# The biblical timeline The chronology printed in old King James Bibles - Archbishop Ussher's dating from Creation in 4004 BC through the patriarchs, the Exodus, the kingdoms, the exile, and the New Testament. *This story part of: Religion and ideology* *Babylon and its long shadow parallel this story* ## c. 4004 BCE — The Creation Ussher's chronology dates the creation of the world to 4004 BC, beginning on the evening before 23 October. This date stood in the margins of King James Bibles for two centuries. ## c. 4004 BCE — The Fall of Adam and Eve In the traditional chronology Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit and are expelled from Eden in the year of creation, 4004 BC. Ussher placed the Fall only days after the creation itself. ## c. 3874 BCE — Birth of Seth Seth, third son of Adam, is born in 3874 BC in Ussher's reckoning, when Adam was 130 years old. Through Seth the tradition traces the line of patriarchs down to Noah. ## c. 3017 BCE — Translation of Enoch In Ussher's chronology Enoch is taken up by God in 3017 BC at the age of 365, without dying. Genesis records that he walked with God and was not, for God took him. ## c. 2948 BCE — Birth of Noah Noah is born in 2948 BC in the traditional chronology, 600 years before the Flood. He is the last of the ten patriarchs listed from Adam before the deluge. ## c. 2348 BCE — Death of Methuselah Methuselah, the longest-lived patriarch at 969 years, dies in 2348 BC in Ussher's reckoning, the same year the Flood begins. The genealogy of Genesis 5 places his death in the flood year. ## c. 2348 BCE — The Flood In Ussher's chronology the flood of Noah begins in 2348 BC and the ark comes to rest on the mountains of Ararat. The tradition records that Noah, his family, and the animals aboard the ark survive. ## c. 2247 BCE — Tower of Babel The traditional chronology places the building of the tower of Babel and the confusion of tongues about 2247 BC, in the plain of Shinar. Genesis presents this as the origin of the world's languages and the scattering of the nations. ## c. 1996 BCE — Birth of Abraham Abraham is born in 1996 BC in Ussher's chronology, in Ur of the Chaldees in Mesopotamia. He becomes the ancestral figure of the covenant line in the biblical account. ## c. 1921 BCE — The Call of Abraham In Ussher's chronology Abraham leaves Haran for Canaan in 1921 BC at God's call, at the age of 75. Ussher counted 430 years from this call to the Exodus. ## c. 1897 BCE — Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah The traditional chronology places the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in 1897 BC. Genesis records that Lot escapes the cities before fire falls on the plain. ## c. 1896 BCE — Birth of Isaac Isaac, the promised son of Abraham and Sarah, is born in 1896 BC in Ussher's reckoning, when Abraham was 100 years old. ## c. 1872 BCE — The Offering of Isaac The tradition places Abraham's testing on Mount Moriah about 1872 BC, when he is commanded to offer Isaac and a ram is provided in his place. Later tradition identified Moriah with the temple mount in Jerusalem. ## c. 1836 BCE — Birth of Jacob and Esau The twins Jacob and Esau are born to Isaac and Rebekah in 1836 BC in Ussher's chronology. Jacob, later renamed Israel, becomes the father of the twelve tribes in the biblical account. ## c. 1760 BCE — Jacob's Dream at Bethel In the traditional chronology Jacob flees to Haran about 1760 BC and dreams at Bethel of a ladder reaching to heaven. There the covenant promises are renewed to him. ## c. 1745 BCE — Birth of Joseph Joseph, the eleventh son of Jacob, is born in 1745 BC in Ussher's reckoning, while Jacob served Laban in Padan-aram. ## c. 1729 BCE — Joseph Sold into Egypt In the traditional chronology Joseph's brothers sell him to traders at Dothan about 1729 BC, at the age of 17. He is carried down to Egypt and sold as a servant. ## c. 1715 BCE — Joseph Governor of Egypt Ussher's chronology places Joseph's