Timeline of Prophets

Joseph was sold into slavery
Jacob had 12 sons but Joseph was his favorite. Their father's favoritism made the other brothers jealous. One day they sold Joseph as a slave and told their father Jacob that Joseph was dead. Joseph was taken to Egypt and sold to a man named Potiphar.

After being falsely accused by Potiphar's wife Joseph was sent to prison. However God enabled Joseph to interpret dreams. He interpreted those of a butler and a baker. The butler was later released.

Later still Pharaoh had a dream, which no one could interpret. The butler remembered Joseph and suggested he might be able to help. Joseph was summoned and God enabled him to interpret the dream. It foretold seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine.

At that time Egypt was one of the richest and most advanced societies on earth. However farming in Egypt depended on the Nile. Each spring the Nile flooded and deposited a layer of silt over the farmland. If the flood was large the harvest would be good. However if the Nile failed to flood famine would occur. Joseph suggested stockpiling food during the good years and rationing it during the famine years. Pharaoh then made him Vizier, or second in command.

27 of 66 2052 years later

Joseph's father and brothers settled in Egypt 1876 BC

Joseph's father and brothers settled in Egypt
Joseph was eventually reconciled with his brothers and the Pharaoh welcomed his family to come and live in Egypt

28 of 66 2074 years later

Birth of Jacob 1841 BC

W Jacob

Genesis 47:9

JACOB

29 of 66 2109 years later

Birth of Joseph 1750 BC

Genesis 41:46; 41:53; 45:

30 of 66 2200 years later

Death of Jacob 1694 BC

W Jacob

Genesis 49:33

JACOB

31 of 66 2256 years later

Death of Joseph 1640 BC

Genesis 50:22;50:26

32 of 66 2310 years later

Birth of Moses 1526 BC

W Moses

Exodus 7:7

Birth of Moses
An Israelite woman named Jochebed gave birth to a boy and she hid him in a basket on the Nile, among the reeds. Pharaoh�s daughter found the child and adopted him. However when he grew up Moses killed an Egyptian and was forced to flee from Egypt.

33 of 66 2424 years later

Moses leaves Egypt, dwells in Arabia (Midian) 1477 BC

W Moses

34 of 66 2473 years later

Death of Moses and Joshua took over 1406 BC

JOSHUA

Death of Moses and Joshua took over
Finally the Israelites invaded Canaan. At that time Canaan was divided into city-states. Each little country had a fortified city as its center. The Israelites invaded Canaan from the east across the River Jordan. God caused the River Jordan to dry up to allow the Israelites to pass. They then destroyed the city of Ai.

35 of 66 2544 years later

Moses Born 1400 BC

W Moses

36 of 66 2550 years later

Death of Moses 1201 BC

W Moses

37 of 66 2749 years later

Birth of Samuel 1105 BC

W Samuel

SAMUEL

Birth of Samuel
During his lifetimes the Israelites fought the Philistines. They were originally from Crete and they invaded Canaan from the sea. The Philistines lived in Southwest Canaan and they fought the Israelites as both peoples tried to dominate the region.

38 of 66 2845 years later

David begins reign 1060 BC

W David

2 Samuel 5:4

DAVID

39 of 66 2890 years later

Solomon begins reign 1020 BC

W Solomon

1 Kings 6:1

40 of 66 2930 years later

Solomon builds the Temple 1016 BC

W Solomon

1 Kings 11:42

41 of 66 2934 years later

David was king of Judah 1003 BC

DAVID

David was king of Judah
After Saul's death David was accepted as king by the tribe of Judah but at first he was not accepted by the rest of Israel

42 of 66 2947 years later

David became king of all Israel 1003 BC

DAVID

David became king of all Israel
Eventually all the tribes accepted David as king. Furthermore David captured Jerusalem from a people called the Jebusites.

43 of 66 2947 years later

Solomon was king of Israel 970 BC

Solomon was king of Israel
During Solomon's reign Israel became a rich country. Solomon built a great palace for himself. He also built a magnificent temple in Jerusalem. However Solomon also alienated the people by imposing heavy taxes and using forced labour.

44 of 66 2980 years later

Death of Solomon died and Rehoboam became king 930 BC

Death of Solomon died and Rehoboam became king
The Israelites appealed to Rehoboam to reduce the burdens his father laid on them but he refused. As a result the kingdom split. Judah and Benjamin formed the kingdom of Judah in the south with Jerusalem as its capital. Rehoboam continued to rule in Judah.

However in the north 10 tribes broke away and formed a kingdom they called Israel. Its capital was, at first, at Shechem and later at Samaria. Jeroboam was its first king.

After the split both kingdoms drifted away from God and turned to worshiping idols.

45 of 66 3020 years later

The prophet Jonah lived around this time. Jonah means dove 785 BC

JONAH

46 of 66 3165 years later

The prophet Amos lived around this time. Amos means one with a burden 760 BC

The prophet Amos lived around this time. Amos means one with a burden
During Amos's lifetime Israel was a rich kingdom. However the wealth was very unevenly distributed. Amos was appalled by the oppression of the poor by the rich and he demanded social justice.

47 of 66 3190 years later

The prophet Hosea appealed to the people of Israel to stop worshiping idols and return to God 750 BC

48 of 66 3200 years later

The prophet Micah lived in Judah Micah strongly criticized the rich for oppressing the poor 740 BC

49 of 66 3210 years later

The great prophet Isaiah lived in Judah 740 BC

50 of 66 3210 years later

The prophet Nahum prophesied that Assyria would be destroyed 630 BC

51 of 66 3320 years later

The prophet Jeremiah lived at this time 626 BC

The prophet Jeremiah lived at this time
Jeremiah prophesied the destruction of Judah as a judgement for her sins.

52 of 66 3324 years later

God warned the prophet Habakkuk that he was going to use the Babylonians to punish Judah 605 BC

53 of 66 3345 years later

The prophet Obadiah prophesied the destruction of the Edomites. (They were destroyed by the Babylonians). 605 BC

54 of 66 3345 years later

While the Jews were in exile in Babylon, Ezekiel had a series of visions 571 BC

55 of 66 3379 years later

The prophet Daniel served the king of Babylon 571 BC

DANIEL

The prophet Daniel served the king of Babylon
In the Babylonian Empire the Jews lived in their own settlements. They were allowed to keep their own religion and customs. Some Jews rose to high positions in Babylon. One such was Daniel.

56 of 66 3379 years later

Ezra led another group of Jews to Jerusalem 458 BC

Ezra led another group of Jews to Jerusalem
Ezra found out that some Jews had married non-Jews. He commanded the people to separate from their non-Jewish wives.

57 of 66 3492 years later

Nehemiah led more Jews to Jerusalem 445 BC

Nehemiah led more Jews to Jerusalem
Led by Nehemiah the Jews rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem

58 of 66 3505 years later

Malachi, the last Old Testament prophet lived at this time. Malachai means messenger 430 BC

59 of 66 3520 years later

Birth of Jesus 4 BC

W Virgin_birth_of_Jesus

Matthew 2:1; 2:15

Birth of Jesus
His family fled to Egypt to escape Herod but soon returned to Israel. Jesus grew up in Nazareth in Galilee.

60 of 66 3946 years later

Jesus preached, healed the sick and cast out demons 27 AD

W Jesus

61 of 66 3977 years later

Jesus ministry begins 29 AD

Luke 3:1

62 of 66 3979 years later

Jesus was crucified but after 3 days he rose from the dead. Later he ascended to Heaven 30 AD

W Crucifixion_of_Jesus

63 of 66 3980 years later

Crucifixion of Jesus 30 AD

Luke 23:32-49