The Bible and History

 

1300–1100 BC Fall of Canaan

• traditions underlying Pentateuch, Judges, 1 Samuel taking shape
• early law codes
• early poetry (Exodus 15, Judges 5)

1000–900 BC United Kingdom under Saul, David and Solomon

• Southern (J) tradition put into writing
• stories of David, "Court History" (2 Sam 9–20, 1 Kgs 1–2)
• use of Psalms in Temple worship begins
• cultivation of proverbial wisdom in Solomon’s court

900–722 BC Divided Kingdoms: Judah (Southern); Israel (Northern)

• Northern (E) tradition composed
• preservation of court records of Judah and Israel (1-2 Kgs, 1-2 Chr)
• Amos and Hosea in Israel; Isaiah and Micah in Judah

722–586 BC Destruction of the Kingdoms

• J and E merged after fall of Israel to Assyrians in 722
• nucleus of Deut is made basis of Josiah’s reform (ca. 622)
• Holiness Code (Lev 17–26) edited
• oracles of Isaiah collected by disciples and edited
• Jeremiah dictates to Baruch

586–539 BC Babylonian Exile/Rise of Monotheistic Judaism

• Priestly account (P) gives structure to emerging Pentateuch
• Deuteronomic History edited
• Ezekiel in Babylon
• Second Isaiah (ca. 550)

539–333 BC Under the Persians/Return from Exile

• completion of Pentateuch (ca. 400?)
• memoirs of Nehemiah and/or Ezra
• Third Isaiah
• collection of Psalms

333–142 BC Under the Greeks

• Chronicler's History
• Sayings of Qoheleth edited by students
• Daniel, Sirach (ca. 190)

142–62 BC Under the Maccabeans

• 1-2 Maccabees, Tobit, Judith, Wisdom

62 BC–105 AD Under Roman rule

• Pauline letters, Gospels, Acts, Revelation