rise to power in Egypt in 1715 BC, after he interprets Pharaoh's dreams of seven years of plenty and seven of famine. He is set over the storehouses of the land. ## c. 1706 BCE — Jacob's Descent into Egypt In Ussher's chronology Jacob and his household, seventy persons, go down into Egypt in 1706 BC during the famine. The Israelites remain in Egypt until the Exodus in the biblical account. ## c. 1689 BCE — Death of Jacob Jacob dies in Egypt in 1689 BC in the traditional chronology, at the age of 147, after blessing his twelve sons. His body is carried back to Canaan for burial at Machpelah. ## c. 1635 BCE — Death of Joseph Joseph dies in Egypt in 1635 BC in Ussher's reckoning, at the age of 110. Genesis closes with his request that his bones be carried up out of Egypt. ## c. 1571 BCE — Birth of Moses Moses is born in Egypt in 1571 BC in Ussher's chronology, during the oppression of the Israelites. The tradition records that he is hidden in an ark of bulrushes and raised in Pharaoh's household. ## c. 1491 BCE — The Exodus In Ussher's chronology the Israelites leave Egypt in 1491 BC after the ten plagues, crossing the Red Sea under Moses. This date stood in KJV margins as the traditional year of the Exodus. ## c. 1491 BCE — The Law Given at Sinai In the traditional chronology Moses receives the Ten Commandments and the Law at Mount Sinai in 1491 BC, in the third month after leaving Egypt. The covenant between God and Israel is sealed there in the biblical account. ## c. 1490 BCE — The Spies and the Forty Years In the traditional chronology twelve spies are sent into Canaan from Kadesh-barnea in 1490 BC. After their evil report Israel is sentenced to wander forty years in the wilderness. ## c. 1490 BCE — The Tabernacle Erected The tabernacle, the portable sanctuary described in Exodus, is set up at Sinai in 1490 BC in Ussher's reckoning, one year after the departure from Egypt. ## c. 1451 BCE — Death of Moses Moses dies in the land of Moab in 1451 BC in Ussher's chronology, at the age of 120, after viewing Canaan from Mount Nebo. Joshua succeeds him as leader of Israel. ## c. 1451 BCE — Israel Enters Canaan In Ussher's chronology Israel crosses the Jordan under Joshua in 1451 BC and the walls of Jericho fall. The conquest of Canaan begins in the biblical account. ## c. 1426 BCE — Death of Joshua Joshua dies about 1426 BC in the traditional chronology, at the age of 110, after dividing the land among the tribes. His death closes the conquest era in the biblical narrative. ## c. 1425 BCE — The Era of the Judges Begins After Joshua's generation the traditional chronology opens the era of the judges about 1425 BC. For roughly three centuries Israel is led by a series of deliverers rather than kings in the biblical account. ## c. 1285 BCE — Deborah and Barak Defeat Sisera In the traditional chronology the prophetess Deborah and Barak defeat the Canaanite commander Sisera about 1285 BC, near Mount Tabor. The Song of Deborah in Judges 5 celebrates the victory. ## c. 1245 BCE — Gideon Defeats Midian The tradition places Gideon's victory over the Midianites about 1245 BC, won with a band of only three hundred men. Judges records that the land then had rest for forty years. ## c. 1141 BCE — Samuel Judges Israel About 1141 BC in the traditional chronology the ark is captured by the Philistines, Eli dies, and Samuel emerges as prophet and judge over Israel. Samuel later anoints Israel's first two kings in the biblical account. ## c. 1120 BCE — Samson Judges Israel The traditional chronology places Samson's exploits against the Philistines about 1120 BC. Judges records his feats of strength and his death in the temple of Dagon. ## c. 1095 BCE — Saul Anointed First King In Ussher's chronology Saul is anointed the first king of Israel in 1095 BC, ending the era of the judges. Samuel anoints him at the people's demand for a king. ## c. 1055 BCE — David Becomes King In Ussher's chronology David becomes king in 