Historical Background to the Old Testament Prophets

Date BC
What was happening?
Prophets/Scripture
745 - 627
Assyrian domination of the Ancient Near East

740 - 701

Isaiah 1 - 40
722/1
Fall of the northern kingdom of Israel (Samaria)
Deportation of some of the people,
who are replaced with non-Israelites

701
Judah, under Hezekiah, crushed, heavy tribute exacted
Micah, in Judah
640 - 609
Josiah king of Judah
Zephaniah 1 - 2
626 - 584

Jeremiah
622/1
Book of Deuteronomy found during temple repairs
2 Kings 22 - 23
2 Chronicles 34 - 35
Nahum
612 - 609

Zephaniah 3
609
Assyrian Empire finished
Josiah killed in battle against Egypt

609 - 605
Egypt dominates Judah
Egypt defeated by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia
Habakkuk
605 - 550
Babylonian domination of the Ancient Near East

597 - 538
Period of Babylonian exile

597
First deportation of people from Judah to Babylonia
Zedekiah king of Judah

593 - 571

Ezekiel
587
Fall of Jerusalem
Second deportation of people from Judah to Babylonia

582
Third deportation of people from Judah to Babylonia

550 - 330
Persian domination of the Ancient Near East

539
Persian defeat of Babylonia

ca 538
Rebuilding of Temple begun at Persian expense
Jews allowed to return to Judah
Isaiah 40 - 55, probably written in Babylonia
538 - 537

Ezra
538 - 515

Isaiah 56 - 66
Zechariah 9 - 14
521
Second, larger group of Jews returned to Judah

520

Haggai
520 - 518

Zechariah 1 - 8
515
Rebuilding of Temple completed

ca 460

Malachi
445 - 411?
Nehemiah governor of Judah

ca 400

Final edition of 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah
ca 460

Malachi
After 450?

Obadiah, Joel

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