(using dates based primarily on John Bright’s A History of Israel, p. 462ff.)

I. Assyrian Empire (Gen.10:11)

A. Religion and culture were greatly influenced by the Sumerian/Babylonian Empire.

B. Tentative list of rulers and approximate dates:

 

	1.		1354-1318	— Asshur-Uballit I:
			(a) conquered the Hittite city of Carchemish (b) began to remove Hittite influence and allowed Assyria to develop
	2.		1297-1266	—  Adad-Nirari I (powerful king)
	3.		1265-1235	—  Shalmaneser I (powerful king)
	4.		1234-1197	—  Tukulti-Ninurta I
				—  first conquest of Babylonian empire to the south
	5.		1118-1078	—  Tiglath-Pileser I
				—  Assyria becomes a major power in Mesopotamia
	6.		1012-972	—  Ashur-Rabi II
	7.		972-967	—  Ashur-Resh-Isui II
	8.		966-934	—  Tiglath-Pileser II
	9.		934-912	—  Ashur-Dan II
	10.		912-890	—  Adad-Nirari II
	11.		890-884	—  Tukulti-Ninurta II
	12.		883-859	—  Asshur-Nasir-Apal II
	13.		859-824	—  Shalmaneser III
				—  Battle of Qarqar in 853
	14.		824-811	—  Shamashi-Adad V
	15.		811-783	—  Adad-Nirari III
	16.		781-772	—  Shalmaneser IV
	17.		772-754	—  Ashur-Dan III
	18.		754-745	—  Ashur-Nirari V
	19.		745-727	— Tiglath-Pileser III:

a. called by his Babylonian throne name, Pul, in II Kings 15:19

b. very powerful king

c. started the policy of deporting conquered peoples

d. In 735 b.c.. there was the formation of the “Syro-Ephramatic League” which was an attempt to unify all the available military resources of the transjordan nations from the head waters of the Euphrates to Egypt for the purpose of neutralizing the rising military power of Assyria. King Ahaz of Judah refused to join and was invaded by Israel and Syria. He wrote to Tiglath-Pileser III for help against the advise of Isaiah (cf. II Kgs. 16; Isa. 7-12).

e. In 732 Tiglath-Pileser III invades and conquers Syria and Israel and places a vassal king on the throne of Israel, Hoshea (732-722). Thousands of Jews from the Northern Kingdom were exiled to Media (cf. II Kings 15).

20. 727-722 —  Shalmaneser V

a. Hoshea forms an alliance with Egypt and is invaded by Assyria (cf. II Kgs.17)

b. besieged Samaria in 724 b.c.

21. 722-705 —  Sargon II:

a. After a three year siege started by Shalmaneser V, his successor Sargon II conquers the capital of Israel, Samaria. Over 27,000 are deported to Media.

b. The Hittite empire is also conquered.

c. In 714-711 another coalition of transjordan nations and Egypt rebelled against Assyria. This coalition is known as “the Ashdad Rebellion.” Even Hezekiah of Judah originally was involved. Assyria invaded and destroyed several Philistine cities.

22. 705-681  — Sennacherib:

a. In 705 another coalition of transjordan nations and Egypt rebelled after the death of Sargon II. Hezekiah fully supported this rebellion. Sennacherib invaded in 701. The rebellion was crushed but Jerusalem was spared by an act of God (cf. Isa. 36-39 and II Kgs. 18-19).

b. Sennacherib also put down the rebellion in Elam and Babylon.

23. 681-669 —  Esarhaddon:

a. first Assyrian ruler to attack and conquer Egypt

b. had great sympathy with Babylon and rebuilt its capital city

24. 669-633 —  Ashurbanipal:

a. also called Osnappar in Ezra 4:10

b. His brother Shamash-shum-ukin was made king of Babylon (later demoted to viceroy). This brought several years of peace between Assyria and Babylon, but there was an undercurrent of independence which broke out in 652 led by his brother (who had been demoted to Viceroy).

c. fall of Thebes, 663 b.c.

d. defeated Elam, 653, 645 b.c.

25. 633-629 —  Asshur-Etil-Ilani

26. 629-612 —  Sin-Shar-Ishkun

27. 612-609 —  Asshur-Uballit II:

a. enthroned king in exile in Haran

b. the fall of Assher in 614 b.c. and Nineveh in 612 b.c.

