![[more]](http://www.utexas.edu/courses/classicalarch/images2/alphabetpsd.gif){kind=link}
![[map]](http://www.hope.edu/academic/religion/bandstra/RTOT/CH5/CH5_F3.JPG){kind=link}
![[tree]](http://www.bartleby.com/61/JPG/tree.jpg){kind=link}
![[tribute]](jehus.jpg)
Israelites with Jehu's tribute
Jesus said, "The Pharisees and the scholars have taken the keys of knowledge and have hidden them. They have not entered nor have they allowed those who want to enter to do so." Gospel of Thomas 39 [etext] (cf 'negative intelligence'? thread)
related pages: Chaldeans : Shahak : Bible : Jesus : Crossan : Yeshua : Church
c10,000 BC? semitic language family ranges from North Africa to the levant [cite] (see 1000BC below for first differentiation of hebrew, 3000BC for paleo-canaanite)
c10,000 BC: hypothetical genetic ancestress 'Jasmine' of near eastern peoples [passim]
8500-4000 BC: Neolithic period
8500-7500 BC: Pre-pottery Neolithic A [cite]
7500-6000 BC: Pre-pottery Neolithic B [cite]
c6000 BC: desertification of Sahara [cite]
6000-5000 BC: Pottery Neolithic A [cite]
5550 BC: [world history]
c5000-2700 BC: cooler and moister interval in near east (population rises) [cite]
5000-4300 BC: Pottery Neolithic B [cite]
4300-3300 BC: Chalcolithic period [cite]
4000 BC: earliest circumcision in Egypt? [cite] [background]
c4000 BC: oldest known Egyptian representation of desert-god Seth (Set) [cite] [pic]
3500-1550 BC: nomadic semitic sheep-and-goatherds settle for part of each year in the Canaan hills (drought-gap from 2200 to 2000)
reconstructed proto-semitic terms: sacrifice, anoint, prohibit, reap, winnow, grind, palm, cumin, roast, herd, ox, donkey, house, door, smelt metal, antimony, naphtha, weigh, count, music [essay]
3300 BC: [world history]
3300-2200 BC: Early Bronze Age
3300-2900 BC: Early Bronze Age I
3200 BC: pork-avoiding southern Egyptians conquer north Egypt (taboo becomes widespread) [cite] no-date: swineherds considered unclean [cite]
3200 BC: Egyptian artifacts in levant [map]
3000 BC? semitic peoples of the coastal cities will be known as Phoenicians [cite] [info] [origins] (language is paleo-canaanite: info) will supply timber to Egypt [cite]
no-date: Babylonian documents include name 'Ja-ku-bi' (cf Jacob) [cite]
2900-2600 BC: Early Bronze Age II (prosperous and populous) [cite]
2600-2300 BC: Early Bronze Age III
c2600 BC: trade with Egypt [cite]
c2500 BC: oldest written semitic language, akkadian, in Mesopotamia [cite]
c2400 BC: Ebla documents (20% in paleo-canaanite) widely purported to include biblical names, now mostly discredited [passim] 'Michael'? [cite] king 'Ebrum' longshot origin of 'hebrew' [cite] gods Il, Astar, Malik
2300-2200 BC: Early Bronze Age IV (population decline) [cite]
c2300 BC: Pepi of Egypt conquers 'sand-dwellers' of levant [etext] (they grew figs and grapes)
Pepi's Pyramid texts [more] depict balanced conflict between Seth (evil?, night info) and Horus (good, day)
c2300 BC: Mesopotamian demoness Ardat Lili (Lilitu) would evolve into Lilith [info] ditto
c2300-1900 BC: warm and dry interval in near east (droughts and famines) [cite]
2200-2000 BC: Middle Bronze Age I (MB1, EB-MB, Middle Canaanite I)
2200-1550 BC: semitic Amurru (Amorites) invasions of Mesopotamia [cite]
c2200 BC: Amurru invade Phoenicia [cite]
2200 BC: unambiguous Egyptian picture of circumcision [pic]
c2100 BC: "transition to a more urbanized material culture" in levant [archeo]
2000-1570 BC: Middle Bronze Age II [archeo] (prosperous and populous) [cite]
2000-1800 BC: Middle Bronze Age II A
2000 BC? common ancestor of many Jews, Arabs, Turks, and Armenians [cite] or 40,000-1000 BC? [cite]
c2000 BC: earliest mention of 'SA-GAZ' in Sumerian document [etext] cf 'apiru' (habiru, bandits, hebrews?) [cite] [more]
"...these unclothed people, who travel in dead silence, who destroy everything, their women carry spindle and spinning bowl, their menfolk go where they will-- they establish their tents and their camps-- they spend their time in the countryside without observing the decrees of my king Shulgi..."
"The term 'Habiru' (more properly 'Apiru or its cuneiform ideogram equivalent SA.GAZ) occurs in over 200 texts that date to the second millennium BCE and that come from every part of the ancient Near East. The term appears to refer not to a specific national or ethnic group but rather to a class of individuals. In some texts 'Apiru appear as vagrants who raid and otherwise generally harass resident populations; in other records they are mercenaries whose services are available to the highest bidder." [cite] [bibliog]
no-date: Mesopotamian sacrifices normally offered as meal set out for god several times a day, with altar serving as table [rdv433] blood not normally used in ritual, priests share food; burning and anointing with blood on special occasions [rdv434] scapegoat-substitutes to deflect gods' anger; gods drawn by pleasant odors (first incense? cite)
no-date: Egypt's Osiris-myth first indicates Seth as murderer during the Middle Kingdom (2000-1650BC) [cite]
c1900 BC: autobiography of Sinuhe/Sanehat, Egyptian who flees to levant [etext] ditto [glossary] [analysis] [more] [less] [French] Phoenicia referred to as 'Fenkhu'; Homeric single-combat may have inspired David/Goliath; massacres of enemy tribes [geog]
c1850 BC: campaigns of Sen-Usert III against Retenu (Syria/levant) [cite]
1800-1570 BC: Middle Bronze Age II B/C
c1800-1200 BC: cool and moist interval in near east (pop. rises) [cite]
c1800 BC: oldest taboo on pork in levant? [cite]
c1800 BC: Egyptian execration-texts name cities and rulers in levant [cite] 'Rusalimum' (Jerusalem) ruled by Shas'an and Y'qar'am [cite], 'Abu-reheni' (Abraham?), 'Zabulanu' (Zebulon?), Hazor [more] but not 'Retenu' [passim] number of named towns increases 2000-1550BC [cite] many biblical cities founded
no-date: name 'Abiramu' (Abraham?) in Babylonian contract [cite] also A-ba-am-ra-ma, A-ba-am-ra-am, A-ba-ra-ma
c1750 BC: Amurru rule in Mari [info] apiru are soldiers [cite] oldest examples of 'prophets' in biblical sense [cite] more
c1750 BC? Hyksos dominate levant? [cite] or Hyksos were just Delta faction? [passim] favor Seth (later rejected) [cite]
c1750 BC: 'Asiatic' servants in Egypt [etext]
