About this Project

Introduction

We are going to read and create an illustrated retelling of the history books of the Old Testament. Along with becoming more familiar with these books of history, our goal is to improve or develop a daily habit of both reading and responding to the Bible.

There are twelve books in this part of the Old Testament (249 chapters):

1. Joshua (24 chapters)
2. Judges (21 chapters)
3. Ruth (4 chapters)
4. 1 Samuel (31 chapters)
5. 2 Samuel (24 chapters)
6. 1 Kings (22 chapters)
7. 2 Kings (25 chapters)
8. 1 Chronicles (29 chapters)
9. 2 Chronicles (36 chapters)
10. Ezra (10 chapters)
11. Nehemiah (13 chapters)
12. Esther (10 chapters)

These books were composed at different times and places but have been arranged in a sequence that tells the story of God’s people from the occupation of Canaan through the rise and fall of the northern and southern kingdoms, and the return and rebuilding of Jerusalem in the Persian period.

Note: All dates are approximate.

Reading Calendar

249 Chapters at 2 chapters per day: 125 days/18 weeks. (Weeks run Sunday to Saturday)

• Week 1: Joshua 1 - Joshua 14
• Week 2: Joshua 15 - Judges 4
• Week 3: Judges 5 - Judges 18
• Week 4: Judges 19 - 1 Samuel 7
• Week 5: 1 Samuel 8 - 1 Samuel 21
• Week 6: 1 Samuel 22 - 2 Samuel 4
• Week 7: 2 Samuel 5 - 2 Samuel 19
• Week 8: 2 Samuel 20 - 1 Kings 9
• Week 9: 1 Kings 10 - 2 Kings 1
• Week 10: 2 Kings 2 - 2 Kings 15
• Week 11: 2 Kings 16 - 1 Chronicles 4
• Week 12: 1 Chronicles 5 - 1 Chronicles 18
• Week 13: 1 Chronicles 19 - 2 Chronicles 3
• Week 14: 2 Chronicles 4 - 2 Chronicles 17
• Week 15: 2 Chronicles 18 - 2 Chronicles 31
• Week 16: 2 Chronicles 32 - Ezra 9
• Week 17: Ezra 10 - Nehemiah 13
• Week 18: Esther 1-10

Timeline

1410-1390 BC

• Joshua's Rule
• Deuteronomy 34:9—Judges 2:8

1400-1045 BC

The Israelites were in Egypt for about 400 years and then were ruled by judges for about 400 years.

• Conquest of Canaan Completed: 1400 BC (Judges 1)
• Deborah serves as Judge: 1245 BC — 1200 BC (Judges 4—5)
• Gideon serves as Judge: 1195 BC — 1155 BC (Judges 6)
• Samuel serves as Judge: 1090 BC — 1045 BC (1 Samuel 1:1—25:1)

1095-930 BC

At the end of the time of the judges, Israel demanded a king.After being ruled by judges for 400 years, the nation of Israel only lasted about 165 more years united under one king.

• The Unified Kingdom
  • Saul Reigns: 1095 BC — 1015 BC (1 Samuel 10:17—2:13)
  • David Reigns: 1015 BC — 970 BC (2 Samuel 1:1—1 Chronicles 19:1)
  • Solomon Reigns: 970 BC — 930 BC (1 Chronicles 19:1—2 Chronicles 9:31)
• The Kingdom Splits: 930 BC (2 Chronicles 10)

930-590 BC

The Northern Kingdom of Israel so rebelled against God that it was only another 200 years before the Assyrians destroyed them. The Southern Kingdom of Judah managed to last about 340 years before the Babylonian captivity.

• Northorn Kingdom of Israel 930 BC — 725 BC

  • Elijah serves as Prophet: 870 BC
  • Obadiah serves as Prophet: 845 BC
  • Elisha serves as Prophet: 840 BC
  • Jonah serves as Prophet: 780 BC
  • Hosea serves as Prophet: 760 BC
  • Assyria destroys Israel: 725 BC (2 Kings 17)

• Souther Kingdom of Judah 930 BC — 590 BC

  • Joel serves as Prophet: 825 BC
  • Amos serves as Prophet: 750 BC
  • Micah serves as Prophet: 725 BC
  • Isaiah serves as Prophet: 690 BC
  • Zephaniah serves as Prophet: 640 BC
  • Nahum serves as Prophet: 625 BC
  • Habakkuk serves as Prophet: 620 BC
  • Ninevah destroyed: 612 BC
  • Jeremiah serves as Prophet: 600 BC
  • Babylonian exile: 590 BC (2 Kings 25)

590 - 430 BC

Jeremiah was right—from the fall of Judah to the first refugees returning to Jerusalem was about seventy years (Jeremiah 25:11).

• Exile in Babylon

  • Babylonian Empire: 1984 BC — 539 BC
  • Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon: 605 BC — 562 BC
  • Daniel taken to Babylon: 605 BC (Daniel 1)
  • Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego survive the fiery furnace: 595 BC (Daniel 3)
  • Ezekiel serves as Prophet: 593 BC
  • Daniel's confrontation with Belshazzar: 539 BC (Daniel 5)

• Persian Empire: 539 BC — 330 BC

  • Cyrus King of Great Persian Empire: 576 BC — 530 BC
  • Jews start returning to Jerusalem: 536 BC
  • Temple Rebuilt: 530 BC — 515 BC (Ezra)
  • Haggai serves as Prophet: 525 BC
  • Zechariah serves as Prophet: 525 BC
  • Xerxes (Ahasuerus) King of Persia: 485 BC — 465 BC (Esther)
  • Esther becomes Queen: 475 BC
  • Esther saves the Jews: 470 BC
  • Ezra serves as Priest: 460 BC — 430 BC
  • Nehemiah Governor of Jerusalem: 460 BC — 430 BC
  • Malachi serves as Prophet: 440 BC