Biblical literalist chronology
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A Biblical literalist chronology is a tabulation or reckoning of dates applied to events in the Bible according to the hermeneutical method of Biblical literalism.[1] The method depends upon an exhaustive knowledge of the numbers of years explicitly stated in the Scriptures, comparison to known dates of specific events, and calculation. Such chronologies have given rise to substantial controversy. Their derivation presents several methodological challenges. Absolute consensus regarding the results has not yet emerged, as various tabulations have not yielded identical or harmonized results.
Background
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A Biblical literalist chronology is a tabulation or reckoning of dates applied to events in the Bible according to the hermeneutical method of Biblical literalism.[1] This method has been in use since the time of Jose ben Halafta ("Seder Olam Rabbah" 2nd century CE). Succeeding centuries saw its application by Jerome ("Chronicon" c. 380 CE), Bede ("De temporibus" 703 CE, "De temporum ratione" 725 CE), Scaliger ("Thesaurus temporum" 1606), Kepler ("Rudolphine Tables" 1627), John Lightfoot (chronology published 1642–1644), James Ussher ("Annales veteris testamenti, a prima mundi origine deducti" 1650), and Martin Anstey ("The Romance of Bible Chronology" 1913).[note 1]
Some 20th–21st century commentators have noted what they consider a disturbing trend in application of the method since 1878.[2][3][note 2][4][5] Modern Biblical literalism has been seen by some observers, such as Karen Armstrong,[6] as largely the product of 19th- and 20th-century Protestant theology, though its roots are considered by others[7] to go further back, at least to 17th- and 18th-century Bible commentaries by Laurence Tomson (Geneva Bible 1560, 1599), Matthew Henry 1708-1710, John Gill 1746-63, John Wesley 1754-65, followed by Adam Clarke 1831, Albert Barnes 1834, R. A. Torrey 1880, David Brown 1882, Marvin R. Vincent 1886, and B. W. Johnson 1891.[note 3] The 1878 Niagara Bible Conference statement of faith established as the first of its Fourteen Points, "The verbal, plenary inspiration of the Scriptures in the original manuscripts".[8] The 1978 Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy in "A Short Statement" established as its fourth point: "Being wholly and verbally God-given, Scripture is without error or fault in all its teaching."[9]
The method is controversial. Assertions that scientifically verifiable, accurate historical datings are obtainable by using this approach as a guide are firmly disputed by researchers such as Kathleen Kenyon,[10] William G. Dever[11] and Thomas L. Thompson,[12] but are supported by researchers such as William F. Albright,[13] Bryant G. Wood[14] and Norman L. Geisler.[15]
A timeline or chart of biblical dates is erected according the "plain meaning" of the numbers of the years as found in the text (see Clarity of scripture). Researchers have pointed out that Biblical chronology largely uses numbers which were significant to the biblical authors: the basic numbers are 12, 40 (a "generation"), and 480 (12 generations of 40 years); other significant numbers include 10, 20, 60, and 100.[16] (See Biblical numerology and Significance of numbers in Judaism.)
An historically established date in the common calendar which corresponds to the occurrence of a key biblical event known to history is required as a starting point, drawn from reliable sources outside the Bible.[note 4][17] (See extra-biblical sources.) Then an exhaustive knowledge of the numbers of years explicitly stated in the Scriptures and a calculator provide the detailed data. With 587 BCE as an historically established base date and counting back, a chronology of the dates of the reigns of the kings and the judges, of the date of the Exodus, the dates of all the patriarchs back to the Flood, the dates of the antediluvian patriarchs and the date of the formation of Adam in the Garden of Eden, can be stated as a literal interpretation.
While biblical literalists can set out charts and timetables dating events in the Bible, different methods of harmonizing the dates of those events yield differing results,[18] even while they generally agree on the relative order of most events. Even some who accept biblical authority nevertheless argue that many numbers in the Bible are figurative, especially "40" and its multiples—thus, 480 years before the 4th year of the reign of Solomon (12 × 40 years = 480 years) is not necessarily regarded by them as a literal number having historical value. Numerical inconsistencies of dates appear between Kings and Chronicles, and attempts by both scholars and literalists to precisely date events before the reign of Solomon have not been successful. Many biblical scholars discount the Bible's chronological data entirely (Biblical Minimalism), preferring to give priority to archaeological clues in establishing biblical chronology.[19] But even they do not agree in their conclusions.[20][21] Biblical literalists who reject figurative and symbolic readings prefer to take each biblical number literally, as an expression of their belief in the Bible as the word of truth from God.[1]
Difficulties attending any literal interpretation of the chronology of the Bible can be resolved, according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church: "The literal sense is the meaning conveyed by the words of Scripture and discovered by exegesis, following the rules of sound interpretation."[22][note 5] Currently there is no absolute consensus on a definitive literal tabulation of dates in Biblical chronology.