1700-1500 BC? non-semitic Hurrians pushing south from Armenia as far as Palestine, found state of Mitanni [jbc675] longshot origin for 'Moses' in Hurrian 'righteous' [cite]
c1700 BC: conquered west-semitic turquoise-miners in Sinai adapt 22 Egyptian glyphs as first consonantal alphabet, proto-canaanite [info] [more] ditto
1628 BC: [world history]
no-date: Rig-Veda in Indus Valley postulates 'Brahma' as sacred power (longshot origin of name 'Abraham'? passim)
c1600 BC: Hyksos pharaoh named "ya'aqobh-'el" (Jacob-El)? [cite]
"a period of stress on Palestine, eventually leading to a demographic breakdown affecting both trade and the centralization of the population in towns. Large areas of the central hill country, especially south of the Shechem area and much of Judea, are abandoned. Throughout Palestine, there is a marked rise in the proportion and number of hamlets and small villages beginning already in the Late Bronze period and continuing into the beginning of Iron II. Many of these settlements are in areas that had not known previous settlement... [There are four] different types and history of settlement... for [1] the Jezreel valley, [2] the Galilee; [3] the highlands between Ramallah and Nablus and [4] ...in the Judean hills." [cite]"imported luxury goods-- pottery, metals, jewelry-- from Egypt, Greece, Cyprus, Syria, Anatolia and Mesopotamia" [cite]
1570-1400 BC: Late Bronze Age I [archeo]
c1550 BC: Egypt's 18th dynasty [info] recovers control of levant (pharaohs not circumcised? cite) names ending in 'mes' or 'moses' are popular (possible origin of 'Moses': more, scholarly) [archeo] the evil serpent Apep is described as dwelling in the underworld Tuat [info]
c1550 BC: Damascus mentioned in Egyptian inscriptions as 'Ti-mas-ku' [cite]
c1530 BC: Egyptian mention of ritual incense-burning
c1500 BC: Hatshepsut popularises incense in Egypt [cite]
c1482 BC: Egypt's Thutmes III lays waste to levant (Lower Retenu or 'Djahi') [info] [etext], battle of Megiddo [info] [etext] list of conquered Palestinian places includes J'qb'r (Jacob?) [cite] sons of princes educated in Egypt as hostages
c1450 BC? first Egyptian use of Ka-n-'-na for Canaan [cite] [cite]
c1450 BC: Myceneans take over Crete
c1425 BC: earliest Egyptian references to nomadic 'Shasu', usually southeast of Canaan: "Yhw (in) the Land of Shasu" [cite] [info]
1400-1300 BC: Late Bronze Age IIA [archeo]
c1400 BC? Nuzi tablets (Hurrian city in northern Mesopotamia) [info] [critique] may mention apiru slaves [cite]
c1400 BC? Ugarit texts show Yahweh as one of 70 siblings, each ruling one nation [cite] children of El and Asherah (Il and Athirat) [info] [detailed] [myths] nickname for 'Yam'? [cite] also personal names 'Ysril' and 'Abrm' [cite] terms for burnt-offering and peace-offering, blood not mentioned in rituals [rdv440] 'mlk' = king [cite] Mot is the lord of death opposing Baal (cf Seth) [jbr94]
c1400 BC: pork is now popular in Egypt [cite]
Apiru raid Egypt's Asian frontiers [cite]
c1350 BC: Tell el-Amarna tablets mention Jerusalem, apiru, and Jacob (yakubu-el) [info] [debate] [more] [pic] [transcripts] [site pic] also 16 other city-states in Canaan including Lachish, Tell es-Safi (Gath?), Gezer, Shechem, Ta'anach, Megiddo, and Hazor [cite] [cite] Canaan appears as Kinahhi, Kinahni, and Kinahna [cite] mayor-king of Jerusalem is Abdi-Hepa (Hurrian?); principal northern states are Qadesh, Qatna, and Tunip; Damascus mentioned as both 'Ti-ma-as-gi' and 'Di-mas-ka' [cite] language of tablets is akkadian with many canaanite words [info] the cities seem to fight continually, but on such a small scale that 100 soldiers could hold a city securely
Gaza was the Egyptian administrative center [cite]
mayor-kings are ceremonially anointed (but pharaohs were not?)
no-date: akkadian word for 'spokesman' adopted for hebrew 'prophet' (nabi)? [cite]
c1350 BC: disingenuous Amurru chieftans Abdi-Asirta and son Aziru usurp northern territories from Mitanni, Akhenaten finally summons Aziru to Egypt for a year or more, Aziru joins Hittites when released
c1350 BC: Akhenaten's 'Hymn to Aten' bears a striking resemblance to Psalm 104 [etext] [compare w/frames] [analysis] ditto
"Thou didst create the earth according to thy heart...
Thou settest every man into his place
Thou suppliest their necessities..."
c1330 BC: Hittites seize levant from Egypt [mythology] (Hittite kings were also ceremonially anointed)
hypothetical Hittite origin of stereotypical hooked nose? [cite]
c1320 BC: 'Hapiri gods' invoked in treaty between Suppiluliumas (Hittite) and Shattiwaza (aka Kurtiwaza or Mattiwaza; Mitanni) [etext]
c1310 BC: 'Hapiri gods' invoked in treaty between Mursilis (Hittite) and Duppi-Tessub (Amurru) [etext]
1300-1200 BC: Late Bronze Age IIB [archeo]
c1300 BC: Hittite suzerain-vassal treaties will provide stylistic model for Deuteronomy [info] ditto [example] (probably via Assyrian versions c700BC: debate) [map]
1300-1200 BC: iron weaponry spreads from Hittites to Palestine and Egypt [cite] [tech] (perhaps not as significant as iron agricultural implements)
1300-1200 BC: proto-canaanite alphabet adapted by Phoenicians [info] [pic]
c1300 BC: hypothetical genetic ancestor of Cohanim priests [cite]
c1300 BC: Seti I of Egypt recovers levant, specifically Hamath, Bethshan, and Yanoam [info] (two 19th dynasty pharaohs were named for Seth)
Ramses II squashes local wars, population flourishes [cite]
c1280 BC: Papyrus Harris mentions apiru [cite] [etext]
c1250 BC: "strong and courageous king" replaces "just and rightful king" around near east [cite] cf [texts]
1230-1130 BC: Canaan devastated... by Sea Peoples? [debate] including 'prst' or 'plst' (Philistines) mentioned c1185 [info]
Philistine cities: Ashdod, Askelon, Ekron, Gath, and Gaza [overview] [cite] [site] [archeo] Mycenean influence [archeo] ditto [sarcophagi] main gods: Dagon, Asherah, Baalzebub [cite]
Philistine history parallels Israelite [cite] biblical testimony implies no language-barrier!?
undatable: supposed era of Exodus [archeo]
1207 BC: Merneptah stele [pic&info] more [debate] [more] Israel 'spouse of Canaan'? [cite] 'Hurru' or 'Kharu' or 'Kharru' = Syria-Palestine (cf 'Hurrian') 'hurru' puns on Egyptian for 'widow' [passim]
"SRL [maybe Israel, but here specifically a people, not a place] are laid waste, their seed [grain?] is not."
