PROPHETS TIMELINE

I. Prelude to Prophecy: The Pentateuch and Judges (Prior to 1100 B.C.)

  • “Prophets" Before Samuel:
    • Abraham (Gn 20:7)
    • Aaron (Ex 7:1)
    • Miriam (Ex 15:20)
    • Moses (Dt 18:18; 34:10)
    • Balaam (Nm 22:2 - 24:25)
    • Deborah (Jgs 4:4)

II. The Formative Period (1100 - 922 B.C.)

  • Ecstatic Bands of Prophets by the Time of Samuel (c. 1040 - 1020 B.C.): 1 Sm 10:10-12 (10:5-6); 1 Sm 19:18-24
  • Samuel as prophet (1 Sm 3:20; 9:9)
  • Nathan the prophet at David's court (c. 1O1O - 960 B.C.): 2 Sm 7:1-17; 12:1-15 (cf. 12:25)

III. The Divided Kingdom Period (922 - 587 B.C.)

  • Northern Kingdom (Israel)
    • Elijah (874 - 853) (1 Kgs 17 to 2 Kgs 2)
    • Elisha (c. 853 - 795) (2 Kgs 2-13)
    • Amos (c. 750 - 740)
    • Hosea (c. 745 - 736)
    • Fall of Samaria and end of northern kingdom (721 B.C.)
  • Southern Kingdom (Judah)
    • Isaiah (c. 740 - 690) (Is 1 - 39)
    • Micah (c. 740 - 710)
  • Kingdom of Judah (721 - 587 B.C.)
    • Zephaniah (c. 635-630)
    • Jeremiah (c. 627-580)
    • Nahum (c. 612)
    • Habakkuk (c. 604-599)
    • Fall of Jerusalem and beginning of the Exile (587 B.C.)

IV. The Exilic Period (587 - 538 B.C.)

  • Ezekiel (593-c. 571)
  • Deutero-Isaiah (c. 550-525) (Is 40-55)
  • Daniel (6th cent.)

V. The Return Period (538-250 B.C.)

  • Haggai (520)
  • Zechariah 1 - 8 (520 - 518)
  • Trito-Isaiah (c. 525 - 500) (Is 56 - 66)
  • Malachi (c. 475)
  • Obadiah (c. 450?)
  • Joel (c. 375?)
  • Deutero-Zechariah (c. 350?) (Zec 9-14)
  • Book of Jonah (c. 275?)