Old Testament Event Line

God's Covenant with Abram (Gen 15)

2000 BCE

The Lord strikes a covenant with Abram to give the land of Canaan as an inheritance for his people. Psalm 105:11 paraphrases this covenant. Image: The Vision of the Lord Directing Abram to Count the Stars (woodcut by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld from the 1860 Bible in Pictures)

Joseph Prepares the Way to Egypt (Gen 47)

1800 BCE

Psalm 105:16-22 describes that ahead of a great famine, God prepared for Joseph to be instrumental in saving the people from starvation. Joseph went from slave to vizier in Egypt in a story of God's provision and familial forgiveness. Image: "Joseph recognized by his brothers" - Léon Pierre Urbain Bourgeois, 1863

Moses, Ten Plagues, and the Exodus (Exodus 7-13)

1700 BCE

Psalm 105:26-39 provide a quick summary of the events detailed in Exodus 7-13 which include Moses and Aaron appealing to Pharoah to release the Hebrews, God sending the ten plagues, and the Hebrew's exodus from Egypt. Image: "The Exodus" - Horace William Petherick

The Golden Calf at Horeb (Exodus 32)

1699 BCE

The people grew restless while waiting for Moses on Mt Horeb, so with the help of Aaron, they built a golden calf to worship. In the aftermath, Moses pleads with God on behalf of the people. This event is referenced in Psalm 106:19-23. Image: "The Golden Calf" - Esteban March, circa 1650

David Hides from Saul in the Wilderness (1 Sam 23-24)

1005 BCE

David fled the violent intents of Saul by hiding in the wilderness of En-gedi. While there, David wrote Psalm 57 which is why the superscription reads "Of David. A Miktam, when he fled from Saul, in the cave." Image: photo by Blake Cheek on Unsplash

The Ark is Brought to David (1Chron 16)

992 BCE

The Ark of the Covenant is brought to David in Jerusalem from the house of Obed-edom. David then commands the people to sing a medley of Psalm 105, 96, and 106. Image: www.bible-history.com

David, Bathsheba, Uriah, and Nathan (2 Sam 12)

980 BCE

After David forces himself upon Bathsheba then plots to cover his sin by having her husband Uriah killed, the prophet Nathan confronts him about his sin. Upon realizing his guilt, David's confession to the Lord is recorded in Psalm 51. Image: "David Sees Bathsheba from his Roof" - James Tissot

David Flees from Absalom (2 Sam 15)

970 BCE

When Absalom sought to usurp the throne, David fled for his life to the Mount of Olives. The superscript of Psalm 3 describes that it was written while David was fleeing. Image from "The Story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation" - Charles Foster, 1873

God Defeats the Moabite Alliance (2 Sam 8)

870 BCE

the Lord spoke through Jahaziel and commanded the army of Judah to march against the Moabites and stand still. God speaks in v. 17, "This battle is not for you to fight; take your position, stand still, and see the victory of the Lord on your behalf..." The Korahites were present at this event. Psalm 46 "of the Korahites" may reference this event and God's command to "Be still and know that I am God" in v. 10. Image: photo by Hasan Almasi on Unsplash

Captives taken to Babylon

587 BCE

The Babylonian exile began with the deportation of the Jews. This event is referenced in Psalm 137 which is a communal lament over the destruction of Jerusalem commonly known as "By the Rivers of Babylon". Image: "Deportation of the Jews to the Babylonian captivity (also known as Wegführung der Juden in die babylonische Gefangenschaft)". Eduard Bendemann - 1872.
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