THE WRITINGS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT IN THE ORDER OF THEIR COMPOSITION

WITH AUTHORS AND APPROXIMATE DATES

In case a book is ascribed to a period rather than a year, the date of the terminus ad quem determines its position in this table. In the main Driver's Introduction to the Literature of the Old Testament has been followed. By reference to the chronological table on pages xi.-xiii. the reader may see under what circumstances the various writings were composed.

CHRONOLOGY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

THE Chronology of the Old Testament is to a certain extent hypothetical; prior to the Exodus it is wholly so. In preparing this table, use has been made of The Religion of Israel, by Karl Budde, and the Commentaries on Isaiah and on The Twelve Prophets, by George Adam Smith. The latter has been accepted and followed without question in the period of which he treats, that is, from the disruption of the kingdom, B. c. 940.

Chronology of the Old Testament — continued.

DATES
B. C.

PROPHETS.

EVENTS.

JUDAH.

549

The "Second Isa- Release assured to the Jews by the appearance of

iah," also called
the "Great Un-
known." (Isaiah

260

160

Cyrus against Babylonia.

The Jews return to Jerusalem from Babylon under
Zerubabbel and Joshua.

Restoration of altar and sacrifice.

Building of the temple by Zerubabbel and Joshua.
Completion of the temple.

Ezra arrives at Jerusalem.

Nehemiah arrives at Jerusalem.
Establishment of the law.

Rebuilding of walls.

Nehemiah's return to Jerusalem.

Pentateuch virtually completed.

Insurrection in Judah. Much bloodshed there

(Jos. Ant. B. xi. ch. 7, § 1).

Jews subdued by Holofernes (Book of Judith).
Many Jews taken to Hyrcania.

Ptolemy takes Jerusalem (?).

Egypt's wars for Palestine.

Probable close of About this time Greek translation of the Pentaprophetic canon.

teuch.