History Crash Course #36: Timeline: From Abraham to Destruction of the Temple

Torah Reading: Be'halot'cha

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This is the 36th installment of this series and it is fitting for us to put into perspective the ground that we have covered, before we begin the story of the next exile of the Jewish people that will last the next 2,000 years.

Note that we are following the Jewish calendar for these events (and not the Gregorian calendar which is at times 150 years at odds with Jewish computations). For more on this issue, see Part 21.

Easy print PDF version of this timeline 12k
PDF courtesy of S. Malkah Cohen at J M Publishers

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Published: August 4, 2007

Visitor Comments: 11

(11) Menashe Kaltmann, August 8, 2007 6:25 PM

A very worthwhile series

So far so good! Thank you again R. Spiro and aish.com for making Jewish history come alive with these informative and well-written articles.
It seems throughout these articles that G-d's guiding hand is involved with our history.

(10) Rob M, August 7, 2007 7:18 AM

Outstanding

Thank you for putting events into perspective that makes it easy for "not so learned" Jews like myself to understand.

(9) Joseph, February 26, 2003 12:00 AM

Thank you very much,dear Aish!
All the best.

(8) Anonymous, February 24, 2003 12:00 AM

I am thoroughly enjoying the Jewish History series. Thank you for adding to my knowledge.

(7) David Merrill, February 24, 2003 12:00 AM

choosing traditions

At my first glance the 150 year discrepancy in the timeline around Israel's civil division surprised me but then I saw the note about Lecture 21. The short quote from Peter James about the timeline adjustment is not convincing especially when the 'traditional' timeline explains so much about modern history. I find the 586 BCE Temple destruction date difficult to adjust. I will have to read Centuries in Darkness and get the full argument.

(6) Francine VanWoudenberg, February 7, 2003 12:00 AM

This is so fascinating!

I am so impressed by the engaging, historical lessons given here. I am planning to go to a synagogue for the first time in my life this evening, God-willing. So, I am trying to gain some perspective on the history leading up to the current, world-wide worship of the LORD of Israel (so diverse and yet so unchanged, in some respects), since he is also my God. There is a possibility that I have Jewish ancestors, and so I find this information very relevant and whether that proves to be the case or not, I will always see it as a part of my own history. I can't stop reading, it is so fascinating...thanks so much for compiling and sharing this!

(5) Jim Griffin, May 21, 2002 12:00 AM

Informative, clear, concise, well done site.

Thanks for the diligence in presenting this information here. I will be back often to "take the course"...

(4) sam socher, July 19, 2001 12:00 AM

what about yushke?

This is a wonderful and informative series, and i am enjoying it immensly. I realize that this is Jewish history, but I would like to see the significant dates in early Chrixianity, and how they effected the jews at the time.
thanks,
sam socher

(3) Giacomo Ruffoni, July 18, 2001 12:00 AM

Just amazing

Very inspiring indeed. By reading Israel History, I came to understand the world history better. Every thing that falls to the Jewish nation is bound to affect the world at large. Thank you for all the effort to mantain this web-site. It has changed my life perspective. Well done. G-d bless you as people. The bottom truth is that the world now is not fighting Israel; it is fighting G-d. Thanks again from the depths of my soul.

(2) Harvey Weiner, July 17, 2001 12:00 AM

Aish should be on the next timeline

Returned today from a visit to Jerusalem. Saw the beatiful new facilties Aish is constructing opposite The Kotel. For all the good that Aish HaTorah does, the timeline for this millenium should include the emergence of Aish HaTorah as a force for honesty, literacy, mutual understanding and tolerance.

(1) Phillip Kruse, July 16, 2001 12:00 AM

Hanging out for more!

At this point, with the Temple destroyed and the bulk - not all - of the Jewish people about to go into exile, it is appropriate to offer congratulations to Rabbi Spiro for providing a "potted history" which never descends into triteness or oversimplification. Now that we have left the "Biblical" phase of Jewish history (not forgetting, though, Biblical prophecies of the return of The People to The Land), I'm looking forward to the rabbi's use of "secular" and, no doubt, rabbinical sources to deal with the 2,000 years still to come. Thanks a lot; I don't know what I'm going to do when the series ends and there is no weekly edition of Rabbi Ken's History. Great work.
Phil Kruse, Australia.

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About the Author

Rabbi Ken Spiro

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Rabbi Ken Spiro, originally from New Rochelle, NY, graduated from Vassar College with a BA in Russian Language and Literature and did graduate studies at the Pushkin Institute in Moscow. He has rabbinic ordination from Aish Jerusalem and a Masters Degree in History from Vermont College of Norwich University. Rabbi Spiro is also a licensed tour guide by the Israel Ministry of Tourism. He has appeared on numerous radio and TV programs such as BBC, National Geographic Channel and The History Channel. He lives near Jerusalem with his wife and five children, where he works as a senior lecturer for Aish Jerusalem.

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