HomeTimelinesTimeline of Old Testament Books

Timeline of Old Testament Books

Our Timeline of Old Testament Books offers a helpful lens for understanding the historical and cultural contexts in which each biblical book was written. Though the books collectively narrate God’s unfolding work among His people, placing them in their probable eras of authorship allows us to see how His message was uniquely shaped by the events and circumstances of the time. From Moses’ foundational writings in the wilderness to the post-exilic prophecies of rebuilding and renewal, each era conveys a fresh glimpse of God’s unchanging character. By considering the approximate dates of composition, we gain deeper insight into the progression of revelation, recognizing how the Holy Spirit spoke consistently through diverse voices and circumstances to ultimately reveal God’s redemptive plan for humanity.

850 BC

Obadiah

The book of Obadiah bears the name of its author. The name Obadiah means “servant of Yahweh,” suggesting that the prophet was born and raised by godly parents. Obadiah mentioned no kings who ruled in his day. But the reference to the plundering of Jerusalem likely speaks of the city’s invasion either by the Philistines and the Arabian tribes around 845 BC (2 Chronicles 21:16-17) or by Babylon in 586 BC. It seems better to go with the 845 BC date for at least three reasons. First, the Jews place the book between Amos and Jonah in the Hebrew canon, suggesting a preexilic date of writing. Second, the prophet Obadiah did not mention Babylon or the destruction of Jerusalem’s temple in 586 BC. Third, the prophet Jeremiah seems to quote from Obadiah (compare Jeremiah 49:14 with Obadiah 1:1, and Jeremiah 49:9 with Obadiah 1:5). Thus, it is likely that the prophecy of Obadiah was delivered around 845 BC.

  1. 2000 BC — Job
  2. 1555 BC — Genesis
  3. 1500 BC — Exodus
  4. 1467 BC — Numbers
  5. 1450 BC — Leviticus
  6. 1445 BC — Deuteronomy
  7. 1405 BC — Joshua
  8. 1043 BC — Judges
  9. 1030 BC — Ruth
  10. 1010 BC — Psalms
  11. 971 BC — Proverbs
  12. 971 BC — Song of Solomon
  13. 940 BC — Ecclesiastes
  14. 931 BC — 1 Samuel
  15. 900 BC — 2 Samuel
  16. 850 BC — Obadiah
  17. 835 BC — Joel
  18. 775 BC — Jonah
  19. 750 BC — Hosea
  20. 750 BC — Amos
  21. 735 BC — Micah
  22. 700 BC — Isaiah
  23. 650 BC — Nahum
  24. 635 BC — Zephaniah
  25. 615 BC — Habakkuk
  26. 590 BC — Ezekiel
  27. 587 BC — Lamentations
  28. 586 BC — Jeremiah
  29. 561 BC — 1 Kings
  30. 538 BC — 2 Kings
  31. 536 BC — Daniel
  32. 520 BC — Haggai
  33. 480 BC — Zechariah
  34. 457 BC — Ezra
  35. 450 BC — Esther
  36. 450 BC — 1 Chronicles
  37. 433 BC — Malachi
  38. 430 BC — 2 Chronicles
  39. 424 BC — Nehemiah

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