Themed chart
Old Testament Timeline
Creation to the return from exile
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How to read it: Zoom out for the whole arc, then drop into any era band to see its events and people.
About this chart
The Old Testament tells a single, sweeping story, but its books are not arranged in order — so a timeline is the easiest way to see the whole arc at once. This view runs from the patriarch Abraham through the Exodus, the conquest, the kingdoms, the exile, and the return, with the great empires charted beneath.
Use it to orient any book in the bigger picture: where the prophets fall relative to the kings, how the exile divides the story, and how each era hands off to the next. As always, the earliest dates are approximate and the Exodus and conquest dates depend on the disputed early/late scheme, which you can toggle on the chart.
Written by the Selah Editorial Team. Dates are approximate; biblical chronology is debated and shown as ranges.
Events in this chart
The Call of Abraham
God calls Abram out of Ur and promises to make of him a great nation — the covenant the whole story turns on.
Joseph Sold into Egypt
Joseph is sold by his brothers, rises to power in Egypt, and preserves his family — bringing Israel into Egypt.
The Exodus from Egypt
God delivers Israel from slavery in Egypt under Moses. The single most debated date in biblical chronology (early vs late Exodus).
The Law Given at Sinai
God gives the Ten Commandments and the covenant law to Israel at Mount Sinai.
The Conquest of Canaan
Under Joshua, Israel crosses the Jordan and takes the Promised Land, beginning with Jericho.
The Age of the Judges
A cycle of apostasy, oppression, and deliverance through judges like Deborah, Gideon, and Samson.
David's Reign
David unites the kingdom, takes Jerusalem as his capital, and receives the promise of an everlasting throne.
Solomon's Temple Built
Solomon builds the first temple in Jerusalem — the dwelling of God's name at the heart of Israel's worship.
The Kingdom Divides
After Solomon, the kingdom splits into Israel (north) and Judah (south) under Rehoboam and Jeroboam.
The Fall of Samaria
Assyria conquers the northern kingdom of Israel and carries it into exile — the ten tribes are lost.
The Fall of Jerusalem
Babylon destroys Jerusalem and the temple and carries Judah into exile — the great catastrophe of the Old Testament.
The Return from Exile
Cyrus of Persia decrees that the exiles may return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple.
The Second Temple Rebuilt
The returned exiles complete the rebuilding of the temple, encouraged by Haggai and Zechariah.
Nehemiah Rebuilds the Walls
Nehemiah leads the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, restoring the city.
Related charts & eras
Frequently asked
What is the chronological order of the Old Testament?
Creation and the early world, the patriarchs, the Exodus and wilderness, the conquest and judges, the united monarchy, the divided monarchy and prophets, the exile, and the return and restoration.
How many years does the Old Testament cover?
From Abraham (c. 2100 BC) to Malachi (c. 430 BC) is roughly 1,700 years; the primeval history of Genesis 1–11 reaches further back into undated antiquity.
Why aren't the Old Testament books in chronological order?
They are grouped by type — law, history, poetry, and prophecy — rather than by date, which is why a timeline helps reassemble the story in sequence.
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