The Bible is divided between the Old and New Testaments. Books written before the time of Jesus make up the Old Testament. Book written after Jesus’ ministry on earth comprise the New Testament.
The Old Testament is organized by genre rather than historical timeline.
Here’s a list of the Old Testament books in chronological order with the traditional (approximate) dates.
By chronological, I mean the events recorded in the books took place during this period and/or the author wrote during this period.
Patriarchs to Captivity (2000 BC-1720 BC)
- Genesis
- Job
Wilderness to Conquest (1720-1280 BC)
- Exodus
- Leviticus
- Numbers
- Deuteronomy
- Joshua
- Ruth
Period of the Judges (1240-1050 BC)
- Judges
United Monarchy (1050-930 BC)
- 1&2Samuel
- Psalms of David
- 1Kings & 1Chronicles
- Proverbs
- Ecclesiastes
- Song of Solomon
Divided Monarchy (1050-586 BC)
- 2Kings & 2Chronicles
- Obadiah
- Joel
- Jonah
- Hosea
- Amos
- Isaiah
- Micah
- Nahum
- Zephaniah
- Jeremiah
- Lamentations
- Habakkuk
Exile (586-538 BC)
- Ezekiel
- Daniel
- Esther
Return from Exile (438 BC to New Testament)
- Ezra
- Nehemiah
- Haggai
- Zechariah
- Malachi
Further study:
Biblical History at a glance
How is the Old Testament Organized
Books of the Bible by date written
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