where did the Israelites come from??? [overview] genes from East Africa, Central Asia [info]
'Moses' the murderer founds a Midian city? [wild surmise]
1200-1150 BC: Iron Age I A [archeo] (population decline)
Egyptian influence still strong in Aphek, Ashdod, Beth Shan, Gaza, Hesi, Jemmeh, Joppa, Tell el-Farah S (Sharuhen) and Tell Masos and Tell esh-Sharia (Ziklag) [cite]
c1200 BC: possible Egyptian temple in Jerusalem [cite]
c1200-900 BC: warm and dry interval in near east (famines and droughts) [cite] [map] Great Mycenean Drought causes population-collapse in Greece? [info]
desert tribes (??) speaking aramaic ('Aramu') invade Babylonia, Syria, Canaan [tree] [history]
1200-600 BC: Negev inscriptions frequently name Yah, El/Yah, Yahu, and Yahh [cite]
c1200-800 BC: Mesopotamian 'dark age'? [cite]
c1200 BC: Sea Peoples flourish in Lebanon (as Phoenicians?) until 573 BC [info] [outline] [origins] [info] [pride] [artifacts] [bowl] Byblos center of papyrus-trade [cite]
c1200 BC: Hierombalus, a priest of Berytus (Beirut) writes about Phoenician religion? [cite] ditto, ditto
c1200 BC: Babylonian creation myth describes Marduk creating humankind from the blood of the devilish Kingu [jbr90] [etext]
1150-1000 BC: Iron Age I B
c1150 BC: domestication of camel (saddle) transforms Bedouin lifestyle [cite]
c1150 BC: small settlements increase in number (more than 100) [archeo] characteristic 4-room houses and large 'collared-rim' storage jars [debate] possible Israelite occupation of Shiloh [archeo]
1150-900 BC: taboo on pork evident in middens (but not at Lachish? cite)
c1100 BC: Tiglath-pileser I of Assyria collects literature into library incl. 'humanised' version of Gilgamesh flood-epic [cite]
c1075 BC: Wen-Amon of Egypt visits Byblos, encounters local 'prophet': "the god seized one of his noble youths, making him frenzied" [etext]
1000-925 BC: Iron Age IIA
Third Intermediate Period in Egypt, Seth vilified as god of evil, doomed to be overthrown by Horus [cite]
c1000 BC: fewer cities, some walled [cite] population of Palestine c250k, of West Bank c55k [cite]
c1000 BC: Amorite culture splitting into Arameans, Cananeans, and Arabs [cite] divergent alphabets for aramaic, hebrew, and phoenician [info] [fonts] [chart] [tree] [more] Old Hebrew Script [alphabet] [evolution]
biblical sociology: literary analysis
kings apparently always ceremonially anointed, as under Egypt [rdv103]
sacrifices of cattle and small livestock by complete burning ('holocaust') on altar [rdv426] alternately communion-sacrifices involved pouring blood and burning fat, priest gets to eat some part [rdv427] apparently identical to Canaanite practices [rdv438]
no-date: later Phoenician sacrifices in Carthage and Marseilles vary according to how much is returned to sacrificer, how much kept by priest [rdv439]
David captures Jerusalem from Jebusites? [jrw11] not convenient to trade routes [info] [map]
c950 BC: construction of First Temple by Solomon??? [jrw12] [description] [relic?] [archeo]
c950 BC: Tyre dominates Phoenicia [history] [Cath] (city-name 'Tyre' later morphs into province-name 'Syria'? or did city-name 'Assur' morph into 'Assyria' and then 'Syria' debate)
c950-850 BC? buildings at Gezer, Hazor, and Megiddo [archeo], attributed to Solomon but possibly 100 years later [debate] [more] ditto
c950 BC: Aramean kingdom of Syria emerges in Damascus [info] provides buffer against Assyria until 732BC
ten northern tribes form 'Israel' in north (agriculturally richer, capital at Samaria), two southern tribes (Judah and Benjamin) form Judah (agriculturally poor, capital at Jerusalem) [jrw12] [map] [cities]
c930 BC: campaign of Sheshonq I in levant? [info]
925-722 BC: Iron Age IIB
925 BC: Shishak Relief "highlands of David"? [info] [background] 'brm' (Abraham?) [cite] campaign doesn't match 1Kings 14:25's 'Shishak'? [info]
c925 BC: Gezer Calendar written in hebrew using phoenician alphabet [info] [pic] [archeo]
c900 BC: start of attenuated cold and moist interval in near east [cite]
c890 BC: Asa of Judah bribes Syria to pester Israel instead [1Kings 15] [cite]
c880 BC: Omri ('Bit Khumri') rules Israel (north) [archeo] [info] Syria annexes several cities and demands right to maintain bazaar in Samaria [1Kings 20] [cite]
c870 BC: Ahab of Israel marries Jezebel, daughter of king of Tyre? [cite] wins back cities from Syria and demands Israelite bazaar in Damascus [cite]
aramaic script evolving [pic] gradually replacing akkadian in Babylonia and Assyria [job106] akkadian name for Syria is 'Arame' [cite]
853 BC: Assyrian king Shalmaneser III faces (defeated by?) levantine alliance of 12 kings led by Irhuleni of Hamat (in modern Syria) and Hadadezer of Damascus plus Israel (sir-'i-la-a), Arabs (on camels), Egyptians, and Phoenicians at Qarqar [cite] Ahab (a-ha-ab-bu matsir-i-la-a-a) was credited with 2000 chariots and 10k footsoldiers [cite] Assyria claimed to have conquered Syria except Damascus? [cite]
c850 BC: prophet Elijah in Israel? [cite]
c850 BC: prophet Micaiah in Israel? [cite]
849-839 BC: more Assyrian attacks on Damascus fail [cite]
Israelites with Jehu's tribute
841 BC: Jehu pays tribute to Shalmaneser III [cite] [pic] [more]
"Tribute of Iaua [Jehu], son of Omri. Silver, gold, a golden bowl, a golden beaker, golden goblets, pitchers of gold, tin, staves for the hand of the king, [and] javelins" [cite]
c840 BC: Jehu expels Melkart worshippers from Israel? [cite]
"Over and over again the Old Testament shows that the Israelites did not only borrow from the Canaanite ways of worship but constantly relapsed into them." [cite]
"Baal is found in Phoenicia, Galilee, Israel and Judaea, as well as further north in the levant. Yehouah is found in Israel, Judah,and Edom. Dagon is found in Philistia; Qaus in Edom; Moloch and Chemosh in Moab and Ammon; Amon and Hathor in Shephalah" [cite]
839-803 BC: Assyria abandons attempts on Damascus, allowing Syria to focus attacks on Israel [cite]
c835 BC: Hazael of Damascus attacks Israel, Tel Dan 'House of David' inscription [pic] [site] [background] [info] [forged?] [analysis] [anti] reply
c825 BC: Mesha stele [drawing] [info] [etext] [critique] ditto more [anti] claims king received messages from god Chemosh [jbc224]
c825 BC: prophet Elisha in Israel? [cite]
no-date: Temple of Yahweh fragment [pic]
no-date: widow's petition fragment [info]
c806 BC: Assyrian inscriptions of Adad-Nirari III (aka Adadnirari III) mention Philistines as Palastu or Pilistu
c800 BC: Jeroboam II attacks Syria? [2Kings 13?] [cite]
c800 BC: Greeks taking over Mediterranean trade (and alphabet: cite) from Phoenicians, who retreat to African coastal route (via Carthage) [map]
c800 BC: king Zakkur of Hamath receives messages from god Be'elshamayn via prophets [cite]
c800 BC: Canaanites (also Phoenicians at Carthage) still sacrificing firstborn (moloch, molech, molk, mlk, "mlk 'dm") [info], allowing temple prostitutes (female and male) [info] ditto
no-date: simultaneous moves to monotheism: Yahweh in Israel, Hadad in Damascus, Milkom in Amman, Chemos in Moab, and Qos in Edom? [cite]
796 BC: Joash pays tribute to Adad-nirari III [cite]
752 BC: aramaic made an offical language (alongside akkadian) of Assyrian empire [cite] forced population-transfers spread aramaic [cite] [linguistics]
![[map]](amos.gif)
Amos's world [cf map] ditto, blurry
c750 BC: Amos (a non-priest from Judah in the south, preaching in Israel in the north) calls down God's curse on Jeroboam et al (incl both Israel and Judah) [KJV] (1st of prophetic books to be written down) cf contemporary Assyrian curses? [reformatted] protesting conventional view of gods as selfish and malevolent [rdv447, Renan]
