The land we call Syria is abbreviated from Assyria because the name stuck after Assyria fell in 612. It is arbitrarily called Aram here because the Torah calls it Aram even before the Arameans arrived.
| c.1400 | JOPPA comes under Egypt until 1200. | 1400 rcHL |
| c.1400 | HAZOR under Egypt 1600-1200, sacked and burned by unknown aggressors. | 1400 hifiHz |
| c.1400 | BEYRYT Lebanon, under Gebal from 1600, independent until 1000. | 1400 rcLeb |
| c.1400 | JOSHUA's conquest reaches apex. | 1230 WBANE 40 |
| c.1400 | HEBREW APLHABET has stabilized to 22 consonants by now. | 1400 WBANE 58 |
| c.1400 | A fragment of GILGAMESH EPIC found at Megiddo shows that the Mesopotamian version is current in Palestine. | 1400 B76 12-918 |
| c.1400 | PROTO-CANAANITE Λ ALPHABET V splits off from Proto-Sinaitic script. (See China 1475) | 1400 wikHW |
| c.1400 | SPOKED WHEELS, in Aram from 2000, 6 spoked wheels appear in Hittite and Aramean chariots. | 1400 SHT 1-213 |
| c.1400 | Ras Shamra Texts (aka UGARIT TEXTS) written in Ugaritic. | ENBD 70, IDB 1-328 |
| c.1400 |  BAAL, diety introduced by Phoenicians c.3000, now replaces EL as chief diety of west Semites. In Ras Shamra (Ugarit) texts, Baal = Hadad (storm god).A stele from Ugarit shows Baal standing on pedestal with 2 levels. Smaller figure godesses in front facing same direction standing on pedestal which appears to have a lid (similar to Ark of the Covenant). |
photo Jastrow 1400 DBANE 149, ENBD 70, IDB 1-328, NLEM 75 14th cen. wikStl 15-1300 wikBTL |
| c. 1400 | BAAL DIES and RESURRECTS: tablet 5, column 5, lines 5-20: Mot (Death) commands Baal to descend to the underworld. Baal obeys. [missing lines] column 6, lines 5-10: Messengers report to El that they found Baal's dead body. lines 11-32: El and Anat mourn Baal's death. tablet 6, column 1, lines 8-17: Anat descends to retrieve Baal's body, carries him to Mt. Zaphon and buries him. [missing lines] column 2, lines 23-58: Wanting Baal returned, Anat kills Mot. [missing lines] column 4, line 60: Baal had died, and is now alive. |
1400 KTU 1.1-1.6 no date: ANET 138-140 |
| c.1400 | ARAMEANS, called Sutu or Sutiu in Akkadian records from 2700, now called AKHLAME (confederates) in Akkadian records. | 1400 IDB 1-190 |
| 1400 +/- 100 |
AMORITE LANGUAGE, in Mesopotamia from 2200, in Levant from 2100, disappears in Mesopotamia, becomes dominant in Levant. | 1400 B76 I-321 |
| c.1400 | LATE BRONZE-1 ends. In Canaan from 1525. Late Bronze-2 begins until 1200. Late Bronze-2a begins until 1300. |
1400 IDB 1-207 |
| c.1400 | Kingdom of MOAB begins until 582. | 1300 vsbblv |
| c.1398 c.1398 |
Canaan divided among 12 tribes. |
1399 ds 1398/7 bivu |
| c.1390 | JOSHUA dies. Leader of Hebrews from 1405. CALEB succeeds until ?. | 1442 trubi 1399 btl 1390 bivu, kical 1350 bica 1200 Sdl 2-282 |
| c.1381 | CUSHAN-RISHATHAIM (Mitanni or some other Hurrian power) oppresses Israel until 1373. | Jg 3:8 1469 lgbt 1437 trubi 1389 kical 1388 ds 1385 CBCOT 1381 bivu 1350 bomb |
