Chronological Reading Of The Bible

This guide is best used for the study of the kings of Israel and Judah and the prophets during the time of the kings. To get a comprehensive understanding of the time and the events that occurred, read the chapter or verses on a king from the first occurrence then across through each book of the prophets. This chart puts each king in a chronological order. This will help you to understand the context of the prophet's writing during that time. The "Other Books" column are the other prophets who also prophesied during the time of that king.

Kings

1 Samuel

2 Samuel

1 Kings

2 Kings

1 Chr

2 Chr

Jeremiah

Isaiah

Ezekiel

Other Books

Saul

9-31

 

22:41-50

 

10:1-14

 

 

 

 

 

David

 

2-24
6
7
8
10
21:15
24

2:10-12

1-2:12

13,15
17
18
19
20:4-8
21

 

 

 

 

Psalms

Solomon

 

 

2-11

 

29:21-25

1-9

 

 

 

Proverbs
Song of Solomon
Ecclesiastes

J -Rehoboam

J - Abijah

I - Jeroboam

 

 

12:1-24
14:21-31

 

 

10-12

 

 

 

 

 

 

15:1-8

 

 

13

 

 

 

 

 

 

12:25-14:20

 

 

14-16

 

 

 

 

Kings

1 Samuel

2 Samuel

1 Kings

2 Kings

1 Chr

2 Chr

Jeremiah

Isaiah

Ezekiel

Other Books

J - Asa

I - Nadab

I - Basha

I - Elah

I - Zimri

I - Tibni

I - Omri

I - Ahab

J - Jehoshaphat

 

 

15:9-24

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15:25-31

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15:32-16:7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16:8-14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16:15-20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16:21-22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16:22-28

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16:29-22:40

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

22:41-50

 

 

17-20

 

 

 

 

Kings

1 Samuel

2 Samuel

1 Kings

2 Kings

1 Chr

2 Chr

Jeremiah

Isaiah

Ezekiel

Other Books

I - Ahaziah

J - Jehoram


J - Ahaziah

J - Athaliah


I - Jeoram

 

22:51-53

1:1-18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8:16-24

 

21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8:25-29 9:14-29

 

22:1-12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11:1-3,13-14

 

22:10-12 23:12-21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1:17; 3:1-8:15

 

 

 

 

 

 

J - Jehoash
     (Joash)

I - Jehu

I - Jehoahaz

 

 

 

12:1-21
11:4-21

 

23-24

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9-10:36

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13:1-9

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kings

1 Samuel

2 Samuel

1 Kings

2 Kings

1 Chr

2 Chr

Jeremiah

Isaiah

Ezekiel

Other Books

J - Amaziah

J - Azariah
    (Uzziah)

I - Jehoash
     (Joash)

I - Jeroboam

I - Zechariah

I - Shallum

I - Menaham

I - Pekahiah

 

 

 

14:1-22

 

25

 

 

 

Jonah

 

 

 

15:1-7

 

26

 

1- 6

 

Amos; Hosea

 

 

 

13:10-25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14:23-29

 

 

 

 

 

Amos; Hosea

 

 

 

15:8-12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15:13-16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15:17-22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15:23-26

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kings

1 Samuel

2 Samuel

1 Kings

2 Kings

1 Chr

2 Chr

Jeremiah

Isaiah

Ezekiel

Other Books

J - Jotham

J - Ahaz

I - Pekah

 

 

 

15:32-38

 

27:1-9

 

1-6

 

Micah; Hosea

 

 

 

16

 

28

 

1-6; 7-35

 

Micah; Hosea

 

 

 

15:27-31

 

 

 

 

 

 

J - Hezekiah


I - Hoshea

 

 

 

18-20

 

29-32

 

1-6; 36-39
40-46; 47-66

 

Micah; Hosea

 

 

 

17:1-41

 

 

 

 

 

 

J - Manesseh

 

 

 

21:1-18

 

33

 

 

 

 

J - Amon

 

 

 

21:19-26

 

33:21-25

1-20

 

 

 

J - Josiah

 

 

 

22-23:30

 

34-35

 

 

 

