Approximate Chronology of Israel's Literature

Period of Judges and United Monarchy

12-11

Song of Miriam (Exodus 15); Song of Deborah (Judges 5); Testament of Jacob (Genesis 49); Blessing of Moses (Deuteronomy 33); Oracles of Balaam (Numbers 22-24)

10 c

"J" in the Tetrateuch; History of David's Rise (1 Samuel 16-2 Samuel 5); Succession Narrative (2 Samuel 9-20; 1 Kings 1-2); Ark Narrative (1 Samuel 4-6; 2 Samuel 6)

Divided Kingdom

 

Southern Kingdom 922-586

Northern Kingdom 922-721

9 c

 

"E" in the Tetrateuch; Elijah; Elisha

8 c

Isaiah; Micah; "J-E" combined

Amos; Hosea

7 c

Jeremiah;

Deuteronomy

Zephaniah; Nahum; Habakkuk

 

Exile and Post-Exile

6c

Ezekiel 593-571; Lamentations; Deuteronomistic History (Joshua-2 Kings) 550; Second Isaiah (40-55) 547-540; "P" in the Tetrateuch; Obadiah; Third Isaiah (56-66) after 515; Haggai; Zechariah 1-8

5 c

Malachi; Ezra-Nehemiah ca. 400; Ruth?; Joel (6-4 c); Jonah (6-4c); Zechariah 9-14

4 c

Final form of Pentateuch ca. 400; 1-2 Chronicles; Esther?

3 c

Ecclesiastes

2 c

Daniel

Uncertain:  Job; Psalms (some early; probably gathered together gradually); 
Proverbs; Song of Solomon

© Ralph W. Klein   September 16, 2000