Knowing the time when Biblical events occurred and the chronology of Bible characters helps us see the word of God in its historical context. Also we learn the time frame of His ancient people in their generations. My basic position is the so-called maximalist view, that Bible history is correct unless archaeology clearly proves it wrong. This topic traces Bible chronology from Abraham to the exodus of ancient Israel from Egypt. (For pre-Abraham, see “Chronology: Septuagint versus Masoretic Text”.)
Exact dates for the births and deaths of the Bible patriarchs are unknown. The dates for the birth of Abrám/Abraham and the exodus from Egypt are taken in part from Martin Anstey’s The Romance of Bible Chronology, v.2. His chart placed the birth of Abram in 2117 BC, the exodus in 1612 BC.
If Abram was born in 2117 BC, he moved from Harrán to Canáan at age 75 (Ge.12:4-5) in 2042 BC. Ex.12:40 LXX “The children of Israel sojourned in the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan for 430 years.” The Masorétic text omits “and the land of Canaan”. But the accounts in the Samaritan Péntateuch, the Talmud and Josephus agree with the LXX. Josephus Antiquities of the Jews 2:15:2 “They left Egypt 430 years after Abraham came into Canaan, but 215 years only after Jacob removed into Egypt. It was the 80th year of Moses.” They stayed 215 years in Canaan and 215 years in Egypt.
John Gill Exposition “Certain it is, that Israel did not dwell in Egypt 430 years.” JFB Commentary “The period of sojourn in Egypt did not exceed 215 years.” Philip Mauro The Wonders of Bible Chronology, p.34 “The 430 years began with God’s promise to Abram, made at the time he entered into Canaan at the age of 75 (Gen.12:1-4).” And the apostle Paul confirms a period of 430 years (Ga.3:16-17).
A date of 1612 BC for the exodus…that’s 430 years after 2042 BC (when Abram was age 75).
He.11:8-9 “By faith he [Abraham] sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country.” Ge.15:1-7 after Abram had sojourned in Canaan for around 10 years to age 85, God promised him a son, Isaac.
But before Isaac, Abram’s son Ishmaél was born when Abram was 86 (Ge.16:16), around 2031 BC.
Ge.17:24-25 around (circa or c) 2018 BC, Abraham is circumcised at age 99, Ishmael at age 13.
Ge.21:5 Abraham is 100 years old when his promised son Isaac is born, c 2017 BC. Ge.17:17 Isaac’s mother Sarah is 90 (born c 2107 BC). Ishmael is 14.
The Lord said to Abram in Ge.15:13, “Your seed will be sojourners in a land not their own; and they shall afflict them 400 years”. Ge.21:8-9 after Isaac was weaned, he was mocked by Ishmael. If Isaac was around 5 years old at the time of the mocking, it’s 2012 BC (Ishmael was 19). The exodus from bondage in Egypt was 400 years later, c 1612 BC. Benson Commentary Ge.15:13 “This persecution began with mocking, when Ishmael, the son of an Egyptian [Hagár, Ge.16:3], persecuted Isaac.”
This 400–year period doesn’t contradict the 430 years of Ex.12:40.
Again, if Abram was born c 2117 BC, he arrived in Canaan at age 75 in 2042 BC. Isaac was born when Abraham was 100, c 2017 BC. At age 60, Isaac fathered the twins Jacob & Esau (Ge.25:26) c 1957 BC. Then when Jacob was age 130 (Ge.47:9), he and his moved from Canaan to Egypt c 1827 BC.
Abram’s sojourn in Canaan (c 2042 BC) until Jacob’s move from Canaan (c 1827 BC) = 215 years in Canaan. And Jacob’s move to Egypt (c 1827 BC) until the exodus (c 1612 BC) = 215 years in Egypt. The total of both = 430 years…2042–1612 BC. As per the LXX/Septúagint, Josephus, Eusebius, etc.
Following is the chronology from Abraham and the persecution of Isaac (c 2012 BC), in more detail:
Ge.23:1-2 Abraham’s wife Sarah dies c 1980 BC at age 127. Abraham is 137, Isaac is 37, Ishmael 51.
Ge.25:20 Isaac marries his cousin Rebekah c 1977 BC. Isaac is 40, Abraham is 140, Ishmael 54.
Ge.25:25-26 Isaac is 60 when his sons Jacob & Esau are born c 1957 BC. Abraham is 160, Ishmael 74.
Ge.25:7 Abraham dies at age 175, c 1942 BC. Ishmael is 89, Isaac is 75, Jacob & Esau are 15.
