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 Dating the Old Testament Books

 

                                   

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Please note, this is a work in progress, and will be added to frequently.

Genesis

Gleason Archer, Ph.D. 1600-1401 B.C. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction
Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible Walter A. Elwell and Barry J. Beitzel
The date of the book is a matter of debate. Even among those who accept the Mosaic authorship the date for Moses varies. Based on the biblical data, Moses must be placed in the 15th century b.c. (cf. Jgs 11:26; 1 Kgs 6:1), but many scholars incline toward a 13th century date.
The liberal view of the date of Genesis would be from the 9th to the 5th centuries b.c., with the final editing coming around the 5th century or perhaps even later.  
Believer's Bible Commentary
William MacDonald and Arthur Farstad
Liberal scholars date the various theorized stages of the work largely as follows: The so-called “J document” is dated about 850 b.c.; the “E document” about 750 b.c.; the “D document” about 621 b.c. ; and the “P document” about 500 b.c.
   
Conservative scholars generally date the Pentateuch around the time of the Exodus, in the fifteenth century b.c. Some prefer a date for this event of about a century and half later.
Probably the best date to fit all the biblical data is sometime between 1450–1410 b.c.
Believer's study Bible  If the early date of the Exodus is assumed (c. 1445 b.c.), a date of c. 1400 b.c. is reasonable.
John MacArthur, Ph.D. approximately 1445 to 1405 BC
Nelson's Complete Book of Bible Maps and Charts, Revised 1446-1406 BC 
G.C. Wenham, Ph.D. 1250 bc to 950 bc. 
J. Walvoord and R. Zuck, 1500 to 1401 BC, The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

Exodus

    Gleason Archer, Ph.D. 1600-1401 B.C. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction
   
John MacArthur, Ph.D. approximately 1445 to 1405 BC
   
J. Walvoord and R. Zuck, 1500 to 1401 BC

Leviticus

    Gleason Archer, Ph.D. 1600-1401 B.C. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction
   
John MacArthur, Ph.D. approximately 1445 to 1405 BC
    J. Walvoord and R. Zuck, 1500 to 1401 BC

Numbers

    Gleason Archer, Ph.D. 1600-1401 B.C. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction
   
John MacArthur, Ph.D. approximately 1445 to 1405 BC
    J. Walvoord and R. Zuck, 1406 BC

Deuteronomy

    Gleason Archer, Ph.D. 1600-1401 B.C. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction
   
John MacArthur, Ph.D. approximately 1445 to 1405 BC
    J. Walvoord and R. Zuck, 1500 to 1401 BC

Joshua

    Gleason Archer, Ph.D. 1600-1401 B.C. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction
   
John MacArthur, Ph.D. approximately 1405 to 1385 BC
    J. Walvoord and R. Zuck, 1406 BC

Judges

    Gleason Archer, Ph.D. 1100-901 B.C. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction
   
John MacArthur, Ph.D. approximately 1043 to 1004 BC
    J. Walvoord and R. Zuck, 1051 to 1004 BC

Ruth

    Gleason Archer, Ph.D. 1110-901 B.C. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction
   
John MacArthur, Ph.D. approximately 1030 to 1010 BC
    J. Walvoord and R. Zuck, 1011 to 931 BC

First Samuel

    Gleason Archer, Ph.D. 1000-701 B.C. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction
   
John MacArthur, Ph.D. approximately 931 BC or later
    J. Walvoord and R. Zuck, 931 to 722 BC

Second Samuel

    Gleason Archer, Ph.D. 1000-701 B.C. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction
   
John MacArthur, Ph.D. approximately 931 BC or later
    J. Walvoord and R. Zuck, 931 to 722 BC

First Kings

    Gleason Archer, Ph.D. 587 B.C. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction
   
John MacArthur, Ph.D. approximately 561 to 538 BC
    J. Walvoord and R. Zuck, 560 to 538 BC

Second Kings

    Gleason Archer, Ph.D. 1000-901 B.C. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction
   
John MacArthur, Ph.D. approximately 561 to 538 BC
    J. Walvoord and R. Zuck, 560 to 538 BC

First Chronicles

    Gleason Archer, Ph.D. 450-425 B.C. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction
   
John MacArthur, Ph.D. approximately 450 to 430 BC
    J. Walvoord and R. Zuck, 598 to 400 BC

Second Chronicles

    Gleason Archer, Ph.D. 450-425 B.C. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction
   
John MacArthur, Ph.D. approximately 450 to 430 BC
    J. Walvoord and R. Zuck, 598 to 400 BC

Ezra

    Gleason Archer, Ph.D. 450-425 B.C. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction
   
John MacArthur, Ph.D. approximately 457 to 444 BC
    J. Walvoord and R. Zuck, 450 BC

Nehemiah

    Gleason Archer, Ph.D. 450-425 B.C. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction
   
John MacArthur, Ph.D. approximately 424 to 400 BC
    J. Walvoord and R. Zuck, 430 BC

Esther

    Gleason Archer, Ph.D. 500-457 B.C. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction
   