 

II. Neo-Babylon Empire:

A. 703-? — Merodach-Baladan

 —  Started several revolts against Assyrian rule

B. 652 Shamash-shum-ukin:

1. Esarhaddon’s son and Asshurbanipal’s brother

2. he started a revolt against Assyria but was defeated

C. 626-605 Nabopolassar:

1. was the first monarch of the Neo-Babylonian Empire

2. he attacked Assyria from the south while Cyaxares of Media attacked from the northeast

3. the old Assyrian capital of Asshur fell in 614 and the powerful new capital of Ninevah fell in 612 b.c.

4. the remnant of the Assyrian army retreated to Haran. They even installed a king.

5. In 608 Pharaoh Necho II (cf. II Kings 23:29) marched north to help the remnant of the Assyrian army for the purpose of forming a buffer zone against the rising power of Babylon. Josiah, the godly king of Judah (cf. II Kings 23), opposed the movement of the Egyptian army through Palestine. There was a minor skirmish at Megiddo. Josiah was wounded and died (II Kgs. 23:29-30). His son, Jehoakaz, was made king. Pharaoh Necho II arrived too late to stop the destruction of the Assyrian forces at Haran. He engaged the Babylonian forces commanded by the crown prince Nebuchadnezzar II and was soundly defeated in 605 b.c. at Carchemesh on the Euphrates River.

        On his way back to Egypt Pharaoh Necho stopped at Jerusalem and sacked the city. He replaced and deported Jehoahaz after only three months. He put another son of Josiah, Jehoiakim, on the throne (cf. II Kings 23:31-35).

6. Nebuchadnezzar II chased the Egyptian army south through Palestine but he received word of his father’s death and returned to Babylon to be crowned. Later, in the same year, he returned to Palestine. He left Jehoiakim on the throne of Judah but exiled several thousand of the leading citizens and several members of the royal family. Daniel and his friends were part of this deportation.

D. 605-562  —  Nebuchadnezzar II:

1. From 597-538 Babylon was in complete control of Palestine.

2. In 597 another deportation from Jerusalem occurred because of Jehoakim’s alliance with Egypt (II Kings 24). He died before the arrival of Nebuchadnezzar II. His son Jehoiachin was only king for three months when he was exiled to Babylon. Ten thousand citizens, including Ezekiel, were resettled close to the City of Babylon by the Canal Kebar.

3. In 586, after continued flirtation with Egypt, the City of Jerusalem was completely destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar (II Kgs. 25) and a mass deportation occurred. Zedekiah, who replaced Jehoiachin, was exiled and Gedaliah was appointed governor.

4. Gedaliah was killed by Jewish renegade military forces. These forces fled to Egypt and forced Jeremiah to go with them. Nebuchadnezzar invaded a fourth time (605, 596, 586, 582) and deported all remaining Jews that he could find.

E. 562-560  —  Evil-merodach, Nebuchadnezzar’s son, was also known as Amel-Marduk (Akkadian, “Man of Marduk”)

  —  He released Jehoiachin from prison but he had to remain in Babylon (cf. II Kings 25:27-30; Jer. 52:31).

F. 560-556  —  Neriglissar

 —  He assassinated Evil-merodach, who was his brother-in-law

 —  He was previously Nebuchadnezzar’s general who destroyed Jerusalem (cf. Jer. 39:3,13)

G. 556 —  Labaski-Marduk

 —  He was Neriglissar’s son who assumed kingship as a boy, but was assassinated after only nine months (Berossos).

H. 556-539  —  Nabonidus (Akkadian, “Nebo is exalted”):

1. Nabonidus was not related to the royal house so he possibly (Herodotus) married a daughter (Nitocris) of Nebuchadnezzar (Nitocris was one of his Egyptian wives).

2. He spent most of the time building a temple to the moon god “Sin” in Tema. He was the son of the high priestess of this goddess. This earned him the enmity of the priests of Marduk, chief god of Babylon.

3. He spent most of his time trying to put down revolts (in Syria and north Africa) and stabilize the kingdom.

4. He moved to Tema and left the affairs of state to his son, Belshazzar, in the capital, Babylon (cf. Dan.5).

I. ? - 539  —  Belshazzar (co-reign)

 —  The city of Babylon fell very quickly to the Persian Army under Gobryas of Gutium by diverting the waters of the Euphrates and entering the city unopposed. The priests and people of the city saw the Persians as liberators and restorers of Marduk. Gobryas was made Governor of Babylon by Cyrus II. Gobryas may have been the Darius the Mede of Dan. 5:31; 6:1. “”Darius”“ means “”royal one.”“

 

III. Medio-Persian Empire: Survey of the Rise of Cyrus II (Isa. 41:2,25;44:28-45:7; 46:11; 48:15):

A. 625-585  — Cyaxares was the king of Media who helped Babylon defeat Assyria.

B. 585-550  — Astyages was king of Media (capital was Ecbatana). Cyrus II was his grandson by CambysesI (600-559, Persian) and Mandane (daughter of Astyages, Median).

