Bible Commentary / Produced by TOW Project, 10 Key Points About Work in the Bible Every Christian Should Know, Beyond Rank and Power: What Philemon Tells Us About Leadership, Learning From the Psalms How to Pray Through Your Work, Situating the Prophets in Israels History, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. To this can be added the mention of Greeks (chapter 3:6), who hardly played a role in Near Eastern history earlier than the 7th century. Copyright 2008 - http://www.BibleChronologyTimeline.com. See also Jewish history which includes links to individual country histories. Hosea, Prophet - Amazing Bible Timeline with World History Christianity is a historical religion, and its inspired messages are anchored to the hills and valleys, the deserts and rivers, of the ancient world, and to literal men and women who once walked the earth. Jeremiah 1:2-3; 3:6; 11:21-23; 21:1; 22:11; 24:1; 25:1-3; 25:8-12; 26:1; 27:1, etc. <> He says specifically that by Jew he does not mean a literal Jew but one converted at heart, whether he be Jew or Gentile (chapter 2:28, 29). Finally, it was demonstrated before the universe that, apart from God, humanity could not be uplifted, and that a new element of life and power must be imparted by Him who made the world. Many years later, in writing to the strangers, or Gentiles (1 Peter 1:1: see on Exodus 12:19, 43), as the elect of God (1 Peter 1:2), Peter refers to them as the chosen ones of God, a holy nation, a peculiar people (chapter 2:9), formerly not a people, but now the people of God (verse 10). Timeline of the Hebrew prophets All dates are given according to the Common Era, not the Hebrew calendar. He has a controversy with them because they have rebelled against His authority (Jeremiah 25:31-33), and He will judge (Joel 3:9-17) and destroy them there (Isaiah 34:1-8; 63:1-6; 66:15-18). Moses their great leader warned the people of Israel not to disobey the LORD or else: Hence, the year 603 can be considered as the beginning of Daniel . 3. The life story of Jeremiah is better known than that of any other prophet. The covenant with literal Israel proved faulty, not because God failed to carry out His part of the covenant, but rather because Israels fair promises proved evanescent as the morning dew (Hosea 6:4; 13:3; Hebrews 8:6, 7). God provided Israel with every facility for becoming the greatest nation on the earth. For example, the judgment that came upon Sodom and Gomorrah, literal cities of the ancient past, is used by Bible writers as descriptive of the judgment God will eventually bring upon all the world. In their meticulous attention to the letter of the law they lost sight of its spirit. He probably died in the Nile country. Having begun his ministry in the time of Uzziah, king of Judah, and Jeroboam II, king of Israel (chapter 1:1), Hosea continued until the time of Hezekiah, king of Judah (chapter 1:1). Jeremiah 49:14, 16), and Joel (Obadiah 15, 17; cf. Elijah claimed that there was no reality except the God of Israel, stressing monotheism to the people with possibly unprecedented emphasis. There was nothing God could have done for them that He did not do, yet they failed. Isaiah was a prophet of the southern kingdom, living in a critical period of his nation. ; (locust and Day of the Lord pictures in Joel), written against Edom (which was enemy of Jerusalem under Jehoram? **All dates are approximate time periods of each prophets ministry. The sixteen prophetsIsaiah to Malachiwhose writings have come down to us lived during four centuries, from about 800 to 400 B.C. Even during the Captivity, and later under foreign tutelage, Israel remained a theocracy in theory if not fully in practice. Updated: Chart of Israels and Judahs Kings and Prophets, Sign up to receive in your inbox a free daily reading of the Old & New Testament from Bible Gateway, Chart of Israels and Judahs Kings and Prophets, Reading and Understanding the Bible: An Interview with Ben Witherington III, The Cities That Built the Bible: Guest Post by Robert Cargill, The Bible in Graphic Novel Form: An Interview with Art Ayris. In the endeavor to account for this seeming enigma, Bible expositors have set forth various explanations: 1. Joel*. An table see shows where in time the prophets fit within the northern kingdom of Israel both the southern kingdom of Judah. The earth would thus be rid of those who opposed God (Zechariah 14:12, 13). You are free to share (to copy, distribute and transmit the work), and remix (to adapt the work) for non-commercial use only, under the condition that you must attribute the work to the Theology of Work Project, Inc., but not in any way that suggests that it endorses you or your use of the work. Following this line of interpretation, some have gone to the extreme of proposing a Christian migration to Palestine. NOTE: This will conclude our study of Kings. Nehemiahs first term lasted from 444 to 432 B.C. The prophet Ezekiel, a priest, was one of the 10,000 Jews taken into exile by Nebuchadnezzar in 597 B.C., when King Jehoiachin was carried to Babylon. They were to become a nation of intellectual geniuses, and feebleness of mind would eventually have been unknown among them. Israel was confronted with the choice of blessings or curses. Several of his messages were against various foreign nations. 