Narrative chronological order

Genesis (Adam, Noah, Abraham, Tribes, Egypt..)

Moses (rest of Torah):

  • Exodus (slavery)
  • Leviticus (priestly law at Mt Sinai)
  • Numbers (wandering, first try at Promised Land)
  • Deuteronomy (second try, death of Moses before entering the Land)

Pre-Babylonian:

  • Joshua (invasion of the Land)
  • Judges (chaotic cyclical tribal system, pre-Monarchy)
    • Ruth (conversion)
  • Samuel, Kings (United Monarchy: temple..)
    • Psalms of David
    • by Solomon : Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs

Babylonian Exile:

  • Jeremiah (anticipates and lives through the fall)
    • Lamentations (over Jerusalem’s destruction)
  • Daniel (noble Jew in Babylon with visions)
  • Isaiah (pre-exile warnings, hope during exile and return)
  • Ezekiel (visions of prophet exiled in Babylon)

Post-Exile:

  • Ezra and Nehemiah (return, rebuilding)
  • Esther (Jews saved in Persia)
  • 12 Minor Prophets (spread before/after Exile)

Wide-ranging:

  • Chronicles (genealogy from Adam to Edict of Cyrus; retelling focused on the Temple)
  • Twelve Minor Prophets (range from Assyrian threat to Post-Exilic return)
  • Job (suffering of the righteous: deliberately timeless in narrative, but seems ancient)