From Moshe Rabbeinu to Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai, A Complete Timeline
Part 1, Moshe to Shaul: Exodus, Conquest & Judges (~2448–2882 AM)
| Leader | Role / Title | Jewish Year (AM) | Prophets / Notes | R/W |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⬛ MOSHE, YEHOSHUA & THE ELDERS, Exodus through Conquest (~2448–2516 AM) | ||||
| Moshe Rabbeinu Greatest prophet; received Torah at Sinai; led Israel 40 yrs in desert | Navi / Leader / Judge | 2368–2488 (led 2448–2488) | Moshe was the navi; Aharon & Miriam prophesied; 70 Elders prophesied (Bamidbar 11) | R |
| Yehoshua bin Nun Conquered Canaan; divided land among 12 tribes | Military leader / Judge / Navi | 2488–2516 | Yehoshua himself a navi; Pinchas ben Elazar active throughout | R |
| The Elders (Zekenim) Collective leadership after Yehoshua (Shoftim 2:7) | Collective Elder leadership | 2516–~2533 | Pinchas ben Elazar (Kohen Gadol, navi per Shoftim 20) | R |
| ⬛ PERIOD OF JUDGES (SHOFTIM), ~2533–2882 AM · Cycles of sin, oppression, repentance & redemption | ||||
| Otniel ben Kenaz First judge; nephew of Calev; delivered Israel from Cushan-Rishatayim | Shofet | ~2533–2573 | Otniel had ruach hakodesh (Shoftim 3:10) | R |
| Ehud ben Gera Left-handed; assassinated Eglon of Moav; 80 years of peace followed | Shofet | ~2573–2653 | Pinchas ben Elazar (still active per tradition) | R |
| Shamgar ben Anat Killed 600 Philistines with an ox goad; likely concurrent with Ehud or Devorah | Shofet (minor) | ~2650s | , | R |
| Devorah & Barak Devorah, prophetess & judge; Barak, military commander; defeated Sisera | Neviah / Shofet & commander | ~2653–2693 | Devorah herself was a neviah (Shoftim 4–5) | R |
| Gidon (Gideon) ben Yoash Defeated Midian with 300 men; refused kingship; later made an idolatrous ephod | Shofet | ~2693–2733 | Anonymous navi rebuked Israel (Shoftim 6:8) | M |
| Avimelech ben Gidon Usurper; killed 70 brothers; ruled Shechem 3 yrs; killed by a millstone | Usurper (not a true judge) | ~2733–2736 | Yotam ben Gidon (first parable in Tanach) | W |
| Tola ben Puah | Shofet (minor) | ~2736–2759 | , | R |
| Yair HaGiladi 30 sons on 30 donkeys controlling 30 cities | Shofet (minor) | ~2759–2781 | , | R |
| Yiftach HaGiladi Delivered Israel from Ammon; made a tragic vow regarding his daughter | Shofet | ~2817–2823 | , | M |
| Ivtzan, Elon, Avdon Three minor judges; combined ~25 years | Shoftim (minor) | ~2823–2848 | , | R |
| Shimshon ben Manoach Nazirite from birth; supernatural strength; fought Philistines 20 yrs; died pulling down Philistine temple | Shofet / Nazir | ~2830–2870 | Angel announced his birth; ruach Hashem upon him (Shoftim 13) | M |
| Eli HaKohen Kohen Gadol & judge 40 yrs; raised Shmuel; sons Chofni & Pinchas were wicked; Aron captured by Philistines | Kohen Gadol & Shofet | ~2832–2872 | Shmuel HaNavi (raised in Mishkan under Eli) | M |
| Shmuel HaNavi Last judge; anointed Shaul & David; founded schools of prophecy; corrupt sons prompted demand for a king | Navi / Shofet / Levi | ~2872–2882 | Shmuel himself, greatest prophet after Moshe (Talmud Bavli Berachot 31b) | R |
