Chronology

786 – 746 BCE Hebrew prophet Jonah preaches in Nineveh

721 BCE Assyrian army seizes Kingdom of Israel and the Land of Tob, deporting the nobility and artisans to Assyria, including Judith’s extended family and Achior and his family. Assyrians devastate Bethulia as well as many other Israelite cities and villages. Israel becomes the Assyrian province of Samaria.

715 BCE Hezekiah ascends the throne of Judea.

709 BCE Sargon II, King of Assyria ousts Merodach-baladan from Babylonia.

705 BCE Sennacherib ascends the Assyrian throne. King Hezekiah leads a widespread revolt against Assyria.

704 BCE Merodach-baladan returns to Babylonian throne for 9 mo. He sends envoys to Jerusalem and conspires with King Hezekiah.

703 BCE Judith is born.

702 BCE Sennacherib retakes Babylon and Merodach-baladan flees to the swamps where he dies.

701 BCE Sennacherib campaigns against the west annexing all the land surrounding Judea and inflicts great damage on the tiny country. Sennacherib leaves after extracting large payment from Hezekiah. Judith’s mother dies.

700 BCE Sennacherib places his son, the crown prince Assur-nadin-sum on the Babylonian throne.

694 BCE Successors of Merodach-baladan capture Sennacherib’s son Assur-nadin-sum and retake Babylonia.

692 BCE Anti-Assyrian coalition of nations clash with the Assyrians at Halule along the Tigris.

691 BCE Hezekiah revolts against Assyria again. Judith is betrothed and married.

690 BCE Sennacherib begins siege of Babylon.

689 BCE Judith’s husband Manasseh dies. Babylon destroyed.

688 BCE Ecbatana falls to the Assyrians. Bethulia suffers plague.

687 BCE Sennecherib’s second campaign on Judea.

686 BCE King Hezekiah dies; his son Manasseh ascends the throne.

683 BCE Esarhaddon becomes crown prince of Assyria.

681 BCE Sennacherib assassinated.

612 BCE Nineveh falls to the Babylonians.

599 BCE Judith dies at the age of 105.

Back to top ↑