(1) Abraham lived around 1500 BCSodom & Gemorrah represent the mighty Canaanite city states that dominated the region in the Middle Bronze Age (2000 - 1500 BC). The MBA was ended by the super-eruption of the Thera volcano in the Aegean, around 1530 BC. Thera, modern Santorini, was the island head-quarters of the Minoan Civilization in the MBA. When the island's volcano erupted, it ejected over 60 cubic miles of rock that rained down on the whole eastern Mediterranean, from Egypt to the Black Sea. This explains the "brimstone and fire from YHWH out of heaven" (Gen 19:24) that rained down on the cities. It triggered massive earthquakes throughout the region as well. This explains the cities being "overthrown" (Gen 19:25).Note: Archaeologists have shown that the Atlantis myth stems from a massive city on Thera that was destroyed by the eruption of that island (Lost Worlds: The Lost World of Atlantis (DVD)). Thus, the Patriarch Abraham, may God please rest his soul, dates from the same period as "Atlantis". They were actually known to the Egyptians as "Keptchu", which gives rise to the Biblical "Kaphtor" (Gen 10:14). The super-eruption of Thera destroyed many cities in the reigon, including "Atlantis", Sodom, and Gemorrah. Recall that, akin to Sodom and Gemorrah, "Atlantis" was a degenerated society when it was destroyed.(2) Ishmael, Isaac, and Jacob lived in the 1400s BCFollows from the dating of Abraham to 1550-1500 BC.(3) Joseph lived around 1380 BCEgyptian scholar Ahmed Osman has shown that Joseph was, in Egyptian sources, the famous vizier Yuya. Yuya was the father-in-law, and key advisor, of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, who reigned from c. 1390-1350 BC. Yuya was also the the father of the Pharaoh Ay, who reigned in the mid 1320s BC. This means that the meteoric carear of Joseph (Yuya) in Egypt leads directly to the period of Monotheism in Egypt. This is called the Amarna Period (c. 1360 - 1320 BC), named after Amarna, capitol city of the Pharaoh Akhenaten. Eventually, the pagan priesthoods drove Akhenaten and his line from power, revoked his Monotheistic reforms, and branded him the "Heretic King". Then they tried to obliterate all memories of his "heresy". Thus ended the once-mighty Dynasty XVIII of Egypt. However, enough records remain to identify Akhenaten's Monotheism with Biblical belief in YHWH-God. For example, Akhenaten's Hymn to the Aten is strikingly similar to Psalm 104.Thus, the "Heresy" of the half-Hebrew Pharaoh Akhenaten (and his immediate successors) is none other than the Abrahamic Belief in One God, brought to Egypt by Joseph, Jacob, and the Israelites.See:Ahmed Osman, Stranger in the Valley of the Kings.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuyahttp://www.seanet.com/~realistic/psalm104.html(4) Four Generations in Egypt (c. 1380 - 1295 BC)The Israelites spent four generations in Egypt (Gen 15:13,16). These generations were: Levi, Kohath, Amran, Moses (Ex 6:16-20; Num 3:17-19).After the reigns of Akhenaten and Ay, the seed of Joseph was driven from power in Egypt. The Commander of the Army, Horemheb, took power, backed by the pagan priesthoods. Horemheb set about obliterating the memories of his Monotheistic predecessors. Thus began the opression of the (now marginalized) Israelites. Horemheb was the Pharaoh of the Opression who "knew not Joseph" (Exodus 1:8). He reigned from c. 1320 - 1292 BC.The Hebrew prince Mosakayahu ("Moses") fled into exile in Midian during Horemheb's rule.See:Hershel Shanks. The Rise of Ancient Israel, pp. 104,115.http://www.varchive.org/ce/baalbek/desert.htm — Mosakayahu means "Born (Mosa) of the Spirit (Ka) of YHWH (Yahu)"(5) Exodus — 1290 BCHoremheb died in 1292 BC, and was succeeded by the Army General Ramesses I (Exodus 4:19). The Hebrew prince Mosakayahu ("Moses") returned from exile soon afterwards. As a Hebrew noble, of the seed of Joseph, and blood relative of the Pharaohs Akhenaten and Ay, Mosakayahu had a legitimate claim to the throne of Egypt. G. Greenberg and M. Gadalla have shown that the Biblical accounts of magical contests between Moses and the Pharaoh's wizards imply legal a contest between Moses and Ramesses I for the throne of Egypt.Ultimately, Ramesses I was proclaimed the lawful Pharaoh by Egypt's elders, and Mosakayahu and the Israelites fled the land. However, Ramasses I died suddenly, after less than 2 years as Pharaoh, in 1290 BC. This is consistent with the Biblical account of his death in the Red Sea (Ex 14). His son and successor, Seti I, immediately launched a military campaign against the northern Sinai, Edom, Moab, and northern Midian — as if searching for the escaped Israelites who had fled to Midian (Gal 4:25).See:Moustafa Gadalla. Historical Deception: the Untold Story of Ancient Egypt.http://ggreenberg.tripod.com/writings/w-osar-exod.htmhttp://www.dwij.org/forum/amarna/1_exodus.html(6) Wilderness Wanderings (1290 - 1250 BC)Follows from the dating of the Exodus to 1290 BC.(7) Conquest of Canaan (Book of Joshua) — 1250 BCRight around 1250 BC, archaeology begins showing Destruction Layers at excavated cities in Canaan. These seem to reflect the conquests recorded in the Book of Joshua. The correspondance between the Biblical account and the archaeological record is not perfect. For example, whereas the Bible may say that Joshua destroyed cities X, Y, and Z, archaeology may show Destruction Layers at cities X, and A and B near Y and Z. However, overall this dramatically confirms the main thrust of the Biblical account.See:William Dever. Who were the early Israelites, and where did they come from?EPILOGUE:The period of the Judges corresponds to the Early Iron Age (1200 - 1000 BC). Kings Saul and David date to c. 1000 BC, and King Solomon's reign dates firmly to 970-930 BC. The unified Kingdom of David was then sundered by Civil War between Jeroboam of Israel and Rehoboam of Judah. Thus begins the period of the Divided Monarchy (930 - 586 BC), and so on.