Chronological Companion To The Bible Compiled by Thomas J. Short Original Copyright (cid:211) 2001 Thomas J. & Debra J. E. Short Mishawaka, Indiana USA October 2014 Revision All rights reserved Email: [email protected] Website: IntoTheWord.net Chronological Companion To The Bible Page 2 Thomas J. Short Introduction and Instructions I love the Bible! Not just because “all Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;”1 but also because it is absolutely full of all sorts of interesting reading! Yet amazingly, the Bible, as a whole work, is generally unread, even by those who claim a close personal relationship with the God Who inspired its writing. They may know very well the key texts behind significantly important theological tenets, but otherwise they are altogether unfamiliar with the rest of this great literary and historical treasure. It has been my experience as a Bible teacher that this biblical illiteracy generally stems, not from laziness, but from repeated, unsuccessful attempts to read the Bible “cover to cover,” “start to finish,” “Genesis through Revelation,” as one would read most books. Such readers generally do well until they reach Leviticus, where they get bogged down in the detailed instructions of sacrificial protocol, and many simply give up. Those who do press on may make it as far as 1 Chronicles, where, overwhelmed by the sheer number of unfamiliar names, more will abandon their worthy goal. Of those who survive the “name lists,” few are able to appreciate the messages of the various prophets, since these have long been arranged in a manner foreign to the average reader, completely divorced from their historical contexts. And I won’t even bother going into the problems that arise from trying to read the New Testament books in the order of their arrangement. I have long believed that these hindrances to reading the whole Bible are best dealt with by helping people absorb Scripture progressively and in chronological order. It makes perfect sense to the average person that 2 Samuel should be read after 1 Samuel and that 2 Corinthians should be read after 1 Corinthians. Why not apply the same logic to the rest of Scripture? The Old Testament prophets and wisdom books ought to be read in the order they were written and in the context of the Old Testament historical books. In the same way, the New Testament letters ought to be read in the order they were written and in the context of the historical book of Acts. And even though I am a very serious New Testament believer, I am thoroughly convinced that students of Scripture ought to read the entire Old Testament before seriously tackling the New Testament. Over the past sixteen years, as I have taught through the Bible in this manner, many of my students have commented that the very things which once stymied their reading efforts now make perfect sense and that they have a renewed hunger and thirst for the entire Word of God. My intention in compiling this book is to offer this same means of encouragement to a much wider audience. This book is basically a chronological outline of the Bible. To journey through the exciting world of sacred history, all you need to do is spend a few minutes of each day reading, in order, the indicated text references. As you read, take the time to mark and to date where you end each reading session. This will help you keep track of your progress and make it easier to resume your journey if a few days happen to pass between opportunities to read. Remember, it's not really all that important how long it takes you to finish this journey, only that you do finish it. Where more than one account of an event is available (as in the Divided Kingdom Period and in the Life of Christ), I have tried to make the assigned reading the most full, relatively significant or convenient account. References for any parallel account(s) are then provided parenthetically. If you have a particular interest in Biblical chronology, you’ll want to pay attention to the outline itself, including the footnotes and charts. I have tried to clearly indicate those places where I have made chronological or textual assumptions, indicating in a footnote or parenthetically how and/or why the assumption was made. Finally, I have reduced many (but by no means all) of the “name lists” to chart form and have included them outside the reading assignments so that you can consider them at your leisure. There’s a lot of interesting information in these lists, so make sure that you don’t just pass them by. So, after a few introductory charts, let’s get started on our journey! Thomas J. Short 1 September 2001 Mishawaka, Indiana 1 2 Timothy 3:16. Unless indicated