This shows the relative placement of the patriarchs set against the context of various external sources, thus allowing an estimate of chronology. The horizontal black lines show 200 year intervals starting at 2000 BCE. Reasons for placing the external sources at these dates are given elsewhere.
Exec. texts
Related links
Explanatory notes
Patriarchs
Ebla
Ebla is a city in Northern Syria. Approximately 17000 tablets have been unearthed since their initial discovery in 1964, though unfortunately full details have never been released. At its height, a flourishing kingdom was based on the city. In conventional terms the peak was around 2300 BCE, and in the New Chronology interpretation about one or two centuries later. The city was destroyed by a Mesopotamian ruler called Naram-Sin around 2250 BCE using conventional dating, and around 2000 BCE in New Chronology terms. The tablet archive therefore dates from the closing century of the 3rd millennium in NC terms. The tablets found at Ebla describe influential nearby cities and record law codes and judicial decisions made at the city. The structure of laws and customs provides a good parallel for the Genesis accounts. Personal names matching those in Genesis are also found.
Power alliances
The Genesis 14 style of 'power alliances', with multiple kings allied against one another, is mirrored in the following encounters:
- Belakun of Ishnunna allied with Akkad and three other cities (OC around 2200 BCE, NC around 2050).
- Rim-Sin of Larsa defeated a coalition of five rulers (OC around 1750, NC around 1600).
- Hammurabi formed an alliance of this size in his 29th year and defeated another similar size on in his 31st year.
Such alliances were not customary in the period before the Akkad dynasty (commencing OC approx. 2350 BCE, NC about 250 years later), nor after the time of Hammurabi and the early growth of the Hittite kingdom (OC approx. 1650, NC about 100 years later). In later times the typical pattern was for a collection of (usually rebellious) leaders on one side to be arraigned against a single leader on the other. This is particularly true of actions involving Mesopotamian states - from the time of Hammurabi through until that of Cyrus, one or other of Assyria or Babylon would have taken the lead in such an undertaking. The actions of the Hittite leader Tidal resemble those of the early Hittite chieftains such as Anittas. Territorial invasions of a similar scale and motive were carried out by Sargon of Akkad (around 2350 OC, 2100 NC), Naram-Sin around 2250 OC, 2000 NC), and Shamshi-Adad of Assyria (around 1700 OC, about 100 years later NC). Shamshi-Adad was a contemporary of Hammurabi, and is also of interest for sending to Syria to find a wife of suitable genealogy, just as Abraham sent Isaac back to his family's region of origin in Mesopotamia.
Negev occupation
Archaeological analysis indicates that the Negev region was occupied in a seasonal way in the Middle Bronze I age (OC circa 2250 - 1800 BCE, NC circa 2100 - 1650) but not during the previous millennium nor after this period until around 1000 BCE. This pattern matches the lifestyle descriptions for Abraham and Isaac, though the concluding date is uncomfortably early for Isaac's life. However, this kind of archaeological dating gives only a general date, not an exact one.
Execration texts
These contain descriptions of curses to be pronounced over cities or regions that had become odious to the Egyptians. Place names in Canaan and personal names akin to those of Genesis appear periodically through these texts. The practice was used during parts of the 11th to 13th dynasties, and in OC terms arises between 2000 and 1700 BCE. In the NC, the Egyptian dynasties concerned are redated to the period 1800-1450 BCE. Interestingly, a burst of Hebrew names and places appears around 1550 - 1500 BCE, around the time when the Israelite oppression by the Egyptians was commencing according to the New Chronology.
The Story of Sinuhe
This is an account of an Egyptian who flees into exile on hearing of the death of Pharaoh Amenemhat I (first ruler of the 12th dynasty), heading for Byblos. He marries the daughter of a tribal chieftain and builds a new life in the north Palestine/south Syria area. Eventually he is restored to a position of authority in Egypt and returns, leaving his eldest son in charge of his wealth. It is not known if the tale is fictional or biographical, but the details mentioned in the story are accurate where they can be confirmed. In OC terms this is dated around 1950 BCE, whilst in the NC it is around 1800. Israel is not mentioned in the account, but other details regarding customs and coastal locations are consistent with Genesis.
Cappadocia
Around 14000 tablets have been discovered at Kültepe (in modern Turkey). These originate from an Assyrian trading post in a region of Anatolia later controlled by the Hittites. They are roughly contemporary with the early Isin-Larsa period in Mesopotamia. In conventional terms this corresponds to 2000-1800 BCE, and in New Chronology terms around 1800-1700. The tablets are predominantly business documents, and illustrate commercial and negotiation practices used at this time. The term 'Habiru', commonly identified with the Biblical word Hebrew, appears in this archive. Abraham is the first recorded Biblical figure of whom this title is used.