1 0 obj Matthew 19:16, 17; 22:36-40). Any interpretation that fails to give these matters due consideration does violence to the Scriptures. So early a date for Jonah1s ministryabout 790 B.C.fits well into Assyrian history. They would send messengers to Israel with the declaration, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you (Zechariah 8:23). 3. Hence the year 571/70 must not be considered as necessarily marking the end of his ministry. They were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come (1 Corinthians 10:11). The fickle, human will is the weak, unstable factor in conditional prophecy. Thus it was with Moses, of whom, to the very day of his death, it could be said that his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated (Deuteronomy 34:7). *This is the traditional date for Joel, but the date is uncertain and suggestions range from the ninth to the. He appears on the Bible Timeline Poster around the 8th century B.C. Remember that the record of Gods dealings with His people in ages past has been recorded for the benefit of all later generations to the end of time. Pride obscured their vision [see Luke 19:42]. Had Israel measured up to the noble ideal, all of the promises contingent upon obedience would long since have been fulfilled. Thus, for more than 1,500 years, a great experiment designed to test the relative merits of good and evil was conducted before the world. Unfortunately, Nehemiahs second term as governor cannot be dated, which fact makes it also somewhat difficult to date Malachi. Accordingly, Abraham became in a special sense the Friend of God (James 2:23) and the father of all them that believe (Romans 4:11). Activity of the Writing Prophets during the Reigns of the Kings of Prophets in Israel They forgot that God abhors a multiplication of the forms of religion (Isaiah 1:11-18; Hosea 6:6; Micah 6:7; Malachi 2:13), and asks of man nothing but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with his God (Micah 6:8; cf. Blessings if they followed the LORD and curses if they forsook him. Blog / Updated: Chart of Israel's and Judah's Kings and Prophets Roman Empire Map - This prophecy must have been pronounced either before Jeroboam came to the throne (approximately 793 B.C.) Also note that during this time the prophets Jeremiah & Ezekiel were active. The kingdom was overturned (Ezekiel 21:25-32) and the people removed from the land, which had been theirs only by virtue of the covenant relationship (Hosea 9:3, 15, Micah 2:10; cf. the Exodus from Egypt (prophecy of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam) the Land of Israel c. 1300-1250 BC [citation needed] Joshua leads the people c. 1250 BC-c. 1025 BC [citation needed] Biblical Judges lead the people. Old Testament Overview - General survey of the Old Testament. Since Josiah came to the throne as a child, he must have lived under a regent, which explains why no king is mentioned by Joel. Gods call to the nations would have been, Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth (Isaiah 45:22). For example, Nathan was King David's prophet, and he was financially supported by the king. Prophets of the Assyrian Period Jonah Jonah (790-770 B.C.) Contributors: Alice Mathews Adopted by the Theology of Work Project Board December 9, 2010. At Mt. Just because someone was mentioned in scripture, it does not mean they were a prophet, per se. Gods word is sure (Isaiah 40:8; 55:11; Romans 11:29), and His plan for the salvation of man will ultimately prevail (Isaiah 46:10). By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. The futurist school of interpretation contends that the many promises of restoration and world leadership made to ancient Israel are yet to be fulfilled in connection with the establishment of the modern state of Israel in Palestine. Large Map of the Roman Empire in the Early First Century - Click around on the Places. By divine appointment the sacred writings were preserved, century after century, and Israel became their custodian (Amos 3:7; Romans 3:1, 2). Then Gabriel came to reassure him of the restoration of his people and the eventual coming of the Messiah (verses 24, 25). The