Literal interpretation
Biblical literalism is a term used differently by different authors concerning Bible interpretation. It can have one of two possible meanings. It can equate to the dictionary definition of literalism: "adherence to the exact letter or the literal sense".[23] Alternatively, the term can refer to the historical-grammatical method used extensively by fundamentalist Christians. Those who relate Biblical literalism to the historical-grammatical method, use the word "letterism" to cover interpreting the Bible according to the dictionary definition of literalism and it shall be used here to distinguish the two approaches.[24]
Fundamentalists and evangelicals sometimes refer to themselves as "literalists" or Biblical literalists. Sociologists also use the term in reference to conservative Christian beliefs which include not only literalism but also inerrancy.
There are several aspects to literalism, including choice and integrity of Biblical manuscripts, literal translation, dynamic and formal equivalence, and literal interpretation.[note 5]
Letterism
Letterism is an hermeneutical method that derives its understanding of a text by rigorous literal analysis of words, emphasizing the "plain, explicit meaning of the biblical text".[1][25] Given that letterism arrives at its understandings by asserting the inerrant divine authority of the Biblical text, letterism sets aside potential discrepancies with external sources and looks instead only at what the Bible itself says.[1][22][note 5] As such, its derivation of a Biblical chronology relies only on the number of years explicitly stated in the Scriptures along with accurate calculations.
The basic premises[note 6] are:
• that God exists (Hebrews 11:6 and Psalms 14:1),
• that God cannot lie (Titus 1:2),
• that God is the author of the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21),
• that God's word is truth (John 17:17),
• that the word of God abides (remains) forever (John 14:16-17 and 16:13-14; 1 Peter 1:23-25)
• that scripture cannot be broken, annulled, set aside, or destroyed (Greek λυω[note 7] John 10:35).
From the perspective of letterism, looking to Romans 3:4,
"Let God be true though every man be false, as it is written, 'That thou mayest be justified in thy words, and prevail when thou art judged'", (citing Psalms 51:4)
and 1 John 5:10,
"He who does not believe God has made him a liar".
A coherent literalist viewpoint methodologically rejects any findings and conclusions of scholars and archaeologists that do not agree with the plain, explicit meaning of the biblical text.[1][20][22] In response to the controversy, J. Philip Hyatt, a scholar in the field of biblical studies and Professor of Old Testament at Vanderbilt University, and for 20 years Director of Graduate Studies in Religion, wrote:
"The modern Bible reader who consults books about the Bible can profit from paying attention to archaeological discoveries. Yet, he should always remember that an archaeological fact—that is, a specific item discovered by the archaeologist—is sometimes subject to widely varying interpretations. In no other area of biblical study is it so important to seek out the mature, experienced interpreters. Field archaeologists, who do the work of exploration and digging, are sometimes good interpreters of what they and others discover, but sometimes they are not. In some cases experienced 'arm-chair archaeologists,' who study carefully the results of many field archaeologists, are the best interpreters."[20]:41
Methodological problems
Several problems arise in deriving a letterist chronology.
Translations and versions
The text of the specific manuscript or translation version of the Bible that is consulted can affect the calculation and tabulation of the resulting numbers of the years in a literalist chronology. For example, see the following for textual comparison of the number of years of the reign of Saul:
- Masoretic Hebrew-English 1 Samuel 13:1,
- Latin Vulgate 1 Samuel 13:1,
- Luther Bibel 1545 1 Samuel 13:1,
- New International Reader's Version 1 Samuel 13:1,
- ScriptureText.com multilingual 1 Samuel 13:1 multiple text comparison with commentaries on differences.
Several literalist translations state that Saul was one (1) year old when he was anointed king: Jubilee Bible 2000, Douay-Rheims Bible, Wycliffe Bible, Young's Literal Translation—see 1 Samuel 13:1 multiple translations.
Archaeological dates
The numerical and chronological notes in various annotated editions of the Bible and Bible commentaries are dissimilar. For example, archaeological datings of the site of Jericho by John Garstang and Kathleen Kenyon do not agree.[26] Historical and archaeological datings of the whole of the ancient biblical period in chronologies by William F. Albright and Edwin R. Thiele do not agree.[27] William G. Dever challenges both of these datings.[28] Conservative literalist Bryant G. Wood argues for the historicity of the Biblical account in support of Garstang's findings,[29] and Woods' researches have in turn been criticised.[30] Differing key base historical dates affect the calculation and tabulation of the resulting numbers of the years in a literalist chronology. The key base historical date for the 11th year of Zedekiah and the destruction of the Temple varies according to different historians: 587 BCE (William F. Albright);[31] 586 BCE (Edwin R. Thiele);[32] or 581 BCE (Bernard Grun).[33] Advances in archaeological methods and theories have prompted scholars to modify particular biblical chronologies, such as the Ussher chronology.[34] Examples are noted below in the Biblical literalist table. (See 1537–1505 Conquest of Canaan in the Table.)