otherwise, all Scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Version. Chronological Companion To The Bible Page i Thomas J. Short For Deb Je t'aime Chronological Companion To The Bible Page ii Thomas J. Short Chart 1: The Ancient Israeli Calendar The ancient Israeli day ran from sunset to sunset, with seven days in each week. The Israeli month, which was tied to the lunar cycle and varied between 29 and 30 days in length, began with the first visible crescent of each new moon. The 1st Month of the Israeli (Exodus-based2) year began in the spring, around the time of the vernal equinox.3 Differences between the solar and lunar cycles, made it necessary to insert a 13th Month4 every few years in order to keep the calendar in sync with the agricultural cycle. Numerical Modern Month Pre-Davidic Post-Babylonian Gezer Calendar5 Designation Approximations Designation Designation Agricultural Cycle 1 (MAR/APR) Abib6 Nisan Flax Hoeing 2 (APR/MAY) Ziw7 Iyyar Barley Harvest 3 (MAY/JUN) Siwan Wheat Harvest/Feasting 4 (JUN/JUL) Tammuz Vine Tending 5 (JUL/AUG) Ab Vine Tending 6 (AUG/SEP) Elul Summer Fruit 7 (SEP/OCT) Ethanim8 Tishri [Olive] Harvest 8 (OCT/NOV) Bul9 Heshwan [Olive] Harvest 9 (NOV/DEC) Kislew Grain Planting 10 (DEC/JAN) Tebeth Grain Planting 11 (JAN/FEB) Shebat Late Planting 12 (FEB/MAR) Adar Late Planting 2 In Exodus 12:1-2, God established a brand new calendar system for Israel, tied to the Exodus event. Prior to this they presumably had followed a fall-based calendar (like so many other cultures of the Middle East) beginning around the time of the autumnal equinox. Both these calendar systems can be seen in use within the Old Testament, requiring some careful consideration by chronologists as to which is being cited in the text. 3 Josephus wrote that the Passover took place while the sun was in Aries – the constellation of the ancient, vernal equinox (Antiquities 3.10.5). Ancient, Israeli authorities probably considered a number of other, more subjective, indicators before declaring the arrival of the 1st Month; in particular the maturity of the barley crop, which had to be ripe enough for the High Priest to offer a sheaf of it as a First Fruits Offering on the first day of the week immediately after the first day of Unleavened Bread on 1*15 (Leviticus 23:9-21). My dating assignments assume that the 1st Month began after (or, on rare occasions, very shortly before) the vernal equinox. 4 Technically this was considered an additional observance of the 12th month. During such leap years (which were easily discerned ahead of time), the annual observance of Purim was shifted to the second incidence of Adar. 5 The Gezer Calendar appears to be a mnemonic poem from the late 10th or early 9th Century BC, probably intended to help young Israelis understand the progression of the agricultural year. Its description starts with events in the 7th Month of the Exodus-based Israeli year, indicating the use of the fall-based calendar system. 6 This word means “tender” or “green,” probably a reference to the maturity of barley. 7 This word means “prominent” or “brightness,” probably a reference to the flowering of plants. 8 This word means “continuing” or “permanent”, probably a reference to the permanent streams that ran even during the dry summer months. 9 This word means “produce” or “rain,” probably a reference to the start of the fall rainy season. Chronological Companion To The Bible Page iii Thomas J. Short Chart 2: Key Dates in Israeli Chronology The following events make up the essential framework of my O.T. dating system. Together, they form an unbroken chronological chain, from the well-established date for the Babylonian destruction of the Temple, backward, to Abram's arrival in Canaan. 5*710 (or 5*10) in the 18th Year of Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon [WED 26/27 (or SAT/SUN 29/30) JUL in 587 BC] (cid:1) Temple destroyed by the Babylonians (2 Kings 25:8-9; Jeremiah 52:12-13) (cid:1) Destruction occurred after 390 years of Israeli iniquity (Ezekiel 4:4-5)11 2*2 in the 4th Year of Solomon of Israel/480th Year of the Exodus [TUE/WED 15/16 APR in 977 BC] (cid:1) Temple foundation laid by Solomon (2 Chronicles 3:1-2) (cid:1) Occurred in the 480th Year of the Exodus (1 Kings 6:1) 1*15 in the 1st Year of the Exodus [THU/FRI 14/15 APR in 1456 BC] (cid:1) Israelis departed from Egypt (Exodus 12:1-13:10) (cid:1) Foundation occurred 430 years after Jacob/Israel migrated to Egypt (Exodus 12:40-41) 1886 BC (cid:1) Jacob/Israel migrated to Egypt at age 130 (Genesis 46:1-27; cf. Exodus 12:40-41) 2016 BC (cid:1) Isaac was 60 years old when Jacob was born (Genesis 25:26) 2076 BC (cid:1) Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born (Genesis 21:5) 2101 BC12 (cid:1) Abram was 75 years old when he departed Haran for Canaan (Genesis 12:4) 10 Rather than use the Pre-Davidic or Post-Babylonian month designations, I have chosen to use a simple Month*Day format for all Israeli dates, with a modern-style date provided in a footnote or parentheses. Because the ancient, Israeli day began at sunset, actually spanning two modern-style days, I have attempted to indicate this fact within my date assignments. (FYI: These modern-style dates have been assigned with the assistance of a long chain of ever-improving astronomical simulator software programs.) 