| c.1375 May 3 |
SOLAR ECLIPSE at Ugarit: "On the day of the new moon, in the month of Hiyar, the Sun was put to shame, and went down in the daytime, with Mars in attendance." | 1375 May 3 mrec, nasa |
| c.1375 | RUB ADDA becomes king of Gebal until 1355. | 1375 wikLKB |
| c.1374 | HALAP (under Mitanni) attacked unsuccessfully by SUPPILULIUMA-I, king of Hittites 1380-40. | soon after ascension: RAI3 257 |
| c.1373 | OTHNIEL, son of Kenaz, defeats Cushan-Rishathaim, becomes 1st judge of Israel until 1334. Israel at peace until 1334. | 1461 lgbt 1435 trubi 1382 kical 1380 biti, ds 1377 CBCOT 1375 ISBE 1-680, bihi 1373 HCC, bivu 1351 btl 1350 bica 1343 bomb 1220 WBH 24 |
| c.1370 | Levant, under Amenhotep-III, attacked by enemies including "HABIRU" (bandits). Hazor is accused of siding with the Habiru. A-III takes no action. | 1371-58 hifiT 1370 MCAW 36 |
| c.1370 | RIB-ADDA prince of Gebal assures Pharaoh that Gebal is as Egyptian as Memphis. | 1370 AYGC 221 |
| c.1370 | DAN, a tribe of Israel between Ephraim and Judah, migrates to north of Naphtali. | Jg 17:18 1370 HCC |
| c.1370 | SUPPILULIUMA-I, king of Hittites 1380-40, 1st campaign into ARAM (now owned by Mitanni & Egypt). Conquers from Mediterranean to Euphrates as far south as Lebanon. Gebal & Kadesh remain loyal to Egypt. | 1370 MCAW 36 1365 B76 17-935 |
| c.1365 | ABI-MILKI becomes king of Tyre and vassal of Egypt until 1315. | 1369-60 hifiT |
| c.1361 | ARAMEAN CITIES (Halap, Alalakh, Qatna, Kadesh) now under or oppressed by Suppiluliuma-I, are instigated to rebel by Tushratta of Mitanni 1380-50. | no date: B76 17-936 |
| c. 1360 | Legend of King Keret written in Ugaritic cuneiform.
King Keret of Hubur had 7 wives, who all died or left him childless. He prayed and dreamt of god El, who told Keret to attack the kingdom of Udum, and demand the dau of its King Pubala as wife. Keret promises goddess Athirat much tribute if he succeeds. Keret succeeds. His new wife bares 2 sons, 6 daus. Keret renegs on promise to Athirat. [gap] Keret's children are grown. Athirat gives Keret a bad illness. Family prays to El, who takes Keret's side and cures him. Keret's oldest son demands Keret's abdication. Keret curses son. Rest is lost. A temple of Asherah at Tyre is mentioned. |
15-1200 wikLK 1375-50 ANET 142 |
| c.1360 | Tale of Aqhat written in Ugaritic cuneiform. Story of Danel and son Aqhat, who refuses seduction attempts by goddess Anath, and is cursed by her. Rest of story lost. Λ Composite bow mentioned. |
1375-50 ANET 149 |
| c.1360 | BENJAMIN, a tribe of Israel, nearly destroyed. | Jg 19:21 1360 HCC, bivu |
| c.1355 | RUB ADDA king of Gebal from 1375, ends. Successor unknown until 1250. | 1355 wikLKB |
| c.1350 | KADESH, vassal to Egypt from 1448, independent until 1325. | 1350 rcCan |
| c.1350 | AMITTAMRU-I, 1st king of Ugarit from ?, ends. Son NIQMADDU-II succeeds until 1315. Vassal of Hittites. | 1380 or 50 wikNq 1350 wikKU |
