Historical Timeline

First Temple Period

960 - 586 bce

Copies of biblical texts presumably composed in this period are among the most significant finds in the Dead Sea Scrolls collection.
The First Temple period, with divided kingdoms of Judah and Northern Israel

586 bce

Destruction of the First Temple and Jewish exile to Babylonia
Copies of biblical texts presumably composed in this period are among the most significant finds in the Dead Sea Scrolls collection.
MUR 17, the earliest manuscript identified among the Dead Sea Scrolls
Photo:
Shai Halevi

Second Temple Period

Persian Period
539 – 332 bce

Samaritan legal documents found at Wadi Daliyeh contain specific dates in the 4th century bce.

539 bce

Persian ruler Cyrus the Great conquers the Babylonian Empire and permits Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple
Samaritan legal documents found at Wadi Daliyeh contain specific dates in the 4th century bce.
"The Clemency of Cyrus". From an illuminated manuscript of Josephus' Jewish Antiquities, by Jean Fouquet, c. 1470-1475. Bibliothèque nationale de France
Top: Papyrus Deed of Slave Sale from Wadi Daliyeh before opening.

Bottom: Papyrus Deed of Slave Sale from Wadi Daliyeh after opening.

‏‏ Hellenistic Period
332 – 63 bce

Most of the Scrolls and fragments found in the caves near Qumran date to the Hellenistic period
The majority of the non-biblical Scrolls in this collection – both the sectarian Scrolls and other diverse literary works – were composed during this era.

332 bce

332 bce Hellenistic rule.
Alexander the Great conquers Judea

323–141 bce

Ptolemaic and Seleucid rule
Most of the Scrolls and fragments found in the caves near Qumran date to the Hellenistic period
The majority of the non-biblical Scrolls in this collection – both the sectarian Scrolls and other diverse literary works – were composed during this era.

hasmonean period

168 - 164 bce

Maccabean Revolt

165 bce

Re-dedication of the Temple. Beginning of Jewish autonomy

152-143 bce

Jonathan the Hasmonean, Ruler and High Priest

67-63 bce

Civil War between Hyrcanus II and Aristobolus II
4Q448
A prayer text mentioning "King Jonathan", most likely a Hasmonean ruler
Photo:
Shai Halevi

Roman Period
63 bce – 73 ce

63 bce

Roman general Pompey captures Jerusalem
Many of the Scrolls discovered in the Qumran caves were copied, and a lesser few composed, during the Herodian period.
Many of the Scrolls discovered in the Qumran caves were copied, and a lesser few composed, during the Herodian period.

herodian period

37–4 bce

Herod, Roman vassal king, rules the Land of Israel

4 bce

Romans assume direct administration of Judea

4 bce – 40 ce

Lifetime of Jesus of Nazareth

66 ce

Jewish revolt against the Romans

70 ce

Destruction of Jerusalem and Second Temple

73 ce

Judeans' last stand at Masada
Biblical and non-biblical scrolls as well as some Greek and Latin papyri were found at Masada.
Biblical and non-biblical scrolls as well as some Greek and Latin papyri were found at Masada.
Top: "The Siege and Destruction of Jerusalem"
David Roberts, 1850
Top: "The Siege and Destruction of Jerusalem"
David Roberts, 1850
Bottom: 11Q5 Psalms Scroll Herodian period
Photo:
Shai Halevi

Post Second Temple Period

Roman Period
73 ce – 324 ce

The majority of manuscripts discovered at Wadi Murabba'at, as well as texts from Nahal Hever and Nahal Se’elim, date to the Roman period. Refugees who fled to desert caves during the First Jewish Revolt and the Bar Kokhba Revolt stored their precious personal items in the caves.

132–135 ce

Bar Kokhba uprising against Rome
The majority of manuscripts discovered at Wadi Murabba'at, as well as texts from Nahal Hever and Nahal Se’elim, date to the Roman period. Refugees who fled to desert caves during the First Jewish Revolt and the Bar Kokhba Revolt stored their precious personal items in the caves.
P.Yadin 44,
Legal papyrus from the Bar Kokhba refuge cave Roman Period
Photo:
Shai Halevi

Byzantine Period
324–638 ce

Judea under the rule of the Christian Eastern Roman Empire
Jerusalem on the Madaba Map, from the church of Saint George at Madaba, Jordan. 6th century ce

Early Islamic Period
7th–11th centuries ce

A large collection of Arabic manuscripts from this period was found at Khirbet Mird.
Judea incorporated into the Islamic Empire, under a succession of caliphates
A large collection of Arabic manuscripts from this period was found at Khirbet Mird.
MUR 173 ,
Arabic amulet from Wadi Murabba'at
Photo:
Shai Halevi
"Saracens and Crusaders"
1325-1330. Illuminated Manuscript of Les Chroniques De France, British Library, MS. Royal 16G VI, F.442

Crusader Period
12th–13th centuries ce

A copy of a Greek Christian prayer dated to the Crusader period was found at Wadi Murabba'at.
For two centuries, Christian Crusaders from Europe were the dominant power in "the Holy Land"
A copy of a Greek Christian prayer dated to the Crusader period was found at Wadi Murabba'at.