Dion Astwood, 2003
Chronology helps us in understanding the Bible by giving us a framework as to when various events occurred. Though it is labourous (and to many boring) to memorise dates.
However what we wish to know is not necessarally dates, but rather in which order events occurred and who lived contemporally with each other. Therefore we need a relative chronology. If we have a relative chronology all we initially need to learn a very basic absolute chronology, within which the relative chronology can be framed.
An example of a relative chronology is: Abram was called to Canaan then fathered Isaac as a result of a promise and his name was changed to Abraham then Isaac became the father of Esau and Jacob then Jacob became the father of Joseph and his 11 brothers then Joseph went to Egypt as slave then became primeminister then Jacob brought the rest of his family to Egypt then Pharaoh oppressed the Hebrews then Moses was born and taken into Pharaoh’s household then Moses fled into the desert after killing an Egyptian then Moses led Israel in the Exodus from Egypt.
An absolute chronology (in years since creation) is
2008 AM Abram born
2513 AM Exodus from Egypt
Below is a brief outline of events in the bible. The time frame from Creation to Christ is approximately 4000 years. By remembering 1 event every 500 years (9 events)—an approximate absolute chronology, then the relative chronology can be easily be placed within this framework without knowing exact times that certain events occured. I am indebted to Pam Dewey for this idea.
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0 |
1000 |
2000 |
3000 |
4000 |
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Creation |
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Jesus |
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Using the above examples: Memorising Abram's birth date as the event for the year 2000 and the Exodus for 2500, then it is reasonably clear that Abram's arrival in Canaan was near the beginning of this 500 year period, Joseph was near the middle, and Moses' time in the desert near the end.
Below is the relative chronology followed by an absolute chronology with a selection of events that occurred at 500 year divisions. Memorise one event (suggested in bold).
Creation of the World
Fall of Man
Antediluvian Patriarchs
The Flood
Postdiluvian Patriarchs
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob's Sojourn in Canaan
Israel's Sojourn in Egypt
Exodus
40 years in the Wilderness
Conquest of Canaan
Time of the Judges
The United Kingdom (Saul, David, Solomon)
The Divided Kingdom
Deportation of Israel (Ephraim) to Assyria
Deportation of Judah to Babylon
Return from Exile of the Jews (Under Persia)
Intertestament Period
Birth of Jesus
Death and Resurrection of Jesus
Apostolic Period
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0 |
Creation (0). Fall (0) |
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500 |
Birth of Jared (Enoch's father) (460). Birth of Enoch (622) |
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1000 |
Death of Adam (930). Translation of Enoch (987). Birth of Noah (1056) |
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1500 |
Birth of Shem (1558). Flood (1656) |
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2000 |
Death of Noah (2006). Birth of Abram (2008) |
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2500 |
Moses born (2433). Exodus (2513) |
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3000 |
David becomes king (2957). Solomon becomes king (2990). Temple dedicated (3000) |
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3500 |
Jews return from Exile (3476) |
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4000 |
Jesus' birth (3959). Jesus' death and resurrection (3992) |
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1 |
Abid (Nisan) |
Approximately March–April |
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2 |
Ziv |
April–May |
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3 |
Sivan |
May–June |
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4 |
Tammuz |
June–July |
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5 |
Ab |
July–August |
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6 |
Elul |
August–September |
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7 |
Ethanim (Tishri) |
September–October |
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8 |
Bul (Marcheshvan) |
October–November |
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9 |
Kislev |
November–December |
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10 |
Tebeth |
December–January |
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11 |
Shebat |
January–February |
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12 |
Adar |
February–March |
Passover: Nisan 14
Feast of
Unleavened Bread: Nisan 15 for 7 days
Feast of Weeks: 50 days
following Sabbath during feast of Unleavened Bread
Feast of
Trumpets: Tishri 1
Day of Atonement: Tishri 10
Feast of
Tabernacles: Tishri 15 for 7 days
Purim: Adar 14–15