Ge.26:34 Esau marries two Hittite wives c 1917 BC. He and Jacob are age 40, Isaac is 100.
Ge.25:17 Ishmael died at age 137, c 1894 BC. Isaac was age 123, Jacob & Esau were 63.
Ge.28:5 Isaac sends Jacob to Padán-Arám in Mesopotámia, to escape from Jacob’s twin brother Esau. This was sometime around 1886 BC. Jacob & Esau are age 70 or 71, Isaac is 131.
It is uncertain at exactly what age Jacob left the land of Canaan for Padan-Aram, fleeing from Esau. There, Jacob would marry his first cousins Leáh & Rachél, daughters of his uncle Labán (Rebekah’s brother). Jacob served Laban for at least 20 years (Ge.31:38-41), part of which was the bride price for Leah & Rachel (Ge.29:16-ff). Initially, Jacob contracted to work only 7 years…for Rachel (Ge.29:18).
Jacob worked for Laban for 7 years, and in return was given…Leah, not Rachel! Jacob then agreed to work 7 more years for Rachel. Ancient sources differ in regards to when Rachel actually became his wife. Josephus op. cit. 1:19:7, Philo The Works of Philo p.211, the Orthodox Bible LXX Ge.29:27 Note…they indicate that Rachel became Jacob’s wife after he’d worked the entire second 7-year period. But the more recent Hebrew Masoretic text Ge.29:27-28, the (supposed) Book of Jasher 31:12-13, the traditional Book of Jubilees (Jub) 28:8-9…they indicate that Rachel became Jacob’s wife only one week following Leah, before he worked the second 7-year period. The historical sources differ.
Jacob fathered 12 sons (11 born in Padan-Aram), Ge.35:23-26. Their descendants would become the 12 tribes of Israel. God changed Jacob’s name to Israel (Ge.32:28).
Ge.29:31-35 Jacob/Israel’s first 4 sons…Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah…were born to Leah. see the topic “Levites and the Exodus Multitude (1)” for the lineage chronology of Jacob’s 3rd son Levi.
Ge.30:4-8 Dan and Naphtalí are born to Rachel’s maidservant Bilháh (Jacob’s concubine wife).
Ge.30:9-13 Gad and Ashér are then born to Leah’s maidservant Zilpah (Jacob’s other concubine wife).
Ge.30:16-20 Leah resumes childbearing; she gives birth to Issachár, then Zebulún.
Ge.30:21 a daughter, Dinah, was also born to Leah. Some think Zebulun and Dinah were twins (the scripture doesn’t say Leah ‘conceived’ for Dinah’s birth). Written c 150 BC, Jub.28:23 “She [Leah] conceived, and bare two children, a son and a daughter. Zebulun and Dinah in the 7th of the 7th month.”
Ge.30:22-24 Rachel finally gives birth to her first child, Joseph, c 1867 BC. Jacob (and Esau) was 90, Isaac 150. Joseph is called the son of Jacob’s old age (Ge.37:3), and Jacob loved him the most.
Ge.30:25, 31:20-21 Jacob & family flee Laban/Padan-Aram, having been there 20 years or more.
Ge.33:1-16 while returning to Canaan, Jacob meets his twin Esau en route. They’re in their early 90s. Isaac is over 150. v.17-20 Jacob journeys to Succóth, and afterwards settles in the town of Shechém.
Ge.34:1-31 Dinah, near age 12 (ref Jub.30:3), is taken by Shechém the son of Hamór. Her brothers Levi, age 18 (ref Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs (T12P) Levi 12:5), and Simeon, age 20, kill every male in the town and loot it. Jacob is near age 100.
Ge.35:1-15 as a result, Jacob must then depart Shechem. He goes to Bethél and elsewhere.
The time frame in which Jacob’s 13 children were born (12 in Padan-Aram) is a narrow fit. Having returned to Canaan c 1865 BC, Jacob’s daughter Dinah wasn’t taken at age 3 or 4! Enough years must have elapsed for her to be at least 10–12. And her brothers Levi & Simeon weren’t only age 8 or 10 when they killed the men of Shechem!
Ge.35:16-20 Rachel dies near Ephráth (Bethlehem) while giving birth to Jacob’s 12th son, Benjamin, c 1857 BC. Jacob is 100 or so, his son Judah is 16, Joseph is close to 10, Isaac is near 160.
Ge.37:1-2, 26-36 Joseph’s older brothers sell him into slavery at age 17, c 1850 BC. Joseph is taken to Egypt. Judah is near age 23, Jacob age 107, Isaac 167.
Ge.35:28-29 Isaac will die at age 180, c 1837 BC. Jacob & Esau are 120, Judah is 36, Joseph 30.