C. 550-530  — Cyrus II of Ansham (eastern Elam) was a vassal king who revolted:

1. Nabonidus, the Babylonian king, supported Cyrus.

2. Astyages’ general, Harpagus, led his army to join Cyrus’ revolt

3. Cyrus II dethroned Astyages.

4. Nabonidus, in order to restore a balance of power, made an alliance with:

a. Egypt

b. Croesus, King of Lydia (Asia Minor)

5. 547  — Cyrus II marched against Sardis (capital of Lydia) and it fell in 546 b.c.

6. 539  — In mid-October the general Ugbaru and Gobryas, both of Gutium, with Cyrus' army, took Babylon without resistance. Ugbaru was made governor, but died of war wounds within weeks, Gobryas was then made governor of Babylon.

7. 539  — In late October Cyrus II "the Great" personally entered as liberator. His policy of kindness to national groups reversed years of deportation as a national policy.

8. 538  —  Jews and others (cf. the Cyrus Cylinder) were allowed to return home and rebuild their native temples (cf. II Chr. 36:22,23; Ezra 1:1-4). He also restored the vessels from YHWH’s temple which Nebuchadnezzar had taken to Marduk’s temple in Babylon (cf. Ezra 1:7-11; 6:5).

9. 530  — Cyrus’ son, Cambyses II, succeeded him briefly as co-regent, but later the same year Cyrus died while in a military campaign.

D. 530-522  — reign of Cambyses II

1. added Egyptian empire in 525 b.c. to the Medo-Persian Empire;

2. he had a short reign:

a. some say he committed suicide;

b. Heroditus said he cut himself with his own sword while mounting his horse and died of the resulting infection.

3. brief usurpation of the throne by Pseudo-Smerdis (Gaumata) - 522

E. 522-486  —  Darius I (Hystapes) came to rule

1. He was not of the royal line but a military general.

2. He organized the Persian Empire using Cyrus’ plans for Satraps (cf. Ezra 5-6; also during Haggai’s and Zechariah’s time).

3. He set up coinage like Lydia.

4. He attempted to invade Greece, but was repulsed.

F. 486-465  — Reign of Xerxes I:

1. put down Egyptian revolt

2. intended to invade Greece and fulfill Persian dream but was defeated in the battle of Thermopoly in 480 b.c. and Salamis in 479 b.c.

3. Esther's husband, who is called Ahasuerus in the Bible, was assassinated in 465 b.c.

G. 465-424  —  Artaxerxes I (Longimanus) reigned (cf Ezra 7-10; Nehemiah; Malachi):

1. Greeks continued to advance until confronted with the Pelopanisian Civil Wars

2. Greece divides (Athenian - Pelopanisian)

3. Greek civil wars lasted about 20 years

4. during this period the Jewish community is strengthened

5. brief reign of Xerxes II and Sekydianos - 423

H. 423-404  — Darius II (Nothos) reigned

I. 404-358  — Artaxerxes II (Mnemon) reigned

J. 358-338  —  Artaxerxes III (Ochos) reigned

K. 338-336  — Arses reigned

L. 336-331  —  Darius III (Codomannus) reigned until the Battle of Issus 331 and was defeated by Greece

 

IV. Survey of Egypt:

A. Hyksos (Shepherd Kings - Semitic rulers)-1720/10-1550

B. 18th Dynasty (1570-1310):

1. 1570-1546  — Amosis

a. made Thebes the capital

b. invaded southern Canaan

2. 1546-1525  —  Amenophis I (Amenhotep I)

3. 1525-1494  —  Thutmosis I

4. 1494-1490  —  Thutmosis II - married Thutmosis I’s daughter, Hatshepsut

5. 1490-1435  —  Thutmosis III (nephew of Hatshepsut)

6. 1435-1414  —  Amenophis II (Amenhotep II)

7. 1414-1406  —  Thutmosis IV

8. 1406-1370  —  Amenophis III (Amenhotep III)