| c.1350 | NIQMADDU-II, king of Ugarit 1350-15, signs vassal treaty with Supiluliuma-II. | 1355 ISBE 4-938 |
| c.1350 | ABDIHEBA, king of Jerusalem, vassal to Egypt, letter to Akhenaten reports attacks by Milkilu, Labayites, Kushites, & HABIRU. Says he needs military aid or Jerusalem will no longer be under Egyptian rule. | El Amarna Letter #287 1360 ATGC 138 no date: DOTT 39 |
| c.1350 | ABDIHEBA follow up letter reports Egyptian possessions are lost to Habiru and others. Enemies inhabit land from Seir to Gath Carmel. Turbazu and Yaptihadda were killed at Zilu on border of Egypt. Zimrida of Lachish was killed by servants who defected to the Habiru. | El Amarna Letter #288 no date: DOTT 43 |
| c.1350 | CANAAN, under Egypt from 1427, and PHILISTIA, under Egypt from 1479, lost to various invaders until 1290. | - |
| c.1342 | RIB-ADDA, king of Gebal, complains to overlords in Egypt that Aziru, king of Amurru, is trying to overthrow him and force others to join the pro-Hittites. Pharaoh gains a temporary respite when Aziru dies, as Rib-Adda quickly renews his feud with Aziru's sons in Amurru. Rib-Adda also complains about Yapa-Hadda of Biruta, accusing him of plotting or committing crimes. | 1340 hifiBb |
| c.1340 | SUPPILULIUMA-I, king of Hittites 1375-22, 2nd campaign into ARAM. | 1360 B76 17-936 1340 IDB 4-533 |
| c.1340 | SUPPILULIUMA-I, king Hittites 1380-40, crushes Aramean rebellion. Goes as far south as Damascus (which is under Egypt). Controls all Aram until 1315. | 1370 B76 1-818 1360 B76 17-936 1340 IDB 4-533, mxfld |
| c.1340 | TELEPINUS becomes king of Halap under Hittites. | 1340 B76 1-818 |
| c.1340 | DAMASCUS, under Egypt from 1475, taken by Suppiluliuma-I, under Hittites until 1259. All Aram is now under Hittites until 1259. | 1350 ISBE 1-853, no date: B76 17-936 |
| c.1340 | RIB-ADDA, king of Gebal, reports to Egyptian overlords that his kinsman, the king of Tyre, and his family have been murdered in a coup. | 1320 hifiT |
| c.1340 | RIB-ADDA, king of Gebal, is temporarily forced by Hittite raids to flee his city and seek protection from Ammunira king of Biruta. | 1320 hifiBrt |
| c.1340 | GEBAL (later called Byblos), ally of Egypt from 1550, defects to Suppiluliuma-I. Under Hittites until 1286. | no date: B76 17-936 |
| c.1334 | OTHNIEL, 1st judge of Israel from 1373, dies. | 1390 trubi 1367 lara 1351 btl 1346 kical 1341 biti 1340 ds 1337 CBCOT 1334 HCC, bivu 1327 ISBE 1-680 1304 bomb 1302 bica |
| c.1334 | EGLON, king of Moab, oppresses Israel until 1316. | Jg 3:12
1421 lgbt 1389 trubi 1345 kical 1337 CBCOT 1327 ISBE 1-680 1334 HCC, bivu 1325 bomb |
| c.1325 | KADESH, independent from 1350, comes under Hittites until ?. | 1325 rcCan |
| c.1316 | EGLON, king of Moab from 1334, murdered by EHUD ben Gera. | Jg 3:15- 1372 trubi 1340 ds 1329 kical 1319 CBCOT 1316 HCC, bivu 1309 ISBE 1-680 1308 bomb 1130 hifiI |