11 It is my conviction that the 390 years of Israel’s iniquity, signified by the actions of Ezekiel, should be equated with the period of Solomon’s Temple, during which time the Israelis themselves often defiled it. [On a related note, the 40 years of Judah’s iniquity, also acted out by Ezekiel (4:6), should be equated with Jeremiah’s ministry to Judah, during which time he often predicted the Temple’s impending destruction.] 12 Event dating prior to Abram’s entrance into Canaan is greatly impacted by numerical differences between the ancient Greek Septuagint text (a translation originally made by Jews around 285 BC) and the very much younger Hebrew Masoretic text (dating from about AD 1100). I have provided charts for each, but definitely prefer the Septuagint dating myself. Chronological Companion To The Bible Page iv Thomas J. Short Chart 3: Pre-Abrahamic Dating (Alexandrian Septuagint) Event Year From Creation Year BC Creation of Adam and Eve 0 5570 Birth of Seth 230 5340 Birth of Enosh 435 5135 Birth of Kenan 625 4945 Birth of Mahalalel 795 4775 Death of Adam 930 4640 Birth of Jared 960 4610 Birth of Enoch 1122 4448 Death of Seth 1142 4428 Birth of Methuselah 1287 4283 Death of Enosh 1340 4230 Birth of Lamech 1474 4096 Enoch Taken by God 1487 4083 Death of Kenan 1535 4035 Birth of Noah 1662 3908 Death of Mahalalel 1690 3880 Death of Jared 1922 3648 Birth of Shem 2164 3406 Death of Lamech 2227 3343 Death of Methuselah 2256 3314 THE FLOOD 2262 3308 Birth of Arphaxad 2264 3306 Birth of Cainan (Generation of Nimrod, Founder of Babel) 2399 3171 Birth of Shelah 2529 3041 Death of Noah 2612 2958 Birth of Eber 2659 2911 Death of Shem 2764 2806 PROBABLE PLACEMENT OF THE TOWER OF BABEL (cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:2) (cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:2) Birth of Peleg 2793 2777 Death of Arphaxad 2829 2741 Death of Cainan 2859 2711 Birth of Reu 2923 2647 Death of Shelah 2989 2581 Birth of Serug 3055 2515 Death of Peleg 3132 2438 Death of Eber 3163 2407 Birth of Nahor 3185 2385 Death of Reu 3262 2308 Birth of Terah 3264 2306 Death of Serug 3385 2185 Death of Nahor 3393 2177 Birth of Abram 3394 2176 Death of Terah/Abram Enters Canaan 3469 2101 Chronological Companion To The Bible Page v Thomas J. Short Chart 4: Pre-Abrahamic Dating (Masoretic Text) Event Year From Creation Year BC Creation of Adam 0 4185 Birth of Seth 130 4054 Birth of Enosh 235 3949 Birth of Kenan 325 3859 Birth of Mahalalel 395 3789 Birth of Jared 460 3725 Birth of Enoch 622 3562 Birth of Methuselah 687 3497 Birth of Lamech 874 3310 Death of Adam 930 3254 Enoch Taken by God 987 3197 Death of Seth 1042 3142 Birth of Noah 1056 3128 Death of Enosh 1140 3044 Death of Kenan 1235 2949 Death of Mahalalel 1290 2894 Death of Jared 1422 2762 Birth of Shem 1558 2626 Death of Lamech 1651 2533 Death of Methuselah/THE FLOOD 1656 2528 Birth of Arphaxad 1658 2526 Birth of Shelah (Generation of Nimrod, Founder of Babel) 1693 2491 Birth of Eber 1723 2461 PROBABLE PLACEMENT OF THE TOWER OF BABEL (cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:2) (cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:2) Birth of Peleg 1757 2427 Death of Noah 2006 2178 Birth of Reu 1787 2397 Birth of Serug 1819 2365 Birth of Nahor 1849 2335 Birth of Terah 1878 2306 Death of Peleg 1996 2188 Death of Nahor 1997 2187 Birth of Abram 2008 2176 Death of Reu 2026 2158 Death of Serug 2049 2135 Death of Terah/ Abram Enters Canaan 2083 2101 Death of Arphaxad 2096 2088 Death of Shelah 2126 2058 Death of Shem 2158 2026 Death of Eber 2187 1997 Chronological Companion To The Bible Page vi Thomas J. Short GENESIS was the first of five books written by the prophet Moses during the wilderness experience of Israel. It begins with Creation and ends with Joseph’s death in Egypt. It was probably intended as a means of reconnecting the Israelis with their heritage in the “Promised Land,” as well as correcting the many historical and spiritual errors that had crept into their culture during their four-century