This timeline places the major biblical people and events in their chronological setting. Remember that for the prehistory period (earlier than the eighth century BCE) dates are nominal (and disputed) and may refer to people who did not live and events which did not occur.

The symbols J, E, D, and P refer to the four hypothetical sources of the Pentateuch (Yawhist, Elohimist, Deteronomist, Priestly) while R refers to the "final redactor."