c750 BC: Yahweh still considered to have consort Asherah [debate] still symbolised by stone pillars (masseboth) [info]
c750 BC: aramaic inscription at Deir Alla uses 'shaddayim' for 'mountain gods' (cf Genesis 17 "El Shadday") [cite]
c750 BC: Homer frequently mentions burnt offerings of slices of thigh
c750 BC: 'major social stratification' contributes to decline of extended patriarchal family [passim]
c750 BC: Samarian ostraca record deliveries of wine and oil (earliest evidence of scribes) [passim]
742-695 BC: first Isaiah in Jerusalem? [cite]
740-730 BC: prophet Hosea in Israel? [cite] condemns worship of images [KJV]
740 BC: Menahem pays tribute to Tiglath-pileser III [cite] (or 738BC? at 2Kings 15:19)
c736 BC: Judah refuses to join Syria and Israel against Assyria [2Kings 15] [Isaiah 7] [cite]
734 BC: 'Ahaz, king of Judah' ("Iaukhazi [Jehoahaz] matu Iauda-ai") pays tribute to Tiglath-pileser III of Assyria [cite] [cite]
733 BC: Assyrian deportations from Hazor and Galilee? [cite]
732 BC: Pekah removed; Hoshea ascends throne in Israel [cite]
c730 BC: King Ahaz of Judah sacrifices son? [2Kings 16:3]
730-701 BC: prophet Micah in Judah? [cite] [KJV]
Assyrian campaigns [info] ditto [mythology] [map] [Phoenicia]
722-586 BC: Iron Age IIC
722 BC: Sargon II of Assyria annexes Israel, 'disappears' 27k (ten lost tribes myth) [jrw16] Samaritans [info] replaced by settlers from Hamath and Babylon? [cite] or from Tamud, lbadidi, Marsimani, Haiapa, and Arbai [cite]
Yahweh-apologists have to innovate an explanation for His subjugation [context]
720 BC: recapture of Samaria and exile of inhabitants [cite]
c720 BC: Isaiah [KJV]
Hezekiah abandons countryside to Assyrians, moves rural population into fortresses. Hezekiah's religious reforms likely included abandonment of meat-sacrifices to baals and asherahs (incense and meal still allowed). Large Beersheba altar abandoned, but incense-altars at Arad survived?. [cite]
701 BC: Hezekiah of Judah pays tribute to escape annexing by Sennacherib of Assyria [Bible] [archeo] ditto [more]
tribute (Assyrian version): "30 talents of gold, 800 talents of silver, precious stones, antimony eye-paint, large cuts of red stone, couches inlaid with ivory, nimedu chairs inlaid with ivory, elephant hides, ebony-wood, boxwood and all kinds of valuable treasures, his own daughters, concubines, male and female muscians."hostilities: "His towns which I plundered, I took away from his country, and I gave them over to Mitinti, king of Ashdod, Padi, king of Ekron, and Sillibel, king of Gaza.... Himself [Hezekiah] I made a prisoner in Jerusalem, his royal residence, like a bird in a cage. I surrounded him with earthwork in order to molest those who were leaving his city's gate." [cite] [etext]
701 BC: Assyrian deportations from Jerusalem and Judah [cite]
701 BC: Siloam inscription [info] [archeo] [script]
701 BC: destruction of capital at Lachish allows Jerusalem to prosper [cite]
c700 BC: oldest archeological evidence for walled city, temple, water system in Jerusalem [cite]
c700 BC: Assyrian inscription mentions anointing, sacrifices [cite]
c670 BC: Manasseh pays tribute and service to Assyria [cite]
c670 BC: Esarhaddon of Assyria splits Phoenicia into Simya, Sidon, and Ushu, deports many Phoenicians [cite] vassalage-treaties closely resemble Deuteronomy; some Assyrian writings resemble biblical prophets [passim]
663-612 BC: prophet Nahum in Jerusalem? [cite]
651 BC: alliance of Babylon, Phoenicia, Philistia, Judah, Arabia, Chaldea, Elam, Lydia, and Egypt against Assyria [cite]
c650 BC: King Manasseh of Judah sacrifices son? [2Kings 21:6]
c650 BC: massive olive-oil boom in Ekron, accompanied by Israel-style incense-altars (dedicated to Asherah?) [cite] (may follow deportations from Phoenicia to Ekron)
no-date: increasing availability of spices [cite] [diet]
c650 BC: decline of extended family leads to emergence of individual responsibility, leading to monotheism? [cite]
c650 BC: Ashurbanipal's Nineveh library contains Gilgamesh [cite] "best educated and most literate of Assyria's kings" [cite]
c650 BC: oldest known biblical quote (in a shortened version, only partially legible) in paleo-hebrew on two miniature silver scrolls (magickal amulets?): [pic] [epig] [archeo] [crit]
modern/fuller version: "YHWH bless you and keep you. YHWH make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. YHWH lift up his countenance upon you and grant you peace."
639 BC: coronation of Josiah
630-622 BC: prophet Zephaniah in Judah? [cite]
627-580 BC: prophet Jeremiah in Judah? [cite]
c625 BC: Yavneh-Yam ostracon [info]
625 BC: Nabopolassar (Nabu-apla-usur) defeats Assyrians and founds Chaldean dynasty [cite] [info] (names honor 'Nabu' aka 'Nebo', god of writing and learning)
622 BC: Book of Law (Deuteronomy? [parallels] KJV) discovered by Hilkiah (or forged by Josiah?) [seals] (symbolism of blood)
616-610 BC? campaigns of Nabopolassar against Assyria (and Egypt) described in Babylonian Chronicle [info] ditto or 605-594?
Philistines deported to Babylonia
609 BC: Assyrians crushed by Medes and Babylonians [history/ethics]
609 BC: Necho retakes levant for Egypt [info]
609 BC? Jeremiah's Temple Sermon
605 BC? Jeremiah's scroll read
no-date: adoption of Babylonian calendar starting in spring instead of fall, day begins at dusk, month begins at new moon [rdv192] maybe after death of Josiah? even between 2Kings 23 and 2Kings 25??? (old system in Exodus, Samuel, 1Kings)
605 BC: Aug: Nebuchadnezzar [Cath] (Nebuchadrezzar, Nabuchodonosor, Nabu-kudurri-usur, Nabu-kudurri-utzur, 'Nabu protect the boundary' or '...the son' cite) retakes levant for Babylonia [info] [mythology] [map] [articles]
605 BC: Aug: Daniel and three other boys sent to Babylon as captives [cite] [KJV]
605 BC: Sep: accession of Nebuchadnezzar after death of father, Nabopolassar
605-562 BC: Nebuchadnezzar rebuilding Babylon [info&pix]
605-600 BC: prophet Habbakuk in Judah? [cite]
600 BC: nobody in Jerusalem named after 'Baal' anymore [cite]
c600 BC: aramaic becomes lingua franca [cite]
c600 BC: Sanchuniathon writes about Phoenician religion? [cite]
c600 BC: Zarathustra posits a lord of evil, or personification of the lie, Angra Mainyu (later Ahriman) [jbr106]
c600 BC: "almost all the known Iron Age cities from Jerusalem southward are either destroyed or abandoned" [cite]
Jerusalem archeological evidence shows wealthy families able to import luxuries from Egypt, Babylon, Assyria, Greece and Cyprus [cite] (What was their source of wealth? large landowners? trade? Temple taxes?)
temple at Elephantine in Egypt (start of diaspora) [info] [overview] [article]
Ark of Covenant relocated to Elephantine? [narrative] [debunking]
c598 BC: Lachish ostracon [info]
598 BC: House of Egibi, Babylonian bankers, already established (widely viewed as Jewish??? passim) [etexts]
597 BC: 16Mar? prophet Ezekiel among 10k richest Jews (King Jehoiachin, other nobles, priests, elders, craftsmen) deported to Babylon (by Chaldeans), predicts apocalypse and salvation via prince of house of David [info] [archeo] [map] [KJV-2K] [KJV-Jer] [dating]
Nebuchadnezzar distributes land to remaining, poorer Jews; appoints Zedekiah as king (brother or uncle? contradiction) [EBD]
Babylonian captivity: [critique]
593-570 BC: prophet Ezekiel in Jerusalem? [cite] [KJV]
idea of sabbath originates in Babylonia? [theory]
mysterious magical rite [Numbers 19] requires sacrifice of unblemished red heifer, using spring or stream water [rdv461]
Jeremiah remains in Jerusalem [info] [KJV] also Baruch? [info] [RSV] [KJV?]