prophets thus provided a firm foundation for the faith of the apostolic church and made a direct and vital contribution to the Christian faith. Ancient Jerusalem - Interactive Study of Jerusalem with Map. BC dates, I've also included the number of years since the end of The table down shows where in time the . It was last of all that God sent unto them his son, according to Christs own words (Matthew 21:37), but they caught him and slew him (verse 39). Skill in agriculture and animal husbandry. Feebleness and disease were to disappear entirely from Israel as the result of strict adherence to healthful principles (see Exodus 15:26; Deuteronomy 7:13, 15; etc.). Deuteronomy 18 - "And if you say in your heart, 'How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?' Beholding Israels righteousness (Isaiah 62:1, 2), the Gentiles would acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed (Isaiah 61:9, 10; cf. List of Major and Minor Prophets of the Old Testament Superior intellect. However, there is also no reference made to Persia, which would be expected if the book was of so late a date. At times they had an import, not only for the age in which the prophet lived, but also for a day far future; in other words, they had a dual application. 2 Kings 20:1-5; and of promised blessing, see Exodus 6:2-8; cf. The people might approach God personally and through the ministry of a mediating priesthood, their representatives before Him; He would direct the nation through the ministry of prophets, His appointed representatives to them. These observations seem to place Zephaniah in the early years of Josiahs reign, perhaps about 630 B.C., as a contemporary of Habakkuk. Prophet to Judah Prophet to Israel Joel* *This is the traditional date for Joel, but the date is uncertain and suggestions range from the ninth to the fourth century. But because of apostasy it was the predictions of national honor and glory that could not be fulfilled. For these reasons Daniels extended prophetic ministry can be dated approximately from 603 to 535 B.C. When the Jews rejected Christ as the Messiah, God in turn rejected them and commissioned the Christian church as His chosen instrument for the salvation of the world (Matthew 28:19, 20; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; 1 Peter 2:9, 10; etc.). 2010 by the Theology of Work Project, Inc. Unparalleled prosperity, both temporal and spiritual, was promised them as the reward for putting into practice the righteous and wise principles of heaven (Deuteronomy 4:6-9; 7:12-15; 28:1-14). Watch on. Copyright 2022 - UnderstandChristianity.com. b. These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience. With your gift of any size, youll enable us to continue equipping Christians with high-quality biblically-based content. Hence, 640 B.C., about midway between the two limits, marked by the destruction of Thebes and the fall of Nineveh, would seem to be a reasonable conjectural date for Nahums prophetic ministry. True and whole-hearted worship ushers in peace and blessing from the land. Image by 7. As he was escaping on a ship bound for Tarshish a great storm arose. Chronology of the Latter Prophets and the Intertestamental Period. In Egypt, Jeremiah raised his voice against the idolatries the Jews practiced there (chapters 43; 44). ), success must and will comethrough Israel after the spirit. Chronology of the Prophets in the Old Testament 3 0 obj Jeremiah had been chosen by God for his office before birth (chapter 1:5), and was called to be a prophet at a tender age (chapter 1:6, 7). However, it is possible that some of his undated prophecies were given at a later time. The church in this generation has been endowed by God with great privileges and blessings, and He expects corresponding returns. In Abraham God found a man ready to yield unqualified obedience to the divine will (Genesis 26:5; Hebrews 11:8) and to cultivate a similar spirit in his posterity (Genesis 18:19). The Prophets - Life, Hope & Truth A Harmony of the Life of Jesus - Four gospel accounts in harmony. For these reasons his ministry can be dated from about 755 (or earlier) to about 725 B.C. Jonah **Uzziah is alive until 740, King of Israel Jeroboam II (793-753) Important Dates 760 750 740 (767-740**) but 750. Faithful Work After the ExileHaggai, Zechariah, Malachi If chapter 52, a historical appendix, was written by the prophet, he must have lived until 561, when Jehoiachin was released from prison by King Evil-Merodach of Babylon (see chapter 52:31). Israel was confronted with the choice of blessings or curses. What makes it challenging when reading straight through the Bible [in chronological order] is that the history is covered in 1 and 2 Kings and then again in 1 and 2 