Part 2, Kings of Israel & Judah: From Shaul to the Destruction of the First Temple (2882–3338 AM)
| King of Israel | Prophets | R/W | Jewish Year (AM) | R/W | Prophets | King of Judah |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⬛ UNIFIED KINGDOM, All 12 Tribes Together | ||||||
| Shaul (Saul), 1st king · Tribe of Binyamin Prophets: Shmuel, Gad | ~2882–2922 | M, Righteous at start, ultimately rejected (Shmuel Aleph 15) | ||||
| Ish-Boshet (ben Shaul), Israel only · 2 yrs Prophets: Gad, Natan | W | ~2922–2924 transitional | M | David, Judah only (Chevron, 7½ yrs) Prophets: Gad, Natan | ||
| David, Unified king from Yerushalayim (33 yrs unified) Prophets: Natan, Gad | ~2924–2964 (unified ~2924) | M, Beloved of God, man of deep teshuvah | ||||
| Shlomo (Solomon), Built First Temple · 40-yr reign Prophets: Achiyah HaShiloni, Iddo | ~2924–2964 (sole ~2928–2964) | M, Wisest of all men, strayed in old age | ||||
| ⬛ KINGDOM SPLITS, 2964 AM | Israel (North, 10 tribes) ← spine → Judah (South, 2 tribes) | ||||||
| ← Northern Kingdom (Israel) | AM Year | Southern Kingdom (Judah) → | ||||
| Yoravam I Jeroboam I | Achiyah HaShiloni, Iddo, Shemayah | W | 2964–2986 | W | Shemayah, Achiyah, Iddo | Rechavam Rehoboam |
| Yoravam I (cont.) | Achiyah, Iddo | W | 2980–2983 | W | Achiyah, Iddo | Aviyam (Abijam) |
| Nadav (Nadab) | Achiyah HaShiloni | W | 2983–2987 | R | Azaryah ben Oded | Asa (begins) |
| Baasha | Yehu ben Chanani, Chanani | W | 2987–3010 | R | Azaryah ben Oded, Chanani | Asa (cont.) |
| Elah | Yehu ben Chanani | W | 3010–3011 | R | Yehu ben Chanani | Asa (cont.) |
| Zimri (7 days) | Yehu ben Chanani | W | 3011 | R | Yehu ben Chanani | Asa (cont.) |
| Omri | Yehu ben Chanani, Eliyahu | W | 3011–3022 | R | Yehu ben Chanani | Asa (cont.) |
| Omri (cont.) | Eliyahu | W | ~3019–3022 (co) | R | Eliyahu | Yehoshafat (co) w/ Asa |
| Achav (Ahab) | Eliyahu, Michayhu ben Yimlah, Elisha | W | 3022–3043 | R | Eliyahu, Michayhu, Elisha | Yehoshafat Jehoshaphat |
| Achazyah (Israel) | Eliyahu, Elisha | W | 3043–3044 (co) | W | Eliyahu, Elisha | Yehoram (co) w/ Yehoshafat ~3040 |
| Yoram (Joram of Israel) | Elisha | W | 3044–3055 | W | Elisha | Yehoram (sole) |
| Yoram (cont.) | Elisha | W | 3055 | W | Elisha | Achazyah of Judah |
| Yehu | Elisha, Yoel | W | 3055–3061 | W | Elisha, Yoel | Atalyah Queen, usurper, non-Davidic |
| Yehu (cont.) | Elisha, Zechariah ben Yehoyada | W | 3061–3083 | M | Zechariah ben Yehoyada, Elisha | Yoash of Judah |
| Yehoachaz | Elisha | W | 3083–3100 | M | Elisha | Yoash (cont.) |
| Yoash of Israel | Yonah, Amos | W | 3100–3115 | M | Yonah, Amos | Amazyah (Amaziah) |
| Yoravam II Jeroboam II, begins | Amos, Hoshea, Yonah | W | ~3115–3130 (co) | M | Amos, Hoshea | Uziyah (co) w/ Amazyah |
| Yoravam II (cont.) | Amos, Hoshea, Yonah, Yeshayahu | W | 3130–3153 | M | Yeshayahu, Michah, Amos, Hoshea | Uziyah (sole), Uzziah |
| Zechariah → Shallum → Menachem | Hoshea, Yeshayahu, Michah | W | 3153–3165 (co) | R | Yeshayahu, Michah, Hoshea | Yotam (co) w/ Uziyah ~3167 |