9. 1370-1353  —  Amenophis IV (Akhenaten)

a. worshiped the Sun, Aten

b. instituted a form of high-god worship (monotheism)

c. Tel-El-Amarna letters are in this period

10. ? Smenhkare

11. ? Tutankhamun (Tutankhaten)

12. ? Ay (Aye-Eye)

13. 1340-1310  —  Haremhab

C. 19th Dynasty (1310-1200):

1. ?  Rameses I (Ramses)

2. 1309-1290  — Seti I (Sethos)

3. 1290-1224  —  Ramesses II (Ramses II)

a. from archaeological evidence most likely Pharaoh of the exodus

b. built the cities of Avaris, Pithom and Ramses by Habaru (possibly Semites or Hebrew) slaves

4. 1224-1216  — Marniptah (Merenptah)

5. ? Amenmesses

6. ? Seti II

7. ? Siptah

8. ? Tewosret

D. 20th Dynasty (1180-1065)

1. 1175-1144  — Rameses III

2. 1144-1065  — Rameses IV  —  XI

E. 21st Dynasty (1065-935):

1. ? Smendes

2. ? Herihor

F. 22nd Dynasty (935-725  — Libyan):

1. 935-914  —  Shishak (Shosenk I or Sheshong I)

a. protected Jeroboam I until Solomon’s death

b. conquered Palestine about 925 (cf. I Kgs. 14-25; II Chr. 12)

2. 914-874  — Osorkon I

3. ? Osorkon II

4. ? Shoshnek II G. 23rd Dynasty (759-715  — Libyan)

H. 24th Dynasty (725-709)

I. 25th Dynasty (716/15-663  — Ethiopian/Nubian):

1. 710/09-696/95  —  Shabako (Shabaku)

2. 696/95-685/84  —  Shebteko (Shebitku)

3. 690/689, 685/84-664  —  Tirhakah (Taharqa)

4. ?   Tantamun

J. 26th Dynasty (663-525  — Saitic):

1. 663-609  —  Psammetichus I (Psamtik)

2. 609-593  —  Neco II (Necho)

3. 593-588  —  Psammetichus II (Psamtik)

4. 588-569  —  Apries (Hophra)

5. 569-525  —  Amasis

6. ?              —  Psammetichus III (Psamtik)

K. 27th Dynasty (525-401  —  Persian):

1. 530-522  —  Cambyses II (Cyrus II’‘s son)

2. 522-486  —  Darius I

3. 486-465  —  Xerxes I

4. 465-424  —  Artaxerxes I

5. 423-404  —  Darius II

L. Several brief dynasties (404-332)

1. 404-359  —  Artaxerxes II

2. 559/8 - 338/7  —  Artaxerxes III

3. 338/7 - 336/7  —  Arses

4. 336/5 - 331  —  Darius III

 

*for a differing chronology see Zondervan’s Pictorial Bible Encyclopedia, vol. 2 p. 231.

V. Survey of Greece:

A. 359-336  —  Philip II of Macedon:

1. built up Greece

2. assassinated in 336 b.c.

B. 336-323  — Alexander II “the Great” (Philip’s son):

1. routed Darius III, the Persian king, at the battle of Isus

2. died in 323 b.c. in Babylon of a fever at 32/33 yrs. of age

3. Alexander’s generals divided his empire at his death:

a. Cassender  —  Macedonia and Greece

b. Lysimicus  —  Thrace

c. Seleucus I  —  Syria and Babylon

d. Ptolemy  —  Egypt and Palestine

e. Antigonus  —  Asia Minor (He did not last long)

C. Seleucids vs. Ptolemies struggle for control of Palestine:

1. Syria (Seleucid Rulers):

a. 312-280  —  Seleucus I

b. 280-261  —  Antiochus I Soter

c. 261-246  —  Antiochus II Theus

d. 246-226  —  Seleucus II Callinicus

e. 226-223  —  Seleucus III Ceraunus

f. 223-187  —  Antiochus III the Great

g. 187-175  —  Seleucus IV Philopator

h. 175-163  —  Antiochus IV Epiphanes

i. 163-162  —  Antiochus V

j. 162-150  —  Demetrius I

2. Egyptian (Ptolemaic Rulers):

a. 327-285  —  Ptolemy I Soter

b. 285-246  —  Ptolemy II Philadelphus

c. 246-221  —  Ptolemy III Evegetes

d. 221-203  —  Ptolemy IV Philopator

e. 203-181  —  Ptolemy V Epiphanes

f. 181-146  —  Ptolemy VI Philometor

3. Brief Survey:

a. 301  — Palestine under Ptolemy rule for 181 years.

