Old Testament Books in Chronological Order

by Krisan Marotta | Jan 30, 2020 | 02 Library, Chart, Charts OT, Download

Updated September 2026

The Old Testament is not arranged in the order its events happened. Instead, its books are grouped largely by type: Law, History, Poetry and Wisdom, and Prophecy.

That organization makes it easy to find a particular kind of book, but it can make the biblical storyline difficult to follow. The prophets, for example, appear together near the end of the Old Testament even though they ministered during different periods recorded in Kings, Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah.

What “Chronological Order” Means

A book can have more than one date associated with it:

The date of its events: When did the events described in the book happen?
The date of its ministry: When did the prophet speak?
The date of its composition: When was the book written or compiled?

Those dates are not always the same. Chronicles describes history from Adam through the return from exile, for example, but it was probably compiled after the exile. Psalms contains songs connected with Moses, David, Solomon, and later generations.

In this guide, “chronological order” refers primarily to the historical setting of the book: where its events or prophetic ministry fit into the Old Testament story.

Many dates are approximate, and some are disputed. The date of the Exodus is the most important example. The timeline below follows the early-date view, which places the Exodus around 1446 BC, while acknowledging that others place it in the thirteenth century BC.

Download a free PDF of Old Testament Book Chronology Chart

Summary

The Old Testament is arranged primarily by genre, not by chronology. This table places each book according to when its principal events occurred. Dates are approximate, and scholars sometimes disagree about both the date of the events and the date a book was written.