589 BC? Zedekiah revolts, against advice of Jeremiah, Jerusalem beseiged (starvation, after more than a year)
588 BC? Jeremiah imprisoned
586 BC: summer: Jerusalem burned by Babylonians, First Temple destroyed? various remaining leaders executed at Riblah
Jeremiah and Baruch in Mizpah? [cite] under Gedaliah [archeo] [website]
582 BC: Jeremiah to Egypt
581 BC: third deportation
581 BC? Baruch in Babylon writes his Book and reads it to exiles there [cite]
Nebuchadnezzar conquers Egypt?
563 BC: [world history]
562 BC: 07Oct: Nebuchadnezzar dies after glorious 43-year reign, succeded by son Amel-Marduk ('Evil-Merodach') [hpe35]
561 BC: release of King Jehoiachin [cite] dines nightly with Amel-Marduk? [2Kings 25:27]
560 BC: 13Aug: Nergal-shar-usur (Neriglissar, son-in-law of Nebuchadnezzar) succedes Amel-Marduk [hpe35]
556 BC: 22May: Labashi-Marduk has succeded his father, Nergal-shar-usur [hpe35]
556 BC: 25May: tablet of Nabonidus (Nabu-naid, 'Nabu is exalted') [hpe35] (Labashi put to death after two months' reign)
Nabonidus was enthusiastic antiquarian [hpe1]
556 BC: Nabonidus's dream of Marduk and Sin commanding restoration of moon-god(dess?) Sin's temple in Haran (where Nabonidus's 'father' had been priest until the Assyrian conquest of 610BC), via alliance with Cyrus [hpe36]
no-date: Nabonidus brags to assembly:
'I am wise, I know, I have seen what is hidden. Even if I do not know how to write with the stylus, yet I have seen secret things. The god Ilte'ri [Belit-tseri???] has made me see a vision, he has shown me everything. I am aware of a wisdom which greatly surpasses even that of the series of insights which Adapa has composed!" [etext]
555 BC: 31Mar: Nabonidus celebrates Babylonian New Year [hpe36]
555 BC: Nabonidus appoints as co-regent his son Belshazzar (Bel-shar-usur) and leads army to Haran, restores temple [hpe37] daughter made priestess [cite]
"In foreign Harran he made an abomination, a no-sanctuary, and for it he made an image which he 'called' Sin; it was adorned with a necklace of lapis lazuli, crowned with a tiara; it was not the familiar moon-god of Babylonia [a crescent?], but was like the moon at its eclipse." [hpe54] [etext]
554-553 BC: Nabonidus continues to Hamath, Edom, Gaza; Median general defects to Cyrus [hpe37]
c552 BC: Nabonidus paradoxically relocates to isolated Tema (Teima) in Arabian desert, builds palace, remains until at least 545BC [hpe45] [why?] [DeadSeaScrolls] etext ditto [cf KJV-Dan] New Year's festivals not celebrated [etext] [thread] [Blake-pic]
550 BC: death of Nabonidus's 104yo mother in Harran [hpe39]
550 BC: Cyrus captures Ecbatana, Media [hpe37] (territories in Assyria, Mesopotamia, Syria, Armenia, Cappadocia; also claimed by Babylonia)
c550 BC: Pythagorean dualism posits flesh as evil, spirit as good [jbr138]
547 BC: Cyrus bypasses Babylon but defeats Croesus of Lydia [hpe39] 'gods' from other Babylonian cities relocated to Babylon
546 BC: famine in Babylonia due to Belshazzar's misrule [hpe45]
546 BC: governor of Elam defects to Cyrus [hpe45]
546-540 BC: Cyrus successful campaigns in east [hpe45]
c540 BC: deutero-Isaiah in Babylon describes Suffering Servant [KJV] partly inspired by Zoroaster's Yasna 44? [cite]
540 BC: Nabonidus, back in Babylon, relocates 'gods' from more cities [hpe49] [etext]
539 BC: 04Apr: Nabonidus celebrates New Year's again [hpe50] relocates many more 'gods' over next five months [etext]
539 BC: Oct: Cyrus (or Nabonidus?) burns Akkad, Nabonidus flees to Uruk, Babylon surrenders, Nabonidus exiled to Carmania [map] but Cyrus allows most officials to keep their jobs [cite] [hpe50] [etext] [site] [story&pix] [info]
Judaism influenced by Zoroastrian beliefs? [info]
538 BC: Cyrus returns 'gods' to their cities [hpe51] [passim] [etext]
538 BC: 20-26Mar: Akkad mourns royal wife? [cite] with dishevelled hair
538 BC: Cyrus I of Persia repatriates 50k [Ezra]; mutual rejection of/by local population? [cite] returnees not identifiable with deportees [passim]
535 BC: Cyrus defines Babylonia and 'Abar Nahara' ('beyond the Euphrates river', Abarnahara, Eber Nauri) [cite] Sheshbazzar governor of province of Judah [map] ditto
'abar' (beyond) may be origin of 'hebrew'??? [cite]
sanctuaries for Persian settlers at Bethel, Gilgal, Mizpah, Ramah, Shiloh, and Shechem [cite]
Zerubbabel governor of province of Judah [cite]
522 BC: Persian usurper Gaumata unmasked and killed, Massacre of the Magi probably influenced Book of Esther [rdv516] [cite] mentioned in Herodotus [etext] and Behistun (Behishtan) inscription [etext]
520 BC: prophet Haggai in Jerusalem? [cite]
520 BC: Second Temple begun; Joshua, son of Jehozadak, Zadokite high priest? (Chronicles)
520-515 BC: prophet Zechariah in Jerusalem? [cite] [KJV]
515 BC: Second Temple completed, Samaritans denied participation
515 BC: third Isaiah in Jerusalem? [cite]
515-445 BC: prophet Malachi in Jerusalem? [cite] [KJV]
Persian tax-bureaucracy requires trained scribes [passim]
c500? Book of Numbers
c500 BC: Jonah in Nineveh? [cite]
c475 BC: satrapy of Abar Nahara separated from Babylonia [cite]
Jewish settlements in Sardis and Lydia?
c450 BC: Sanballat governor of Samaria [cite] followed by his descendants
c450 BC: Jerusalem still in ruins? [cite]
c445-432 BC: Nehemiah governor of province of Judah [cite] followed by Bagohi, Yehizkiyah, and 'Yohanan the priest'
punishes lax observance of sabbath restrictions [Neh 13]
440 BC: Herodotus speaks of Palestine as part of Syria, also of Palestine-Syria [cite] [Perseus] inhabitants circumcised, except Philistines
c432-332 BC: Samaritans split from Jerusalem Judaism? [cite] [info]
429 BC: House of Murashu, bankers in Nippur, mentioned (widely viewed as Jewish? passim) [etexts]
c425 BC: Nehemiah [KJV] and Ezra [KJV] lead return from Babylon [chron]
Ezra edits canonical Torah?