Annotations
The dates assigned to biblical events in annotated Bibles do not always correspond to the arithmetical reckoning found in the text of the Bible.[note 8][35] The dates which follow are taken from annotations to the Douay-Rheims Bible (1899 American edition) and the Scofield Reference Bible (1917). "Ante C" is an abbreviation of Latin "Ante Christi", meaning, "Before Christ", "B.C.". "A.M." is an abbreviation of Latin "Anno Mundi", meaning, "Year of the World". Several examples of apparent discrepancies between calculations based on the annotations and those based on the text are observed:
- The year Joseph was born (Genesis 30:23-25) is annotated a as Ante C. 1746 (1746 BC). The year Joseph was 16 years old (Genesis 37:1-2) is annotated x and y as Ante C. 1728 (1728 BC). This is an interval of 18 years. The Douay-Rheims Bible says 16 years old, the King James Version says 17 years old (Genesis 37:2).[note 9]
- The year Gideon delivered Israel (Judges 6:11-14) is annotated k as Ante C. 1245 (1245 BC). The land had rest 40 years (Judges 8:28), and then Abimelech began to rule over Israel (Judges 9:1-6 and 9:22). The year Abimelech began to rule (Judges 9:6) is annotated u as Ante C. 1235 (1235 BC). This is an interval of 10 years. The Bible says 40.
- The year the Ark of the Covenant was captured (1 Samuel 4:1) is annotated b as Ante C. 1116. It was in the land of the Philistines 7 months, was returned to Israel, and placed in the house of Abinadab at Kiriath-jearim for 20 years (1 Samuel 7:1-2).[note 10] The year the ark was brought up out of the house of Abinadab by David after 20 years (2 Samuel 6:2-4) is annotated t as A.M. 2959, in the same year annotated y as A.M. 2960, Ante C. 1044 (2 Samuel 7:1). This is an interval of 72 years (1116 – 1044 = 72). The Bible says 20.
- King David reigned 33 years over all Israel and Judah, beginning with the annotated date Ante C. 1044. The year King David died (1 Kings 2:1-2 and 2:10-12) is annotated p as A.M. 2990, Ante C. 1014 (1014 BC). This is an interval of 30 years. The Bible says 33.
- The 4th year of the reign of King Solomon, after David died, (1 Kings 6:1) is annotated k as A.M. 2992, Ante C. 1012 (1012 BC) —"the 480th year after the children of Israel came out of the land of Egypt". The year of the Exodus (Exodus 12:37-40) is annotated g as A.M. 2513, Ante C. 1491 (1491 BC). This is an interval of 479 years (1491 – 1012 = 479). The Bible says 480 (1 Kings 6:1).[note 11]
- The year the Temple was burned by Nebuzaradan (2 Kings 25:8-9) is annotated i as A.M. 3416, Ante C. 588 (588 BC). The interval between the annotated date of the 4th year of Solomon Ante C. 1012 and the annotated date of Nebuzaradan Ante C. 588 represents a period of 424 years (1012 – 588 = 424). The Bible gives a total count of 431 years (plus 4 to Solomon's 1st year = 435 years),[note 12] from 2 Kings 25:2-9 back to 1 Kings 6:1 (1018 – 587 = 431).
Apparent textual inconsistencies
Letterism does not necessarily lead to complete agreement upon a single interpretation for a given passage. A generation, for example, can be 100 years, 80, 70, 60, 40, 35, and fewer than 20 years, although 40 years is the traditional meaning of a biblical "generation".[note 13][36][37] Thus, for example, the number of years spanned by the two unspecified "generations" between the death of Joshua and the oppression of the people by Cushan-rishathaim in Judges 2:7-3:8 could be as many as 200 years, or 160, 140, 70, as few as 40 years, or less.[note 14]
A literalist reading of the explicit text of the Bible presents the reader with difficulties that can only be resolved by a careful reading of various bible texts, collation of data from these texts, and by careful critique of the occasional slightly misleading translations of the original Hebrew (Historical-grammatical method). Martin Anstey provided an important literalist analysis of how apparent contradictions in the bible chronology can be resolved by correlating data from various Bible translations and texts.[note 1] Edwin Thiele provided additional corroborating historical-cultural background on varying ancient methods of recording chronologies of kings and nations, co-regencies, overlapping reigns, differences in calendars, uses of "rounded numbers"—data vital for an undistorted understanding of the ancient authors' actual literal meaning (the true "literal sense").[27][31][32] At first reading, the Bible chronology has a number of apparent contradictions, such as:
- According to 2 Kings Jehoiachin was 18 years old when he began to reign (2 Kings 24:8).