Zephaniah 1:1; 2:13

Nahum 1:1

J - Jehoahaz

 

 

 

23:31-34

 

36:1-4

(22:11-17)

 

 

Habbakkuk 1:6

J – Jehoiakim

(Siege by Egypt)

 

 

 

 

23:35-24:7

 

36:5-8

26,25
35-36
45-49:33 (22:18-23)

25:11-13; 29:10

 

 

Daniel 1-4

Kings

1 Samuel

2 Samuel

1 Kings

2 Kings

1 Chr

2 Chr

Jeremiah

Isaiah

Ezekiel

Other Books

J – Jehoiachin

(Beginning of 70 year captivity)

 

 

 

24:8-16

 

36:9-10

(22:24-30)

 

 

Daniel 1-4

J - Zedekiah

 

 

 

24:17-25:21

 

36:11-21

21-24
27,28,
34,29-33
37-39
49:34-52:34

 

1-25

26-28
29-29:16

29:17-30:19
30:20-39:29
40-48
 

Daniel 1-4
Joel 1:2-6; 2:20
Obadiah 1:11-14

Gedaliah (Governor)

 

 

 

25:22-26

 

 

40-44

 

 

Lamentations
Daniel 1-4
7,8,5

End of 70 year captivity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daniel 6,9

 

Restoration Period

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daniel 10-12
Ezra 1:1-4; 5:1
Esther

Haggai 1:1; 2:1

Zechariah 1:1

Nehemiah 2

Malachi 1:8



Notes of Interest

 

BOOK

NOTES

Jonah
  1. Assyria in power. They have the favor of the Lord for a time.
  2. Before the captivity of Israel. Jonah walks in freely (3:4). There are no captive Israelites.

Amos
  1. Amos 1:1; 7:9, 10 - Time of Azariah (Uzziah of Judah) and Jeroboam (of Israel). Before Israel's captivity.
  2. 8:9-10; Prediction of disaster or possible means the turning away from them by God.
  3. Excellent on the condition of mens' hearts (see 8:5).
  4. God does nothing without warning you early (3:7; 4:6-11).
  5. God wants justice and righteousness more than our music and rituals (5:21-24).
  6. Woe to those who trust in the place of worship (6:1).
  7. 9:11-15; Prophecy of the Gentiles.

Isaiah
  1. Ref. verses - 2 Kings 15-25; Isaiah 1:1; 6:1; (Uzziah dies); 7:1 (Pekah makes war with Ahaz); 14:28 (Ahaz dies); 22:20; 38:1; 39:1 (days of Hezekiah); 36:1 (14th year of Hezekiah).
  2. Uzziah to Hezekiah. From prophecy of and through actual Assyrian captivity to the prophecy of the rise and fall of the Babylonian captivity (including the Babylonian envoys).
  3. 1:19 - God will forget sins if you are obedient to Him. 
  4. 9:6b refers to God. The people will be praising God when He sends Jesus. They had cursed Him in 8:21. God will be praised by these names.
  5. Prophecy of Jesus in 42, 4:2-6, 7:14.
  6. Jesus depending on God in 42:6. 

Hosea
  1. 2 Ki. 15-25; Hosea 1:1 (from Uzziah to Hezekiah of Judah and of Jeroboam of Israel).
  2. Before captivity of Israel or Judah.
  3. Excellent on how God wants our hearts to be. (Chapters 10-14 are the best; see 12:6 & 14:9). 
  4. 10:8 - the mountains and hills represent what the people believed in and worshiped (gods and false teachings).
  5. Prophecy of forgiveness to come in 13:14 (Jesus is the ransom).
  6. Ephraim represents pride and power in Israel.
  7. God rewards you according to your deeds (12:2).
  8. God desires mercy and justice and for you to seek Him continually (12:6).
  9. The wise walk with the Lord; the transgressor stumbles in His ways (14:9).

Micah 
  1. 1:1 - Days of King Jotham Hezekiah of Judah (Micah 1:1; Jer. 26:18).
  2. Excellent book on the end times. 2:13 - Jesus is leading the sheep; 4:1,8 - God's truth will reign above all the lies and gods; 5:2-5 - Jesus will feed the flock by the strength of His God.
  3. The Spirit fills us so we can speak boldly against sin (3:8). 
  4. Memory verse in 6:8 - God requires justice, mercy, and humbleness.

