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Timeline of the Judges of Israel
Summary
The Bible gives us enough information that we are able to construct a timeline of the events that took place between when the Israelites left Egypt and the division of the kingdom into two separate kingdoms. We know from our previous studies that the Israelites left Egypt in 1447 BC and that the kingdom was divided in 931 BC. The timeline of events between these dates is as follows:
1447-1407 BC: The Wilderness Journey
The Israelites left Egypt in 1447 BC and were in the wilderness for 40 years:
"And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no." (Deuteronomy 8:2)
Therefore, after leaving Egypt they entered Canaan 40 years later in 1407 BC.
Harmonizing The Clues
As we go through the book of Judges we find the following timeline clues:
- Israel served Cushanrishathaim for 8 years
- 40 years of rest
- Israel served Eglon for 18 years
- 80 years of rest
- Israel was oppressed by Jabin for 20 years
- 40 years of rest
- Israel was in the hand of Midian for 7 years
- 40 years of rest
- Abimelech ruled Israel for 3 years
- Tola judged for 23 years
- Jair judged for 22 years
- Israel was oppressed by the Philistines for 18 years
- Jephthah judged for 6 years
- Ibzan judged for 7 years
- Elon judged for 10 years
- Abdon judged for 8 years
- Israel was in the hand of the Philistines for 40 years
- Samson judged for 20 years
It can be shown that Samson's period of judging ended in 1108 BC (this will be proven as we progress in this study). Therefore, 299 years passed from the Israelites' entrance into Canaan in 1407 BC and the end of Samson's period of judging in 1108 BC. However, a challenge awaits us because the timeline clues above add up to 410 years, not 299. This means that some of the events above occurred concurrently with others.
The discrepancy between 299 and 410 is 111 years. Note the green colored timeline clues above. These are all the clues that make reference to the Israelites' struggle with enemy nations. If we add up just these timeline clues we arrive at a total of 111 years. In other words, this likely means that the struggles with enemy nations are the events that took place concurrently since that conclusion gives us a perfect timeline to the very year. God gives us a proof of this in Judges 15:20:
"And he [Samson] judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years."
This verse proves that the time references to Israel being in the hands of an enemy can overlay the time clues regarding the judges.
With this knowledge, we can now develop a timeline...
1407-1207 BC: The Four Periods of Deliverance
1407-1367 BC: Othinel's Deliverance
The first period when the Israelites entered Canaan is spoken of as a 40-year period of rest:
"And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died." (Judges 3:11)
Early on in this period the Israelites were rebellious against God and so at some point during the 40 years God caused them to serve an enemy, Chushanrishathaim, for 8 years:
"And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves. Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years." (Judges 3:7-8)
After the Israelites served Chushanrishathaim for 8 years, God raised up Othniel as judge who delievered Israel from Chushanrishathaim. The 40-year period ended with Othinel's death:
"And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim. And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died." (Judges 3:9-11)
This first 40-year period began when the Israelites entered Canaan in 1407 BC and ended when Othinel died in 1367 BC. This period began with the Israelites being rebellious against God, followed by God causing them to serve Chushanrishathaim. Then Othinel was raised up to deliver Israel from Chushanrishathaim and the period ended with Othinel's death.
1367-1287 BC: Ehud's Deliverance
The Bible speaks of the next period of time as being 80 years in length:
"So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years." (Judges 3:30)
Again, this period began with the Israelites behaving rebelliously against God so He allowed an enemy, Eglon, to succeed against Israel. The Israelites served Eglon, king of Moab, for 18 years:
"And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD. And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees. So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years." (Judges 3:12-14)
After the Israelites served Eglon for 18 years, God raised Ehud who killed Eglon and freed Israel from his rule (Judges 3:15-29). This 80-year period ended with the death of Ehud:
"So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years. "And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead. " (Judges 3:30-4:1)
This 80-year period had the same pattern as the first 40-year period. It began with the Israelites behaving rebelliously, followed by God causing them to fall into the hands of the enemy. Then God raised up a deliverer (Ehud, in this case) to free Israel and the period again ends with the death of their deliverer. This period began 1367 BC when the period of Othinel's deliverance ended and it ended 80 years later in 1287 BC.
