We are continuing where we left off on the timeline of the Bible. We are currently at 910 B.C. Baasha is king of Israel and Asa is king over Judah. In the year 890 B.C. Baasha died, then Elah became king over Israel. Then from then to 874 B.C. Elah died, followed by Zimri, Tibni, and then Omri. In 875 B.C. Elijah began his ministry. Then in 874 B.C. Ahab began to reign over Israel. Four years later, in the year 870 B.C., Asa died and Jehoshaphat became king of Judah. In 853 B.C., Ahab died and Ahaziah became king of Israel. During that same year, Ahaziah died and Joram became king over Israel. That same year Obadiah began his ministry. In 849 B.C. Jehoshaphat died and Jehoram became king over Judah. The following year, 848 B.C., is when Elijah was succeeded by Elisha.
Then in 845 B.C. Ahaziah died and Jehu became king over Israel. In 842 B.C. Jehoram died and Ahaziah became king over Judah in his place. He died that same year and Athaliah replaced him as king of Judah. The next year, 841 B.C., was the end of Obadiah’s ministry. In 835 B.C. Athaliah died and Joash became king over Judah. During that same year, Joel began his ministry and it was the earliest possible date for the writing of the book of Joel. Then in 815 B.C., Jehu died and Jehoahaz became king over Israel. He reined until 805 B.C. when he died and Jehoash became king over Israel in his place. In 799 B.C., Joash died and Amaziah became king of Judah.
It was around 797 B.C. that Elisha’s ministry ended. Then the following year, 796 B.C., was the end of Joel’s ministry. In 785 B.C., Jehoash died and Jeroboam II became king over Israel in his place. It was during that same year that the events of the book of Jonah began to take place. 785 B.C. is the earliest possible date for the writing of the book of Jonah as well. Then in 780 B.C. Amaziah died and Azariah, also known as Uzziah, became king of Judah and he reigned for forty years. The events of Jonah lasted until around 775 B.C. Then in 760 B.C., Jeroboam the II died and Zechariah became king of Israel followed shortly by Shallum. It was during that same year that Amos began his ministry and it was the earliest possible date for the writing of the book of Amos.
In 753 B.C., Hosea began his ministry in Israel. Then in 752 B.C., Shallum died and Menahem became king over Israel in his place. 750 B.C. was the latest possible date for the writing of the book of Jonah and Amos. It was that same year that Amos’ ministry came to an end. In 745 B.C., Menahem died and Pekahiah became king over Israel followed shortly by Pekah. In 742 B.C., Micah began his ministry to Judah. In 740 B.C., king Uzziah died and Jotham became king over Judah. It was that same year that Isaiah began his ministry in Judah. Plus, the earliest possible date for the writing of the book of Micah was 740 B.C. In 731 B.C. both the king of Israel and the king of Judah died. Hoshea became king over Israel and Ahaz became king over Judah.
Then in 722 B.C., Israel was taken into captivity and thus ended the reign of Hoshea. In 718 B.C., Ahaz died and Hezekiah became king over Judah. During the year 715 B.C., Hosea’s ministry ended and during that same year the book of Hosea was written. Also in 715 B.C., the book of Proverbs began to be compiled and edited. 710 B.C. was the latest possible date for the writing of the book of Micah. Also, 700 B.C. was the earliest possible date for the writing of the book of Isaiah. Then in 688 B.C., Hezekiah died and Manasseh became king of Judah. The next year, 687 B.C., Micah’s ministry came to an end. Then 686 B.C. the editing of the book of Proverbs was complete. Then Isaiah’s ministry ended in 681 B.C. The following year, 680 B.C., was the latest possible date for the writing of the book of Isaiah.
In 663 B.C., Nahum began his ministry and that was the earliest possible date for the writing of that book. Then in 642 B.C., Manasseh died and Amos became king over Judah. Amos died the following year, 641 B.C., and Josiah began to reign over Judah. Then the next year, 640 B.C., Zephaniah began his ministry to Judah. The book of Zephaniah was written between 635 and 630 B.C. In 626 B.C. the prophet Jeremiah began to prophecy and that was the earliest possible date for the writing of his book.
In the year 621 B.C., Zephaniah’s ministry came to an end. Then in 612 B.C., Nahum’s ministry came to an end and Habakkuk began to minister in Judah. King Josiah’s reign came to an end in 610 B.C. and Jehoahaz became king in his place. He died that same year and was replaced by Jehoiakim. Also, 610 B.C. was the earliest possible date for the writing of the book of Habakkuk. Then 609 B.C. was the latest possible date for the writing of the book of Nahum. 605 B.C. was the latest possible date for the book of Habakkuk to be written and was the date that Daniel was taken exiled to Babylon. Sometime around 600 B.C. is when Jehoiakim died and Jehoiachin became king over Judah in his place. He reigned for one year and then Zedekiah became king in 599 B.C. In 593 B.C. Ezekiel began his ministry and that was the earliest possible date for the writing of his book. In 588 B.C. Habakkuk’s ministry came to an end. Then in 586 B.C. Zedekiah’s reign over Judah ended when Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians. During that same year the book of Obadiah was written and that was the earliest possible date for the writing of the book of Lamentations. We will pick up here in the next lesson.