| Menachem (cont.) → Pekachyah | Hoshea, Yeshayahu, Michah | W | 3165–3179 | R | Yeshayahu, Michah, Hoshea | Yotam (sole) |
| Pekach | Hoshea, Yeshayahu, Michah, Oded | W | ~3174–3179 (co) | W | Yeshayahu, Michah, Hoshea | Achaz (co) w/ Yotam |
| Hoshea ben Elah Last king of Israel | Hoshea, Yeshayahu, Michah, Oded | W | 3179–3187 | W | Yeshayahu, Michah, Hoshea | Achaz (sole) |
| ✦ ISRAEL EXILED BY ASSYRIA, 3187 AM | 3187 AM | Northern Kingdom ends | ||||
| , Northern Kingdom gone, | 3187–3240 (co Achaz, then sole) | R | Yeshayahu, Michah | Chizkiyahu (Hezekiah) | ||
| , Northern Kingdom gone, | 3240–3295 (co ~3227) | W* | Yeshayahu (martyred), Nachum | Menashe repented late, Sanhedrin 103b | ||
| , Northern Kingdom gone, | 3295–3297 | W | Tzefanyah, Yirmiyahu | Amon | ||
| , Northern Kingdom gone, | 3297–3316 | R | Tzefanyah, Yirmiyahu, Chuldah, Chavakuk | Yoshiyahu (Josiah) | ||
| , Northern Kingdom gone, | 3316 3 months | W | Yirmiyahu | Yehoachaz | ||
| , Northern Kingdom gone, | 3316–3327 | W | Yirmiyahu, Uriyahu, Chavakuk | Yehoyakim | ||
| , Northern Kingdom gone, | 3327 3 months | W | Yirmiyahu, Yechezkel | Yehoyachin | ||
| , Northern Kingdom gone, | 3327–3338 Temple destroyed | W | Yirmiyahu, Yechezkel | Tzidkiyahu Zedekiah, last king | ||
Part 3, First Temple Destruction to Second Temple Destruction (3338–3830 AM)
| Leader | Role / Title | Jewish Year (AM) | Prophets / Sages | R/W |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⬛ BABYLONIAN EXILE, 3338–3390 AM (~586–371 BCE) | ||||
| Gedalyah ben Achikam Governor of remaining Jews; assassinated Tishrei 3338 (Tzom Gedalyah) | Governor (Babylonian-appointed) | 3338 | Yirmiyahu, Yechezkel, Baruch ben Neriyah | R |
| Yechoniah (Jeconiah) Exiled king; spiritual figurehead in Babylon; Sanhedrin gathered around him | Exiled king / symbolic head | 3338–~3360 | Yirmiyahu, Yechezkel, Daniel | R |
| Daniel Adviser to Babylonian & Persian kings; leader of Jewish exiles in Babylon | Royal adviser / communal leader | ~3338–3390 | Yechezkel, Chaggai, Zechariah (early) | R |
| Shaltiel & Zerubavel Davidic descendants; Zerubavel leads first return under Cyrus | Davidic heir / Governor-designate | ~3370–3390 | Chaggai, Zechariah ben Iddo | R |
| ⬛ PERSIAN PERIOD / RETURN TO ZION, 3390–3448 AM (~371–313 BCE) | ||||
| Zerubavel ben Shaltiel Led 42,360 returnees; laid foundation of Second Temple | Governor of Yehud (Persian-appointed) | 3390–~3410 | Chaggai, Zechariah ben Iddo, Malachi | R |
| Yehoshua ben Yehotzadak First High Priest of Second Temple era | Kohen Gadol | 3390–~3410 | Chaggai, Zechariah, Malachi | R |
| Mordechai ben Yair Leader of Persian diaspora Jewry; co-savior with Esther (Purim ~3404 AM) | Royal official / communal leader | ~3404–3407 | Malachi, Anshei Knesset HaGedolah (early) | R |
| Ezra HaSofer Led second return; founded Knesset HaGedolah (120 elders); canonized Torah reading | Sofer / Kohen / Nasi of Knesset HaGedolah | ~3413–3448 | Malachi (last prophet), Anshei Knesset HaGedolah | R |
| Nechemiah ben Chachalyah Rebuilt walls of Yerushalayim; social & religious reformer | Governor of Yehud (Persian-appointed) | ~3426–3448 | Malachi, Anshei Knesset HaGedolah | R |