b. 175-163  — Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the eighth Seleucid ruler, wanted to Hellenize Jews by force, if necessary:

(1) constructed gymnasiums

(2) constructed pagan altars of Zeus Olympius in the Temple

c. 168  —  December 13  —  hog slain on the altar in Jerusalem by Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Some consider this to be “the abomination of desolation” in Daniel 9 & 11.

d. 167  —  Mattathias, priest in Modin, and sons rebel. The best known of his sons was Judas Maccabeas, “Judas the Hammer.”

e. 165  —  December 25  —  Temple rededicated. This is called Hanukkah or “Festival of Lights.”

 

For a good discussion of the dating problems, procedures and presuppositions see The Expositors Bible Commentary, vol. 4, pp. 10-17.

Copyright © 2012 Bible Lessons International

KINGS OF THE DIVIDED KINGDOM

Judah’s Kings (I Chr. 3:1-16; Matt. 1:6-11)

Israel’s Kings

Names & Dates

Bright

Young

Harrison

Bible Texts

Names & Dates

Bright

Young

Harrison

Bible Texts

Rehoboam	922-915	933-917	931/30-913	I Kgs. 11:43-12:27; 14:21- 31 II Chr. 9:31-12:16	Jeroboam I	922-901	933-912	931/30-910/09	I Kgs. 11:26-40; 12:12- 14:20
Abijah (Abijam)	915-914	916-914	913-911/10	I Kgs. 14:31-15:8 II Chr. 11:20,22
Asa	913-873	913-873	911/10-870/69	I Kgs. 15:8-30; 16:8,10, 23,29; 22:41,43,46 Jer. 41:9	Nadab Baasha	901-900 900-877	912-911 911-888	910/09-909/08 909/08-886/85	I Kgs. 14:20; 15:25-31 I Kgs.15:16-16:7; II Kgs..9:9 II Chr. 16:1-6 Jer. 41:9
Jehoshaphat	873-849	873-849	870/69-848	I Kgs. 15:24; 22:1-51 II Kgs. 3:1-12; 8:16-19 I Chr. 3:10 II Chr. 17:1-21:1	Elah	877-876	888-887	886/85-885/84	I Kgs. 16:8-14
(Jehoram Co- regent)	------------	-----------	853-848	I Kgs. 22:50 II Kgs. 1:17; 8:16; 12:18	Zimri (Army General) Omri (Army General)	876 876-869	887 887-877	885/84 885/84-874/73	I Kgs. 16:9-20 II Kgs. 9:31 I Kgs. 16:15-28 II Kgs. 8:26 Micah 6:16
Jehoram (Joram)	849-842	849-842	848-841	I Chr. 221:1-20 Matthew 1:8
Ahaziah	842	842	-------------	II Kgs. 8:24-9:29 II Chr. 22:1-9	Ahab	869-850	876-854	874/73-853	I Kgs. 16:29-22:40
					Ahaziah	850-849	854-853	853-852	I Kgs. 22:40,41,49,51-53 II Chr. 18:1-3,19
Athaliah (Queen)	842-337	842-836	841-835	II Kgs. 8:26; 11:1-20 II Chr. 22:2-23:21	Jehoram (Joram)	849-842	853-842	852-841	II Kgs. 1:17; 3:1-27; 8:16- 9:29
Joash (Jehoash)	837-800	836-797	835-796	II Kgs. 11:2-3; 12:1-21 II Chr. 22:11-12; 24:1-27	Jehu (Army General)	842-815	842-815	841-814/13	I Kgs. 19:16-17 II Kgs. 9:1-10:36; 15:12 II Chr. 22:7-9 Hosea 1:4

 

Judah’s Kings (I Chr. 3:1-16; Matt. 1:6-11) [Con’t.]

Israel’s Kings (Con’t.)

