Historical Context at the Time Each Book was Written

  • Genesis (1446 BC)
    • Time period when this book was written: Israel wandering in the wilderness for 40 years (1446-1406 BC)
    • Author: Moses (1526-1406 BC; 120 years old)
    • Major historical figures alive during this time period: Moses, Aaron (Moses’ older brother; 1528-1406 BC; 123 years old), Joshua, Caleb

    Major historical events during this time period:
    – 10 commandments at Mount Sinai (1446 BC). These were given 3 months after the exodus at the beginning of the 40 years in the desert.
    – Tabernacle construction (1445 BC)
    – Israel worships a golden calf, manna and quail from heaven, cloud by day / fire by night, 12 spies scouting out the land of Canaan, miraculous water from the rock that was struck, bronze serpent lifted up on a pole, Balaam’s donkey spoke, earth opened up and swallowed the sons of Korah, Israel’s census and organization around the tabernacle, and the death of Moses (1406 BC).

    Major historical events before this time period:
    – Israel’s first time in slavery (430 years captive by the beast kingdom of Egypt; 1876-1446 BC)
    – Red Sea crossing (1446 BC)

    Major historical events after this time period:
    – Entering the Promised Land (1406 BC)

    *The events recorded in this book took place between 4000 – 1800 BC (Adam to Joseph; 23 generations)

  • Exodus (1446 BC)
    • Time period when this book was written: Israel wandering in the wilderness for 40 years (1446-1406 BC)
    • Author: Moses (1526-1406 BC; 120 years old)
    • Major historical figures alive during this time period: Moses, Aaron (Moses’ older brother; 1528-1406 BC; 123 years old), Joshua, Caleb

    Major historical events during this time period:
    – 10 commandments at Mount Sinai (1446 BC). These were given 3 months after the exodus at the beginning of the 40 years in the desert.
    – Tabernacle construction (1445 BC)
    – Israel worships a golden calf, manna and quail from heaven, cloud by day / fire by night, 12 spies scouting out the land of Canaan, miraculous water from the rock that was struck, bronze serpent lifted up on a pole, Balaam’s donkey spoke, earth opened up and swallowed the sons of Korah, Israel’s census and organization around the tabernacle, and the death of Moses (1406 BC).

    Major historical events before this time period:
    – Israel’s first time in slavery (430 years captive by the beast kingdom of Egypt; 1876-1446 BC)
    – Red Sea crossing (1446 BC)

    Major historical events after this time period:
    – Entering the Promised Land (1406 BC)

    *The events recorded in this book took place between 1600 – 1445 BC (Moses to the Tabernacle construction)

  • Leviticus (1445 BC)
    • Time period when this book was written: Israel wandering in the wilderness for 40 years (1446-1406 BC)
    • Author: Moses (1526-1406 BC; 120 years old; He was a Levite himself)
    • Major historical figures alive during this time period: Moses, Aaron (Moses’ older brother; 1528-1406 BC; 123 years old), Joshua, Caleb

    Major historical events during this time period:
    – 10 commandments at Mount Sinai (1446 BC). These were given 3 months after the exodus at the beginning of the 40 years in the desert.
    – Tabernacle construction (1445 BC)
    – Israel worships a golden calf, manna and quail from heaven, cloud by day / fire by night, 12 spies scouting out the land of Canaan, miraculous water from the rock that was struck, bronze serpent lifted up on a pole, Balaam’s donkey spoke, earth opened up and swallowed the sons of Korah, Israel’s census and organization around the tabernacle, and the death of Moses (1406 BC).

    Major historical events before this time period:
    – Israel’s first time in slavery (430 years captive by the beast kingdom of Egypt; 1876-1446 BC)
    – Red Sea crossing (1446 BC)

    Major historical events after this time period:
    – Entering the Promised Land (1406 BC)

    *The events recorded in this book took place in the year 1445 BC (The tabernacle construction)

  • Numbers (1444 BC)
    • Time period when this book was written: Israel wandering in the wilderness for 40 years (1446-1406 BC)
    • Author: Moses (1526-1406 BC; 120 years old)
    • Major historical figures alive during this time period: Moses, Aaron (Moses’ older brother; 1528-1406 BC; 123 years old), Joshua, Caleb

    Major historical events during this time period:
    – 10 commandments at Mount Sinai (1446 BC). These were given 3 months after the exodus at the beginning of the 40 years in the desert.
    – Tabernacle construction (1445 BC)
    – Israel worships a golden calf, manna and quail from heaven, cloud by day / fire by night, 12 spies scouting out the land of Canaan, miraculous water from the rock that was struck, bronze serpent lifted up on a pole, Balaam’s donkey spoke, earth opened up and swallowed the sons of Korah, Israel’s census and organization around the tabernacle, and the death of Moses (1406 BC).

    Major historical events before this time period:
    – Israel’s first time in slavery (430 years captive by the beast kingdom of Egypt; 1876-1446 BC)
    – Red Sea crossing (1446 BC)

    Major historical events after this time period:
    – Entering the Promised Land (1406 BC)

    *The events recorded in this book took place primarily between 1445 – 1406 BC (Israel census to preparing to enter the promised land)

  • Deuteronomy (1406 BC)
    • Time period when this book was written: Israel wandering in the wilderness for 40 years (1446-1406 BC)
    • Authors: Moses (1526-1406 BC; 120 years old) and Joshua
    • Major historical figures alive during this time period: Moses, Aaron (Moses’ older brother; 1528-1406 BC; 123 years old), Joshua, Caleb

    Major historical events during this time period:
    – 10 commandments at Mount Sinai (1446 BC). These were given 3 months after the exodus at the beginning of the 40 years in the desert.
    – Tabernacle construction (1445 BC)
    – Israel worships a golden calf, manna and quail from heaven, cloud by day / fire by night, 12 spies scouting out the land of Canaan, miraculous water from the rock that was struck, bronze serpent lifted up on a pole, Balaam’s donkey spoke, earth opened up and swallowed the sons of Korah, Israel’s census and organization around the tabernacle, and the death of Moses (1406 BC).