Zephaniah 
  1. Josiah is king of Judah (Zep. 1:1).
  2. Assyria doomed (2:13).
  3. Chapter 1 - prophecy of God's judgment on Israel. 
  4. God will punish those who have turned back from following Him (1:6).
  5. Man's spiritual complacency and his none fear of God will be punished (1:12).

Habakkuk
  1. Before Judah's captivity.
  2. Prophecy of Babylon in 1:5-6. 
  3. God answers the question of why He allows evil to continue. He is on His throne, He sees the "big picture," and He will repay. Do not question Him (2:20).
  4. No matter how bad things get always rejoice in the Lord. He is our strength (3:17-19).

Jeremiah 
  1. 2 Ki. 23:24; Jer. 1:1-3 (13th year of Josiah to 11th year of Zedekiah); 21:1-3 (days of Zedekiah); 25:1-4 (4th year of Jehoiakim)
  2. From King Jehoiakim to the captivity of Judah.
  3. Israel's captivity already occurred (Jer. 3:8).
  4. 70 year prophecy Jer. 25: 11; 29:1,10 (in the 4th year of Jehoiakim)
  5. Best book on the heart of God and what He wants from us.
  6. Prophecy of Jesus in chapter 23:5-6; 33:15-17. 33:18 - Jesus is the everlasting sacrifice.
  7. Prophecy of the new covenant and the Spirit in 31:31-34.
  8. Birthdays were generally celebrated according to Jeremiah (20:14). He wanted his cursed because of his troubles with the people.
  9. Chapter 51 is similar in events to Rev. 18 & 19.

Lamentations 
  1. After the siege and captivity of Judah.
  2. A cry of sorrow for the people and the nation.

Daniel
  1. Beginning of 70-year captivity. Dan. 1:1,21; 5:1; 6:1,28; 7:1; 8:1; 9:1; 10:1
  2. Under King Darius (first Darius) and Cyrus (Dan 6:28; 10:1; 11:1).
  3. Prophecy of the latter days in chapters 7, 8, 9:24-27, 11, and 12.

Ezekiel 
  1. 5th year of Jehoiachin's captivity through some of the 70-year captivity. 
  2. Ref. verses - 1:1(5th year); 8:1 (6th year); 20:1 (7th year); 24:1 (9th year; Babylon begins siege against Jerusalem. This is the 9th year of Zedekiah also.); 26:1 (11th year); 29:1 (10th year) 29:17 (27th year of?); 30:20 (11th year; Egypt taken by Babylon); 32:1 (12th year); 33:21 (12th year of captivity); 40:1 (25th year and 14th year after Jerusalem was captured).
  3. Prophecy of the new temple.
  4. Prophecy of Jesus in 17:22; 34:23; 37:22.
  5. Great chapters against once saved, always saved in 18 and 33.
  6. Believer's responsibility to warn a non-believer in 3:18-20 and 33:1-9.
  7. Tyre likened to Satan in 28.

Joel 
  1. Joel 1:4, 6, 16; 3:1 - (9th -11th year of Zedekiah.) First exile by Babylon.
  2. Identity of the swarming locusts in 1:6 is the nation Babylon.
  3. Edom is not destroyed yet (3:19). 
  4. 2:32 applies to those who have and are calling on the Lord. They will be delivered from destruction.
  5. (3:14) valley of decision - time when you must choose God's way or your way

Obadiah 
  1. Against Edom (Oba. 1:12; Jer. 49 and Eze. 35).
  2. After the siege of Judah or its captivity (see 1:11-14). 
  3. Edom had plundered Judah and even helped them to be captured by the Babylonians.

Nahum
  1. Prophecy against Nineveh (1:1-15). Israel's captor's now face a fierce nation.
  2. (2-3) Nineveh of Assyria (3:18) is destroyed by Babylon.
  3. God is a stronghold in the day of trouble. He knows those who trust in Him (1:7). 