stay in Egypt. Days One through Five of the Creation Week13 – The Beginning of God’s Creation (cid:1)Genesis 1:1-23 (cf. John 1:1-3; Job 38:4-714) Day Six of the Creation Week The Creation of Land Animals (cid:1)Genesis 1:24-25 God’s Intention to Create Man and Woman (cid:1)Genesis 1:26 The Creation of Man and the Establishment of the Garden of Eden (cid:1)Genesis 2:4-1715 (cf. Genesis 1:27a) (cid:1)Ezekiel 28:12b-15a16 The Creation of Woman and God's Blessing on Man and Woman (cid:1)Genesis 2:18-31 (cf. Genesis 1:27b) Day Seven of the Creation Week – God’s Designation of a Weekly Sabbath17 (cid:1)Genesis 2:1-3 Between the Establishment of the Garden of Eden and the Birth of Cain The Plot of Heylel18 (cid:1)Isaiah 14:12-1419 The First Sin and the Resultant Curse (cid:1)Genesis 3:1-24 The Angelic Coup Led by “the Dragon” (cid:1)Revelation 12:3-4a20 (cid:1)Ezekiel 28:15b-17a 13 The Hebrew word for "day" (yōm), when used with an accompanying numerical indicator, always indicates a normal night/day cycle; therefore, there is every indication that the Creation Week was a literal week. 14 The “stars” and “sons of God” in this poetic passage are the spirit beings more commonly known as angels. 15 Genesis 2:4-25 is simply a more detailed account of God’s creation of Man and Woman than that in Genesis 1:26-31. 16 While specifically addressing the King of Tyre, this text is actually directed against the angelic power behind that throne – the Kerub of Eden who later became known as Satan - Hebrew for “adversary’). 17 From the Hebrew verb meaning “to rest.” 18 Hebrew: Heylel = Latin: Lucifer = "day star" (i.e., the planet Venus), the brightest star in the sky and apparently the given name of the Kerub of Eden, later known as Satan. 19 While specifically addressing the King of Babylon, this text was actually directed against Satan who had wanted to occupy a throne “above the stars (angels) of God,” and thus to be “like the Most High.” 20 “The Dragon” (Satan) swept down “a third” (a significant minority) of the “stars” (angels) at some point after the creation of Mankind. This angelic coup cannot predate Adam and Eve since Heylel (Satan) was the Kerub of Eden “until unrighteousness was found in” him (Ezekiel 28:15b). Chronological Companion To The Bible Page 1 Thomas J. Short Between the Birth of Cain and the Flood The Story of Cain and Abel (cid:1)Genesis 4:1-16 The Pre-Flood Generations of Humanity The First Six (cid:1) (Via Cain) Genesis 4:17-18 (cid:1) (Via Seth) Genesis 5:1-20 (cf. Genesis 4:25-26) The Unrighteous Life of Lamech, the 7th Generation (via Cain) (cid:1)Genesis 4:19-24 The Righteous Life of Enoch, the 7th Generation (via Seth) (cid:1)Genesis 5:21-22 (cid:1)Jude 14-15 (cid:1)Genesis 5:23-24 The Final Pre-Flood Generations (via Seth) (cid:1)Genesis 5:25-32 God Punishes the Angels Who Sinned21 (cid:1)Genesis 6:1-4 (cid:1)Jude 6 (cf. 2 Peter 2:4) God’s Decision to Flood the World (cid:1)Genesis 6:5-22 Noah’s 600th Year/Year of the Flood22 - God’s Destruction of the Pre-Flood World (cid:1)Genesis 7:1-8:12 Noah’s 601st Year/Year after the Flood - God’s Covenant with the Post-Flood World (cid:1)Genesis 8:13-9:17 Shortly after the Flood - Noah’s Prophesy Regarding the Canaanite Ethic Group (cid:1)Genesis 9:18-27 (cf. Genesis 10:15-20) 21 It was the unanimous belief of antiquity that the “sons of God” who married the “daughters of men” were fallen angels who chose to take human form. Both Peter and Jude seem to reference this event with that understanding in mind. It should be noted that, while the angels who remained loyal to God sometimes took human form after this event (always male), there are no Scriptural records of rebel angels ever doing so. Instead, they are described as “evil” or “unclean” spirit beings which interact with humanity by means of various occult practices, including demonic possession. These facts, when compared to Jesus’ comments in Matthew 22:30, seems to indicate some divine prohibition, put into place around the time of the Flood, which prevented fallen angels from ever taking human form again. 22 It intrigues me that the dates included within the Flood account indicate a calendar year of exactly 360 days. This renders a perfect, seven-year, repeating calendar consisting of 30-day (lunar) months set within 12-month (solar) years. It seems likely that the catastrophic nature of the Flood resulted in a less-than-perfect lunar month of about 29.5 days and a less-than-perfect solar year of roughly 365.25 days. The seven-year Sabbatical Cycle of Israel is probably all that remains as testimony to this perfect, pre-Flood, seven-year cycle. Chronological Companion To The Bible Page 2 Thomas J. Short