Old Testament Chronological Map (v1)

Chronological Order of the Old Testament

all 39 books · roughly when they happened or were written
📖 Tap any book to see the author, date, and what it's about!

✍️ Author Color Key

Moses David Solomon Major Prophets Minor Prophets Historians Unknown/Other

🌍 Pre-Flood & Primeval

Creation → Babel

Creation, the Fall, Noah's flood, and the scattering at Babel. Genesis 1–11.

Genesis(ch. 1–11)
Job~patriarchal era

🐪 The Patriarchs

~2100–1800 BC

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, & Joseph. God's covenant promises begin. Genesis 12–50.

Genesis(ch. 12–50)

🏺 Egypt & The Exodus

~1876–1446 BC

400+ years of slavery, then God delivers Israel through Moses & the plagues.

Exodus~1446 BC

🏕️ Wilderness Wanderings

~1446–1406 BC

40 years in the wilderness — the Law given, the tabernacle built, a generation passes.

Leviticus~1446 BC
Numbers~1446–1406 BC
Deuteronomy~1406 BC

⚔️ Conquest & Judges

~1406–1050 BC

Joshua leads Israel into Canaan. Then ~300 years of cycles: sin → oppression → judges → rescue.

Joshua~1400 BC
Judges~1380–1050 BC
Ruth~1100 BC

👑 United Kingdom

~1050–930 BC · Saul, David, Solomon

Israel demands a king. Saul fails, David reigns 40 years, Solomon builds the Temple.

1 Samuel~1050–1010 BC
2 Samuel~1010–970 BC
1 Kings(ch. 1–11) ~970–930 BC
1 ChroniclesDavid's reign
2 Chronicles(ch. 1–9) Solomon
Psalms~1010–970 BC
Proverbs~970–930 BC
Ecclesiastes~940 BC
Song of Songs~965 BC
Fleeing Saul1 Sam 19–27
Years on the run from Saul — caves, wilderness, narrow escapes.
Psalms from this season: Ps 57 (cave of Adullam) Ps 59 (Saul's men) Ps 34 (escaping Achish) Ps 142 (in the cave) Ps 52 (Doeg betrays)
Bringing Ark to Jerusalem2 Sam 6
David dances before the LORD as the Ark enters Jerusalem.
Likely psalm: Ps 24 ("Lift up your heads, O gates!") Ps 68
Bathsheba & Nathan2 Sam 11–12
David's sin with Bathsheba · Nathan confronts him.
Confession psalms: Ps 51 ("Have mercy on me, O God") Ps 32 ("Blessed is he whose sin is covered")
Absalom's Revolt2 Sam 15–18
David flees Jerusalem as his own son tries to seize the throne.
Psalms from this crisis: Ps 3 (fleeing Absalom) Ps 63 (in the wilderness)
Late Reign2 Sam 22 / Ps 18
Looking back — David's song of deliverance from all his enemies.
Reflection psalm: Ps 18 (= 2 Sam 22) Ps 23 ("The LORD is my shepherd")
Young King1 Kgs 3–4
God grants Solomon wisdom · the famous "two mothers" judgment.
Likely from this era: Song of Songs (young love) Proverbs (wisdom collected)
Temple Built1 Kgs 6–8
The Temple is completed in Solomon's 4th year (~966 BC).
Dedication psalm: Ps 127 ("Unless the LORD builds the house...")
Old & Reflective1 Kgs 11
After many wives & idolatry — looking back on chasing pleasure & power.
Reflection book: Ecclesiastes ("Vanity of vanities")

👑👑 Divided Kingdom

930–586 BC

Israel splits in two: Israel (north, 10 tribes) & Judah (south, 2 tribes). Prophets preach.