Yom Kippur apparently not yet instituted [rdv509]
419 BC: edict from Darius II instructs Egyptian Jews regarding Passover observance [cite]
410 BC: Jewish mercenaries slaughtered in Egypt [cite]
400-350 BC: prophet Joel in Jerusalem? [cite]
c350 BC: Artaxerxes III deports Jews to Hyrcania
c350-250 BC: Book Of Jonah written in Assyria? [KJV]
c344 BC: Cilicia added to satrapy of Abar Nahara [cite]
c340 BC: community of ascetics in Egyptian desert [Ursula King p41]
aramaic alphabet adopted for hebrew [cite]
Aristotle mentions Dead Sea located in 'Palestine'
332 BC: Alexander defeats Persians (treats Jews kindly?)
323 BC: Seleucids inherit Syria and Mesopotamia; Ptolemies inherit Egypt plus 'Syria and Phoenicia' [cite]
320 BC: Clearchus mentions 'Ioudaia' [cite]
Alexandria (Egypt) becomes important Jewish center; Israel flourishes economically
c312 BC: Nabataean capital established at Petra, wealthy trade center
c300 BC: first written version of haggadah [cite]
c300 BC: Hecataeus (in Thrace) describes Jews as hating non-Jews
c285 BC: 'Septuagint' translation of Old Testament into greek [info] [links]
c275-200 BC: Israel becomes battleground between Ptolemies and Seleucids [timeline]
c250 BC: Manetho denies Jewish account of exodus
c250 BC: composition of Song of Solomon? [info] [KJV]
c240 BC: setting of Flaubert's Carthaginian novel, Salammbo [etext] [txt]
c230 BC: Hellenised Tobiads influential
c225 BC: earliest known synagogue near Alexandria, services mainly in greek
200 BC: Simon II high priest in Jerusalem
c200 BC: Book of Susannah [etext]
c200 BC: Antiochus III conquers Israel for Seleucids (termed 'Coele-Syria and Phoenicia' cite) settles 2000 families in Lydia and Phrygia
Antioch (Syria) becomes a leading Jewish center
190 BC: Romans defeat Antiochus III (POWs found Jewish community in Rome?)
c180 BC: Seleucus IV tries to plunder Temple treasury to pay Roman tribute
c180 BC: earliest slur against Samaritans, in Book of Sirach [cite] [more]
c176 BC: Onias III may be 'Teacher of Righteousness' in Qumran's 'Damascus Document'? [theory]
c170 BC: Greek gymnasium built in Jerusalem; Antiochus IV seizes treasury, razes walls, bans sabbath and circumcision, puts Zeus statue in Temple ('Abomination of Desolation' in Daniel) [analysis]
167 BC: 25 Dec? first sacrifice to Zeus in Temple [rdv511]
no-date: first benediction "Blessed are you Lord God of our fathers: God of Abraham, God of Isaac and God of Jacob; a God great, mighty and revered; the God most high, Lord of heaven and earth. Blessed are you Lord, the shield of Abraham!" and 15th "Lord, our God,hear our voice and have mercy on us. Blessed are you Lord, who hear our prayer!" [cite]
165 BC: War Scroll written? [theory]
165 BC: Maccabees retake Temple [timeline]
164 BC: 25Dec: first Hanukkah [rdv511]
high priests ceremonially anointed?
163 BC: faced with Seleucid antisemitism, Galilean Jews evacuated to Israel
c160 BC: Onias IV builds Temple at Leotopolis (Egypt)
Book of Daniel prophesises bodily resurrection, messiah [historical context] [KJV]
c150 BC: correspondence between Maccabee Jonathan and king of Sparta [cite] [as 'Lacedemonians']
no-date: possibly following Plato, Israel adapts Spartan parliament (Gerousia) as 'Sanhendrin' [info] also Socratic method in education [more?]
no-date: ninth benediction: "Lord, our God, bless this year to us for good in all kinds of produce. Blessed are you Lord, who bless the years!" [cite]
142 BC: Simon Maccabeus wins full independence from Seleucids
c140 BC: split between Sadducees and Pharisees [cite]
Sadducees (Temple): wealthy landowning Jews and hereditary priests, supported Hasmonaeans, tolerated HellenismPharisees (synagogues): denied Hasmonaeans' claim to priesthood, augmented written Torah with oral tradition, tolerated political oppression in exchange for religious freedom (inspired by Plato?)
Essenes (monasteries?): claimed high-priesthood, intolerant of Hellenism, avoided politics [overview] [Crapo]
c140 BC: Simeon the Just high-priest in Jerusalem [etexts]
139 BC: Rome agrees to extradite Israeli 'traitors' back to Jerusalem, guarantees freedom of worship?
139 BC: Jewish community in Rome expelled for attempting to corrupt Roman customs (vast magickal literature)
135 BC: Antiochus advised to exterminate the Jews [quote]
c135 BC: Qumran settlement founded by Teacher of Righteousness?
134 BC: Antiochus VII Sidetes reconquers Israel for Seleucids
132 BC: Ecclesiasticus [etext]
129 BC: John Hyrcanus I reasserts independence with Roman help, conquers Samaria, Idumaea, and Galilee and forcibly converts populations to Judaism [Samaria]
c120 BC: Ptolemy VIII restrained by mistress from trampling Jews with elephants
c120 BC: Apollonius Molon writes "Diatribe against the Jews"
114 BC: Purim first celebrated in Egypt [rdv517]
103-76 BC: Alexander I Jannaeus annexes coastline, Gaza, Transjordan, Idumaea; threatens Parthian traderoute
no-date: 16th and 17th benedictions: "[16] Lord, our God, agree to dwell in Zion and prepare your services in Jerusalem. Blessed are you Lord, who enjoy being worshipped and served! [17] We give thanks to you who are the Lord, our God and the God of our fathers, for your signs and mercies and for everything you have blessed and offered. Blessed are you Lord, who are good! Thanks be to you!" [cite]
89 BC: Jannaeus crucifies 800 Pharisees for disloyalty
80-50 BC: Simeon ben Shetach leads Pharisees in Jerusalem [etexts] establishes compulsory schooling for children? [cite]
76-67 BC: Salome Alexandra (widow of Jannaeus) favors Pharisees against Sadducees
66 BC? Antipater incites Nabataeans to attack Jerusalem
63 BC? Dead Sea Scrolls deposited near Qumran [history] [FAQ] links
63 BC: Pompey massacres priests and profanes Holy of Holies, claims Samaria, Transjordan, coast; John Hyrcanus II demoted to ethnarch; province called 'Provincia Judaea' [info]
Jewish POWs in Rome ransomed by local synagogues
c60-40 BC: Psalms of Solomon predicts Davidic 'Messiah' [etext] ditto ditto
60-50 BC: Honi the Circle-Drawer works wonders in Jerusalem [etexts]
60-30 BC: Abtalion teaches Hillel in Jerusalem [etext] ditto
59 BC: Cicero criticises growing Jewish influence in Rome [etext]
"But to resist this barbarous superstition were an act of dignity, to despise the multitude of Jews, which at times was most unruly in the assemblies in defence of the interests of the republic, was an act of the greatest wisdom.... And they are the more odious to us now because that nation has shown by arms what were its feelings towards our supremacy."