| c.1316 | EHUD ben Gera becomes 2nd judge of Israel until ?. Israel at peace until 1257. | Jg 3:15-
1372 trubi 1329 kical 1319 CBCOT 1316 HCC, bivu 1309 ISBE 1-680 1308 bomb 1302 bica 1200 WBH 26 |
| c.1315 | ABI-MILKI, king of Tyre and vassal of Egypt from 1365 ends. | 1319-10 hifiT |
| c.1315 | TETTE, king of Nuhasse in Aram, encouraged by pharaoh Horemheb, and aided by En-urta of Barga, rebells against Mursili-II, king of Hittites 1321-1295. AITAKKAMA, king of Kadesh, also opposes Mursili. |
1330 MCAW 38 no date: hinf |
| c.1315 | NIQMADDU-II, 2nd king of Ugarit from 1350, ends. ARHALIBA succeeds until 1270 | 1315 wikKU |
| c.1313 | ARHALIBA, 3rd king of Ugarit from 1315, dies. Son of Niqmaddu-II, NIQMEPA succeeds until 1260 | 1320 wikNq 1313 wikKU |
| c.1310 | AKHLAMU, Arab nomads, migrate into Aram and Mesopotamia. | 1310 LEWH 46 |
| c.1300 | AMMONITES occupy area east of Jordan river south of Jabbok R. until 580. | 1300 IDB 1-108 |
| c.1300 | Oldest DAM still in use built on Orontes river. | 1300 B76 5-441 |
| c.1300 | LATE BRONZE-2a ends. In Canaan from 1400. Late Bronze-2b begins until 1200. |
1300 IDB 1-207 |
| c.1290 | SETI-I, 2nd pharaoh of 19th Dyn 1291-79, campaigns in Aram, confronts Hittites at KADESH, but does not seek battle, captures Amurru and Kinza, forces BENTISHINA, king of Amurru, vassal of Hittites, to switch loyalty until 1284. CANAAN, in disorder from 1350, comes back under Egypt until 1276. | 1308 MCAW 38 1300 MCAW 40, bk early in reign of Muwatalli-II: hinf |
| c.1286 | SETI-I 2nd pharaoh of 19th Dyn 1291-79, campaigns in Levant, storms KADESH, probably takes it, marches north, fights Hittites in Orontes valley (1st battle between a pharaoh and Hittites). Outcome unknown. Returns to Thebes. | 1298 Jud 6-482 no date: BHoE 412 |
| c.1286 | GEBAL (later called Byblos), under Hittites from 1340, back under Egypt until 1200. | guess |
| c.1285 | HAZOR under Egypt 1600-1200, sacked and burned by pharaoh Seti-I. | 1285 hifiHz |
| c.1285 | Balance of power between Hittites and Egyptians is restored in Levant. KADESH remains under Hittites. Coastland south of Litany River under Egypt until 1200. | Seti-I yr 6 DMON 121 no date: BHoE 413 |
| c.1284 | BENTISHINA, king of Amurru, vassal of Egypt from 1290, defects back to Hittites until 1275. | no date: hinf |
| c.1280 | Λ EXODUS - late date | 1290 AYGC 159, B76 12-487, FLAP 60 1275 TTPC, bk 1266 ds 1250 FHBC 203, WBH 20 1235 MCAW 40 1230-15 DHJ 421 |
| c.1276 | CANAAN: under Egypt from 1290, rebels. In chaos until 1274. | Ram-II yr 3 BHoE 465 |
| c.1276 | ASKALON, under Egypt from ?, rebels until 1275. | 1280 Jud 3-713, ISBE 1-318, jvlAsk |
| c.1275 | RAMSES-II, pharaoh of 19th Dyn, 1279-13, invades Canaan until ?, to fight Hittites (and possibly Sea Peoples). | yr 4 BHoE 424, DMoN 124, Grim 253, nar yr 5 IDB 4-11 |
| c.1275 | BENTISHINA, king of Amurru, vassal of Hittites from 1284, surprised by RAMSES-II, defects back to Egyptians. | no date: Grim 253, hinf |