1055 BC, reigning first at Hebron over Judah. He reigns forty years in the biblical account and Israel's psalm tradition is attached to his name. ## c. 1048 BCE — David Takes Jerusalem The traditional chronology places David's capture of Jerusalem from the Jebusites in 1048 BC. The city becomes his capital and the ark is later brought there. ## c. 1015 BCE — Solomon Becomes King Solomon succeeds David as king in 1015 BC in Ussher's chronology. His reign is remembered in the tradition for wisdom, wealth, and the building of the Temple. ## c. 1012 BCE — Foundation of Solomon's Temple In Ussher's chronology the foundation of the Temple is laid in Jerusalem in 1012 BC, in the fourth year of Solomon. Ussher counted this as 480 years after the Exodus, following 1 Kings 6. ## c. 1004 BCE — Dedication of the Temple The finished Temple is dedicated by Solomon about 1004 BC in the traditional chronology, and the ark of the covenant is placed in the holy of holies. ## c. 975 BCE — Division of the Kingdom In Ussher's chronology the kingdom divides in 975 BC after Solomon's death, when the northern tribes reject Rehoboam at Shechem. Israel in the north follows Jeroboam while Judah in the south keeps the house of David. ## c. 906 BCE — Elijah on Mount Carmel The traditional chronology places Elijah's contest with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel about 906 BC, at the end of a long drought in the reign of Ahab. ## c. 721 BCE — Fall of Samaria In Ussher's chronology Samaria falls to Assyria in 721 BC and the northern kingdom of Israel ends. The ten tribes are carried into captivity in the biblical account. ## c. 710 BCE — Sennacherib's Invasion of Judah The traditional chronology places Sennacherib's invasion of Judah in the reign of Hezekiah about 710 BC. The biblical account records that Jerusalem is spared when the Assyrian army is struck down. ## c. 624 BCE — Josiah's Reformation In the traditional chronology the book of the law is found in the Temple about 624 BC, in the reign of Josiah. The young king leads a sweeping religious reform in Judah. ## c. 606 BCE — First Captivity and Daniel in Babylon In the traditional chronology Nebuchadnezzar first subdues Jerusalem in 606 BC and Daniel is among the captives taken to Babylon. From this point the tradition counts the seventy years of captivity. ## c. 588 BCE — Fall of Jerusalem and Destruction of the Temple In Ussher's chronology Jerusalem falls to Nebuchadnezzar and Solomon's Temple is burned in 588 BC, and Judah is carried into exile in Babylon. Modern reckonings place the destruction in 587 or 586 BC. ## c. 538 BCE — Fall of Babylon In the traditional chronology Babylon falls to the Medes and Persians in 538 BC, the night of Belshazzar's feast in the book of Daniel. Persian rule opens the way for the exiles' return. ## c. 536 BCE — The Return under Cyrus In Ussher's chronology Cyrus decrees the return of the Jewish exiles in 536 BC, ending the seventy years of captivity. Under Zerubbabel the first company returns to Jerusalem and begins rebuilding the altar. ## c. 515 BCE — The Second Temple Completed The rebuilt Temple is finished about 515 BC in the traditional chronology, in the sixth year of Darius, urged on by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah. ## c. 478 BCE — Esther Becomes Queen The traditional chronology places Esther's rise as queen of Persia about 478 BC, at the court of Shushan. The book of Esther records the deliverance of the Jews from Haman's plot, remembered at Purim. ## c. 457 BCE — Ezra Goes to Jerusalem In the traditional chronology Ezra the scribe leads a second return to Jerusalem in 457 BC, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes, to restore the law and order the community. ## c. 445 BCE — Nehemiah Rebuilds the Walls In the traditional chronology Nehemiah comes to Jerusalem in 445 BC, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes, and rebuilds the city walls in