Names &Dates

Bright

Young

Harrison

Bible Texts

Names &Dates

Bright

Young

Harrison

Bible Texts

Amaziah	800-783	797-779	796-767	II Kgs. 12:21; 14:1-22 II Chr. 25:1-28
(Uzziah Co- regent)	-----------	----------	791/90-767	II Kgs. 14:21; 15:1-7	Jehoahaz	815-801	814-798	814/13-798	II Kgs. 10:35; 13:1-9
Uzziah (Azariah)	783-742	779-740	767-740/39	II Chr. 26:1-23 Hosea 1:1; Amos 1:1 Zechariah 14:5	Jehosah	801-786	798-783	798-782/81	II Kgs. 13:9-13,25 II Chr. 25:17-25 Hosea 1:1; Amos 1:1
(Jotham Co- regent)	750-742	----------	750-740/39	II Kgs.15:7,32-38	(Jer. II Co- regent)	---------	-----------	793/92-782/81	II Kgs. 13:13; 14:16,23-29 Hosea 1:1
Jotham	742-735	740-736	740/39-732/31	I Chr. 5:17 II Chr. 26:23-27:9 Isa. 1:1; 7:1 Hosea 1:1; Micah 1:1	Jeroboam II Zechariah	786-746 746-745	783-743 743	782/81-753 753-752	Amos 1:1; 7:9-11 II Kgs.15:8-12
(Ahaz Co-regent)	-----------	----------	744/43-732/31	II Kgs. 15:30-16:20 II Chr. 27:9-28:27	Shallum	745	743	752	II Kgs. 15:10,13-15
Ahaz	735-715	736-728	732/31-716/15	Isa. 1:1; 7:1ff; 14:28; 38:8 Hosea 1:1; Micah 1:1	Menahem	745-738	743-737	752-742/41	II Kgs. 15:14,16-22
(Hezekiah Co-regent)	-----------	----------	729-716/15	II Kgs. 16:20; 18:1-20,21 II Chr. 28:27-32:33 Prov. 25:1	Pekahiah	738-737	737-736	742/41-740/39	II Kgs. 15:23-26
Hezekiah	715-687	727-699	716/15-687/86	Isa. 1:1; 36:1-39:8 Hosea 1:1; Micah 1:1 Matt. 1:9-10	Pekah	737-732	736-730	740/39-732/31	II Kgs. 15:27-31; 16:5 II Chr. 28:6; Isa. 7:1
(Manaseh Co- regent)	-----------	----------	696/95-687/86	II Kgs. 20:21-21:18; 23:12,26; 24:2	Hoshea	732-724	730-722	732/31-723/22	II Kgs. 17:1-18
Manasseh	687/86-642	698-643	687/86-642/41	II Chr. 32:33-33:20 Jer. 15:4ff; II Kgs. 21:18-26	Fall of Samaria to Assyria	724 B.C.	722 B.C.	722 B.C.
Amon	642-640	643-641	642/41-640/39	II Chr. 33:20-25 Jer. 1:2; Zeph. 1:1 I Kgs. 13:2-3

 

Judah’s Kings (Con’t.)

Israel’s Kings (Con’t.)

Names & Dates	Bright	Young	Harrison	Bible Texts	Names & Dates	Bright	Young	Harrison	Bible Texts
Josiah	610-609	640-609	640/39-609	II Kgs. 21:24; 22:1-23:30 II Chr. 33:25-35:27 Jer. 1:2; Zeph. 1:1 Matt. 1:10-11
Jehoahaz	609 (3 months)	609	609	II Kgs. 23:30-34 II Chr. 36:1-4
Jehoiakim	609-598	609-598	609-597	II Kgs. 23:34-24:6,19 II Chr. 36:4-8 Jer. 1:3; 22:18-23; 25:1ff; 26:1ff; 27:1ff; 35:1ff; 36:1ff Dan. 1:1-2
Jehoiachin	598/97 (3 months)	598	597	II Kgs. 24:6,8-17; 25:27-30 II Chr. 36:8-9 Jer. 52:31; Ezek. 1:2
Zedekiah	597-586	598-587	597-587	II Kgs. 24:17-25:7 II Chr. 36:10-11 Jer. 1:3; 21:1-7; 24:8-10; 27:1ff; 32:4-5; 34:1-22; 37:1-39:7; 52:1-11
Fall of Jerusalem to Babylon	586 B.C.	587 B.C.	587 B.C.	Lamentations

 

For a good discussion on the problems of dating see E. R. Thiele, The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings.