| c.1275 | RAMSES-II, returns to Egypt until 1274. | yr 4 Grim 253 |
| c.1275 | ASKALON, rebelling against Egypt from 1276, sacked by Rameses-II. | implied |
| c.1274 | MUWATALLI-II, king of Hittites 1295-72, marches into Aram to recover Amurru. In uncertain state until 1220. | no date: hinf |
| c.1274 | RAMSES-II, pharaoh of 19th Dyn, 1279-13, caught unprepared by strong chariot force of Hittites & allies near KADESH. In great danger. Keeps enemies at bay until reinforcements arrive from Amurru and elsewhere, and then dispurses enemies. | 1300 WPOT 205 1299 WPOT 92 1288 RAH 82 yr 5 DMoN 126, IDB 2-51, 4-11 |
| c.1274 | BATTLE of KADESH on the Orontes: Draw battle, but Hittite political victory. Ramses-II, pharaoh fails to take Kadesh, and withdraws. Hittites retain Aram. CANAAN: in chaos from 1350, is back under Egypt until 1200. |
1300 B76 17-936, WPOT 205 1299 WPOT 92 1298 LEWH 50 1296 Sdl 1-29, 97 1288 RAH 84, 4nel 1287 IDB 3-802 1286 SOTS 91 1285 MCAW 40, CWH, RAI2 1280 Jud 10-665 1274 nar yr 5 IDB 2-51 |
| c.1274 | CANAAN, in chaos from 1276, comes loosely under Egypt until 1209. | 1274 implied |
| c.1274 | LUKKA, precursors of Lycians, appear as allies of Hittites against Ramses-II. | 1286 WPOT 57 |
| c.1274 | BENTISHINA, king of Amurru, ally of Egypt from 1275, deposed by Mursili-II, who appoints SHAPILI to succeed until ?. AMURRU comes back under Hittites until 1271. | no date: Flap 103, hinf |
| c.1272 | RAMSES-II, pharaoh of 19th Dyn, returns to Canaan. Half of his troops are under his son Amon-hir-hepeshef, who chases the Shasu tribes across the Negev to the Dead Sea, captures Edom-Seir, then captures Moab. Rameses attacks Jerusalem and Jericho, then enters Moab and joins his son. | yr 7 DMoN 127, Grim 256, hinf |
| c.1272 | RAMSES-II and son Amon-hir-hepeshef, march north to Hesbon, Damascus, Kumidi, then recapture Apa district. | yr 7 hinf |
| c.1271 | Egyptian army sent into Canaan and Syria until 1270. Occupies Acco, moves north to Dapur and erects a statue of Ramses-II, reach Tunip (northwest Hamath), where no Egyptian had been for 120 years, recovers Kadesh and northern Amurru. | yr 8 Grim 256 |
| c.1271 | SHAPILI, king of Amurru, under Hittites from 1274, overthrown by former king BENTISHINA helped by Egyptians. | Ram-II yr 8 Grim 257 |
| c.1261 | Egyptian army sent into Edom and Moab, suppresses local rebellions, returns via Canaan. | Ram-II yr 18 Grim 257 |
| c.1260 | NIQMEPA, 4th king of Ugarit from 1313, dies. AMMITTAMRU-II succeeds until 1235. | 1270 wikNq 1260 wikKU |
| c.1260 | SHAMGAR becomes judge of Israel until 1250. | Jg 3:31
1275 bomb 1260 CBCOT, biti 1180 WBH 26 |
| c.1260 | JERICHO, under Caanites from 1510 (except for 1405), comes under Israelites until 586. | 1260 rcCan |
| c.1259 | DAMASCUS, under Hittites from 1340, taken by Ramses-II, under Egypt until 1200. | 1259 wikD |