According to 2 Chronicles he was only 8 years old when he began to reign (2 Chronicles 36:9). - The text of 2 Kings 15:30 states that Hoshea slew Pekah the 20th year of the reign of Jotham son of Uzziah.
According to 2 Kings 15:32-33 Jotham son of Uzziah reigned 16 years. - In 1 Kings 15:27-28 and 15:33 Baasha of Israel reigned 24 years, beginning the 3rd year of Asa of Judah.
But according to 2 Chronicles 16:15 Baasha was still reigning the 36th year of Asa, giving Baasha a reign of (at least) 33 years. - Rehoboam king of Judah and Jeroboam king of Israel began to reign the same year (1 Kings 12:1-20).
The text plainly shows the reign of Jeroboam began a short time after Rehoboam began to reign.
According to the plain reading of 1 Kings, Rehoboam reigned 17 years (1 Kings 14:21).
According to the plain reading of 1 Kings, Rehoboam died the 18th year of King Jeroboam (1 Kings 14:29-15:1). - Moses states plainly (Deuteronomy 2:14) that the Israelites wandered 38 years in the wilderness until the whole generation of those (except Caleb and Joshua) who were 20 years old and upward had perished.
According to the Book of Numbers the people had been sentenced to wander 40 years after the spies had been sent out from the wilderness of Paran and had brought up an evil report to the people when they returned (Numbers 14:33-38). They then went from the wilderness of Paran to Kadesh (Numbers 12:15-13:3 through 20:1). The text does not state that the journey from the wilderness of Paran to Kadesh spanned 2 years.
The Book of Joshua states explicitly that Caleb and the spies were sent out from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land and then the evil report was brought up to the people (Joshua 14:7).
But a literal reading of Numbers 12:15–13:3 and 20:1 places them in the wilderness of Paran at the time of the evil report, after which they came to Kadesh. - Using the known historical date of the destruction of the Temple in 587 BCE as a starting point and reckoning the literal number of years back in accordance with the literal numbers of the regnal years, ages of individuals, generations, events, stated in the numerous biblical passages pertaining to them (see table below), to the resulting literal reckoning of the 4th year of Solomon's reign ("1018"),[note 12] and then calculating back 480 years (1 Kings 6:1) the date is 1498 BCE for the Exodus.
Reckoning no years (zero 0) between the year Eli began judging Israel (1 Samuel 4:18) and the year Samson died (Judges 16:29-31: Judges 17—1 Samuel 4), and reckoning no years (zero 0) between Cushan-Rishathaim and Joshua in the Book of Judges (Judges 2:8-3:8), and counting all the years explicitly stated in all the numerical texts from the First Book of Kings, chapter 5, back through the Book of Exodus, chapter 12—between Solomon's 4th year and the year the people of Israel came out from the land of Egypt—the minimum literal total count according to those texts is 559 years and the date is 1577 BCE for the Exodus[note 15] (see table below). - Add an arbitrarily estimated 40 (?) years for the unknown generation after Joshua's death and the date is pushed back to 1617 BCE (?). Add another arbitrarily estimated 40 (?) years (total 80) for 2 unknown generations (Judges 2:10) and the date for the Exodus is pushed further back to 1657 BCE (?).
Add about 2 (?) years more (Judges 19–21) for the outrage at Gibeah (Judges 19:30), for the period of the calling out of the men of Israel for the war with Benjamin and the months that followed (Judges 20:8-11 and 20:46-48), for the smiting of Jabesh-gilead (Judges 21:5-12), for the subsequent taking of wives for the survivors during the yearly feast of the LORD at Shiloh and repair of the cities afterward (Judges 21:16-23)—about 2 (?) years between the death of Samson and the year when Eli began to judge Israel—and the date for the Exodus is pushed further back to about 1659 BCE (?).
None of these added years arbitrarily inserted into the period between Joshua and Eli can be drawn from the text of the Bible alone; they are purely speculative and have no historical value.
Add another 10 years, at minimum, to the same period, as represented in the Book of Ruth (1:4), and the date for the Exodus is pushed further back to 1669 BCE, or earlier.
This purely speculative total additional 82 (?) years moves the formation of Adam in the Garden of Eden back to 4328 BCE (see table below).[note 12][note 15][note 16]
These apparent contradictions can only be resolved by careful collation and correlation of data from the various extant Bible texts by an historical-grammatical method of exegesis, adhering to the rules of sound interpretation.[note 5]
Joshua and the period of the conquest
The age of Joshua in the wilderness of Paran when he was sent to spy out the land (Numbers 14:28-30) is determinative for the chronological date of the Exodus as reckoned by literal letterism. Taking the 1st year of Solomon as 1022 BCE and tabulating the numbers of years in the text back to 1505 BCE as the year Joshua died,[note 12][note 15] and taking the age of Joshua when he died at the age of 110, and estimated as 40 (?) years old when he spied out the land of Canaan, and as 78 (?) years old (40 + 38) when he crossed over the Jordan River with the people, the conquest of Canaan under Joshua during his life would have occupied an estimated period of 32 (?) years. Such conclusions are purely speculative and arbitrary. The age of Joshua when he was sent with Caleb and 10 other leaders to spy out the land (Numbers 13:1-16) and when he crossed over the Jordan River (Joshua 1:1-2) cannot be drawn from the Bible alone; the biblical text only states that Joshua was 110 years old when he died. The Bible does not state the number of years of the conquest of Canaan, which according to the text was completed during the lifetime of Joshua "and the land was subdued before them" (Joshua 18:1-10; Judges 2:6).