Book	Events occur	Likely writing period	Historical setting	Main idea
Genesis	Creation to c. 1800 BC	c. 1445–1405 BC	Creation, the fall, the flood, and the patriarchs from Abraham through Joseph	Beginnings: from Eden to Egypt
Job	Probably c. 2000–1800 BC	Unknown	The patriarchal era; a righteous man suffers devastating loss	Trusting God amid unexplained suffering
Exodus	c. 1526–1406 BC	c. 1445–1405 BC	Israel’s slavery in Egypt, the exodus, and the covenant at Sinai	God rescues Israel from Egypt
Leviticus	c. 1445–1444 BC	c. 1445–1405 BC	Israel camps at Mount Sinai after leaving Egypt	A holy God teaches his people how to live with him
Numbers	c. 1445–1406 BC	c. 1445–1405 BC	Israel journeys from Sinai through the wilderness to Moab	Israel’s unbelief prolongs the wilderness journey
Deuteronomy	c. 1406 BC	c. 1406 BC	Moses addresses Israel on the plains of Moab before entering Canaan	Moses prepares Israel to enter the land
Joshua	c. 1406–1385 BC	c. 1405–1385 BC	Israel conquers and settles Canaan	God gives Israel the promised land
Judges	c. 1385–1050 BC	c. 1043 BC	Israel repeatedly turns from God after Joshua’s death	Everyone does what is right in his own eyes
Ruth	During the judges, c. 1150–1100 BC	c. 1030–1010 BC	A famine, a family tragedy, and a return to Bethlehem	God provides a redeemer and preserves David’s family line
1 Samuel	c. 1100–1010 BC	c. 931–722 BC	Samuel’s ministry, Saul’s reign, and David’s rise	Israel exchanges prophetic leadership for a king
2 Samuel	c. 1010–970 BC	c. 931–722 BC	David rules the united kingdom of Israel	David unites the kingdom but fails as both king and father
1 Chronicles	c. 1010–970 BC, with genealogies reaching back to Adam	c. 450–430 BC	A postexilic retelling of David’s reign	David’s kingdom and preparations for the temple
Psalms	c. 1400–400 BC	c. 1410–450 BC	Worship and prayer throughout Israel’s history, especially during David’s reign	God’s people respond to him in worship, sorrow, trust, and praise
Song of Solomon	Probably c. 970–930 BC	c. 971–965 BC	Solomon’s united monarchy	Celebrating love, desire, and marital faithfulness
Proverbs	Primarily c. 970–700 BC	c. 970–700 BC	Wisdom collected from Solomon’s reign through Hezekiah’s reign	Learning to live wisely in God’s world
Ecclesiastes	Probably c. 940–930 BC	Probably c. 940–930 BC	The reflections of a wealthy and powerful king	Life “under the sun” cannot provide lasting meaning
1 Kings	c. 970–853 BC	c. 561–538 BC	Solomon’s reign, the temple, and the division of Israel and Judah	The kingdom divides as its rulers abandon God
2 Chronicles	c. 970–586 BC	c. 450–430 BC	A postexilic retelling of Solomon and the kings of Judah	Judah’s history viewed through the temple and the Davidic covenant
Obadiah	Possibly c. 850–840 BC, though the date is disputed	Possibly c. 850–840 BC	Edom rejoices over an attack against Jerusalem	God will judge Edom for its pride and violence
Joel	Possibly c. 835–796 BC, though the date is disputed	Possibly c. 835–796 BC	A devastating locust plague strikes Judah	The day of the Lord calls God’s people to repentance
Jonah	c. 790–750 BC	c. 775 BC	Assyria is rising in power, and Jonah is sent to Nineveh	God shows mercy to anyone who repents
Amos	c. 760–750 BC	c. 760–750 BC	Israel prospers under Jeroboam II while injustice and idolatry spread	Prosperity cannot shield an unfaithful nation from judgment
Hosea	c. 755–715 BC	c. 750–710 BC	Israel’s final decades before the Assyrian conquest	Hosea’s marriage portrays God’s faithful love for unfaithful Israel
Isaiah	c. 740–680 BC	c. 740–680 BC	Assyria threatens Israel and Judah	God’s judgment ultimately brings salvation and hope
Micah	c. 735–700 BC	c. 735–710 BC	Corruption grows in Israel and Judah under the Assyrian threat	God judges injustice but promises restoration through a coming ruler
2 Kings	c. 853–561 BC	c. 561–538 BC	Israel falls to Assyria, and Judah falls to Babylon	Persistent rebellion brings both kingdoms to an end
Nahum	c. 660–630 BC	c. 650 BC	Assyria remains powerful, but Nineveh’s fall approaches	God will judge violent and arrogant Nineveh
Zephaniah	c. 640–609 BC	c. 635–625 BC	Judah faces judgment during the reign of Josiah	The day of the Lord brings judgment and preserves a faithful remnant
Habakkuk	c. 620–605 BC	c. 615–605 BC	Babylon rises while violence and injustice fill Judah	The righteous live by faith while waiting for God’s justice
Jeremiah	c. 627–586 BC	c. 627–580 BC	Judah’s last years and Jerusalem’s destruction by Babylon	Jeremiah warns Judah of judgment and promises a new covenant
Lamentations	586 BC	Shortly after 586 BC	Jerusalem and the temple lie in ruins	Grieving Jerusalem’s destruction while hoping in God’s mercy
Daniel	c. 605–536 BC	c. 536–530 BC	Jewish exiles serve under Babylonian and Persian rulers	God rules over every earthly kingdom
Ezekiel	c. 593–571 BC	c. 590–570 BC	Judean exiles live in Babylon before and after Jerusalem’s fall	God’s judgment will give way to cleansing, restoration, and new life
Esther	c. 483–473 BC	c. 450–331 BC	Jewish communities live throughout the Persian Empire	God preserves his people even when he appears hidden
Ezra	c. 538–457 BC	c. 457–444 BC	Jewish exiles return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple	God restores his people, their worship, and their covenant identity
Haggai	520 BC	520 BC	Returned exiles have neglected rebuilding the temple	Put God first and rebuild his house
Zechariah	c. 520–518 BC	c. 520–480 BC	The temple is being rebuilt after the exile	Return to God and hope in his promised king
Nehemiah	c. 445–433 BC	c. 424–400 BC	Jerusalem’s walls and civic life are rebuilt under Persian rule	Rebuilding Jerusalem requires courage, faithfulness, and reform
Malachi	c. 450–430 BC	c. 433–424 BC	The restored community has become spiritually complacent	God confronts unfaithfulness and promises that his messenger is coming

About the dates: Dates in Old Testament chronology are approximate. This table generally follows a traditional, conservative chronology, including an early date for the exodus. Some books, particularly Job, Obadiah, Joel, Esther, and parts of the Wisdom Literature, are difficult to date with certainty. “Events occur” indicates the period described by the book, while “likely writing period” indicates when the book probably reached its written form.

Patriarchs to Captivity in Egypt (2000 BC-1720 BC)

Genesis - Beginnings; From Eden to Egypt
Job - Understanding suffering

Genesis begins with creation and traces the beginnings of humanity, sin, judgment, and God’s promise of redemption. Beginning in Genesis 12, the focus narrows to Abraham and the family through whom God promises to bless the nations. The book concludes with Jacob’s family living in Egypt under the protection of Joseph. Summary: Beginnings, from Eden to Egypt.