1287-1247 BC: Deborah and Barak's Deliverance
Next, the Bible focuses on another 40-year period:
"So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years." (Judges 5:31)
Once again, this period began with the Israelites rebelling against God again so once again God allowed Israel to be oppressed by an enemy. This time, they were oppressed by Jabin for 20 years:
"And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead. And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles. And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel." (Judges 4:1-3)
After the Israelites were oppressed for 20 years, God raised Deborah and Barak to deliver Israel from Jabin's hand:
"So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel. And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan." (Judges 4:23-24)
Judges chapter 5 speaks further of Deborah and Barak's victory over Jabin. The chapter ends with God informing us that this 40-year period came to an end some time after the victory over Jabin:
"So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years." (Judges 5:31)
This 40-year period followed the same pattern as the previous two periods. It started with the Israelites rebelling against God, followed by God allowing them to be troubled by an enemy. Then God raised up a deliverer (two in this case) to free Israel from the oppression. This period began in 1287 BC when the period of Ehud's deliverance ended and it ended 40 years later in 1247 BC.
1247-1207 BC: Gideon's Deliverance
The Bible once again focuses our attention on another 40-year period:
"Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon." (Judges 8:28)
Yet again, this period began with the Israelites rebelling against God and so God, yet again, caused them to fall into the hands of an enemy. This time he brought Midian against them and they were in Midian's hand for 7 years:
"And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years." (Judges 6:1)
After the Israelites were in Midian's hand for 7 years, God raised up Gideon to deliver Israel from Midian's hand and the 40-year period ended when Gideon died:
"Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon." (Judges 8:28)
"And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites." (Judges 8:32)
Therefore, here we have a fourth period that follows the same pattern as the previous three. It began with the Israelites rebellious behavior, followed by God causing them to be troubled by an enemy. Then God raised a deliverer (Gideon) who freed Israel from the enemy's hand. The period then ended when the deliverer died. This period began in 1247 BC when the period of Deborah and Barak's deliverance ended and it ended 40 years later in 1207 BC.
1207-1204 BC: Abimelech's Rule
The 40-year period of Gideon's deliverance came to an end when he died and his son, Abimelech, began to rule. Abimelech ruled for 3 years:
"When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel" (Judges 9:22)
Abimelech's rule began in 1207 BC when Gideon died and ended 3 years later in 1204 BC.
1204-1047 BC: The Period of 9 Judges
1204-1181 BC: Tola Judged
When Abimelech died, Tola judged Israel for the next 23 years:
"And after Abimelech there arose to defend Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in mount Ephraim. And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir." (Judges 10:1-12)
Tola's period of judging began in 1204 BC when Abimelech died and ended 23 years later in 1181 BC.
1181-1159 BC: Jair Judged
When Tola died, Jair judged Israel for the next 22 years:
"And after him [Tola] arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and two years." (Judges 10:3)
Jair's period of judging began in 1181 BC when Tola died and ended 22 years later in 1159 BC.
1159-1153 BC: Jephthah Judged
When Jair died, Jephthah was the next judge of Israel and he judged for 6 years:
"And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then died Jephthah the Gileadite, and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead." (Judges 12:7)
Jephthah's period of judging began in 1141 BC when Jair died and ended 6 years later in 1153 BC.
1153-1146 BC: Ibzan Judged
After Jephthah died, Ibzan judged Israel for the next 7 years:
"And after him [Jephthah] Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel. And he had thirty sons, and thirty daughters, whom he sent abroad, and took in thirty daughters from abroad for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years. Then died Ibzan, and was buried at Bethlehem." (Judges 12:8-10)
Izban's period of judging began in 11153 BC when Jephthah died and ended 7 years later in 1146 BC.
1146-1136: Elon Judged
After Izban died, Elon judged Israel for the next 10 years:
"And after him [Ibzan] Elon, a Zebulonite, judged Israel; and he judged Israel ten years. And Elon the Zebulonite died, and was buried in Aijalon in the country of Zebulun." (Judges 12:11-12)
Elon's period of judging began in 1146 BC when Ibzan died and ended 10 years later in 1136 BC.