- If he was 20 when sent out, then 90 years had passed when he died in 1505. Plus 2 years back to the Exodus = 92 years before 1505 = 1597 BCE. 20 years old + 38 years in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 2:14) would make him 58 years old when Israel crossed over the Jordan. The conquest would have occupied 72 years until 1505 BCE when he died 110 years old.
- Exodus 33:11 states clearly that Joshua was a "young man" (KJV, RSV) when Moses at Sinai received the Law written on tables of stone.[note 17] However, Joshua was one of the "leaders" in Israel (Numbers 13:2-16). Tradition does not support a 72-year conquest with a reading that interprets the age of a leader of a house in Israel as only 20 years old or less than 30. "From the beginning of Israelite history, the elders were the leaders of the various clans and tribes."[38]
If he was 40 when sent out, then 70 years had passed when he died in 1505. Plus 2 years back to the Exodus = 72 years before 1505 = 1577 BCE. 40 years old + 38 years in the wilderness would make him 78 years old when Israel crossed over the Jordan. The conquest would have occupied 32 years until 1505 BCE when he died. - If he was 60 when sent out, then 50 years had passed when he died in 1505. Plus 2 years back to the Exodus = 52 years before 1505 = 1557 BCE. 60 years old + 38 years in the wilderness would make him 98 years old when Israel crossed over the Jordan. The conquest would have occupied 12 years until 1505 BCE when he died.
- If he was 70 when sent out, then 40 years had passed when he died in 1505. Plus 2 years back to the Exodus = 42 years before 1505 = 1547 BCE. 70 years old + 38 years in the wilderness would make him 108 years old when Israel crossed over the Jordan. The conquest would have occupied 2 years until 1505 BCE when he died. The Book of Joshua states that "Joshua made war a long time with all those kings" (Joshua 11:18-23). A literal reading of this text does not support a 2-year conquest. Moreover, a literal reading of Deuteronomy 2:14 and Joshua 14:10 indicates a period of seven (7) years: Caleb 85 years old – (40 years old + 38 years) = 7 years.
- Given the established fact that the Bible does not give the age of Joshua when he was sent to spy out the land of Canaan, the date of the Exodus according to a literal reading of the letter of the text varies according to the interpretation of "a long time" and any age a literalist reader arbitrarily assigns to Joshua as "most probable" when, as a leader of a house in Israel, he was sent out from the wilderness of Paran to spy out the land. An exact date for the Exodus according to a literal reading of the letter of the text of the Bible alone does not seem possible, only a general indication of a date some time around 1577 to 1567 BCE for the Exodus, and allowing for a purely arbitrary additional speculative adjustment of ± 10 years gives a broader general indication of a potential date for the Exodus at some time around 1586 to 1556 BCE.[note 13]
According to Bob R. Ellis and E. Ray Clendenen, those who reckon the 4th year of Solomon as 966/5 BCE[note 4] and accept the traditional date of the Exodus at about 1445 BCE, based on a literal interpretation of 1 Kings 6:1, place the conquest at about 1400–1350 BCE, over a period of about 50 years, but those who prefer archaeological data over biblical data commonly date the Exodus around 1286 BCE (understanding 1 Kings 6:1 and similar passages as figurative) and they place the conquest at about 1240–1190 BCE, again a period of about 50 years.[39] A literal interpretation of the death of Joshua at the age of 110 at the end of the conquest about 1350 BCE as supposed, with the traditional date of the Exodus as 1445 BCE, makes Joshua ("a leader of a house in Israel") 15 years old[note 17] at the time they spied out the land, 25 years younger than Caleb at age 40 (Joshua 14:6-7), and 53 years old when Israel crossed over the Jordan, making the period of the conquest 57 years; the ages of 15 and 53 for Joshua still obtain when the date of his death is 1190 BCE at the end of the conquest with the date of the Exodus as 1280 BCE. He would have been 50 years old when Caleb was 85 (Joshua 14:6-10).