Job gives no king, historical event, or other clear marker that allows us to date its events confidently. Several details resemble the patriarchal world of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, so Job is often placed in this period. But that placement remains uncertain. The setting of Job’s story and the date when the book reached its final form are separate questions. Summary: Trusting God amid unexplained suffering.

Exodus & Wilderness to Conquest (1720-1280 BC)

Exodus - Escape from Egypt
Leviticus - Ceremonial laws
Numbers - Wilderness years
Deuteronomy - Moses' farewell
Joshua - Taking the land

Exodus recounts Israel’s enslavement in Egypt, God’s rescue through Moses, the covenant at Mount Sinai, and the construction of the tabernacle. Summary: God rescues Israel from slavery.

Leviticus takes place while Israel is camped at Mount Sinai. It explains Israel’s sacrifices, priesthood, purity laws, festivals, and calling to be holy. Summary: Living as a holy people in God’s presence.

Numbers follows Israel from Mount Sinai through forty years in the wilderness to the plains of Moab. Summary: Israel’s unbelief in the wilderness.

Deuteronomy records Moses’ final speeches to Israel as the new generation prepares to enter the Promised Land. Summary: Moses prepares Israel to enter the land.

For more on this period, see When Did the Exodus Happen?

Joshua records Israel’s entrance into Canaan, its major battles, and the distribution of the land among the tribes. Summary: Israel enters the Promised Land.

Period of the Judges (1240-1050 BC)

Judges - Living among enemies
Ruth - David's ancestors' love story

Judges describes the generations between Joshua and Israel’s monarchy. Israel repeatedly abandons God, suffers oppression, cries for deliverance, and is rescued through a judge. Summary: Israel repeatedly turns from God.

Ruth takes place “in the days when the judges ruled” (Ruth 1:1). Its story introduces the family line that eventually produces King David. Summary: Faithfulness in the troubled days of the judges.

United Monarchy (1050-930 BC)

Israel’s first three kings were Saul, David, and Solomon.

1 Samuel - Prophets versus Kings
2 Samuel - Uniting the Kingdom
Psalms - Songs of worship
1 Kings - Dividing the kingdom
1 Chronicles - Retelling of 1& 2 Samuel
Proverbs - Understanding society
Ecclesiastes - Understanding life
Song of Solomon - Understanding love

1 Samuel records the ministry of Samuel, the rise and fall of Saul, and David’s emergence as Israel’s future king. Summary: Israel moves from judges to kings.

2 Samuel recounts David’s reign, God’s covenant with David, and the serious consequences of David’s sins. Summary: David unites and rules Israel.

1 Kings 1-11 describe Solomon’s reign, the construction of the temple, and Solomon’s eventual unfaithfulness. Summary: Solomon’s glory and decline divide the kingdom.

1 Chronicles begins with genealogies stretching back to Adam and then retells David’s reign, emphasizing the temple, the priesthood, and God’s promises to David. The events belong largely to David’s time, though Chronicles was probably compiled after the exile.

Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon

Many psalms are connected with David, while others come from Moses, Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, and unnamed writers. The Psalter was collected over a long period and cannot be assigned entirely to David’s reign.

Proverbs is closely associated with Solomon but also includes collections from other sources and periods. Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon are traditionally connected with Solomon, though their dates remain debated.

These books belong to Israel’s wisdom and worship traditions rather than to one simple point on a timeline.

Divided Monarchy (930-586 BC)

After Solomon’s death, the kingdom divided. The northern kingdom was called Israel, with Samaria as its eventual capital. The southern kingdom was called Judah, with Jerusalem as its capital.

2 Kings - End of Israel & Judah
2 Chronicles - Retelling Judah's Kings
Obadiah - Judgement on Edom
Joel - Day of the Lord
Jonah - Anyone can repent
Hosea - Acting out God's love
Amos - Judgment is inescapable
Isaiah - Judgment brings hope
Micah - Judgment's restoration
Nahum - Judgment on Nineveh
Zephaniah - Judgment's remnant
Jeremiah - Warnings of Judgment
Lamentations - Jerusalem's destruction
Habakkuk - Judgment on evil

1 Kings 12–22 and 2 Kings 1–17: These chapters trace the histories of Israel and Judah side by side. The northern kingdom eventually fell to Assyria in 722 BC.

