To learn biblical history, review the following questions, which cover the same material several different times from several different perspectives.

Empires that Ruled Israel:

1. In chronological order, what were the six empires that controlled the land of Canaan/Israel/Palestine in ancient times?
2. Between which two empires was Israel politically independent at the time of King David?
3. Between which two empires was Israel politically independent at the time of the Macabbees?
4. Which empire destroyed the Northern Kingdom of Israel (and its capital Samaria), and when?
5. Which empire destroyed the Southern Kingdom of Judah (and its capital Jerusalem), and when?
6. Which empire began the "Hellenization" of the land of Israel?
7. Which empire controlled Israel at the time of Jesus?
   

The City and Temple of Jerusalem:

1. When and by whom was the city of Jerusalem conquered by the Israelites and made the capital of Israel?
2. When and by whom was the First Temple of Jerusalem built?
3. When and by whom was the First Temple of Jerusalem destroyed?
4. When and by whom was the Second Temple of Jerusalem rebuilt after the Babylonian Exile?
5. When and by whom was the Second Temple of Jerusalem desecrated (Greek statues placed inside)?
6. When and by whom was the Second Temple of Jerusalem renovated and greatly expanded?
7. When and by whom were the city and temple of Jerusalem utterly destroyed a second time?

Other Key Events in Biblical History:

1. Who first received God's promise that his descendants would be a great nation and inherit the "Promised Land"?
2. What is the "Exodus," and what event does the "Passover" commemorate?
3. Where and through whom did God give the Torah to the people of Israel?
4. When and what was the "Babylonian Exile," and how did it end?
5. What caused the "Macabbean Revolt," and who was involved?
6. When and where was Jesus born? How long was his public ministry? When and where did he die?
7. When was the "First Jewish Revolt/War" against Rome, and what was the outcome?

Key Dates in Biblical History: What major events and key people are associated with the following dates?

BC/BCE:

1800

1250

1000

970

922

721

587

520

323

167

63

4

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CE/AD:

29/30

49/50

66/70

85/90

ca.110

313

Key People in Biblical History: When did these people live, and with what major biblical event(s) are they connected?

OT:	Abraham	Joseph	Moses	King Saul	Alexander the Great
.	Isaac	Judah	Joshua	King David	Antiochus IV Epiphanes
.	Jacob/Israel	Levi	"Judges"	King Solomon	General Pompey

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NT:	Herod the Great	Elizabeth & Zechariah	John the Baptist	Pontius Pilate	Peter & Andrew	Matthew	Mary Magdalene
.	Herod Antipas	Mary & Joseph	Jesus of Nazareth	Annas & Caiaphas	James & John	Mark & Luke	Paul of Tarsus

For information about all of the above, see my Overview of Israelite, Jewish & Early Christian History

The Biblical Resources Page

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