Timeline

Toward the end of last semester’s Old Testament History class, which covered Joshua through 2 Chronicles, I made this timeline as a way to get a quick glimpse of not only the chronological sequence of Israel’s history, but also the spiritual state of the nation and it’s leaders.

While any attempt at this has to be somewhat subjective, there are many explicit statements throughout the Old Testament that provide valuable hints, i.e. “the king did what was required by the Lord, but he did not remove the high places,” or “never before or after was there a king that did more evil in the sight of the Lord and caused Israel to sin against the Lord.”  The timeline is my estimation of the effect of those statements.

Here’s how to read it: the nation in general is represented by the gray line, which varies in width and height above or below the date line.  Along with the nation, Israel’s leaders from Moses to the 400 years of silence are shown as they walk with God and rise above the date line, or walk in the flesh and drop below it.  Generally, it seems that as the leader goes, the nation goes, though there are obvious exceptions as well.

For the full timeline, click on the picture above, or click here.  And be sure to let me know what you think in the comments.