Chronology of
ספר זרבבל SEFER ZERUBAVEL

ספר זרבבל SEFER ZERUBAVEL gives two kinds of dates: when its narrator, זרבבל ZERUBAVEL, receives revelations, and when the events revealed to him are predicted to happen. The latter promise the overthrow of persecuting rulers and the restoration of עם ישראל AM YISRAʾEL. Neither the narrator's encounters nor the predictions are presented here as independently established historical events.1

When the narrator
receives revelations

These dates belong to scenes in the book's narrative, not to the future events announced in them.

כ״ד בתשרי 24th 𝑜𝑓 TiŝreiPrecision: unresolved-year-day · Basis: not-assessed

The book places זרבבל ZERUBAVEL's first revelation during his prayer for the sanctuary.

כ״ד בתשרי 24th 𝑜𝑓 Tiŝrei: The book places זרבבל ZERUBAVEL's first revelation during his prayer for the sanctuary.

י״א באדר 11th 𝑜𝑓 AdarPrecision: unresolved-year-day · Basis: not-assessed

The book begins a second encounter, followed by a visionary journey to meet the captive messiah.

י״א באדר 11th 𝑜𝑓 Adar: The book begins a second encounter, followed by a visionary journey to meet the captive messiah.2

Predicted events:
persecution before deliverance

These dates belong to what the revelations predict. Their relative year-counts vary between versions.

סיון SivanPrecision: recurring-month · Basis: not-assessed

The vision predicts that חפצי בה ḤEFẒI BAH, mother of מנחם בן עמיאל MENAḤEM BEN AMIEL, will kill two hostile kings during שבועות ŜAVUʾOT.

סיון Sivan: The vision predicts that חפצי בה ḤEFẒI BAH, mother of מנחם בן עמיאל MENAḤEM BEN AMIEL, will kill two hostile kings during שבועות ŜAVUʾOT.

אב AvPrecision: recurring-month · Basis: not-assessed

The vision predicts that ארמילוס ARMILOS will kill נחמיה בן חושיאל NEḤEMYAH BEN ḤUŜIEL, the messiah descended from יוסף YOSEF, and drive survivors into flight.

אב Av: The vision predicts that ארמילוס ARMILOS will kill נחמיה בן חושיאל NEḤEMYAH BEN ḤUŜIEL, the messiah descended from יוסף YOSEF, and drive survivors into flight.3

Predicted events:
deliverance and return

The following dates belong to the predicted redemption sequence. Its 990-year formula has competing interpretations, explained in the 21 Nisan companion; no single absolute year is imposed on the list.

י״ד בניסן 14th 𝑜𝑓 NisanPrecision: unresolved-year-day · Basis: not-assessed

מנחם בן עמיאל MENAḤEM BEN AMIEL will appear to the surviving sages.

י״ד בניסן 14th 𝑜𝑓 Nisan: מנחם בן עמיאל MENAḤEM BEN AMIEL will appear to the surviving sages.

כ״א בניסן 21st 𝑜𝑓 NisanPrecision: unresolved-year-day · Basis: not-assessed

Those among עם ישראל AM YISRAʾEL who drowned while fleeing enemies will return to life.

כ״א בניסן 21st 𝑜𝑓 Nisan: Those among עם ישראל AM YISRAʾEL who drowned while fleeing enemies will return to life.

אייר IyarPrecision: recurring-month · Basis: not-assessed

קורח KORAḤ's congregation will reappear and approach משה MOŜE.

אייר Iyar: קורח KORAḤ's congregation will reappear and approach משה MOŜE.

י״ח באייר 18th 𝑜𝑓 IyarPrecision: unresolved-year-day · Basis: not-assessed

Earth and sea will shake.

י״ח באייר 18th 𝑜𝑓 Iyar: Earth and sea will shake.

א׳ בסיון 1st 𝑜𝑓 SivanPrecision: unresolved-year-day · Basis: not-assessed

Those who died in the wilderness will return with their families.

א׳ בסיון 1st 𝑜𝑓 Sivan: Those who died in the wilderness will return with their families.

י״ח בסיון 18th 𝑜𝑓 SivanPrecision: unresolved-year-day · Basis: not-assessed

An earthquake will strike ארץ ישראל EREẒ YISRAʾEL.

י״ח בסיון 18th 𝑜𝑓 Sivan: An earthquake will strike ארץ ישראל EREẒ YISRAʾEL.

תמוז TamuzPrecision: recurring-month · Basis: not-assessed

הר הזיתים HAR HAʾZEITIM will split; foreign sanctuaries will collapse and ארמילוס ARMILOS's forces will fall.

תמוז Tamuz: הר הזיתים HAR HAʾZEITIM will split; foreign sanctuaries will collapse and ארמילוס ARMILOS's forces will fall.

אב AvPrecision: recurring-month · Basis: not-assessed

A final battle will precede celebration in ירושלים YERUŜALAYIM.

אב Av: A final battle will precede celebration in ירושלים YERUŜALAYIM. Offerings will resume and the heavenly בית המקדש BEIT HAʾMIKDAŜ will descend.4

Footnotes

  1. Reeves, Sefer Zerubbabel, 448; 455–466
  2. Reeves, Sefer Zerubbabel, 455–456. A manuscript instead gives כ״א באדר 21st 𝑜𝑓 Adar; see the companion's dating section.
  3. Reeves, Sefer Zerubbabel, 458–461
  4. Reeves, Sefer Zerubbabel, 462–465. The intervening seven months of plundering prevent treating this as one uninterrupted Nisan-to-Av year; the final companion explains the sequence.