 

Copyright © 2012 Bible Lessons International

I. OPENING STATEMENTS

A. The relationship between the OT and other ways of the chronicling of events

1. Other Ancient Near Eastern literature is mythological

a. polytheistic (usually humanistic gods reflecting the powers of nature but using interpersonal conflict motifs)

b. based on the cycles of nature (dying and rising gods)

2. Greco-Roman is for entertainment and encouragement rather than the recording of historical events per se (Homer in many ways reflects Mesopotamian motifs)

B. Possibly the use of three German terms illustrates the difference in types or definitions of history

1. "Historie," the recording of events (bare facts) 

2. "Geschichte," the interpretation of events showing their significance to mankind

3. "Heilsgeschichte" refers uniquely to God's redemptive plan and activity within the historical process

C. The OT and NT narratives are "Geschichte," which leads to an understanding of Heilgeschichte.  They are selected theologically oriented historical events.

1. selected events only

2. chronology not as significant as theology

3. events shared to reveal truth

D. Narrative is the most common genre in the OT.  It has been estimated that 40% of the OT is narrative. Therefore, this genre is useful to the Spirit in communicating God's message and character to fallen mankind.  But, it is done, not propositionally (like the NT Epistles), but by implication, summation or selected dialog/monolog.  One must continue to ask why this is recorded. What is it trying to emphasize?  What is its theological purpose?

This in no way is meant to depreciate the history.  But, it is history as the servant and channel of revelation. 

II. Biblical Narratives

A. God is active in His world. Inspired Bible authors chose certain events to reveal God. God is the major character of the OT.

B. Every narrative functions in several ways:

1. who is God and what is He doing in His world

2. mankind is revealed through God's dealing with individuals and national entities

3. as an example specifically notice Joshua's military victory linked to covenant performance (cf. 1:7-8; 8:30-35).

C. Often narratives are strung together to make a larger literary unit which reveals a single theological truth. 

III. Interpretive principles of OT narratives

A. The best discussion I have seen about interpreting OT narratives is by Douglas Stuart in How to Read the Bible For All Its Worth, pp. 83-84

1. An OT narrative usually does not directly teach a doctrine.

2. An OT narrative usually illustrates a doctrine or doctrines taught propositionally elsewhere.

3. Narratives record what happened—not necessarily what should have happened or what ought to happen every time.  Therefore, not every narrative has an individual identifiable moral of the story.

4. What people do in narratives is not necessarily a good example for us.  Frequently, it is just the opposite.

5. Most of the characters in OT narratives are far from perfect, and their actions also.

6. We are not always told at the end of a narrative whether what happened was good or bad. We are expected to be able to judge that on the basis of what God has taught us directly and categorically elsewhere in the Scripture. 

7. All narratives are selective and incomplete. Not all the relevant details are always given (cf. John 21:25). What does appear in the narrative is everything that the inspired author thought important for us to know.

8. Narratives are not written to answer all our theological questions.  They have particular, specific, limited purposes and deal with certain issues, leaving others to be dealt with elsewhere, in other ways.

9. Narratives may teach either explicitly (by clearly stating something) or implicitly (by clearly implying something without actually stating it).

10. In the final analysis, God is the hero of all biblical narratives.

B. Another good discussion on interpreting narratives is in Walter Kaiser's Toward Exegetical Theology.

"The unique aspect of the narrative portions of Scripture is that the writer usually allows the words and actions of the people in his narrative to convey the main thrust of his message. Thus, instead of addressing us through direct statements, such as are found in doctrinal or teaching portions of Scripture, the writer tends to remain instead somewhat in the background as far as direct teaching or evaluative statements are concerned. Consequently, it becomes critically important to recognize the larger context in which the narrative fits and to ask why the writer used the specific selection of events in the precise sequence in which he placed them. The twin clues to meaning now will be arrangement of episodes and selection of detail from a welter of possible speeches, persons, or episodes. Furthermore, the divine reaction to and estimate of these people and events must often be determined from the way the author allows one person or a group of people to respond at the climax of the selected sequence of events; that is, if he has not interrupted the narration to give his own (in this instance, God's) estimate of what has taken place" (p. 205).

C. In narratives the truth is found in the whole literary unit and not the details. Beware of proof-texting or using OT narratives as a precedent for your life. 

