12th dyn (1991-1786 B.C.) painting from tomb of Khnumhotep depicts Asiatics in Egypt

 

The historical narrative of the Hebrew Bible uses relative dates but provides point of contact with surrounding peoples. This makes it possible to correlate the flow of biblical history with the history of the broader Near East and its literature. It also enables the modern reader to fix "absolute" (±) Gregorian dates .

 

 

Biblical Chronology

Datable Event Supporting Data Primary Source Gregorian Date
Abraham born 75 years prior to leaving Haran Genesis 12:4 2166 B.C.
Arrives at Shechem in Canaan

Abraham is 75 yrs old

 Genesis 12:4-6

2091 B.C.

Ishmael born Abraham is 86 yrs old Genesis 16:3 2080 B.C.
Isaac born Abraham is 100 yrs old Genesis 21:5 2066 B.C.
Isaac weds Rebekah Abraham is 140 yrs old Genesis 25:20 2026 B.C.
Jacob born Isaac is 60 yrs old Genesis 25:26 2006 B.C.
Isaac dies Isaac is 180 yrs old Genesis 35:28-29 1886 B.C.
Jacob migrates to Egypt Jacob is 130 yrs old Genesis 47:9 1876 B.C.
Jacob dies Jacob is 147 yrs old Genesis 47:28-29 1859 B.C.
Egyptian sojourn

430 years

Joseph dies at 110 yrs

Exodus 12:40

Gen. 50:22, 26; Exodus 1:7

1886-1446 B.C.
Exodus 430 yrs after Jacob emmigrates = 480 years prior to temple

Exodus 12:40; 19:1-20:17

1 Kings 6:1

1446 B.C.

(late date theory: 1290)
Wilderness period 40 years

Exodus 16:35; Num. 14:34; 32:13; Deut. 2:7; 8:2; Josh 5:6; et al.

1446-1406 B.C.
Conquest begins End of 40-yr wanderings Deut. 1:2-3; Josh. 5:6; Judg. 11:26 1406 B.C.
Samuel   Genesis 50:26 1805 B.C.
Saul   1 Samuel 13:1 (text issue) 1050?(1042?)-1010 B.C.
David 7 yrs over Judah at Hebron +33 yrs over all Israel at Jerusalem  2 Samuel 2:11; 5:4-5; 1 Kings 2:11; 2 Chronicles 3:4; 29:27 1010-970 B.C.
Solomon

Builds Temple (966)

Shishak ends friendly relations

1 Kings 6:1; 11:42; 2 Chronicles 9:30

1 Kings 11:14-25, 40

970-931 B.C.
Rehoboam Civil unrest; Kingdom Splits 1 Kings 12:16-20 931-913 B.C.
Battle of Qarqar; Ahab dies

Eponym yr. of Daian-Assur

Shalmaneser III (859-824)vs. Ahab, et al.

Monolith inscription, ANET 278c-9a 853 B.C.
Jehu's coronation; Jehu pays tribute to Shalmaneser Shalmaneser's 18th yr Annals, ANET 280b-c 841 B.C.
Key datable event: solar eclipse Eclipse: eponym yr. of Bur-Sagale Assyrian Eponym List 15 June 763 B.C.
Tiglath-pileser III (744-727) vs. Menahem 2 Kings 15:19
Tiglath-pileser III vs. Pekah 2 Kings 15: 29; 2 Chron. 5:26; ANET 283a


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