1 Kings(ch. 12–22)
2 Kings~870–586 BC
2 Chronicles(ch. 10–36)
Obadiah~845 BC
Joel~835 BC
Jonah~780 BC
Amos~760 BC
Hosea~755–725 BC
Isaiah~740–680 BC
Micah~735–700 BC
Nahum~650 BC
Zephaniah~630 BC
Habakkuk~610 BC
Jeremiah~626–586 BC
Jeroboam IIIsrael · 793–753 BC
Prosperous but corrupt reign in the north — social injustice & idolatry.
Prophets preaching: Jonah Amos Hosea
Uzziah → HezekiahJudah · 792–686 BC
Assyrian threat looming · Israel falls in 722 BC · Hezekiah's reform.
Prophets preaching: Isaiah Micah Hosea
ManassehJudah · 697–642 BC
Judah's worst king — 55 years of idolatry and bloodshed. Prophets silent in record.
— mostly quiet —
JosiahJudah · 640–609 BC
The Law is rediscovered in the Temple · last great reformer king.
Prophets preaching: Jeremiah Zephaniah Nahum (Nineveh falls 612 BC)
Jehoiakim → ZedekiahJudah · 609–586 BC
Babylon rises · 3 deportations · Temple destroyed 586 BC.
Prophets preaching: Jeremiah Habakkuk Daniel (taken 605 BC) Ezekiel (taken 597 BC)

⛓️ The Exile

586–538 BC · in Babylon

Judah carried off to Babylon. Temple destroyed. 70 years away from the land.

Ezekiel~593–571 BC
Daniel~605–530 BC
Lamentations~586 BC

🏛️ Return & Restoration

538–~430 BC

Cyrus lets the Jews go home. The Temple is rebuilt, then the walls. Then 400 years of silence.

Ezra~538–457 BC
Nehemiah~445–432 BC
Esther~483–473 BC
Haggai~520 BC
Zechariah~520–480 BC
Malachi~430 BC
Ezra 1–6538–516 BC
Zerubbabel leads first return · Temple rebuilt (despite opposition).
Prophets stirring the people: Haggai ~520 Zechariah ~520–480
Esther~483–473 BC
Persian court · Jews saved from Haman's plot. Between Ezra 6 and Ezra 7.
— God working unseen —
Ezra 7 / Nehemiah457–432 BC
Ezra teaches the Law · Nehemiah rebuilds the walls of Jerusalem.
Final prophet: Malachi ~430
Promised SeedGen 3:15
The first gospel promise — the offspring of the woman will crush the serpent's head. Fulfilled in Christ's defeat of Satan.
OT: Gen 3:15 NT: Rom 16:20 Heb 2:14 Rev 12:9
Abraham's BlessingGen 12:3
"In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." Fulfilled as the gospel goes to the Gentiles through Christ.
OT: Gen 12:3 Gen 22:18 NT: Gal 3:8, 16 Acts 3:25
MelchizedekGen 14 · Ps 110
A priest-king of Salem who blesses Abraham — a type of Christ's priesthood, developed at length in Hebrews.
OT: Gen 14:18–20 Ps 110:4 NT: Heb 5–7
Passover LambEx 12
A spotless lamb's blood spares Israel from death. Fulfilled in Christ — "our Passover lamb has been sacrificed."
OT: Ex 12:1–13 Ex 12:46 NT: John 1:29 John 19:36 1 Cor 5:7 1 Pet 1:19
The Bronze SerpentNum 21
Israel looks at the bronze serpent and lives. Jesus says this prefigures His own being "lifted up" on the cross.
OT: Num 21:4–9 NT: John 3:14–15
The Prophet Like MosesDeut 18
"The LORD will raise up for you a prophet like me." Quoted by Peter and Stephen of Jesus.
OT: Deut 18:15–19 NT: Acts 3:22–23 Acts 7:37
Davidic King2 Sam 7 · Ps 2
God promises David an eternal throne and an eternal son. Fulfilled in Christ, "the Son of David."
OT: 2 Sam 7:12–16 Ps 2 Ps 89 NT: Matt 1:1 Luke 1:32–33 Acts 13:32–34
Suffering ServantIsa 53
Pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities — the clearest OT portrait of the cross.
OT: Isa 52:13–53:12 NT: Matt 8:17 Acts 8:32–35 1 Pet 2:22–25
Immanuel · Virgin BirthIsa 7:14
"A virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." Quoted by Matthew of Jesus' birth.
OT: Isa 7:14 Isa 9:6–7 NT: Matt 1:22–23 Luke 1:31
Born in BethlehemMic 5:2
"You, O Bethlehem... from you shall come forth one who is to be ruler in Israel." Quoted by the scribes to Herod.
OT: Mic 5:2 NT: Matt 2:5–6 John 7:42
Voice in the WildernessIsa 40 · Mal 3
A forerunner prepares the way of the LORD. All four Gospels apply this to John the Baptist.
OT: Isa 40:3 Mal 3:1 NT: Matt 3:3 Mark 1:2–3 Luke 3:4–6 John 1:23
Triumphal EntryZech 9:9
"Your king is coming to you... humble and mounted on a donkey." Fulfilled on Palm Sunday.
OT: Zech 9:9 NT: Matt 21:5 John 12:14–15
Pierced OneZech 12 · Ps 22
"They will look on me, on him whom they have pierced." Ps 22 details crucifixion centuries before it existed.
OT: Ps 22 Zech 12:10 NT: Matt 27:46 John 19:37 Rev 1:7
ResurrectionPs 16
"You will not abandon my soul to Sheol." Peter (Acts 2) and Paul (Acts 13) apply this to Christ, not David.
OT: Ps 16:10 NT: Acts 2:25–32 Acts 13:34–37
Son of ManDan 7
"One like a son of man" given dominion and an everlasting kingdom — Jesus' favorite self-title.
OT: Dan 7:13–14 NT: Matt 26:64 Mark 14:62 Rev 1:13
New CovenantJer 31
God writes His law on the heart and forgives iniquity — established by Christ's blood at the Last Supper.
OT: Jer 31:31–34 NT: Luke 22:20 Heb 8:8–13 Heb 10:16–17
Spirit Poured OutJoel 2 · Ezek 36
"I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh." Peter quotes Joel on Pentecost to explain what just happened.
OT: Joel 2:28–32 Ezek 36:26–27 NT: Acts 2:16–21
New HeartEzek 36
A new heart of flesh in place of the heart of stone — the new-birth promise Jesus invokes with Nicodemus.
OT: Ezek 36:25–27 NT: John 3:5–8 2 Cor 3:3
Light to the GentilesIsa 42 · 49
The Servant is a light to the nations. Simeon sings this over baby Jesus; Paul applies it to his ministry.
OT: Isa 42:6 Isa 49:6 NT: Luke 2:32 Acts 13:47
Out of EgyptHos 11:1
"Out of Egypt I called my son" — originally about Israel, applied by Matthew to the holy family's return from Egypt.
OT: Hos 11:1 NT: Matt 2:15
Sacrificial SystemLeviticus
Day of Atonement, scapegoat, blood sacrifice, holy of holies — all fulfilled by Christ as the once-for-all sacrifice.
OT: Lev 16 Lev 17:11 NT: Heb 9–10 Rom 3:25
Cornerstone RejectedPs 118
"The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." Jesus applies this to Himself; Peter applies it to His resurrection.
OT: Ps 118:22 Isa 28:16 NT: Matt 21:42 Acts 4:11 1 Pet 2:6–8
Elijah ReturnsMal 4
"I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great day of the LORD." Jesus identifies John the Baptist as this Elijah.
OT: Mal 4:5–6 NT: Matt 11:14 Matt 17:10–13