Chronicles. Prophecies of the former classification cannot now be fulfilled because they were strictly conditional in nature and limited in scope, by their very nature, to literal Israel. They blindly overlooked those scriptures that point to the humiliation of Christs first advent, and misapplied those that speak of the glory of His second coming. Discover what application later inspired writers make of the prophecy, and on this basis determine its possible significance for Gods people in this time. In trying to keep all of these people and messages clear in my mind, I have put together a list of all the kings and prophets during the period of the divided kingdom (roughly 931-586 BC). <> The Kings of Israel & Judah Why Study the Kings? Salvation was to be of the Jews, in that the Messiah would be a Jew (John 4:22), and by the Jews, as messengers of salvation to all men (Genesis 12:2, 3; 22:18; Isaiah 42:1, 6; 43:10; Galatians 3:8, 16, 18). Span includes the period of co-regency (if any). The success of Israel was to be based on and to include: 1. who were active at that time. He quotes Hosea 2:23. Isaiah 54:7; Ezekiel 36:11; 43:10, 11; Micah 6:8; Zechariah 10:6). But it is only against the background of the original historical context of the message that its meaning and value for us can be established with certainty. God entered into solemn covenant relationship with him (Genesis 15:18; 17:2-7), and his posterity, Israel, inherited the sacred trust of being Gods chosen representatives on earth (Hebrews 11:9) for the salvation of the entire human race. <>>> New Testament Overview - General survey of the New Testament. Isaiah 2:2-4). Prophecies that Inspiration clearly applies to our day were designed of God to inspire us with patience, comfort, and the hope that all things foretold by these holy men of old will soon meet their final and complete fulfillment. However, 2 Kings 14:25 states that Jonah also pronounced a prophecy concerning the expansion of Israel that was fulfilled by Jeroboam II. They would have no part in all that Christ stood for (see on Matthew 3:2, 3; Mark 3:14). ;vx(>_w$ [U-hFzy\v?>}_|z|wxuzv/jO]vNNrz'_=}2 @/^? The period following 750 BC, beginning with Hosea and Amos, is often referred to as the classical period of prophecy and those prophets as writing prophets. 1 Kings 22:28). The remaining messages and prophecies, found in chapters 9-14, are not dated, a fact that prevents us from fixing the duration of the prophets activity. In the inspired utterances of the prophets of old the sincere seeker for truth will thus find messages of inspiration, comfort, and guidance for today. Hence, Jonah was probably the earliest of the prophets under discussion. The present-day return of the Jews to Palestine and the establishment of the modern state of Israel do not imply reinstatement as Gods people, present or future. for more details of the individual monarchs and prophets. In preparation for this time please read 2 Kings 23:29-25:30, & 2 Chronicles 36. Di Lella, "Daniel" in, Center of Contemporary Jewish Documentation, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_Hebrew_prophets&oldid=1082234151, Short description with empty Wikidata description, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2012, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2019, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 12 April 2022, at 01:53. The older generation place him in the 9th century B.C., whereas most commentators are now inclined to assign him either to the time of King Josiah or to the postexilic period. The profound conviction that the messages of the prophets had been fulfilled led many to believe in Christ as the Son of God. (This rule does not apply to those portions of the book of Daniel that the prophet was bidden to shut up and seal, or to other passages whose application Inspiration may have limited exclusively to our own time.). One challenging point in history is the divided kingdoms of Israel (the 10 northern tribes) and Judah (the 2 southern tribes). Ninevehs destruction, which came in 612, is referred to as a future event, indicating that Zephaniahs work preceded this date. You can also change some of your preferences. Nations that had known nothing of the true God would run to Jerusalem because of the manifest evidence of divine blessing that attended Israel (chapter 55:5). endobj Micah states that his ministry fell in the time of the kings Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (chapter 1:1). Those in Israel who put forth their best efforts to cooperate with the revealed will of God realized, personally, a measure of the benefits He had promised. In the lives of Gods people the truths of His word are to reveal their glory and excellence.