| c.1258 | Treaty HATTUSILI-III & RAMSES-II: non-aggression pact because of rise of Assyria. Establishes borders in Aram. North Aram & Amurru remain under Hittites; South Aram & Canaan remain under Egypt. | 1289 IDB 1-280 1284 B76 17-936, RAI3, WPOT 33 1280 FLAP 167, Sdl 1-29, 132, SOTS 91 1272 BHoE 437, IDB 3-802, RAH 84, TTPC 8 1270 IDB 2-51 1269 B76 1-819, CWH, IDB 4-11, MCAW 40, RAI2 1258 hifi, nar Ram-II yr 21 DMoN 127, FLAP 167, hinf, phou |
| c.1257 | ISRAEL, at peace from 1316, oppressed by JABIN, king of Hazor until 1237. | 1323 lgbt 1291 trubi 1279 bomb 1259 CBCOT 1257 HCC, bivu 1229 ISBE 1-680 1204 bica 1125 hifiI |
| c.1256 | SHAMGAR, judge of Israel from 1250, ends. | Jg 3:31 1256 biti 1250 CBCOT |
| c.1250 | AMMITTAMRU-II, king of Ugarit 1260-35, disputes with Amurru over his marriage to an Amurru princess and intrigues resulting from it. | 1250 ISBE 4-938 |
| c.1250 | MONEY V: In this century, SILVER is the medium of exchange thruout Anatolia, Mesopotamia, & Levant. Babylonian shekel (8.4g) is basic weight unit. 60 shekels = 1 mina. | 1250 MCAW 41 |
| c.1250 | Phoenician Alphabet written on royal inscription of king Shaphatbaal of Gebal. | 1250 BBP 14 |
| c.1250 | IRON V workers reported at Joppa. | 1250 TTT |
| c.1250 | TOB, east of Sea of Galilee, under Egypt from 1500, comes under Bashan until 1200. | 1250 rcCan |
| c.1240 | APHEK, Canaanite royal city, sacked by Philistines, comes under Ashdod until 990. | 1240 rcCan |
| c.1237 | ISRAEL, oppressed by Jabin of Hazor from 1257, delivered by DEBORAH and BARAK, who rout Jabin's man Sisera at Taanach, and judge Israel until 1199. Israel at peace until 1198. | Jg 4-5 1303 lgbt 1302 bica 1293 kical 1271 trubi 1260 bomb 1242 ds 1237 HCC, bivu 1240 bihi, htc 1239 CBCOT 1209 ISBE 1-680 1193 bitl 1180 WBH 26 1125 IDB 2-540, hifiHz |
| c.1235 | AMMITTAMRU-II, 5th king of Ugarit from 1260, ends. Son IBIRANU succeeds until 1223. Vassal of Hatti answerable to the Hittite viceroy at Carchemish. | 1235 wikIb, wikKU |
| c.1230 | IBIRANU, king of Ugarit 1235-23, fails to pay required respect to the viceroy at Carchemish. | 1230 ISBE 4-938 |
| c.1230 | SEA PEOPLES begin raiding Levant and Egypt. | 1230 vrb |
| c.1230 | Canaanite city, LACHISH, and its temple from 1550 is burnt down. Not rebuilt until 920. | 1300 hrtz 1230 Sdl 2-259 1200 IDB 3-54 |
| c.1223 | IBIRANU, 6th king of Ugarit from 1235, vassal of Hatti answerable to the viceroy at Carchemish, ends. NIQMADDU-II succeeds until 1215. | 1225-20 wikIb, wikKU |
| c.1220 | ASKALON, in uncertain state from 1275, taken by Merneptah, under Egypt until ?. | 1229 jvlAsk 1220 Jud 3-713 |
| c.1215 | NIQMADDU-II, 7th king of Ugarit from 1223, ends. AMMURAPI succeeds until 1180. | 1215 wikAm, wikKU |
| c.1209 | CANAAN: loosely under Egypt from 1274, rebels. | 1223 BHoE 465 yr 3 BHoE 465 |
| c.1209 | MERNEPTAH, pharaoh of 19th Dyn 1213-03, puts down disorder in Canaan. | 1224 MCAW 42 1223 IDB 4-563 yr 3 BHoE 465 |
| c.1207 | Israel Stele erected by MERNEPTAH. | Mrnpt yr 5 Grim 258 |
Levant 1200-1000
V