CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF JEWISH DECLINE,
CAPTIVITY & RETURN

928

King Solomon dies. Kingdom divided into two kingdoms - Judah (capitalJerusalem) and Israel (capital Samaria). Spiritual life disintegrates.

1 Ki 12-

862

Jonah sent by God to Ninevah.

Jonah

800-

Prophets Joel(800), Amos(787), Hosea(785), Isaiah(760) and Micah(750).

722

Israel taken over by King Shalmaneser of Assyria because of their disobedience to God.

2 Ki 18:9-12

713

Nahum prophecies Assyria's downfall.

Nahum

640

Josiah, the last good king of Judah, restores some spiritual life in Judah and later in Israel.

2 Ch 34,35

630?

Zephaniah prophecies judgement, followed by restoration.

Zeph 1:1

628

Jeremiah starts his prophetic ministry.

Jer 1:2

626?

Habakkuk cries to the Lord about injustice.

Hab 1:2-4

609

Jehoahaz becomes king of Judah. He is dethroned by Neco, King of Egypt, who installs Jehoiakim as puppet ruler, with Jehoahaz captive in Egypt.

2 Ch 36:1-4

597

Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, defeats Jehoiakim and takes him and his son Jehoiachin captive to Babylon, along with other exiles and temple articles. Zedekiah succeeds them as puppet ruler.

2 Ch 36:5-14; Dan 1:1,2

597

Daniel and others start their Babylonian training.

Dan 1:3-6

596?

False prophet Hananiah opposes Jeremiah.

Jer 28

594

Daniel and others enter service with Nebuchadnezzar.

Dan 1:18

593

Ezekiel commences his prophetic ministry in exile.

Ez 1:1,2

587

Jerusalem and the temple destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. Remnant carried captive to Babylon. Jeremiah freed and respected.

2 Ch 36:15-21; Jer 39,40

586

Obadiah prophecies Edom's (Esau's) downfall and Israel's restoration

Ob 1

570?

Fiery furnace deliverance.

Dan 3

538

Babylon overthrown by Darius the Mede (under Cyrus of Persia?). Daniel intercedes with God on behalf of his people and Jerusalem.

Dan 5:30; Dan 9:1

538?

Daniel appointed chief administrator over the kingdom and all its territories. He is delivered from the lion's den.

Dan 6

538?

Cyrus issues decree to rebuild the temple at Jerusalem. A company of exiles return under leadership Zerubbabel and Joshua.

2 Ch 36:22-23; Ezra 1,2

536

Rebuilding work on temple commences.

Ezra 3:8

535

Samaritans frustrate the rebuilding work, which grinds to a halt. Daniel mourns, fasts and prays for 3 weeks

Ezra 4:1-4; Dan 10

522

Darius becomes king of Persia.

520

Haggai and Zechariah exhort the Jews. Rebuilding work resumes, against further opposition. However Darius re-issues Cyrus' decree.

Hag 1:1, Zec 1:1; Ezra 5,6

516

Temple completed and passover celebrated.

Ezra 6:13-22

486

Ahasuerus becomes king of Persia. The Samaritans complain to him about the Jews.

Ezra 4:6

483

Queen Vashti disgraced.

Est 1

479

Esther becomes Ahasuerus' queen. She saves the Jews from annihilation. Mordecai is promoted to second in the kingdom.

Est 2-10

464

Artaxerxes becomes king of Persia.

457

Artaxerxes sends Ezra with other exiles to Jerusalem with gifts, to offer sacrifices and to administer justice in the region.

Ezra 7

450?

Samaritans get permission from Artaxerxes to force rebuilding work in Jerusalem to stop. The gates are burned and the walls left in ruins.

Ezra 4:7-23

447?

Malachi prophecies to challenge and encourage the disillusioned and downcast Jews in Israel.

Mal 1-4

445

Nehemiah hears of the trouble and disgrace in Jerusalem. He prays, and is sent by Artaxerxes with a military escort to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

Neh 1:1-2:9

445

Walls completed against considerable opposition. Nehemiah institutes many reforms, and governs Israel for 12 years.

Neh 3:11-13:30