When did the events in the Bible take place? This reading guide gives a historical and chronological perspective to your daily Bible reading.

Prehistory

  • Creation Genesis 1.1—2.25
  • Adam and Eve in the Garden and the First Sin Genesis 3.1-24
  • Cain and Abel and the Murder Genesis 4.1-16
  • Noah and the Flood Genesis 6—9
  • The Tower of Babel Genesis 11.1-9

1900 B.C.

  • The Call of Abraham (Abram) Genesis 12.1-9
  • Abram and Lot Separate Genesis 13.1-18
  • Hagar and the Birth of Ishmael Genesis 16.1-16
  • Abraham and Sarah and the Birth of Isaac Genesis 18.1-15; 21.1-8
  • Isaac and Rebekah and the Birth of Esau and Jacob Genesis 24; 25.19-26
  • Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel Genesis 29.15-30
  • The Birth of Jacob’s Children Genesis 29.31—30.24; 35.16-26

1800 B.C.

  • Joseph and His Brothers Genesis 37
  • Joseph in Egypt Genesis 39—50

1700 –1290 B.C.

  • The Israelites are Enslaved in Egypt Exodus 1

1290 –1250 B.C.

  • The Birth of Moses and Moses’ Call from God Exodus 2.1—4.23
  • Celebration of the Passover Exodus 12
  • Moses Leads the Israelites Out of Egypt Exodus 13.17—15.21
  • The Israelites Wander in the Desert Exodus 15.22—16.36
  • Moses Receives the Law on Mount Sinai (The Ten Commandments) Exodus 19.1—20.17
  • Joshua Leads the People into Canaan Joshua 1—12

1200 –1050 B.C. 

  • The LORD Chooses Leaders (Judges) for Israel Judges 2
  • Deborah and Barak Judges 4—5
  • Gideon Judges 6.11—8.35
  • Samson Judges 14—16
  • Ruth and Naomi Ruth 1—4
  • Samuel, Israel’s First Prophet 1 Samuel 1.1—4.1; 7.3-17

1030 –1010 B.C.

  • Saul, Israel’s First King 1 Samuel 9.1—11.15

1010 – 970 B.C.

  • David Becomes King of Judah Samuel 2.1-11
  • David Becomes King of Israel 2 2 Samuel 5—7

970 – 931 B.C.

  • Solomon Succeeds David as King 1 Kings 1.28—2.12

931 – 910 B.C.

  • The Two Israelite Kingdoms and the Reign of Jeroboam and Rehoboam 1 Kings 11.26—14.31

874 – 853 B.C.

  • The Reign of King Ahab; Elijah the Prophet Kills the Prophets of Baal 1 Kings 18

722 B.C.

  • The Fall of Samaria and the Northern Kingdom 2 Kings 17.5-23; Hosea; Amos

586 B.C.

  • The Fall of Jerusalem and the Southern Kingdom 2 Kings 24.1—25.21; Isaiah 1—39; Micah; Habakkuk; Zephaniah

586 – 538 B.C.

  • Judah in Exile Psalm 137; Isaiah 40—55; Jeremiah 21—33; Ezekiel 33—39

539 – 333 B.C.

  • Persian Rule

538 B.C.

  • Cyrus of Persia Allows the Jews to Return Home and to Rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem Ezra 1.1-4; 3.7-13; Isaiah 45, 56—66; Haggai

445 – 443 B.C.

  • The Walls of Jerusalem are Rebuilt Nehemiah 2.11—3.32

550 – 400 B.C.

  • Books of the Pentateuch written

333 – 166 B.C.

  • The Hellenistic Period 1 Maccabees 1.1-9
  • Alexander the Great  (333-323 B.C.) 3 Maccabees
  • The Ptolemies, descendants of one of Alexander’s generals, rule over Egypt and Palestine (323-198 B.C.). The Jews in Egypt suffer under the rule King Ptolemy IV Philopater (221-203 B.C.) 4 Maccabees 3.20—4.26
  • The Seleucids, descendants of one of Alexander’s generals, rule over Syria and Palestine (198-166 B.C.)

300 – 200 B.C.

  • Books of the Prophets written

200 – 100 B.C.

  • The Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Old Testament, completed

166 – 63 B.C.

The Maccabean Period: Judas Maccabeus Leads a Revolt 1 Maccabees 3.1—5.68

63 B.C. – A.D. 637

  • The Roman Period: The Roman general Pompey takes Jerusalem (63 B.C.), and Palestine is ruled by puppet kings appointed by Rome. One of these is Herod the Great who rules from 37 B.C.– 4 B.C.

4 B.C.

  • The Birth of John the Baptist Luke 1.57-80
  • The Birth and Childhood of Jesus Matthew 1.18-25; Luke 2.1-52
  • Herod the Great Seeks to Kill Jesus Matthew 2.1-15
  • The Preaching of John the Baptist Matthew 3.1-12
  • The Baptism of Jesus and Jesus’ Temptation by Satan Matthew 3.13—4.11
  • Jesus Begins His Ministry Matthew 4.12-25
  • Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount Matthew 5—7

A.D. 32

  • The Lord’s Supper Luke 22.7-23
  • The Trial, Death, and John 18.1—20.31
  • Resurrection of Jesus
  • The Ascension of Jesus into Heaven Acts 1.6-11
  • The Coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Acts 2.1-13
  • Peter’s Sermon and the Ministry of Jesus’ Followers Acts 2.14-47
  • Stephen is Martyred Acts 6.8—8.2
  • Philip Baptizes an Ethiopian Official Acts 8.26-40

A.D. 37

  • The Conversion of Paul on the Road to Damascus Acts 9.1-19

A.D. 41 – A.D. 65

  • The Ministry of Paul and His Final Imprisonment Acts 13—28

A.D. 50 – 60

  • Paul’s Letters written

A.D. 70

  • Jerusalem is Destroyed by the Romans Mark 13.1,2 (predicted by Jesus)

A.D. 70 – 100

  • Gospels written

A.D. 81 – A.D. 91

  • The Roman emperor Domitian tried to make Christians worship the emperor as a god.
  • John of Patmos Writes to Seven Churches in Asia Minor Revelation 1.1—3.22
  • The New Creation Revelation 21.1—22.5
  • Jesus Will Come Again Revelation 22.6-21

A.D. 100

  • Canon of the Old Testament finalized