2 Chronicles 10–28 covers the same general period but concentrates on Judah, Jerusalem, the temple, and the descendants of David.

Prophets of the divided kingdom

The following prophets ministered during the centuries when Israel and Judah existed as separate kingdoms:

Jonah: Ministered during the reign of Jeroboam II.
Amos: Warned the prosperous northern kingdom that judgment was coming.
Hosea: Called unfaithful Israel to return to God.
Isaiah: Ministered primarily to Judah during the Assyrian crisis.
Micah: Warned both Samaria and Jerusalem of coming judgment.

The dates of Joel and Obadiah are disputed. Some place them in this period, while others place them later.

Old Testament Prophets in Chronological Order

Kings of Israel and Judah

After Assyria destroyed the northern kingdom, Judah survived for more than another century.

2 Kings 18–25 record Judah’s final kings, Assyria’s failed invasion of Jerusalem, Babylon’s growing power, and Jerusalem’s eventual destruction.

2 Chronicles 29–36 retells Judah’s final years with special attention to the temple, the priests, and the reforms of Hezekiah and Josiah.

Prophets during Judah’s final years

Nahum: Announced judgment against Nineveh, the Assyrian capital.
Zephaniah: Warned Judah about the coming day of the Lord.
Habakkuk: Wrestled with God’s decision to use Babylon to judge Judah.
Jeremiah: Warned Jerusalem to repent and later witnessed its destruction.

Major event: Babylon destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in 586 BC and carried many of Judah’s people into exile.

See Jeremiah in Chronological Order for a guide to the events and messages in Jeremiah.

Lamentations mourns the destruction of Jerusalem while affirming God’s justice, compassion, and faithfulness. Summary: Grieving Jerusalem’s destruction.

Exile (586-538 BC)

Babylon’s conquest did not end God’s relationship with his people. God continued to speak to them in Jerusalem and in exile.

Ezekiel - Judgment brings new life
Daniel - Witnessing in exile

Ezekiel ministered among the Jewish exiles in Babylon. He explained why judgment had come and promised that God would restore and renew his people. Summary: Judgment will give way to restoration and new life.

Daniel begins with Babylon’s earlier deportation of selected Judeans in 605 BC and continues into the Persian period. Daniel and his friends learn to remain faithful while serving foreign kings. Summary: Faithfulness to God in exile.

Return from Exile (538 BC to New Testament)

Cyrus of Persia conquered Babylon in 539 BC. In 538 or 537 BC, he permitted Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. The Old Testament’s final historical period unfolds under Persian rule.

Ezra - Return from exile
Nehemiah - Rebuilding Jerusalem
Esther - Surviving in exile
Haggai - Rebuilding the temple
Zechariah - Repentance after exile
Malachi - God is coming

Ezra 1–6 recounts the first return and the rebuilding of the temple. Ezra 7–10 takes place several decades later and describes Ezra’s ministry of teaching and reform.Summary: Returning and rebuilding under Persian rule.

Esther takes place in Persia during the reign of Ahasuerus, commonly identified as Xerxes I. Although some Jewish exiles had returned to Jerusalem, many remained scattered throughout the Persian Empire. The book belongs chronologically between Ezra 6 and Ezra 7. Summary: God preserves his people in Persia.

Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem during the reign of Artaxerxes I and led the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls. Summary: Rebuilding Jerusalem and restoring the community.

Haggai and Zechariah ministered to the first generation of returned exiles and urged them to complete the temple. Both began their recorded ministries around 520 BC.

Malachi addressed a later post-exilic generation whose worship had become careless and whose covenant faithfulness had weakened. Summary: God is coming, so honor him now.

Chronology of Ezra and Nehemiah

Kings of Persia in Biblical Times

A Simple Chronological Reading Order

If you want to follow the main historical storyline, read:

Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
Ezra 1–6
Esther
Ezra 7–10
Nehemiah

Why Chronology Matters

Reading the Old Testament chronologically helps us see that its books are not isolated stories.

The prophets spoke to real kings during particular political crises. Psalms arose from worship, suffering, kingship, and exile. Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther show different aspects of Jewish life under Persian rule. Once we know where each book belongs, the Old Testament becomes one unfolding story rather than a collection of disconnected events.

Chronology does not tell us everything a book means, but it gives us the historical context we need to interpret it responsibly.