    Major historical events before this time period:
    – Israel’s first time in slavery (430 years captive by the beast kingdom of Egypt; 1876-1446 BC)
    – Red Sea crossing (1446 BC)

    Major historical events after this time period:
    – Entering the Promised Land (1406 BC)
    – Miraculous crossing of the Jordan river (1406 BC)
    – Conquest of Canaan (starting with Jericho and the walls falling; 1406 BC)

    *The events recorded in this book took place primarily in 1406 BC

  • Joshua (1400-1390 BC)
    • Time period when this book was written: Entering, conquering, and settling in the promised land
    • Author: Joshua (1500-1390 BC; 110 years old)
    • Major historical figures alive during this time period: Joshua, Caleb, Eleazar (son of Aaron), Phinehas (son of Eleazar)

    Major historical events during this time period:
    – Entering the Promised Land (1406 BC)
    – Miraculous crossing of the Jordan River (1406 BC)
    – Conquest of Canaan (5 battles total from 1406-1404 BC)
    – – – (1) Jericho (2) Ai (3) Amorite kings w/ sun standing still, (4) Southern Canaan (5) Northern Canaan
    – Dividing the promised land among the 12 tribes of Israel (1400 BC)

    Major historical events before this time period:
    – 40 years wandering in the wilderness (1446-1406 BC)
    – Receiving the 10 commandments at Mount Sinai (1446 BC)
    – Tabernacle construction (1445 BC)

    Major historical events after this time period:
    – The period of the 13 judges (lasted 325 years; 1375-1050 BC).
    – – – 12 judges + Samuel; 1st judge Othniel appointed (1375 BC); last judge Samuel dies (1050 BC)

    *The events recorded in this book took place between 1406-1390 BC (crossing the Jordan River to the death of Joshua).

  • Judges

    Written: 1045 BC
    Author: Samuel
    Major historical figures during this time: Samuel, Gideon, Samson, Ruth, Elimelech, Naomi, Boaz

    Major historical events DURING this time:
    – The period of the 13 judges (lasted 356 years; 1406-1050 BC)
    – – – 12 judges + Samuel
    – – – 1st judge Othniel appointed (1380 BC)
    – – – Last judge Samuel dies (1050 BC)
    – King David is born (1040 BC)

    Major historical events BEFORE this time:
    – Moses dies (1406 BC)
    – Entering the Promised Land
    – Jericho walls falling
    – Defeating the Canaanites
    – Dividing the land of Israel among the 12 tribes of Israel
    – Sun standing still

    Major historical events AFTER this time:
    – The period of the kings (lasted 464 years; 1050-586 BC)
    – – – 42 kings + 1 queen
    – – – 1st king Saul crowned (1050 BC)
    – – – Last king Zedekiah dethroned (586 BC) because Israel was taken captive by the beast kingdom of Babylon

  • Ruth

    Written: 1000 BC
    Author: Samuel
    Major historical figures during this time: Samuel, Gideon, Samson, Ruth, Elimelech, Naomi, Boaz, David

    Major historical events DURING this time:
    – King David defeats Goliath (1025 BC) during Saul’s reign
    – The period of the 13 judges (lasted 356 years; 1406-1050 BC)
    – – – 12 judges + Samuel
    – – – 1st judge Othniel appointed (1380 BC)
    – – – Last judge Samuel dies (1050 BC)

    Major historical events BEFORE this time:
    – Moses dies (1406 BC)
    – Entering the Promised Land (1406 BC)
    – Jericho walls falling (1406 BC)
    – Defeating the Canaanites
    – Dividing the land of Israel among the 12 tribes of Israel
    – Sun standing still

    Major historical events AFTER this time:
    – The period of the kings (lasted 464 years; 1050-586 BC)
    – – – 42 kings + 1 queen
    – – – 1st king Saul crowned (1050 BC)
    – – – Last king Zedekiah dethroned (586 BC) because Israel was taken captive by the beast kingdom of Babylon

  • 1 Samuel

    Written: 930 BC
    Author: Samuel, Nathan, and Gad
    Major historical figures during this time: Samuel, Saul, David

    Major historical events DURING this time:
    – Saul appointed as 1st king (1050 BC)

    Major historical events BEFORE this time:
    – The story of Ruth
    – The period of the 13 judges (lasted 356 years; 1406-1050 BC)
    – – – 12 judges + Samuel
    – – – 1st judge Othniel appointed (1380 BC)
    – – – Last judge Samuel dies (1050 BC)

    Major historical events AFTER this time:
    – Israel’s 2nd king (David) (1010 BC)
    – Jerusalem established as the capital city of Israel

  • 2 Samuel

    Written: 930 BC
    Authors: Samuel, Nathan, and Gad

    Major historical events DURING this time:
    – Israel’s 2nd king (David)
    – Jerusalem established as the capital city of Israel

    Major historical events BEFORE this time:
    – Israel’s 1st king (Saul)

    Major historical events AFTER this time:
    – Israel’s 3rd king (Solomon)
    – Construction of the 1st temple
    – Israel divided into northern and southern kingdoms

  • 1 Kings

    Written: 550 BC
    Author: Jeremiah

    Major historical events DURING this time:

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