| Shimon HaTzaddik I Last of the Knesset HaGedolah; met Alexander the Great ~3448 AM | Kohen Gadol / Nasi | ~3440–3460 | Anshei Knesset HaGedolah (end of era) | R |
| ✦ END OF PROPHECY, ~3448 AM · Malachi is the last navi · Leadership passes to Chachamim (Sages) · Bat Kol remains (Sanhedrin 11a, Sotah 48b) ✦ | ||||
| ⬛ GREEK PERIOD, 3448–3622 AM (~313–139 BCE) · Alexander → Ptolemies → Seleucids | ||||
| Shimon HaTzaddik II Greatest Kohen Gadol of Second Temple era; Talmud records miracles during his tenure | Kohen Gadol | ~3500–3510 | Antigonus of Socho (his student) | R |
| Antigonus of Socho Student of Shimon HaTzaddik; his teachings misinterpreted gave rise to Tzadokim (Sadducees) | Nasi / Sage | ~3510–3540 | Antigonus of Socho | R |
| Onias II / III (Chonyo) High priests under Ptolemaic rule; Onias III later flees to Egypt | Kohen Gadol | ~3540–3590 | Yose ben Yoezer & Yose ben Yochanan (Zug 1) | M |
| Yason (Jason) Bought the high priesthood from Antiochus IV; promoted Hellenism aggressively | Kohen Gadol (illegitimate) | ~3587–3590 | Yose ben Yoezer & Yose ben Yochanan (Zug 1) | W |
| Menelaus Non-Kohen who bought the priesthood; desecrated Temple; betrayed Jews to Antiochus | Kohen Gadol (illegitimate, non-Kohen) | ~3590–3597 | Yose ben Yoezer & Yose ben Yochanan (Zug 1) | W |
| Alcimus (Yakim) Hellenized Kohen Gadol; opposed Chashmonaim; had Yose ben Yoezer martyred | Kohen Gadol (Seleucid-appointed) | ~3597–3600 | Yose ben Yoezer (martyred by Alcimus) | W |
| ⬛ HASMONEAN PERIOD, 3622–3724 AM (~139–37 BCE) | ||||
| Matityahu ben Yochanan Sparked the Maccabean revolt; died before full victory | Kohen / Revolutionary leader | 3594–3597 | Yose ben Yoezer & Yose ben Yochanan (Zug 1) | R |
| Yehudah HaMaccabi Recaptured & rededicated Temple (Chanukah 3597 AM); killed in battle 3600 | Military commander / de facto leader | 3597–3600 | Yose ben Yoezer & Yose ben Yochanan (Zug 1) | R |
| Yonatan ben Matityahu First Hasmonean to hold the high priesthood; skilled diplomat | Kohen Gadol & military commander | 3600–3614 | Yehoshua ben Perachyah & Nitai HaArbeli (Zug 2) | R |
| Shimon ben Matityahu Achieved full independence from Seleucids; founded Hasmonean dynasty officially | Ethnarch, Kohen Gadol, military commander | 3614–3621 | Yehoshua ben Perachyah & Nitai HaArbeli (Zug 2) | R |
| Yochanan Hyrcanus I Expanded territory greatly; later turned Sadducee and alienated Pharisees | King & Kohen Gadol | 3621–3638 | Shimon ben Shetach & Yehudah ben Tabbai (Zug 3, early) | M |
| Aristobulus I (Yehudah) First Hasmonean to formally take title "King"; ruled only 1 year | King & Kohen Gadol | 3638–3639 | Shimon ben Shetach & Yehudah ben Tabbai (Zug 3) | M |
| Alexander Yannai Conquered vast territory; persecuted Pharisees; executed 800 sages | King & Kohen Gadol | 3639–3669 | Shimon ben Shetach & Yehudah ben Tabbai (Zug 3) | W |
| Shlomit / Shlomtzion (Salome Alexandra) Only Hasmonean queen; restored Pharisees, golden age of Torah | Queen / brother Shimon ben Shetach as Nasi | 3669–3679 | Shimon ben Shetach & Yehudah ben Tabbai (Zug 3), Avtalyon & Shemayah (Zug 4) | R |