1136-1128 BC: Abdon Judged
After Elon died, Abdon judged Israel for the next 8 years:
"And after him [Elon] Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Israel. And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years. And Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the mount of the Amalekites" (Judges 12:13-15)
Abdon's period of judging began in 1136 BC when Ibzan died and ended 8 years later in 1128 BC.
1128-1108 BC: Samson Judged
When we read Judges chapters 13 through 15 we learn that Samson was the next judge after Abdon and he judged for 20 years:
"And he [Samson] judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years." (Judges 15:20)
Samson's period of judging began in 1128 BC when Abdon died and ended 20 years later in 1108 BC.
1108-1068 BC: Eli Judged
The next timeline clue we find regarding the judges of Israel is in the book of First Samuel. There we read that Eli judged for 40 years:
"And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he [Eli] fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years." (1 Samuel 4:18)
We do not find evidence of any judge between Samson and Eli. Our timeline works out perfectly to the very year if Eli's period of judging began the year that Samson died. This is likely the case. Therefore, if Eli's period of judging began in 1108 BC when Samson died, then it ended 40 years later in 1068 BC.
1068-1067 BC: The Ark in the Hands of the Philistines
Eli's death marked the end of his period of judging and occurred when the Ark fell into the hands of the Philistines:
"And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken. And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years." (1 Samuel 4:17-18)
The Ark was in the hands of the Philistines for 7 months:
"And the ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines seven months." (1 Samuel 6:1)
The Ark was taken in 1068 BC when Eli died. Given that 7 months is less than a year, we could say that the Ark returned to the Israelites in late 1068 BC or some time in 1067 BC. We will see that it must have been in 1067 BC.
1067-1047 BC: Samuel Judged
God makes reference to a 20-year span of time after the Ark was removed from the hands of the Philistines:
"And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD." (1 Samuel 7:2)
This 20-year period began when the Ark was removed from the Philistines in 1067 BC and ended 20 years later in 1047 BC. We know that Samuel judged after Eli and his period of judging ended when Saul became king in 1047 BC. Therefore, we can conclude that this 20-year period is the period in which Samuel judged.
1047-931 BC: The Period of Kings Before Kingdom Division
1047-1007 BC: Saul Reigned
Saul reigned for 40 years as king:
"And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years." (Acts 13:21)
Saul's reign began in 1047 BC and ended 40 years later in 1007 BC.
1007-967 BC: David Reigned
When we read Second Samuel chapters 1 and 2 we learn that David became king when Saul died. David reigned for 40 years:
"David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years." (2 Samuel 5:4)
David's reign began in 1007 BC when Saul died and ended 40 years later in 967 BC.
971-931 BC: Solomon Reigned
Solomon reigned for 40 years:
"And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years." (1 Kings 11:42)
"And Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years." (2 Chronicles 9:30)
We have already learned in previous studies that Solomon's reign ended in 931 BC when Israel was divided into two kingdoms. Therefore, his reign began 40 years earlier in 971 BC. This means that Solomon and David co-reigned for 4 years. This makes sense because David and Solomon worked together on preparing for the construction of the temple (Chronicles 22:1-4, 23:4-5, 25:11-19, 29:2-9). However, God declared that the construction itself could not begin until after David died (1 Chronicles 28:3). The construction of the temple was ready to begin as soon as David died, and it began in the fourth year of Solomon's reign (1 Kings 6:1), indicating that must've been the year David died. David made Solomon king years before his death (1 Kings 1:32-37) in order to ensure that his promise to make him king was honored. This was necessary because Absalom wanted to be his successor (2 Kings 15:1-8), as did Adonijah (1 Kings 1:5).
Timeline Verification
We know that the fourth year of Solomon's reign was 480 years after the Israelites left Egypt:
"And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD." (1 Kings 6:1)
Since we know the Israelites left Egypt in 1447 BC, we can therefore know that Solomon's fourth year of reign was 967 BC. That is the exact date we arrived at in our study.
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