he issues decree for work to resume on temple | 520 BC |
Darius yr 6 – the temple is finished | 516 BC |
Artaxerxes king | 463 BC |
Artaxerxes yr 7- he issues decree which gives Jerusalem & the Jews the ability to have almost completely autonomous rule. Provided for reestablishment of the Jewish economy as dictated by God. | 457 BC |
Artaxerxes yr 20- Nehemiah appointed governor of Judea/ goes to rebuild wall which was in poor condition. | 444 BC |
Artaxerxes yr 32- Nehemiah begins 2nd term as governor of Judea | 432BC |
Darius Nothus king. Biblical record of the priesthood ends with this king’s reign. Last Biblical prophets end at this time. Biblical “silence” until Gospels. | 408 BC |
BIRTH OF CHRIST | 4 BC |
Christ begins His ministry on earth which is devoted to the Jewish people alone. | Fall, 27 AD |
The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the Messiah | Spring, 31 AD |
The Gospel is taken from the Jews to the Gentiles | Fall, 34 AD |
Destruction of Jerusalem by Titus | 70 AD |
End of 6,000 years since the creation of Adam | 1997 AD |