57 BC: Sadducees granted lucrative franchise of collecting local taxes
Crassus plunders Temple treasury; revolt in Galilee; Crassus killed by Parthians
no-date: second benediction "Mighty are you who sustain the living and revive the dead. Blessed are you Lord, who revive the dead!" and eighth benediction "Lord, our God, heal us from our affliction and raise up healing for our wounds. Blessed are you Lord, who heal the sick!" and 12th "Let there be no hope for the apostates and quickly root up the kingdom of arrogance. Blessed are you Lord, who humble the arrogant!" [cite]
50-30 BC: Shemaiah teaches Hillel in Jerusalem [etext] ditto
49 BC: Roman Jews exempted from military service in civil war in exchange for supporting Pompey
48 BC: Antipater switches support to Caesar after death of Pompey, Caesar rewards Jews with 'magna carta'
43 BC: various decrees guaranteeing special Jewish rights in Roman territories (countermanding local trends towards anti-Judaism)
estimated world Jewry (recently inflated by Pharisees' proselytising): 8 million??? 7M in Roman territories (6-9% of pop), 2.5M in Israel (20% of mideast), 1M in Egypt (33% of Alexandria), 100K in Italy (30K in Rome). Other 1M mostly in Parthia.
Roman Jews were not especially wealthy: weavers, tentmakers, dyers, butchers, painters, jewellers, doctors. Spoke greek not hebrew.
48 BC: Antipater's son Herod made governor of Galilee, suppresses militants trying to recover northeast territories (transferred to Syria by Pompey) [bio]
47 BC: 71-member Jewish Coucil in Jerusalem is sole administrator of Law, mostly Sadducees but minority of Pharisees; threaten Herod who flees to Damascus and wins support, granted Samaria
Herod supports Cassius, marries Hasmonaean Mariamme
42 BC: Antony confirms Herod as tetrarch of Galilee
40 BC: Parthians conquer Israel, Herod flees to Rome, Antony gets Herod title of King of Judaea
40 BC-20 AD: Shammai leads Pharisees in Jerusalem [etexts] ditto
38 BC: Herod drives Parthians out of Syria
37 BC: Herod takes Jerusalem, executes 2/3 of Council (mainly Sadducees); Antony gives Cleopatra coast but refuses her Judaea
Pharisees led by Shammai (also Hillel, later?) support Herod and flourish
Herod fiddles with appointees to high priesthood
31 BC: Herod shifts allegiance to victorious Octavian (Augustus), rewarded with coast, part of Transjordan, and other lands; executes Mariamme and mother-in-law
30 BC-20 AD: Hillel rivals Shammai leading Pharisees in Jerusalem [etexts] ditto
27 BC: Herod builds amphitheater in Jerusalem for Greek games, also temples to Augustus in Samaria and Caesaria, marries Samaritan
22-18 BC: Herod rebuilds Jerusalem Temple
20-10 BC: Hilkiah, follower of Honi, works wonders in Jerusalem [etext] ditto Hanan ha Nechba [etext]
15 BC: Marcus Agrippa (Augustus's chief lieutenant) sacrifices 100 oxen in Temple's outer court, befriended by Herod
14 BC? Marcus Agrippa decides against the anti-Judaic policies of Asia's Greek cities after dramatic case argued by Nicolaus of Damascus (Greek, not Jewish)
Herod executes several of his own sons
c5 BC: anti-Herod rebellions
4 BC: king Herod Archelaus [info]
6 AD: province of Judaea established [info]
no-date: sixth benediction: "Forgive us, Our Father (Abinu), for we have sinned. Blessed are you Lord frequent to forgive!" [cite]
no-date: 3rd-5th benedictions: "[3] Holy are you and revered is your Name and there is no God beside you. Blessed are you Lord, holy God! [4] Our Father (Abinu), grant us knowledge and understanding and awareness of you. Blessed are you Lord, who grant knowledge! [5] Our Father (Abinu), bring us back to your Torah and return us in perfect repentance to your Presence. Blessed are you Lord, who delight in repentance!" [cite]
historical Jesus? [FAQ]
26 AD: Pontius Pilate appointed [info]
c30 AD: Antipas executes John the Baptist [Flaubert] [dating]
no-date: Pharisaic practices condemned by Jesus include 'non-binding' oaths [more]
30-50 AD: Gamaliel, grandson of Hillel, leads Pharisees in Jerusalem [etext] ditto
37 AD: king Agrippa I [info]
37 AD: birth of Josephus etexts [mirror] [greek] [overview] [credibility] [JDC]
38 AD: slaughter of Jews in Alexandria [cite]
40-70 AD: Hanina ben Dosa works wonders in Galilee and Jerusalem [etexts]
no-date: seventh benediction: "Behold our plight and plead our case and redeem us, for your Name's sake. Blessed are you Lord, the redeemer of Israel!" and 10th/11th "[10] Blow on the great trumpet for our freedom, raise the standard for our gathering. Blessed are you Lord, who gather the exiles of Israel! [11] Restore our judges as at first and our counselors as in the beginning and you yourself reign over us. Blessed are you Lord, who love justice!" and 14th "Lord, our God, have mercy on your people Israel and on your city Jerusalem and on Zion, the dwelling you hold dear; and on the kingdom of the house of David, your true Anointed (Messiah). Blessed are you Lord, who build Jerusalem!" and 18th "Grant your peace to your people Israel and to your city and to your inheritance and bless us all as one Blessed are you Lord, who make peace!" [cite]
c50 AD? Joshua ben Gamala promotes schooling from age 6 [cite]
c44 AD: Josephus experiments with Sadducees, Pharisees, Essenes, and Banus; chooses Pharisees
50-70 AD: Johanan ben Zakkai in Jerusalem [etext]
50-80 AD: Eliezer ben Jacob expert on Temple in Jerusalem and Jabneh [etext]
50-80 AD: Rabbi Zadok leader in Jerusalem and Jabneh [etext]
64 AD: Josephus to Rome
66-70 AD: destruction of Temple [info]
70 AD? Copper Scroll inventories hidden Temple treasure [summary]
c70 AD: Johanan ben Zakkai forms Academy in Jabneh [info] decisions memorised by 'tannaim' (repeaters) will become Mishnah [cite]
74 AD: fall of Masada [info]
c90 AD: addendum to 12th benediction: "Let the Nazarenes and sectarians (minim) vanish in a moment. Blot them out of the book of life and do not record them among the righteous." [cite]
c95 AD: 13th benediction: "Show forth your mercy to true proselytes and grant us a good reward for doing your will. Blessed are you Lord, who assure the righteous!" [cite]
90-135 AD: Rabbi Aqiba ben Joseph begins writing down Mishnah in Jabneh and Jaffa [cite]
115-117 AD: revolt against Trajan [info]
125-150 AD: Rabbi Simeon ben Johai [info] declares gentiles non-human? [cite]
130-136 AD: Bar Kochba revolt [info]
135 AD: Romans expel Jews from Jerusalem, rename area 'Provincia Syria Palaestina', Jerusalem 'Aelia Capitolina' [cite]
Tacitus on Jews [etext]
c180 AD: expansion by Nathan ha Bibli of Pirke Avot (Avot, Pirke Aboth, Pirqe Avoth, Pirkei Avot, Pirke Avos, Sayings of the Fathers, Ethics of the Fathers) a compilation of non-legalistic wisdom dating back to 300BC, ultimately added to Mishnah [info] [etext] ditto [quotes] [info] [commentary]
c190 AD: definitive form of Mishnah redacted by Judah ha Nasi [cite] [passim]
c200: Rome enforces Palestinian-style Judaism on Roman diaspora [cite]
c200-425: Palestinian Gemarah composed at Tiberias, Sepphoris, and Caesarea (commentaries on Mishnah) [cite] together with Mishnah, termed 'Jerusalem Talmud' (Yerushalmi) [info]
c219-505: Mesopotamian Gemarah composed (commentaries on Mishnah, mostly in aramaic) [cite] together with Mishnah, termed 'Babylonian Talmud' [info]
c250: Porphyry critiques authorship of Daniel [cite]
c250: start of Jewish population-boom in Palestine [cite]
300-600: maximum diffusion of synagogues in Palestine [cite]
330-395: Gregory of Nyssa first describes Jews as 'Christ-killers': "Slayers of the lord, murderers of the prophets, adversaries of god, haters of god, men who show contempt for the law, foes of grace, enemies of the father's faith, advocates of the devil, brood of vipers, slanderers, scoffers, men whose minds are in darkness, leaven of the Pharisees, assembly of demons, sinners, wicked men, stoners and haters of righteousness." [cite]
345-407: St John Chrysostomos, patriarch of Constantinople: "Jews are the most worthless of men-- they are lecherous, greedy, rapacious-- they are perfidious murderers of Christians, they worship the devil, their religion is a sickness... The Jews are the odious assassins of Christ and for killing god there is no expiation, no indulgence, no pardon. Christians may never cease vengeance. The Jews must live in servitude forever. It is incumbent on all Christians to hate the Jews." [cite]
c350: Roman recognition enhances status of rabbis? [cite]
c359: codification of Jewish calendar [cite]
c500: Jewish culture still primarily agricultural
500-900: Masoretic text of Hebrew Bible established
c850: Babylonian Talmud becomes basis of 'Halakah' legal code for classical/orthodox Judaism [cite]
c950: oldest evidence for 'Kol Nidre' (Kol Nidrei, Kol Nidra, Kol Nidrey) ceremony nullifying all vows (in advance) [cite] [apologetics] in prayerbook of Rabbi Amram Goun [cite] current version [etext]
"All personal vows we may make, all personal oaths and pledges we may take between this Yom Kippur and the Yom Kippur to come, we publicly renounce. May they all be relinquished and abandoned, null and void, neither firm nor established. Let our personal vows, pledges and oaths be considered neither vows nor pledges nor oaths."