Ge.38:1-30 after Jacob had returned to Canaan c 1865 BC, Judah at age 20 married Shúa c 1853 BC. (ref T12P Judah 7:10, 8:1-2, 9:1-3.) Judah fathered 3 sons – Er, Onán, Sheláh. Er and Onan (successively) married Tamár, and each died shortly thereafter. Then Judah fathered the twins Pérez & Zérah (v.29-30) by his daughter-in-law Tamar. Ge.46:12 Perez later fathered Hezrón & Hamúl, probably in Egypt, near 1827 BC. Barnes Notes Ge.46:12 “Hezron and Hamul may have been born at the arrival of Jacob’s household in Egypt.” Poole Commentary “Hezron and Hamul seem to have born in Egypt.” Jacob and his descendants go to Egypt c 1827 BC.
Only 40 years elapsed from the birth of Judah’s brother Joseph (Jacob’s 11th son) in Padan-Aram, c 1867 BC, until Judah went to Egypt with Jacob c 1827 BC. Judah must have been close to 6 years older than Joseph. And Jacob had fathered 3 sons prior to Judah (in Padan-Aram)! Benson Commentary Ge.38:1 “This chapter must here be placed out of the order of time.” JFB Commentary Ge.38:1-30 “Judah was married some years before the selling of Joseph. Judah was now about 20 years old when he married, and the 3 first years he hath 3 sons, Er, Onan, and Shelah. The two first marry each when they were about 17 years old. Three years after both their deaths, and when Shelah had been marriageable a year or two, and was not [levirate marriage] given to Tamar, Judah lies with Tamar and begets upon her Pharez.” T12P Judah 12:1 she conceived Pharez two years after she became a widow.
Ge.41:38-46 in the year Isaac died, c 1837 BC, Pharaoh made Joseph prime minister of Egypt at age 30 (cf. Jub.40:12).
Ge.41:47 for the first 7 years that Joseph was prime minister, Egypt experienced great abundance. This period would be followed by 7 years of famine (Ge.41:29-30). Ge.45:6 by this time, 2 years of famine had elapsed. Joseph is now age 39, Jacob is 129.
Ge.47:9 then Jacob/Israel, at age 130, goes to Egypt to join Joseph c 1827 BC. Levi was age 48 (T12P Levi 12:5), Judah age 46 (T12P Judah 12:11-12). Ge.41:46-47 & 45:6 Joseph was age 39 or 40. That places Joseph’s birth c 1867 BC, when Jacob (and Esau) was age 90 or 91.
Jacob’s move to Egypt culminates the 215 years he and his ancestors spent in the Land of Canaan.
Recap: Ge.12:4 Abram is age 75; Ge.21:5 he’s age 100 when Isaac is born…25 years had elapsed. Ge.25:26 Isaac is age 60 when Jacob and Esau are born…60 years more. Ge.47:1, 9 Jacob is age 130 when he and the family all went to Egypt…130 years more. 25 + 60 + 130 = 215 years in Canaan.
Now follows the 215-year period during which the Israelites dwelt in Egypt, until the exodus:
Again, when Jacob moved to Egypt at age 130, c 1827 BC, Joseph is 40 (Ge.41:46-47, 45:6, 47:1, 9).
Ge.46:1-34 lists Jacob’s seed who went with him to Egypt. v.8-12 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah are age 46–51. Levi’s son Koháth (Jacob’s grandson) had been born. (Kohath is Moses’ grandfather!) v.21-22 Benjamin must be at least 30 (John Gill “10 sons are in his loins”). All go to join Joseph in Egypt.
Ge.47:28 Jacob lived 17 years in Egypt. Jacob dies in Egypt at age 147, c 1810 BC. Joseph is age 57.
Twin Esau was slain in Canaan at the time of Jacob’s burial there, traditionally (Jasher 57:64-66)!
Amrám, the son of Kohath and the father of Moses & Aaron, is born in Egypt sometime between c 1827 and c 1757 BC (1Ch.6:1-3); perhaps around 1811 BC. cf. Ex.6:18-20.
Ge.50:26 Joseph dies in Egypt at age 110, c 1757 BC, 70 years after Jacob & family moved to Egypt.
Ex.1:8 “A new king [pharaoh] arose who didn’t know Joseph.” Joseph had been dead for some years.
Aaron, the son of Amram and elder brother of Moses (Nu.26:57-59), is born in Egypt c 1695 BC.
