This timeline reflects scholarly consensus but is always evolving with archaeological and linguistic discoveries.

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Early Compositions (Pre-Exilic, before 586 BCE)

Amos
~760 BCE
Earliest prophetic book; strong social justice themes.

Hosea
~750 BCE
Northern kingdom focus; pre-Assyrian exile.

Micah
~740 700 BCE
Contemporary of Isaiah; critiques Jerusalem elite.

Isaiah 1 39 (First Isaiah)
~740 700 BCE
Pre-exilic core; later expanded.

Deuteronomy
~620 BCE
Linked to Josiah s reforms; possibly discovered in the Temple.

Jeremiah
~626 580 BCE
Reflects fall of Jerusalem; heavily redacted.

Zephaniah
~630 BCE
Apocalyptic tone; pre-Josianic.

Nahum
~615 BCE
Celebrates fall of Nineveh.

Habakkuk
~610 600 BCE
Questions divine justice; pre-exilic.

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Exilic Period (586 539 BCE)

Ezekiel
~593 571 BCE
Written during Babylonian exile; visionary and priestly.

Lamentations
~586 BCE
Mourning destruction of Jerusalem.

Obadiah
~580 BCE
Shortest book; condemns Edom post-exile.

Isaiah 40 55 (Second Isaiah)
~540 BCE
Hopeful tone; anticipates return from exile.

Genesis Numbers
Core traditions predate exile, but final form likely shaped during exile.

Job
Core possibly pre-exilic; final form likely exilic or post-exilic.

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Post-Exilic Period (539 300 BCE)

Haggai
~520 BCE
Urges rebuilding of the Temple.

Zechariah 1 8
~520 518 BCE
Apocalyptic visions; Temple restoration.

Malachi
~450 BCE
Critiques priesthood and social injustice.

Ezra Nehemiah
~450 400 BCE
Chronicles return from exile and reforms.

Isaiah 56 66 (Third Isaiah)
~400 BCE
Post-exilic community concerns.

Ruth
~400 BCE
Likely post-exilic; inclusive message.

Jonah
~400 BCE
Satirical tone; universalist theology.

Joel
~400 BCE
Dating debated; likely post-exilic.

Daniel
~165 BCE
Apocalyptic; written during Seleucid persecution.

Esther
~400 300 BCE
No mention of God; Persian court setting.

Chronicles
~400 BCE
Retells earlier history with priestly emphasis.

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Wisdom and Liturgical Texts (Various Periods)

Psalms
~1000 300 BCE
Composite; spans monarchy to post-exile.

Proverbs
~700 300 BCE
Core Solomonic sayings; later additions.

Ecclesiastes
~250 BCE
Philosophical tone; late Hebrew style.

Song of Songs
~400 200 BCE
Love poetry; allegorical interpretations later.

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Notes on Redaction and Composite Authorship

Isaiah: Widely accepted as a three-part composition:
- First Isaiah (1 39): pre-exilic
- Second Isaiah (40 55): exilic
- Third Isaiah (56 66): post-exilic

Pentateuch (Genesis Deuteronomy): Composed from multiple sources (J, E, D, P), finalized during or after exile.

Jeremiah and Ezekiel: Show signs of heavy redaction, with multiple layers and editorial shaping.

Psalms: A liturgical anthology, compiled over centuries.

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