Mari
Several thousand tablets were found at Mari, on the River Euphrates, from 1933 onwards. These describe customs and give common names for both individuals and cities of the period in question. The term Habiru appears again in this archive. In OC terms, they date from the period of Zimri-Lin, around 1700 BCE. The Babylonian ruler Hammurabi sacked the city. Hammurabi's reign is redated to 1565-1522 BCE in the NC. Since he sacked Mari, the archive's date can be set in the region 1650-1500 BCE.
Nuzi
These were found at Nuzi, a small town in Iraq. They date from the late Bronze Age period, which in OC terms places them between 1500 and 1250 BCE. The date indication arises because of a seal of the Mitanni ruler Sautatar. In NC terms he is dated in the region 1235-1210 BCE, but the context of the seal suggests it is an heirloom. The archive contents may therefore originate in the period 1400-1300 BCE. The late dating of this archive has led various people to call into question its value in providing support for the Genesis accounts. This is usually countered by the point that social customs can remain static for considerable periods, if the conditions of life are stable. Unless the contents of this archive are supported by other, earlier material, it should not be relied on for confirming early authorship of Genesis.
Mesopotamia
Akkad (Agade)
The city was claimed to have been founded by Nimrod along with Erech (Uruk) and Babylon. The exact location is unknown, but it is often thought to have been on one of the older courses of the Euphrates, near to Babylon. It's most significant time was during the reign of Sargon I, when power was exerted over all of Sumeria across to Syria and Anatolia. Sargon's dynasty was warlike and regularly used military force to subdue cities. This policy led to frequent rebellions, and the final collapse of the empire was rapid as pressure became too intense.
GutiumThis was a tribal people who invaded Mesopotamia and caused the destruction of the Akkad dynasty. At first hated by the Mesopotamians, who regarded them as savage barbarians, they quite rapidly integrated with the population.
Ur 3Ur was in the southern part of Mesopotamia (though in fact there were several cities of similar names in various places). This dynasty was the most geographically extended of those based at Ur. It arose out of the collapse of the Akkadian empire, taking advantage of Utu-hegal's defeat of the Gutians. Unlike Akkad, city-states were arranged in a loose hegemony, and the rebellion-military suppression cycle does not apear to have been needed. Tribal migrations placed the empire under increasing pressure leading to eventual collapse.
LarsaA city in the southern part of Mesopotamia which arose to dominance after the fall of Ur III. Its period of flourishing was marked by continual rivalry and conflict with Isin.
IsinA city in the central part of Mesopotamia which arose to dominance after the fall of Ur III. Its period of flourishing was marked by continual rivalry and conflict with Larsa. The Sumerian kinglist regards it as the legitimate successor of Ur III, but it never attained complete control of Mesopotamia.
Old Babylonian PeriodEarly expansion led to conflict with and eventual capture of Isin and Larsa. At its height, the territory controlled was approximately the same as that of Ur III. During this period Assyria also began to emerge as a contending power. The most well-known member of the dynasty was Hammurabi, whose reign was in the mid 1500s in the NC.
Old Assyrian PeriodThis period is largely based on the city of Asshur, and extends well beyond patriarchal times. The end of this dynasty finds Assyria under the control of the Mitanni.
Egypt
Old KingdomThe first great period of flourishing for Egypt, it lasted about 500 years through the second half of the 3rd millennium BCE. The final (6th) dynasty was dominated by the incredibly long reign of Pepi II and overall was a time of decline. New Chronology dates are moved approximately 150-200 years later than in the conventional chronology of Egypt.
First Intermediate PeriodNearly 200 years of weak and ineffective rulers caused this time of uncertainty. Often different parts of Egypt were ruled by competing dynasties, until the middle of the 11th dynasty when stronger rulers enforced unity again. Trade with other countries declined and the flow of resources from mines in the Sinai Peninsula disappeared. New Chronology dates are moved approximately 100-200 years later than in the conventional chronology of Egypt.
Middle KingdomFrom part-way through the 11th dynasty, central authority and unity were recovered, and Egypt once more took a prominent par in international affairs. In the early parts, foreigners (especially Asiatics) were welcomed, and could reach high office. Later, however, poor climate and harvests brought a more sombre air. New Chronology dates are moved approximately 150-200 years later than in the conventional chronology of Egypt.
Second Intermediate PeriodAnother period of turmoil and confusion which lasted nearly 4 centuries until the establishment of the 18th dynasty. Much of the period saw Egypt ruled by the Hyksos, foreign invaders who settled in the Delta region. New Chronology dates are moved approximately 150-200 years later than in the conventional chronology of Egypt for the first part of this era, and up to 350 years later towards the end of the period.
