5-RF OT 02 Reference Materials - Charts

Important Charts The books in the Bible are not in chronological order - they are put together by topic. TIME LINE FOR HISTORY This chart gives the approximate time period for people and events in the Old Testament. In the 600 years between 2000 and 1400 BC there is Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and the time in Egypt. Between 1400 and 1000 BC are Moses, Joshua, Judges, including Samuel and their first king, Saul. Starting with 1000 and going to 400 BC are David, Solomon and all the rest of Old Testament history. The 600 years between 1000 and 400 BC include all the kings after David and all the prophets. Events mentioned in the books of 1 and 2 Maccabees occur between 400 BC and 0 AD. Important Charts LONGEVITY OF PEOPLE Why people lived so long before and just after the flood God wanted to communicate with humanity and wanted the information about Him to be accurate. Adam lived long enough to tell 7 generations first-hand, what happened in the Garden of Eden and what it was like to walk and talk with God. The 7th generation was Methuselah. He lived long enough to give the information to the next 3 generations including Noah and his sons. Noah’s sons lived up to the time of Abraham, the time when oral history changed to written history. This means the facts of beginning history only go thru 4 people before it is written down. From Adam to Methuselah to Noah’s sons to Abraham. Once history is put into writing, life spans become shorter and shorter. Abraham only lived 175 years. By the time we get to Moses, he says a life span is 70-80 years. Long life before Abraham protected the accuracy of information about God and the facts of beginning history. FORMATION OF THE JEWISH RACE God develops the Jewish race in a way different from all other races. He picks Abraham to start this race. Abraham has 3 wives and 8 sons. Of the 8 sons, only Isaac is part of the Jewish race, based on who his mother was. Isaac has one wife and twin boys. Yet only one of them becomes part of the Jewish race, based on their choice about God. Esau, the one son rejects God. Jacob, the other son, follows God and becomes part of the Jewish race. It takes 3 generations before the Jewish race is completely formed and only one from each generation is chosen. The rest form other nations. Only people with the combined genes of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are Jewish. It is not until Jacob that the race is completely formed. Then all 13 of Jacob’s children are automatically born as Jews. 2 Important Charts FORMATION OF LEVITES AND PRIESTS All are descended from Levi, the 3rd son of Jacob Aaron is descended from one of the 3 sons of Levi Only Aaron and his descendants can serve as Jewish priests The other descendants of Levi are responsible For the care of the tabernacle, its music and its liturgy For the care and protection of sacred Scripture For the civic and social life of the people BOOKS OF HISTORY The Levites were responsible for Jewish history after the days of Joshua. One group was the historians who wrote down general history as it happened during their lifetime. Another group was the scribes. They were guided by the Holy Spirit to go thru the historical records, take out certain parts and put them in books that became their sacred writings - our Old Testament. The scribes were also responsible to care for, protect and make copies of these books. Examples: Joshua, an army general, wrote down historical events of his day between 1400-1375 BC. 50 years later (1325 BC), Levite scribes took part of it to write and form the book of Joshua. Levite Historians wrote down events during the 300 years of the judges from 1350-1050 BC. Some 20 years later, (1030 BC), Levite scribes took parts of it to form our book of Judges. Since Ruth lived during the time of the judges, it was part of Jewish history in 1150 BC. 150 years after she lived, (1000 BC), Levite scribes took her story from historical records and made her book. Levite historians including Samuel wrote down events of their day from 1125-970 BC. Some 10 years later (960 BC), scribes took some of the events to form the books we call 1 and 2 Samuel. 3 Charts - Genealogies DAVID’S FAMILY LINE – from Rahab to David DAVID’S FAMILY LINE – from David to Jesus EDOMITES and AMALEKITES: from Esau to Haman 4 Important Charts PROPHET CHART FOR THE OLD TESTAMENT THE DIVIDED KINGDOM (CIVIL WAR) 5 Charts – Jewish Kings and Prophets These are approximate dates - they will vary according to the chronology and scholars that are used. CHART OF KINGS and PROPHETS: during independence and Babylon exile 6 Charts - Kings BABYLONIAN KINGS and THEIR GENEALOGY when in control of the Jews CHART OF KINGS and PROPHETS: during restoration under Persian government PERSIAN KINGS Medo-Persian Empire 539-331 BC Susa governor Gobryas, Darius the Mede Cyrus Cambyses II Pseudo-Smerdis Darius I, the Great Xerxes (Ahasuerus) Artaxerxes Longimanus I Xerxes II Darius II Artaxerxes II Artaxerxes III Arses Darius III 7 539-536 536-530 BC 530-522 BC 522 BC 522-486 486-465 BC 465-425 424 423-405 405-358 BC 358-338 BC 338-335 BC 335-331 BC