Ezra
  1. During the Persian captivity. Ezra begins with King Cyrus of Persia (1:1). Ezra records history through the reign of King Darius (6:14,15).  The prophets Haggai and Zechariah prophesy during this time (5:1). Ezra arrives in the reign of Artaxerxes (7:1). Ezra 7:8 - Ezra comes to Jerusalem in the 7th year of Artaxerxes. 
  2. First two groups of people return to Jerusalem led by Zerubbabel (2:2) and then Ezra (7:8).
  3. Rebuilding the temple stopped under Artaxerxes then started under Darius in his second year (4:24).
  4. Ezra arrives 13 years before Nehemiah (Ezra 7:8).
  5. Ezra 4:11- must be King Artaxerxes I (?) Nehemiah and Israel has favor by King Artaxerxes in Ezra 7:11-28; Neh. 2:1-8.
  6. This book shows how God will take care of your battles. When He works, everything is taken care of beyond your expectations

Esther
  1. Persian rule (1:2-3). During the rebuilding stages of Jerusalem.
  2. King Ahasuerus (Ezra 4:6,7).

Nehemiah
  1. Neh. 1:1; 2:1 - Nehemiah returns in the 20th year of Artaxerxes 
  2. Nehemiah leads 3rd group back to Jerusalem. Ezra (8:1,4; Ezra 5:1) and Zechariah are already there (12:13,16). 
  3. Nehemiah is governor for 12 years (Ne. 5:14).
  4. This book has good information on tithing (ch. 10), music (ch. 12), and the Sabbaths (ch. 13).

Malachi
  1. Edom has been partially destroyed by Assyria (1:4).
  2. Judah is not captured yet (2:11). However, the rest of the book sounds like the time of the captivity. God's word is justifying His punishment on Israel.
  3. Prophecy of Jesus in 3:1-3. 
  4. Prophecy of John the Baptist in 3:1a and 4:5 (also see Mt.17: 12,13 and 11:10). 

Haggai
  1. Persian rule. Second year of King Darius (1:1).
  2. Haggai prophesies at the time of Ezra and Nehemiah (Ezra 5:1).
  3. Rebuilding of the temple.
  4. Jesus is from the line of Zerubbabel (2:23).
  5. God wants the people to remember the difference in His blessings, those before the temple is rebuilt and those at the beginning of the rebuilding (2:18,19).

Zechariah
  1. Same time as Haggai (see Ezra 5:1).
  2. Rebuilding the temple.
  3. Scripture that very much sounds like it is Jesus who is speaking to Zechariah (chapters 2 and 3). 
  4. God is the lampstand in chapter 3.


 

KINGS DURING CAPTIVITY

Nebuchadnezzar
  • Dan. 1:1
  • Reigns 26 years after Zedekiah is killed.
  • 2 Ki. 25:27

Evil-Merodach 
  • ? - 2 Ki. 25:27

Belshazzar
  • Dan. 5:22
  • Son of Nebuchadnezzer.

Darius (The Mede)
  • First Darius, son of Ahasuerus.
  • Da.5:31; 6:28; 9:1

Cyrus
  • First Persian king. He lets the Jews start rebuilding the temple. 
  • Adversaries prevent the building of the Temple until reign of Darius the Persian.
  • Dan.6:28, 10:1; Ezra 1:1,2; 4:4,5; 6:3.

Ahasuerus (Xerxes)
  • Cyrus, Ahasuerus, and Artaxerxes (Ezra 4:5-7). 

Artaxerxes
  • First Artaxerxes 
  • Stops the building of the temple.

Darius (the Persian)
  • First Darius of the Persians (Ezra 6:14; Hag 1:1).
  • Zerubbabel is governor. He is the first governor before Nehemiah (see Dan. 6:28).
  • Temple begins in the 2nd year and completed in the 6th year of King Darius (Ezra 6:15).

Ahasuerus

  • Second Ahasuerus
  • Book of Esther takes place here.

Artaxerxes
  • Second Artaxerxes 
  • Neh 2:1 - Nehemiah arrives and is governor for 12 years (Neh. 5:14).
  • At least 32 years as king (Neh. 5:14; Ezra 4:5-7). 

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