Who were the Pharisees?

 They were a grassroots movement within Second-Temple Judaism (c. 2nd century BCE to 1st century CE). They weren’t priests; they were mostly lay teachers, scribes, and householders who wanted ordinary life to be lived “as holy” before God.

Why does his message still sting?

Snapshot

• When: c. 627–586 BCE (and a bit after), spanning Josiah → Jehoiakim → Zedekiah.
• Where: Judah (Jerusalem), with later ministry among the remnant and in Egypt.
• Big pressure: the rise of Babylon after Assyria fades; Judah caught between superpowers.
• Book vibe: Tears and truth.

Why does his book land so hard?

Snapshot

• When: ~740–700 BCE (ministry spans the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah; cf. Isa 1:1).

Timeline & Map Cues

A simple, quick-scan aid. Dates are approximate (BCE). Stage = Pre-exile, Exile, or Post-exile.

Purpose: A light, memorable framework to help you go deeper with Self Discovery Bible Studies (SOS). This is not a Bible study by itself; it’s a guide to frame your own discovery and group conversations.