fifty-two days despite opposition. ## c. 397 BCE — Malachi and the Close of the Old Testament The traditional chronology places Malachi, the last of the Old Testament prophets, about 397 BC. With him the Old Testament canon closes and the tradition counts four centuries of prophetic silence. ## 332 BCE — Judea Passes to the Greeks Alexander the Great conquers the Persian empire in 332 BC and Judea passes under Greek rule. Later tradition, following Josephus, told of Alexander being shown the prophecies of Daniel at Jerusalem. ## c. 277 BCE — The Septuagint Begun According to tradition the Hebrew scriptures begin to be translated into Greek at Alexandria about 277 BC, under Ptolemy Philadelphus. This Septuagint became the Bible of Greek-speaking Jews and later of the early church. ## 168 BCE — Antiochus Desecrates the Temple In 168 BC by the traditional reckoning Antiochus Epiphanes profanes the Temple in Jerusalem, setting up a pagan altar and forbidding Jewish worship. The books of Maccabees call this the abomination of desolation. ## 165 BCE — The Maccabean Revolt and Rededication Judas Maccabeus and his brothers drive out the Seleucid forces and rededicate the Temple in 165 BC by the traditional reckoning. The feast of dedication, Hanukkah, commemorates the event. ## 63 BCE — Pompey Takes Jerusalem The Roman general Pompey captures Jerusalem in 63 BC and Judea comes under Roman power. This sets the political stage of the New Testament era. ## c. 19 BCE — Herod Rebuilds the Temple Herod the Great begins a grand rebuilding of the Temple about 19 BC. This enlarged Second Temple is the one known in the Gospels. ## c. 4 BCE — The Nativity Ussher dated the birth of Jesus to 4 BC, in Bethlehem of Judea, shortly before the death of Herod the Great. Ussher reckoned this as exactly 4000 years after the creation. ## c. 27 — Baptism of Jesus and Start of the Ministry By the traditional reckoning Jesus is baptized by John in the Jordan about AD 27, in the fifteenth year of Tiberius, and begins his public ministry in Galilee. ## c. 33 — Pentecost Fifty days after the resurrection, in the traditional reckoning of AD 33, the Holy Spirit descends on the disciples at Jerusalem. Acts presents this as the founding moment of the Christian church. ## c. 33 — The Crucifixion and Resurrection The traditional dating places the crucifixion of Jesus at Jerusalem in AD 33, with AD 30 the main alternative, followed by the resurrection on the third day in the Gospel accounts. Ussher himself held to AD 33. ## c. 35 — Conversion of Paul About AD 35 in the traditional reckoning Saul of Tarsus is converted on the road to Damascus. As the apostle Paul he becomes the leading missionary of the early church. ## c. 45 to c. 58 — Paul's Missionary Journeys Between about AD 45 and 58 Paul makes three missionary journeys from Antioch through Asia Minor and Greece, founding churches and writing many of the New Testament letters. ## c. 50 — The Council of Jerusalem About AD 50 the apostles and elders meet at Jerusalem to decide whether Gentile converts must keep the law of Moses. Acts 15 records their decision that they need not be circumcised. ## c. 60 to c. 62 — Paul Imprisoned in Rome About AD 60 to 62 Paul is held under guard in Rome awaiting trial before Caesar, where Acts leaves him preaching freely. Several of his letters are traditionally assigned to this imprisonment. ## c. 67 — Martyrdom of Peter and Paul Church tradition places the deaths of the apostles Peter and Paul at Rome about AD 67, under the persecution of Nero. ## 70 — Fall of Jerusalem In AD 70 the Roman army under Titus destroys Jerusalem and burns the Second Temple. Christian tradition read the event as the fulfillment of Jesus's prophecy in the Gospels. ## c. 96 — Revelation on Patmos Tradition places the visions of the book of Revelation about AD 96, received by John in exile on the island of Patmos in the reign of Domitian. With it the New Testament canon closes.