c1000? Jewish calendar switches to 'Creation era' starting from 3761BC rather than Seleucid era starting from 312BC [cite]
no-date: Jews required to wear yellow habit, dunce-caps instead of skullcaps? [cite]
Khazar hypothesis [debate]
c1050: first Jews in Poland and eastern Germany have Slavic names [cite]
1123: first Lateran Council approves moneylending by Jews? [passim]
1135-1204: Moses Maimonides (attempts to reconcile Aristotle with Judaism)
1144: Jews in Norwich, England accused of kidnapping a Christian baby and draining its blood (first 'blood libel') [cite]
c1180: Moses Maimonides writes Misbneh Tarab (talmudic law) [cite] Jews should charge interest to gentiles but not to other Jews [see P198] [modern]
1190: English charter [etext]
1194: English 'Ordinances of the Jews' [etext]
c1200: development of kabbalah [info]
1250-1350: Jews in Spain [ebook]
c1250: earliest haggadah-books in Spain [cite]
1255: little saint Hugh of Lincoln supposedly crucified by Jews at age nine [Cath]
1290: Jews expelled from England
c1300: full tradition of Bar Mitzvah [cite]
c1300: Jewish population in Armenia [discovery]
1483: Jews exiled from Andalusia [cite]
1391: anti-Jewish riots in Spain [info]
c1500: Ashkenazi Jews migrate from Rhineland to Eastern Europe [cite]
1543: Luther's "The Jews and their Lies" [excerpts]
c1580: R Yosef Karo writes "Beyt Yosef" and "Shulhan 'Arukh" (talmudic law) [cite]
1594: anti-semitism in London after queen's Jewish physician executed for supposed poisoning plot (may have inspired Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice)
1651: Thomas Hobbes first to deny Moses's authorship of Pentateuch? [earlier]
1654: 23 Jews found 'Shearith Israel' congregation in New Amsterdam [aj14]
Spinoza suggests Ezra as author of Torah
1656: 24Jul: Spinoza excommunicated from Jewish community of Amsterdam [etext] [context] [bio]
1656: Cromwell unofficially authorises readmission of Jews to England [cite]
1723: Jews permitted to give evidence in English courts [G14.906]
1743-1812: Meyer Amschel Rothschild founds banking dynasty ("male descendants for at least two generations generally married first cousins or even nieces; Rothschild's five sons, established at branches in Vienna, London, Naples and Paris as well as Frankfort, cooperated together in ways which other international banking dynasties copied but rarely excelled." cite) [more]
1753: England grants Jews the right of naturalisation [G14.906]
Jean Astruc proposes multi-column original by Moses [cite]
1790: France grants citizenship to Jews [cite]
1809: London Society for the Promoting of Christianity Amongst the Jews
1816: Mendelssohn's father converts family (incl 7yo Felix) from Judaism to Christianity [cite]
1818: Rothschilds gain foothold in France by bond-trading? [cite]
1824: Karl Marx's father converts family (incl 6yo Karl) from Judaism to Lutheranism
1830: England allows Jews to join civic corporations [G14.906]
1833: England allows Jews to practice law [G14.906]
1843: B'nai Brith founded in NYC [aj42]
1844: Marx publishes 'On the Jewish Question' [etext] "From the outset, the Christian was the theorizing Jew, the Jew is, therefore, the practical Christian"
1845: England allows Jews to serve as alderman and mayor [G14.906]
1848: 'German immigration' to USA begins [aj14] 250k by 1880 [aj16]
c1850: WML de Wette attributes Deuteronomy to Josiah [cite]
1850: Mosenthal's play 'Deborah' attacks anti-semitism
1858: Jews allowed to serve in English Parliament [G14.906]
1870s: discrimination in Rumania, Hungary, Austrian Gallicia leads to emigration [aj16]
W Vatke sees 3-stage evolution of Pentateuch: fertility stage, ethical stage, priestly stage [cite]
Wellhausen's 'Documentary Hypothesis' [etext]
1878: NH Imber writes Zionist (now Israeli) anthem 'Hatikvah'
1879: Wilhelm Marr's 'The Victory of Judaism over Germanism' first anti-semitic best-seller [G04]
1880: 80k Jews in NYC [aj18]
1881: discrimination in Russia and Poland leads to emigration [aj17]
1890: full Jewish emancipation in England [cite]
1891: pogroms in Rumania and Lithuania accelerate emigration [aj17]
1896: Herzl's pamphlet 'The Jewish State' proposes acquisition of Palestine
1897: Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion published in Russia [cite] [Cecil] [etext]
1903: massacre in Kishinev, Russia [aj17]
1903: Otto Weinenger's 'Sex and Character' argues that Jewish men are 'saturated with femininity' [etext]
1907: compulsory-service laws for Jews abolished in Morocco
1910: 1.25M Jews in NYC [aj18]
1924: Immigration Quota Law [aj18]
1933-1940: 140k Jewish refugees to USA from Nazis [aj18]
1945-1954: 150k Jewish immigrants to USA from Eastern Europe, incl Hasidics [aj19]
aj = James Yaffe's The American Jews
hpe = AT Olmstead's History of the Persian Empire
jbc = Jerome Biblical Commentary
jbr = Jeffrey Burton Russell's The Devil
jrw = Michael Grant's The Jews in the Roman World
rdv = Roland de Vaux's Ancient Israel
tbu = Finkelstein and Silberman's The Bible Unearthed
mailinglist: archives
Essays: EB11, Wellhausen, Huxley, fringe, course, antisemitism, history&pix, HGWells
Archeology: hebrew, etc, topics, biblical
Geography: maps, names (Hebrew?), Canaan
Links: Klein
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