IV. Two levels of interpretation

A. YHWH's redemptive, revelatory acts for Abraham's seed

B. YHWH's will for every believer's life (in every age)

 C.The first focuses on "knowing God (salvation); the second on serving Him (the Christian life of faith, cf. Rom. 15:4; I Cor. 10:6,11)

 

Copyright © 2012 Bible Lessons International

 

Contents

Introduction
Week One of Twelve	Matthew 1:2; Luke 1:2; John 1:1-18
Week Two of Twelve	Mathew 3:4; 12:1-32; Mark 1:3; Luke 3:6; John 1:19-51; 2:5
Week Three of Twelve	Matthew 5:7
Week Four of Twelve	Matthew 8:1-13; 11; 12:33-50; Luke 7; 8:19-21; 11
Week Five of Twelve	Matthew 8:14-10:42; 13; Mark 4:5; Luke 8:1-18; 22-56
Week Six of Twelve	Matthew 14:1-15:31; Mark 6:7; Luke 9:1-17; John 6
Week Seven of Twelve	Matthew 15:32-18:9; Mark 8:9; Luke 9:18-62
Week Eight of Twelve	Matthew 18:10-35; Luke 10:1-12:12; John 7:10
Week Nine of Twelve	Matthew 19:20; Mark 10; Luke 12:13-19:27
Week Ten of Twelve	Matthew 21:25, Mark 11:13; Luke 19:28-21:38, John 11:1-13:17
Week Eleven of Twelve	Matthew 26:1-46; Mark 14:1-42; Luke 22:1-46; John 13:18-17:26
Week Twelve of Twelve	Matthew 26:47-28:20; Mark 14:43-16:20; Luke 22:47-24:53; John 18:1-21:25

Introduction

The following is a chronological parallel study of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The text is grouped into twelve weeks of Sunday - Saturday studies, making it useful for personal daily study or easily adaptable for group weekly discussion and sharing.

Each of the four Gospels is written to a different audience and is intended to address a different element of the Good News of the miraculous birth, life ministry, and sacrificial death of the Son of man, Jesus. Our purpose is to identify the vital threads of both the unique and common themes running concurrently and chronologically through Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Matthew writes a first-hand account of his experiences and observations while following Jesus, primarily to a Hebrew audience. Mark also writes a first-hand account, primarily to a Greek Gentile audience, to explain the Good News. Luke's text is assembled from collected accounts of the experiences and observations of others, and he primarily writes to non-Jews to clarify and organize the Good News. John writes a first-hand account, primarily to teach and equip Believers for evangelism of the Good News.

Our studies are in common with the motivations of Luke: Prompted by the Lord God, he set out to make the Good News clear and thoroughly documented, that we may "know for certain" (Luke 1:4) the things which we are taught. We have set ourselves about a similar task, that of bringing Truth in plainspoken words and an orderly manner to a new generation; Jesus instructed us to encourage and to teach one another. The reader may find it valuable to visit http://net.bible.org to read the NET Bible translator's notes, which contain a wealth of perspective.

The context of the Gospels within the larger Biblical text.

Malachi, the last Book in the Old Testament Canon, relates in chronological order the events which bring the Old Testament to a conclusion. Malachi reminds Israel how God has set her apart and sustained her. God's faithfulness was disrespected by his people through their sacrilege of priestly service and message - along with rebellion, resistance, and arrogant self-sufficiency. The Word of the Lord concludes with a warning of impending judgment together with the hope of a redeemer, "the sun of righteousness" (Mal. 4:2).

A great deal of time passed in history from the Book of Malachi to the earliest writings of the New Testament. The Gospels pick up history as it transitions from the Old Testament into the New Testament and merges elements of Old Testament Law and New Testament Grace.

It is important that the Bible reader have clear understanding of the meaning of terms the Lord God uses in His Word. The NET translation team and others have wrestled with the meaning of Biblical words in their original context and language. Some terms have historically escaped precise rendering as they were transitioned from the ancient Hebrew or Greek original text-sources to early-English, and later to modern English. Many helpful tools are available to aid in understanding the intended meaning of Biblical words, for example:

Naves Topical Bible Dictionary

Collaborative International Dictionary of English Bible Dictionary

NET Bible Word Study (http://classic.net.bible.org/lexicon.php)

One of the most-valuable tools for clarity is discovered while reading some of the 60,000 translator's notes accompanying the NET Bible, that is, the full context of the Biblical text. When in doubt one may begin with the certainty that no text may contradict any other text. This self-clarifying principle is as unique to the Word of God as it is unique to His perfection.

All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org

Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.

Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.

Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.

Copyright © 2012 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study –“The Parallel Gospels in Chronological Order” – Week 1 of 12 - prepared by David M. Colburn and edited by Merrilee Kell Clark for bible.org in June of 2012. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.