Ancient Chronology

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Ancient Chronology Hebrew History
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Problems of Ancient History

• What counts as evidence?
• Secularist ancient records, archeological
  evidence interpreted through an evolutionary lens
• Christian The Bible, ancient records,
  archeological evidence interpreted through a
  Biblical lens

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Problems (2)

• Example of different approaches
• Matthews primitive man slowly gropes his way out
  of animal barbarism, mysteriously learns to farm
  after millions of years, mysteriously learns to
  write and produce culture after thousands more
  years
• Bible man is created in Gods image, learns
  agriculture, music, metalworking quickly (Genesis
  1-4)

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Chronology Issues

• The problem no unbroken timeline until the
  Romans
• Centrality of Egypt to chronological construction
• Pitfalls of Egyptian chronology
• Non-linear view of time
• Practice of dual reigns of kings

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Chronology Issues (2)

• Current Consensus Chronology (CCC)
• Sumer and Egypt ca. 3000 B.C.
• Issues for Christians
• Genealogical record of Genesis 5, 11
• Flood account
• Christian Chronology (Ussher, etc.)
• Noahs Flood24th or 23rd century B.C.

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Pre-history Timeline

• CCC
• Millions of years . . .
• Ice Age
• Agricultural Revolution
• Biblical Chronology
• Creation
• Flood
• Tower of Babel

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Why the Hebrews?

• Contemporary insignificance
• Spiritual heritage
• Relevance to us

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The Genesis Account

• Abram/Abraham
• Mesopotamian (Ur of the Chaldees)
• Gods Call the Promised Land
• Genesis 121-8
• Jacob/Israel
• Abrahams grandson
• 2 wives, 2 concubines, 12 sons, 1 daughter

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Israel and Egypt

• Centuries in Egypt
• Joseph 11th son of Jacob
• Genesis 41
• Slavery
• The Exodus
• Moses the Levite
• Gods Call (burning bush)
• Ten Plagues
• The Red Sea Exodus 14

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Becoming a Nation

• Journey to Sinai
• Ten Commandments
• Golden Calf
• Years of Wandering
• Invasion of Canaan (15th century?)
• Crossing the Jordan
• Jericho Joshua 6

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Period of the Judges

• 15th-11th centuries
• Cycle of disobedience, judgment, repentance,
  restoration
• Deborah
• Gideon Judges 6-7
• Samson
• Samuel

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United Kingdom

• Call for a King (1 Samuel 8)
• Saul (1020-1000) killed by Philistines
• David (1000-970)
• Fight with Goliath 1 Samuel 17
• One of Sauls lieutenants
• Defeated the Philistines
• Author of many of the Psalms

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United Kingdom (2)

• Solomon (970-930)
• Wisest man in the world
• Building projects
• Temple
• Royal palace
• OT author
• Proverbs
• Song of Songs
• Ecclesiastes (probably)

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Divided Kingdom

• Reign of Rehoboam
• Oppression
• Jeroboam and the northern secession
• Northern ten tribes ? Israel (Samaria)
• Southern two tribes ? Judah (Jerusalem)

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Israel

• Succession of wicked kings
• Jeroboam and idolatry
• Ahab
• Jehu
• Prophets fail to bring lasting change
• Assyrian invasion (722)
• Elimination as a separate people

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Judah

• Mix of good and bad kings
• Hezekiah
• Josiah
• Gradual apostasy
• Chaldean invasion (586)
• Return of the Exiles (538)
• Esthers deliverance (mid-5th century?)