Persons of the Bible Timeline

Persons of the Bible 50

Genesis 11–25 Abraham Father of nations Called by God to leave Ur for Canaan, he becomes the ancestor of Israel through Isaac and of the Arabs through Ishmael.
Genesis 11–23 Sarah Wife of Abraham Barren into old age, she gives birth to Isaac at ninety.
Genesis 21–35 Isaac Son of Abraham The son of the promise, nearly sacrificed by his father on Mount Moriah.
Genesis 24–27 Rebecca Wife of Isaac Mother of the twins Esau and Jacob, she helps Jacob win his fathers blessing.
Genesis 25–50 Jacob Israel Renamed Israel after wrestling with God, his twelve sons become the twelve tribes.
Genesis 29–35 Rachel Wife of Jacob Jacobs beloved wife, mother of Joseph and Benjamin. She dies giving birth to Benjamin.
Genesis 29–49 Leah First wife of Jacob Mother of six of the twelve tribes, including Levi and Judah.
Genesis 37–50 Joseph Son of Jacob Sold into slavery by his brothers, he rises to govern Egypt and saves his family from famine.
Exodus, Numbers Miriam Prophetess Sister of Moses, she watches over him in the Nile and leads the song after the crossing of the Red Sea.
Exodus – Numbers Aaron First high priest Brother of Moses and his spokesman before Pharaoh, founder of the priesthood.
Exodus – Deuteronomy Moses Lawgiver Leads Israel out of Egypt, receives the Ten Commandments on Sinai and dies within sight of Canaan.
Book of Joshua Joshua Successor of Moses Leads the conquest of Canaan, starting with the fall of Jericho.
Judges 4–5 Deborah Judge and prophetess The only woman among the judges, she leads Israel to victory over the Canaanite general Sisera.
Judges 6–8 Gideon Judge Defeats the Midianites with only three hundred men.
Book of Ruth Ruth Great-grandmother of David A Moabite widow who stays loyal to her mother-in-law Naomi and marries Boaz.
1 Samuel 1–25 Samuel Last of the judges Prophet and judge who anoints both Saul and David as king.
Judges 13–16 Samson Judge A man of great strength, betrayed by Delilah and dying as he pulls down the temple of Dagon.
1050 BC – 1010 BC Saul First king of Israel Anointed by Samuel, he loses Gods favour and dies in battle against the Philistines on Mount Gilboa.
2 Samuel 11 – 1 Kings 2 Bathsheba Mother of Solomon Wife of Uriah, taken by David, and later the queen mother who secures the throne for Solomon.
1010 BC – 970 BC David King of Israel The shepherd who killed Goliath, he makes Jerusalem his capital. Traditionally the author of many Psalms.
970 BC – 931 BC Solomon King of Israel Son of David, famed for his wisdom and wealth, builder of the First Temple.
931 BC – 913 BC Rehoboam King of Judah Son of Solomon, under whom the ten northern tribes break away.
931 BC – 910 BC Jeroboam I King of Israel First king of the northern kingdom, who sets up golden calves at Bethel and Dan.
874 BC – 853 BC Ahab King of Israel Husband of Jezebel and opponent of the prophet Elijah.
c. 874–842 BC Jezebel Queen of Israel Phoenician wife of Ahab who promotes the worship of Baal and persecutes the prophets.
c. 870–850 BC Elijah Prophet Defeats the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel and is taken up to heaven in a whirlwind.
c. 850–795 BC Elisha Prophet Successor of Elijah, known for his many miracles.
c. 790–760 BC Jonah Prophet Swallowed by a great fish after fleeing his mission to preach to Nineveh.
c. 760–750 BC Amos Prophet A shepherd from Tekoa who denounces injustice in the northern kingdom.
c. 755–715 BC Hosea Prophet Uses his own marriage to an unfaithful wife as an image of Israels relationship with God.
c. 740–681 BC Isaiah Prophet The great prophet of Jerusalem, whose book foretells a coming messiah.
715 BC – 686 BC Hezekiah King of Judah Reformer king who holds Jerusalem against the Assyrian siege of Sennacherib.
640 BC – 609 BC Josiah King of Judah Restores the worship of God after the Book of the Law is found in the Temple.
c. 627–580 BC Jeremiah Prophet Warns of the fall of Jerusalem and lives to see it happen.
c. 605–536 BC Daniel Prophet Taken to Babylon as a young man, he survives the lions den.
597 BC – 586 BC Zedekiah Last king of Judah His revolt ends with the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple.
593–571 BC Ezekiel Prophet Prophet of the exile in Babylon, known for his vision of the valley of dry bones.
Book of Esther, c. 480 BC Esther Queen of Persia Jewish queen of Xerxes who saves her people from Hamans plot, remembered at Purim.
Matthew 1–2, Luke 1–2 Joseph Husband of Mary A carpenter of Nazareth who raises Jesus. He disappears from the story after Jesus is twelve.
c. 18 BC – after AD 30 Mary Mother of Jesus Present at the birth, the first miracle at Cana and the crucifixion of her son.
c. 5 BC – AD 29 John the Baptist Prophet Cousin of Jesus, baptises him in the Jordan and is beheaded by Herod Antipas.
c. 4 BC – AD 30 Jesus Jesus of Nazareth Preaches in Galilee, is crucified in Jerusalem under Pontius Pilate and, according to the Gospels, rises from the dead.
c. AD 1 – 64 Peter Apostle A fisherman who becomes the leader of the apostles. Tradition has him crucified in Rome.
Luke 8, John 20 Mary Magdalene Disciple Follower of Jesus and the first witness of the resurrection in the Gospels.
Gospels, Acts 1 Judas Iscariot Apostle Betrays Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.
c. AD 5 – 64 Paul Apostle to the Gentiles A persecutor converted on the road to Damascus, he takes Christianity across the Roman world.
Acts 6–7 Stephen First martyr A deacon of the Jerusalem church, stoned to death with Saul of Tarsus looking on.
c. AD 5 – 60 Andrew Apostle Brother of Peter and the first disciple called.
c. AD 6 – 100 John Apostle Son of Zebedee, traditionally the author of the fourth Gospel.
Acts 12 James Apostle Son of Zebedee and brother of John, the first apostle to be martyred.