Moses is born c 1692 BC. P.J. Wiseman Ancient Records and the Structure of Genesis, p.99 “He was born 64 years after Joseph had died.” Moses is the son of Amram and grandson of Kohath (young Kohath had gone to Egypt with Jacob). Amram was born in Egypt, while Joseph was still alive!
Moses fled to Midian (at age 40, c 1652 BC; ref Ex.2:15, Ac.7:23-29). Josephus ibid 2:10-11 adds an account of Moses as general of the Egyptian army against Ethiopia/Cush, and his marriage to a Cushite princess. Jasher 73:1-2 traditionally says that Moses even then reigned for a few decades in Cush.
Caleb was born in Egypt c 1651 BC…cf. Nu.13:26-30 (the 2nd year of the exodus) with Josh.14:7-10.
Moses is age 80 when he returns to Egypt from Midian, c 1612 BC. The exodus from Egypt occurs then. Ex.7:7 “Moses was 80 years old, and Aaron 83, at the time they spoke to Pharaoh.”
Ex.12:40 LXX “The children of Israel, while they sojourned in the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan, was 430 years.” Breakdown of the 430 years: 215 years in Canaan til Jacob’s move (with Moses’ grandfather Kohath) to Egypt, 70 years til Joseph’s death, Moses’ age of 80 at the exodus…65 years remain. So Moses was born nearly 65 years after Joseph died. Mauro op. cit., p.40, “The interval between the death of Joseph and the birth of Moses was 64 years.” 70 + 65 + 80 = 215 years in Egypt.
{Sidelight: The original Ípuwer Papýrus recorded calamities that were occurring in ancient Egypt. In it, Ipuwer was speaking to the Lord of All, ‘a term used for the king and the creator god’. Free-online-bible-study.org “The Ipuwer Papyrus is a single papyrus holding an ancient Egyptian poem, called The Admonitions of Ipuwer. It describes the affliction of Egypt by natural disasters and by a state of chaos in which the poor have become rich, and the rich poor; violence, famine and death are everywhere. A symptom of this chaos is the lament that servants are leaving their servitude and acting rebelliously. The probable date of the composition of the Papyrus, 1850 BCE and 1600 BCE.” Egyptology.org.uk “The date for the Ipuwer Papyrus is not certain. Van Seeter dated it to around the end of the Middle Kingdom (c 1600 BCE). Most scholars generally agree to this dating.”
The enormous Minoan volcano eruption of Thera (now called Santorini) anciently happened 120 miles SE of Greece in the southern Aegean Sea. Some geologists think it was the most powerful explosion on earth. It altered the course of the Mediterranean Sea. Wikipedia “Radiocarbon dates, including analysis of an olive branch buried beneath a lava flow from the volcano gave a date between 1627 BCE and 1600 BCE (95% confidence interval).” Live Science: How the Eruption of Thera Changed the World “The eruption has also been loosely linked with the Biblical story of Moses and the exodus from Egypt. The effects of Thera’s eruption could have explained many of the plagues described in the Old Testament, including the days of darkness and polluting of the rivers, according to some theories.”
Whether or not the Ipuwer Papyrus and the Santorini eruption do directly relate to Israel’s exodus from Egypt, is beyond the scope here.}
Eusébius (265–340 AD) was a bishop and church historian. Chronicle [30] “All versions agree that 505 years transpired from Abraham until Moses and the exodus of the Jews from Egypt. It is calculated as follows. When Abraham was 75 years of age, God appeared to him and said that He would give the promised land to his descendants. For it is written [Ge.12:4-5]: ‘Abraham was 75 years old when he departed from Harran.’ In the same passage, further on [Ge.12:7] it states: ‘Then the Lord appeared to Abraham and said, ‘To your descendants I will give this land.’ Thus 75 years of Abraham plus 430 years [from God’s promise] until the exodus of the Jews from Egypt. The Apostle Paul confirms this [Ga.3.17-18]: ‘The law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void.’ Then he adds: ‘God gave it to Abraham by a promise.’ When Abraham was 100 years of age his son Isaac was born, 25 years after God’s promise. 405 years transpired from that event until the exodus from Egypt. Consequently, from the promise [until the exodus] 430 years elapsed.” 75 + 430 = 505 years.
Placing the birth of Abram in 2117 BC…505 years later is 1612 BC for the exodus from Egypt.
In this topic, the ages of the patriarchs and the sequence of their lives are according to scripture. The chronological dates are approximate. Exact dates cannot be proven as of now.
My other topics about the timeline are “Chronology: the Exodus to Samuel”, “Chronology: Samuel to Rehoboam”, “Chronology: Septuagint versus Masoretic Text”.
Bible Topic Exposition 