John MacArthur, Ph.D. before 331 BC
    J. Walvoord and R. Zuck, 470 to 465 BC

Job

    Gleason Archer 2100-1600 B.C. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction
   
Believer's Bible Commentary William MacDonald and Arthur Farstad
As to the time of writing, scholars range all the way from the patriarchal era (c. 2100–1900 b.c.) to the second century b.c.! (This last view is held by extreme liberals, and is virtually impossible to reconcile with Dead Sea Scroll portions of Job coming from the same era.)
    John MacArthur, Ph.D.
possibly before 1445 BC
    J. Walvoord and R. Zuck, 2100 to 1900 BC

Psalms

    Gleason Archer 1405-500 B.C. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction   
   
John MacArthur, Ph.D. approximately 1410 to 450 BC
    J. Walvoord and R. Zuck, 1500 to 501 BC

Proverbs

    Gleason Archer, Ph.D. 800-601 B.C. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction
   
John MacArthur, Ph.D. approximately 971 to 686 BC
    J. Walvoord and R. Zuck, 700 BC

Ecclesiastes

    Gleason Archer, Ph.D. 1000-901 B.C. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction
   
John MacArthur, Ph.D. no later than 931 BC
    J. Walvoord and R. Zuck, 971 to 931 BC

Song of Solomon

    Gleason Archer, Ph.D. 1000-901 B.C. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction
   
John MacArthur, Ph.D. shortly after 971 BC
    J. Walvoord and R. Zuck, probably 971 to 931 BC

Isaiah

    Gleason Archer, Ph.D. 587 B.C. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction
   
John MacArthur, Ph.D. approximately 700 to 681 BC
    J. Walvoord and R. Zuck, 739 to 686 BC
 

Jeremiah

    Gleason Archer, Ph.D. 700-501 B.C. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction
   
John MacArthur, Ph.D. approximately 627 to 570 BC
    J. Walvoord and R. Zuck, 627 to 582 BC

Lamentations

    Gleason Archer, Ph.D. 700-501 B.C. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction
   
John MacArthur, Ph.D. approximately 586 BC
    J. Walvoord and R. Zuck, 586 to 585 BC

Ezekiel

    Gleason Archer, Ph.D. 600-501 B.C. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction
   
John MacArthur, Ph.D. approximately 593 to 570 BC
    J. Walvoord and R. Zuck, 593 to 571 BC

Daniel

    Gleason Archer, Ph.D. 600-501 B.C. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction
   
John MacArthur, Ph.D. before 530 BC
    J. Walvoord and R. Zuck, 605 to 536 BC

Hosea

   Gleason Archer, Ph.D. 760-720 B.C. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction
   
John MacArthur, Ph.D. approximately 755 to 710 BC
    J. Walvoord and R. Zuck, 800 to 701 BC

Joel

    Gleason Archer, Ph.D. 830 B.C. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction
   
John MacArthur, Ph.D. approximately 835 to 796 BC
    J. Walvoord and R. Zuck, 516 BC

Amos

    Gleason Archer, Ph.D. 760-757 B.C. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction
   
John MacArthur, Ph.D. approximately 760 to 750 BC
    J. Walvoord and R. Zuck, 762 to 760 BC

Obadiah

    Gleason Archer, Ph.D. 848-841 B.C. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction
   
John MacArthur, Ph.D. approximately 848 to 841 BC
    J. Walvoord and R. Zuck, 848 to 841 BC

Jonah

    Gleason Archer, Ph.D. 800 B.C. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction
   
John MacArthur, Ph.D. approximately 793 to 758 BC
    J. Walvoord and R. Zuck, 793 to 753 BC

Micah

    Gleason Archer, Ph.D. 750-720 B.C. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction
   
John MacArthur, Ph.D. approximately 735 to 710 BC
    J. Walvoord and R. Zuck, 750 to 680 BC

Nahum

    Gleason Archer, Ph.D. 661-612 B.C. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction
   
John MacArthur, Ph.D. approximately 650 BC
    J. Walvoord and R. Zuck, 663 to 612 BC

Habakkuk

    Gleason Archer, Ph.D. 608-607 B.C. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction
   
John MacArthur, Ph.D. approximately 615 to 605 BC
    J. Walvoord and R. Zuck, 971 to 931 BC

Zephaniah

    Gleason Archer, Ph.D. 621 B.C. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction
   
John MacArthur, Ph.D. approximately 635 to 625 BC
    J. Walvoord and R. Zuck, 622 to 612 BC

Haggai

    Gleason Archer, Ph.D. 520 B.C. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction
   
John MacArthur, Ph.D. approximately 520 BC
    J. Walvoord and R. Zuck, 520 BC

Zechariah

    Gleason Archer, Ph.D. 480 B.C. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction
   
John MacArthur, Ph.D. approximately 520 to 518 BC
    J. Walvoord and R. Zuck, 520 to 518 BC

Malachi

    Gleason Archer, Ph.D. 435 B.C. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction
   
John MacArthur, Ph.D. approximately 433 to 424 BC
    J. Walvoord and R. Zuck, 450 to 430 BC

Compiled by Gary Butner, Th.D.

 

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Last modified: November 13, 2008