⏳ Timeline of the Old Testament

Patriarchs
Exodus
Conquest
Judges
United Kingdom
Divided Kingdom
Exile
Return
In the beginning Creation
Genesis
pre-history Noah's Flood
~2100 BC Abraham called
Job (era)
~1876 BC Jacob's family goes to Egypt
~1446 BC Exodus from Egypt
Exodus Leviticus
~1406 BC Enter Canaan · Joshua leads
Numbers Deut Joshua
~1380–1050 BC Judges rule Israel
Judges Ruth
~1050 BC Saul anointed king
1 Samuel
~1010–970 BC David reigns
2 Samuel 1 Chron Psalms
~966 BC Solomon's Temple built
1 Kings Proverbs Song Eccl
~930 BC Kingdom splits · Israel & Judah
~840–700 BC Early prophets preach
Obadiah Joel Jonah Amos Hosea Isaiah Micah
722 BC Assyria destroys Israel (north)
~650–605 BC Late prophets to Judah
Nahum Zeph Hab Jeremiah
605 BC 1st deportation · Daniel taken
Daniel
586 BC Jerusalem & Temple destroyed
2 Kings 2 Chron Lam Ezekiel
538 BC Cyrus decree · 1st return
Ezra
516 BC 2nd Temple rebuilt
Haggai Zech Esther
445–430 BC Walls rebuilt · last prophet
Nehemiah Malachi
← swipe / scroll to see all events →
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