According to Joel F. Drinkard, Jr. and E. Ray Clendenen, assuming a literal interpretation of 1 Kings 6:1, and taking 966 BCE as Solomon's 4th year,[note 4] the Exodus occurred in 1446 BCE, "and the conquest lasted about seven years ending around 1400 BCE."[19] If Joshua died 110 years old at the end of the conquest about 1400 BCE as supposed, that makes him about 66 years old in 1444 BCE, 2 years after the Exodus, when Caleb was 40 and they were sent to spy out the land. Age 66 plus 38 years (Deuteronomy 2:14) would make Joshua 104 years old when Israel crossed into Canaan, and the year would be 1406 BCE, at the beginning of the conquest. Joshua would then have died 6 years later 110 years old 1400 BCE. According to Joshua 13:1–14:11, Joshua was "old and advanced in years" seven (7) years after the beginning of the conquest, when Caleb was 85 years old. If Joshua was only 65 years old (20 years younger than Caleb) he would not be "old and advanced in years". After blessing Caleb, Joshua then apportioned the land to each of the tribes, and then came the subsequent controversy and threat of war over the "altar of great size" built afterward by the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh (Joshua 22:6-33). And then according to Joshua 23:1 Joshua was still alive "a long time afterward". The same term "old and well advanced in years" was used when he died at the age of 110. The phrase "old and advanced in years" is used in the Bible to describe Abraham over 100 years old and Sarah over 90 years old, also Job at 140, King David before he died at 70, and the elders among the people and among the priests of Israel.[38][note 18]
Example of literalist chronology
The following tabulation of years and dates is according to the literal letter of the text of the Bible alone. Links to multiple translations and versions are provided for verification. For comparison, known historically dated events are associated with the resultant literal dates. Dates according to the famous Ussher chronology appear in small type italics "A.M." (Latin: "Year of the World"), "Ante C." (Latin: "Before Christ").[35] In ancient Israel a part year was designated as the previous king's last year and the new king's 1st year.[19] The arithmetic can be checked by starting at the bottom of the table with the date of the destruction of the Temple in 587 and adding the number of years in the Scriptures (books of the Prophets and Chronicles through Genesis) back up to the beginning.[note 12][note 15][note 16] Dates with events in italics appearing in small type for historical comparison are according to Bernard Grun's The Timetables of History.[33] For the period after 587 BCE known historical dates are used as referents. Biblical source texts for stated numbers of years are referenced and linked. Reference sources are the RSVCE,[40] The New American Bible[41] The Timetables of History by Bernard Grun,[33] and the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2003).[36]
This table is not definitive. It is a column of known numbers in the Bible sequentially added together. It is not a Biblical harmony. It is not the result of any kind of research and is not here presented as research. The details and dates of events in tables derived by the method of mechanical arithmetic tabulation from the text of the Bible alone are not relied upon by scholars and historians as representing established historical facts.[19][note 19] See Prooftext. Problems are briefly noted. This table is an illustrative demonstration only. It is not a recognized reliable resource for a Bible Quiz or a paper.
Adam to the Flood 4246—2590 BC
Before the Common Era (BC) |
Event | Bible texts |
---|---|---|
4246 Ante C. 4004 |
The year Adam was formed.[note 16] He lived 930 years (4246–3316).
|
Genesis 2:7 Genesis 5:5 |
4116 Ante C. 3874 |
The year Seth was born.
|
Genesis 5:3 |
4011 Ante C. 3769 |
The year Enosh was born.
|
Genesis 5:6 |
3921 | The year Kenan was born.
|
Genesis 5:9 |
3851 | The year Mahalalel was born.
|
Genesis 5:12 |
3786 | The year Jared was born.
|
Genesis 5:15 |
3624 | The year Enoch was born.
|
Genesis 5:18 |
3559 | The year Methuselah was born.
|
Genesis 5:21 |
3372 | The year Lamech was born.
|
Genesis 5:25 |
3316 | The year Adam died. He was 930 years old (4246–3316).
|
Genesis 5:5 |
3259 Ante C. 3017 |
The year Enoch was taken by God. He was 365 years old (3624–3259).
|
Genesis 5:23-24 |
3204 | The year Seth died. He was 912 years old (4116–3204).
|
Genesis 5:8 |
3190 Ante C. 2948 |
The year Noah was born.
|
Genesis 5:28-29 |
3106 | The year Enosh died. He was 905 years old (4011–3106).
|
Genesis 5:11 |
3011 | The year Kenan died. He was 910 years old (3921–3011).
|
Genesis 5:14 |
2956 | The year Mahalalel died. He was 895 years old (3851–2956).
|
Genesis 5:17 |
2824 | The year Jared died. He was 962 years old (3786–2824).
|
Genesis 5:20 |
2690 | Noah was 500 years old.
|
Genesis 5:32 |
2687 | The year Shem was born. He was 100 years old 2 years after the Flood, when Noah was 603.
