jewish history overview

primeval history | patriarchal period | exodus & conquest | era of the judges | united monarchy | divided monarchy
judah alone | babylonian exile | postexilic period | hellenistic era | maccabean era | roman era

Stages of Jewish/ Biblical History

For complete chronology of Biblical history, click here.

I. 3000-2000 BC ("Before Christ") or BCE ("Before the Common Era")

• The Primeval History. Semitic civilizations begin to develop in Mesopotamia (the land "between the rivers") and in the regions of Syria and Palestine.

  • Gen1-11

II. 1900-1300 BC

• The Patriarchal Period. Semitic cultures are essentially semi-nomadic, moving with the seasons and settling (if at all) only in small villages.

  • Gen 12-50

  • Abraham is told by God to move from "Ur of the Chaldeans" to Canaan, and to dwell in the land (but not to possess it).

  • Towards the end of this period, tribes descended from Abraham migrated to Egypt, probably to survive a famine.

  • Abraham is idealized for his faith in Yahweh.

III. 1300-1250 BC

• The Exodus and Conquest. The "Hebrews" flee from Egypt to escape persecution by a pharaoh, most likely Ramesses II. The land of Canaan is conquered and settled by twelve tribes, who together form nation of "Israel."

  • Exodus, Numbers, Joshua

  • Moses accepts law from and forms a covenant with Yahweh, the "God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob" at Sinai. The Israelites are chosen by God as the people through whom the world will be redeemed.

  • Joshua succeeds Moses and leads Hebrews into Canaan, fulfilling Yahweh's promises.

    • Passover feast is instituted.

    • Moses is idealized as prophetic archetype, Joshua as deliverer and military leader.

IV. 1250-1020 BC

• The Era of the Judges. Israel exists as a tribal alliance, with charismatic military leaders called "judges" rising to unite the tribes when there is conflict.

  • Judges & 1 Samuel

  • Tribal alliance is seen as desired by God because it allows no man to be king over Israel (only God can be king), but it is unsuccessful because the lack of centralized leadership leaves the tribes vulnerable to external threats or internal division.

  • Samuel is the last of the judges, and chooses the first two kings of Israel.

V. 1020-930 BC

• The United Monarchy. Unification of the tribes under the kingships of Saul, David, and Solomon is the high point of Israel as a nation.

  • 2 Samuel- 1 Kings 1-12

  • Idealized as Israel's greatest king and as Yahweh's "anointed" (messiah), David unites the tribes and expands Israel's borders to their greatest extent.

    • Conquers Jeru-Salem and makes it the capital of Israel, moving the Ark of the covenant, the nation's most sacred relic, there.

    • Forms a new covenant with Yahweh, in which his kingdom is to last forever, and his "son" is to build a "house" for God.

    • His son Solomon builds a temple for Yahweh in Jerusalem.

VI. 930-722 BC

• The Divided Monarchy. During the reign of Solomon's son Rehoboam, the kingdom divides. The two kingdoms war with one another as well as with neighboring countries, and each develops differing versions of Jewish history, both of which are included in the Old Testament. This period ends in 722 BC when North falls to the Assyrian empire.

  • 1 Kings 13- 2 Kings 17

  • The Northern kingdom, called Israel (also Ephraim), ruled by Jeroboam- not a Davidic king.

    • Composed of the ten northernmost tribes.

    • Larger and stronger, but poorer, than south.

    • Capital at Samaria.

     

  • The Southern kingdom, called Judah, ruled by Rehoboam.

    • Composed of tribes of Judah and Benjamin.

    • Richer but smaller.

    • Capital at Jerusalem.

VII. 722-586

• Judah alone survives. Many citizens of the North are forced to move by the Assyrians, who resettle the territory with various peoples from throughout the empire.

  • 2 Kings 18-25

  • Although never entirely conquered by Assyria, Judah spends much of this time as an Assyrian vassal state, paying heavily to remain independent.

  • King Josiah's reform of Judah (640-609) takes place during this period- probably when Deuteronomy was written.

  • When Assyria is conquered by the Babylonian empire, Judah resists conquests.

    • Under king Nebuchadnezzar, Judah is destroyed and the population exiled during two invasions:

      • 598 BC

      • 587 BC- The city of Jerusalem and the temple are destroyed.

VIII. 585-539 BC

• The Babylonian Exile. The Jewish aristocracy is scattered throughout the Babylonian empire, leaving a "remnant" of poor behind.

  • Ends in 539 BC when the Babylonian empire is conquered by the Persian empire under Cyrus the Great, who allows the Jews to return home and gives them support to rebuild the temple.

IX.539-332

• The Post-Exilic Period. Judah becomes a theocracy, ruled by an elite priesthood and still under Persian control.

  • Ezra, Nehemiah

  • The city of Jerusalem and the temple are rebuilt, beginning the era of "Second Temple Judaism" (539 BC- 70 AD).

  • Ezra and Nehemiah are prominent among the priests who reshape Israel's religious life.

X. 332-167 BC

• The Hellenistic Era (inaccurately- Hellenism influenced Judaism well beyond this era). Alexander the Great conquers Persia and much of the Ancient Near East, including Israel. Shortly after his death, his empire is divided amongst his generals. Those relevant to Israel:

  • 1 & 2 Maccabees

  • The Ptolemaic empire (Egypt) encourages production of Septuagint; benign rulers over Israel.

  • The Seleucid empire (Syrian) is initially benign, but after losing a costly war to the Romans becomes oppressive in attempt to unify and consolidate diverse peoples under its control.

XI. 167-64 BC

• The Maccabean Period. A family of country priests, the Maccabees led a revolt against the Seleucid king Antiochus Epiphanes IV.

  • 1 & 2 Maccabees, Daniel

  • Antiochus is infamous in Jewish history for desecrating the Jerusalem temple with the "desolating abomination"- a statue of Zeus placed on the altar.

  • Judaism is divided in its response to Hellenistic influence- sects arise as a result (Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes).

XII. 63-135 AD

• The Roman Era. To settle a dispute between 2 brothers, both Maccabees, the Roman general Pompey takes control of Judea.

  • The Romans appoint Herod the Great as "king of the Jews."

  • When he dies, Judea is divided among his sons, some of whom prove to be unjust rulers. They are eventually replaced with Roman prefects/procurators (such as Pontius Pilate).

  • Jesus of Nazareth preaches, is arrested, tried, convicted and executed during this time (@30-33 AD).

   

• 66-70 AD, The First Revolt. Jews in Palestine revolt against the Romans, who lay siege to the city. In 70 AD the city is destroyed, along with the temple.

• 132-135 AD, The Bar Kochba Revolt. Another revolt, this time led by Simon bar Kochba ("son of the star").

  • Again, the revolt fails.

  • This time, the Jews are banned from coming within eyesight of the city of Jerusalem.

   

• Rabbinic Judaism, which emphasizes history and tradition (scripture) rather than ritual and sacrifice (temple- which no longer existed) develops during this period,

• as does Christianity, which was originally seen as a sect (of the Nazoreans) within Judaism.

home | intro | contents | resources | appendices | assignments | glossary | sources | links

The Narrow Gate
2003-2004