Chronological Bible Reading Plan: From Josiah to the Return from Exile

Purpose of this Plan:
This reading plan is designed to help readers trace the hand of God across history, empires, exile, and return. From the early pride of Babylon to the humbling of kings, God shows His sovereignty and faithfulness. Daniel, Ezekiel, and Esther offer examples of faith, courage, and favour amidst foreign rule, while the prophets reveal God’s heart for His people and His redemptive plan through covenant.

Move at your own pace. Let the story shape you as it shaped them.

This is a narrative journey through the fall of Judah, the exile to Babylon, and God’s faithfulness in the lives of His people, including Daniel, Ezekiel, Esther, and the prophetic voices of Jeremiah and Isaiah.


1. The Roots of Babylon and the Early Warning Signs
  • Genesis 10:8–10 – Nimrod and the founding of Babylon
  • Genesis 11:1–9 – Tower of Babel: early rebellion and confusion
  • Isaiah 13, 14 – Prophecy against Babylon - 700 BC (!00 years before Daniel)
  • 2 Kings 20:12–19 / Isaiah 39 – Hezekiah shows the Babylonian envoys everything


2. Josiah’s Reforms and the Last Hope of Judah
  • 2 Kings 22–23
  • 1 Kings 13:1–10 – A man of God prophesies Josiah’s future reforms 300 years before him.
  • 2 Chronicles 34–35
  • Deuteronomy 17:14–20 (Background on kingship)
  • Jeremiah 1–2 – Jeremiah’s call and early warnings


3. The Fall of Judah Begins
  • 2 Kings 23:31–37, 24:1–4 – Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim
  • Jeremiah 7, 11, 17 – Prophetic warnings
  • Daniel 1 – Daniel and his friends are taken to Babylon


4. Exile and the Rise of Babylon
  • 2 Kings 24:5–20, 25:1–7
  • 2 Chronicles 36:1–20
  • Jeremiah 24, 25, 29 – Life in exile, letters to the exiles
  • Daniel 2 – Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the statue


5. Faithfulness in Exile
  • Daniel 3 – The fiery furnace
  • Daniel 4 – Nebuchadnezzar’s humbling
  • Ezekiel 1–3 – Ezekiel’s call and the glory of God in exile
  • Psalm 137 – Lament from exile


6. The Fall of Babylon and a New Era
  • Daniel 5 – Belshazzar’s feast and the writing on the wall
  • Isaiah 44:24–45:7 – God calls Cyrus by name
  • Daniel 6 – Daniel in the lions’ den


7. Visions and Prophecies of Hope
  • Daniel 7–12 – Daniel’s visions of future kingdoms and the Son of Man
  • Ezekiel 33–37 – Israel’s restoration and dry bones vision
  • Jeremiah 31–33 – The New Covenant


8. Return and Restoration
  • Ezra 1–3 – Cyrus allows return; altar and foundation of the temple
  • Haggai 1–2 – Rebuilding the temple
  • Zechariah 1–4 – Encouragement for the returnees


9. Continued Rebuilding and Renewed Identity
  • Ezra 4–6 – Opposition and completion of the temple
  • Zechariah 7–8 – Justice and peace in the return
  • Psalm 126 – Joy of return


10. Esther: God in the Shadows
  • Esther 1–10 – God preserves His people even in exile through unexpected means