|
Genesis 7:11 Genesis 8:13 Genesis 11:10 |
2595 | The year Lamech died. He was 777 years old (3372–2595).
|
Genesis 5:31 |
2590 Ante C. 2348 |
The year Methuselah died. He was 969 years old (3559–2590).
|
Genesis 5:27 Genesis 7:11 |
The Flood to Abram 2589—2211 BC
Before the Common Era (BC) |
Event | Bible texts |
---|---|---|
2589 | The Flood waters dried up, and the ark came to rest on the Mountains of Ararat.
|
Genesis 8:4 Genesis 8:13 |
2587 Ante C. 2204 |
The year Arpachshad was born, 2 years after the Flood.
|
Genesis 11:10 |
2552 | The year Shelah was born.
|
Genesis 11:12 |
2522 | The year Eber was born.
|
Genesis 11:14 |
2488 | The year Peleg was born. "...in his days the earth was divided." | Genesis 10:25 Genesis 11:9 |
2458 | The year Reu was born.
|
Genesis 11:18 |
2426 | The year Serug was born.
|
Genesis 11:20 |
2396 | The year Nahor was born.
|
Genesis 11:22 |
2367 | The year Terah was born.
|
Genesis 11:24 |
2297 | The year Abram was born.
|
Genesis 11:26 Genesis 11:32 Acts 7:4 |
2287 | The year Sarai was born, half-sister of Abram.
|
Genesis 17:17 Genesis 20:12-13 |
2249 | The year Peleg died. He was 239 years old (30 + 209) (2488–2249).
|
Genesis 11:18-19 |
2248 | The year Nahor died. He was 148 years old (29 + 119) (2396–2248).
|
Genesis 11:24-25 |
2240 | The year Noah died. He was 950 years old (3190 BCE–2240 BCE).
|
Genesis 9:29 |
2222 Ante C. 1921 |
The year Abram departed from Haran. He was 75 years old (2297–2222).
|
Genesis 12:4 |
2219 | The year Reu died. He was 239 years old (32 + 207) (2458–2219).
|
Genesis 11:20-21 |
c. 2219–2211 Ante C. 1912 |
"And in the 14th year..." The Battle of the kings in the Valley of Siddim.
|
Genesis 14:1-20 |
2212–2211 Ante C. 1911 |
"After Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan..." (2221–2211) Sarai gave her handmaid Hagar to Abram as a wife. |
Genesis 16:3-16 |
Abraham to Joseph 2198—1936 BC
Before the Common Era (BC) |
Event | Bible texts |
---|---|---|
2198 Ante C. 1897 |
The Covenant of circumcision.
|
Genesis 17:1-19:29 |
2197 Ante C. 1896 |
The year Isaac was born.
|
Genesis 21:5 |
2196 | The year Serug died. He was 230 years old (2426-2196).
|
Genesis 11:22-23 |
c. 2195–2192 Ante C. 1891 |
Isaac was weaned about 2–5 years old. Abraham made a great feast.
|
Genesis 16:16 Genesis 21:8-14 |
no date A.M. 2135, Ante C. 1869 |
The binding of Isaac.
|
Genesis 22:1-19 |
2162 | The year Terah died in Haran. He was 205 years old (2367–2162).
|
Genesis 11:32 |
2160 Ante C. 1859 |
The year Sarah died at Hebron. She was 127 years old (2287–2160). Abraham bought the field and the cave in Machpelah. The first possession of the promised land in Palestine.
|
Genesis 23:1 Genesis 23:10-20 |
2149 | The year Arpachshad died. He was 438 years old (35 + 403) (2587–2149).
|
Genesis 11:12-13 |
2137 Ante C. 1836 |
The year Esau and Jacob were born.
|
Genesis 25:24-26 |
2122 Ante C. 1821 |
The year Abraham died. He was 175 years old (2297-2122).
|
Genesis 25:7-8 |
2119 | The year Shelah died. He was 433 years old (30 + 403) (2552–2119).
|
Genesis 11:14-15 |
c. 2100 | Abraham leaves Ur in Chaldea (c. -2100)[33] | Genesis 11:31 |
2087 | The year Shem died. He was 600 years old (2687–2087).
|
Genesis 11:10-11 |
2074 | The year Ishmael died. He was 137 years old (2211–2074).
|
Genesis 25:17 |
2060 Ante C. 1759 |
Jacob was sent away to Paddan-aram to take a wife from the daughters of Laban.
|
Genesis 28:2-5 Genesis 29:20 |
2058 | The year Eber died. He was 464 years old (34 + 430) (2522–2058).
|
Genesis 11:16-17 |
2053 Ante C. 1752 |
The year Jacob completed 7 years of service to Laban for Rachel (2060–2053). He was given Leah instead.
|
Genesis 29:21-30 |
c. 2051–2050 | The approximate time when Levi was born (about 30–33 months after Jacob married Leah).
