Chronology of Syria and Palestine, 40 BCE – 70 CE

Governors of Governors of Governors of Iturea, Trachonitis,

Judaea Galilee/Perea Paneas & Batanaea
Judaean High
Priests Lysanias (Tetrarch) LEGEND
(including Chalcis and Abila)
Ananelus 37-36 BCE 40–36 BCE
Aristobulus III 36 BCE
High priests of Jerusalem
Cleopatra VII Philopater
Ananelus 36-30 BCE (Pharaoh of Egypt)
36–30 Rulers of Nabatea Roman prefects
30 BCE
Roman
Governors of Emperors Herodian monarchs
The status of this territory
Jesus ben Fabus 30–23 BCE Roman Syria between Cleopatras’ death and
Zenodorus’ administration is
Marcus Terentius Varro 25–23 uncertain. Roman legates

Herod the Great (King) (part of the kingdom of Zenodorus (Tetrarch)

40/39–4 BCE Judaea) 23–20 BCE Roman proconsuls
20 BCE Obodas III
Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa 39–9 BCE
23–13 Other rulers

Zenodorus’ territories were

incorporated into Herod’s
Simon ben Boethus 23–5 BCE
kingdom in 20 BCE. Trachonitis,
Auranitis and Batanaea were
Marcus Titius
13–9
given to Herod earlier, in 23 BCE. Governors of
10 BCE Jamnia, Ashdod &
Gaius Sentius Saturninus
9–7/6 Phasaelis Augustus
Publius Quinctilius Varus 27 BCE – 14 CE
7/6–4 Formerly part of Herod’s kingdom

Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus**

4–1 BCE
Matthias ben Theophilus 5–4 BCE
Joazar ben Boethus 4 BCE Herod Archelaus (Ethnarch)
1 CE Eleazar ben Boethus 4–3 BCE Gaius Julius Caesar Vipsanianus
Jesus ben Sie 3 BC– ? 4 BCE – 6 CE 1 BCE – 4 CE
Joazar ben Boethus ?–6 CE Salome I (Toparch)
4 BCE – 10 CE
Lucius Volusius Saturninus 4–5

Coponius 6–9
Publius Sulpicius Quirinius 6–12
10 CE Marcus Ambivulus 9–12
Ananus ben Seth 6–15 CE Imperial estate

Annius Rufus 12–15

Quintus Caecilius Metellus Creticus Philip (Tetrarch) Aretas IV
Ishmael ben Phiabi 15–16 CE Silanus 12–17
Eleazar ben Ananus 16–17 CE
4 BCE – 34 CE (33?) 9 BCE – 40 CE
Simon ben Camithus 17–18 CE Herod Antipas (Tetrarch)
4 BCE – 39 CE Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso 17–19
20 CE Valerius Gratus 15–26 Gnaeus Sentius Saturninus 19–21

Tiberius
Joseph Caiaphas 18–36 CE Lucius Aelius Lamia 22–32 14–37

30 CE
Pontius Pilate 26–36
Governors of Iturea
Lucius Pomponius Flaccus 32–35
Territories administered as part of Governors of Formerly part of Philip’s tetrarchy,
Marcellus 36–37
the province of Syria Chalcis Iturea was given to Soemus by
Caligula after Philip’s death.
Lucius Vitellius 35–39
Jonathan ben Ananus 36–37 Agrippa I (King) 37–44
(Batanaea, Trachonitis & Abila) Gaius Caligula
Marullus 37–41 The status of Chalcis between 30
Theophilus ben Ananus 37–41 BCE and 41 CE is unknown. 37–41
40 CE Publius Petronius 39–41/42

Simon Cantatheras b. Boethus 41–43

Agrippa I (King) 39–43/44 Agrippa I (King) 39–43/44
Agrippa I (King) 41–43/44
Matthias ben Ananus 43 Gnaeus Vibius Marsus 41/42–44/45 Herod of Chalcis (Tetrarch) Soemus (King)
Elioneus b. Simon Cantatheras 43–44
Jonathan ben Ananus 44
41–48/49 38–49
Cuspius Fadus 44–46?
(responsible for appointing the Jerusalem
Joseph ben Camei 44–48
Tiberius Julius Alexander 46?–48 Cassius Longinus 45–49 Territories annexed to the high priest after Agrippa I) Claudius
Ananias ben Nebedaeus 48–49* Ventidius Cumanus 48–49*
Territories annexed to the reestablished province of Other rulers of 41–54
50 CE
reestablished province of Judaea Agrippa II (Tetrarch) interest
Judaea Iturea was incorporated into the
49–53 province of Syria upon Soemus’ Gallio (Proconsul of Achaea)
Marcus Antonius Felix 49–56* death. c. 51–52
Ishmael ben Phiabi 49–59*
Malichus II
Gaius Ummidius Durmius The status of Chalcis after 53 is
uncertain. 40–70
Quadratus 49–60

Porcius Festus 56–62

60 CE Nero
Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo
Joseph Cabi ben Simon 59–63 54–68
60–63
Lucceius Albinus 62–64
Ananus ben Ananus 63 Gessius Florus 64–66 Cestius Gallus 63–67
Jesus ben Damneus 63
Jesus ben Gamaliel 63–64
Mattathias ben Theophilus 65–66
Marcus Antonius Julianus 66–70 Gaius Licinius Mucianus 67–69
Galba / Otho / Vitellius 68–69
Phannias ben Samuel 67–70
70 CE Sextus Vettulenus Cerialis 70–71 Lucius Caesennius Paetus 70–72 Agrippa II (King)
Agrippa II (King)
* These dates are based on the arguments put forth by 53–100 Aristobulus of Chalcis
55–100
Daniel R. Schwartz, Studies in the Jewish Background of (territorial expansions continued until 61) 57–92 Vespasian
Christianity. All dates for high priests and procurators 69–79
during this period are uncertain due to the lack of precise
dates given by Josephus and discrepancies in the
information recorded by Josephus, Tacitus, and Rabbi
Johanan. Rabel II
Titus 79–81 70–105
** It’s not known for certain who was legate of Syria from 4
until 1 BCE.

Version 1.1 Domitian

Copyright © 2014, Paul Davidson 81–96
http://isthatinthebible.wordpress.com