A few historical markers

Humankind probably came into being about 100,000 years ago. Writing was probably invented about 4,000 years B.C. The biblical narrative is still more recent.

These numbers do not diminish the importance of the history of Israel or the role of the Virgin Mary that form the “cradle” of the Incarnation, when God espoused human nature so that it could connect with divine life.

Putting dates on the story of Abraham is a matter of debate, but in all probability it seems to go back to around the year 1750 B.C. The author of the Deuteronomy says: “My father was a wandering Aramean.” (Dt 26: 5-9) The period of nomadism or semi-nomadism dates back to the Bronze Age, i.e. 2000-1200 B.C. The events on Sinai and the Exodus from Egypt occurred towards the end of this era.

The entry into Canaan was gradual. If we take the example of the tribe of Dan (Judges 1: 34-35, 13-16, 18, 2) we see that the settling into Canaan was a process that lasted a long time.

The period of Kings in Israel starts, very modestly at first, around the year 1000, but this date remains approximate because the Bible has purposely deleted the dates relative to the first King, Saul. Indeed, we read: “Saul was … years old when he became King, and he reigned for … years over Israel.” (1 Samuel 13: 1)

The separation of the Kingdom of the North (around Samaria) from the Kingdom of the South (around Jerusalem) is often dated to 926 B.C., but this date is disputed by some exegetes who minimize the extent of the Kingdom of David and Solomon.

The domination of Ashur (Assyria) lasted from the year 841 to the year 612 B.C. The great King Hezekiah, the first Isaiah, and the prophet Micah lived under this rule.

The reconquest by King Josiah and his reform (Deuteronomy) began in the year 639, and Josiah died fighting the Egyptian army (defeat of Megiddo) in the year 609.

The Babylonian rule and the exile to Babylon began in the year 587 B.C.

We are now in the period of the second Isaiah and Ezekiel. The story of Genesis 1 goes back to this period.

The exile ended with the edict of Cyrus in the year 587 B.C.

But Nehemiah and Esdras came later in 445 B.C.

The Greek rule lasted from the year 332 to the year 65 B.C.

This is the time of the translation of the Septuagint, the book of Wisdom, the Song of Solomon, the book of Daniel, and Maccabees.

The Roman era lasted from the year 65 B.C. to the year 135 A.D