| Hyrcanus II Weak ruler; civil war with Aristobulus II invited Roman intervention (Pompey 3696 AM) | King & Kohen Gadol (intermittent) | 3679–3684 / 3696–3721 | Shemayah & Avtalyon (Zug 4) | W |
| Aristobulus II Seized power from brother; his conflict brought Pompey & Rome to Yerushalayim | King & Kohen Gadol | 3684–3696 | Shemayah & Avtalyon (Zug 4) | W |
| Antigonus II Mattathias Last Hasmonean king; installed by Parthians; executed by Romans | King & Kohen Gadol (last Hasmonean) | 3721–3724 | Hillel & Shammai (Zug 5, early) | M |
| ⬛ THE FIVE ZUGOT, Spiritual leaders of the Sanhedrin through Greek & Hasmonean eras | ||||
| Yose ben Yoezer & Yose ben Yochanan | Zug 1, Nasi & Av Beit Din | ~3560–3600 | Last link to Knesset HaGedolah tradition | R |
| Yehoshua ben Perachyah & Nitai HaArbeli | Zug 2, Nasi & Av Beit Din | ~3600–3621 | Active through Maccabean era | R |
| Yehudah ben Tabbai & Shimon ben Shetach | Zug 3, Nasi & Av Beit Din | ~3621–3669 | Shimon ben Shetach restored Torah under Shlomtzion | R |
| Shemayah & Avtalyon | Zug 4, Nasi & Av Beit Din | ~3669–3709 | Teachers of Hillel & Shammai; descended from converts | R |
| Hillel & Shammai | Zug 5, Nasi & Av Beit Din | ~3709–3768 | Founded Beit Hillel & Beit Shammai; most cited dispute in Talmud | R |
| ⬛ ROMAN / HERODIAN PERIOD, 3724–3830 AM (~37 BCE–70 CE) | ||||
| Herod I (Hordus) Edomite; rebuilt Temple magnificently; murdered Sanhedrin members & own family | King (Roman-appointed) | 3724–3757 | Hillel & Shammai (Zug 5), Beit Hillel & Beit Shammai | W |
| Archelaus Son of Herod; cruel; deposed by Rome after 10 years | Ethnarch of Judea | 3757–3766 | Beit Hillel & Beit Shammai | W |
| Philip & Antipas (sons of Herod) Antipas executed Yochanan HaMatbil; ruled Galilee & surrounding regions | Tetrarchs (Roman-appointed) | 3757–3799 | Beit Hillel & Beit Shammai, Rabban Gamliel I | W |
| Roman Prefects / Procurators Coponius, Gratus, Pontius Pilatus (~3786–3796), Felix, Festus, Florus (triggered revolt) | Roman Prefect / Procurator | 3766–3826 | Rabban Gamliel I, Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel I | W |
| Agrippa I (Herod Agrippa) Grandson of Herod; briefly reunited kingdom; popular with Jews; last king | King of all Judea (Roman-appointed) | 3800–3804 | Rabban Gamliel I | M |
| Agrippa II Last Herodian; tried to prevent revolt; sided with Rome during the war | King (partial territory, Roman client) | 3812–3830 | Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel I, Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai | W |
| Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai Smuggled out of besieged Yerushalayim in a coffin; established Yavneh, saved Torah after the destruction | Nasi of Sanhedrin (spiritual leader) | ~3820–3840 | His students: R. Eliezer, R. Yehoshua, R. Elazar ben Arach | R |
| ✦ SECOND TEMPLE DESTROYED, 9 Av 3830 AM (70 CE) · By Titus of Rome Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai establishes Yavneh, Jewish continuity through Torah study continues to this day | ||||