|
Genesis 29:31-34 Wisdom 7:1-6 |
2046 Ante C. 1746 |
The year Joseph was born.
|
Genesis 30:22-34 Genesis 31:41 |
2040 Ante C. 1739 |
God commanded Jacob to return to the land of his fathers and to his kindred.
|
Genesis 31:3-55 Genesis 32-33 |
2029 Ante C. 1728 |
The year Joseph was 17 years old, a mere lad, a boy,[note 17] he was sold, and taken into Egypt.
|
Genesis 37:2-28 |
2018 Ante C. 1717 |
11 years had passed. Joseph was 28 years old.
|
Genesis 40:1-41:1 |
2017 | The year Isaac died. He was 180 years old (2197–2017).
|
Genesis 35:28-29 |
2016 Ante C. 1715 |
Joseph was 30 years old when he was brought out of prison and interpreted Pharaoh's dreams. He entered Pharaoh's service, was placed over the whole land of Egypt, and was married to Asenath.
|
Genesis 41:25-32 Genesis 41:46-49 |
c. 2010 | Manasseh and Ephraim were born before the year of famine came.
|
Genesis 41:50-52 |
2009 Ante C. 1708 |
The 7 years of famine began.
|
Genesis 41:53-54 |
2007 Ante C. 1706 |
The year Israel entered Egypt.
|
Genesis 46:1-5 Genesis 46:29-31 Genesis 47:9-11 Genesis 47:28 Exodus 12:40 |
1990 Ante C. 1689 |
The year Israel died. He was 147 years old (2137–1990).
|
Genesis 47:28 |
1977 | 30 years after Israel entered Egypt, the Egyptians began to enslave the Israelites. Abraham's "posterity would be aliens in a land belonging to others, who would enslave them and ill-treat them 400 years" (1977–1577 BCE).
|
Genesis 15:13-16 Acts 7:6-7 |
1936 Ante C. 1635 |
The year Joseph died. He was 110 years old (2046–1936).
|
Genesis 50:26 |
Egypt to the Exodus 1914—1577 BC
Before the Common Era (BC) |
Event | Bible texts |
---|---|---|
c. 1914 | The approximate year that Levi died. He was 137 years old (c. 2051–1914). | Exodus 6:16 |
18th century c. 1848–1686 |
Hammurabi, king of Babylonia, reunited the kingdom (18th century B.C.).[33] Hammurabi began reign in 1848, 1792, or 1736 B.C.[45]—he reigned 1792 BC to 1750 BC according to the middle chronology, 1728 BC to 1686 BC according to the short chronology.
|
Genesis 14:1-16 Acts 7:22 |
1660 | The year Aaron was born. Miriam's age is not given. | Exodus 7:7 Numbers 20:1 Numbers 33:39 |
c. 1659 | The cities of Pithom and Ra-amses/Rameses were built (c. 1659–1638).[note 22] | Exodus 1:8-11 |
c.1659—1657 Ante C. 1571 |
Pharaoh decreed that every son born to the Hebrews be thrown into the Nile.
|
Exodus 1:22 |
1657 Ante C. 1571 |
Moses was born, and hidden 3 months. —interval between death of Joseph 2936 BCE and birth of Moses 1657 BCE = 299 years literal count.[note 16] (2936 – 1657 = 299 years.)
|
Exodus 2:1-9 Exodus 7:7 Numbers 20:1 Deuteronomy 34:7 |
1617 Ante C. 1531 |
Moses was 40 years old (1657–1617) when he killed the Egyptian. Pharaoh sought to kill him, and Moses fled.
|
Exodus 2:11-15 Acts 7:23-30 |
1615 | The year Joshua was born (if like Caleb he was 40 years old when he was sent forth as a leader with the spies from the wilderness of Paran to spy out the land 2 years after the Exodus). | Exodus 7:7 Numbers 13:2-16 Deuteronomy 2:14 Joshua 14:6-13 Joshua 24:29 |
1577 Ante C. 1491 |
Moses was 80 years old (1657–1577) when he was sent back to Egypt. Aaron was 83 years old.
|
Exodus 7:7-12:51 |
The Wilderness Period to the Conquest of Canaan 1576—1505 BC
Before the Common Era (BC) |
Event | Bible texts |
---|---|---|
1576 Ante C. 1490 |
The Tabernacle was erected 1 year after the people of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the first month, on the first day, at the beginning of the second year.
|
Exodus 33:11 Exodus 40:17 Numbers 9:1-5 |
1575 | Moses sent out Hoshea/Joshua the son of Nun and 11 other leaders[38] in Israel from the wilderness of Paran to spy out the land of Canaan. Caleb was 40 years old. At their report the congregation cried out, and God decreed the people would wander in the wilderness 40 years.
|
Numbers 12:16-13:3 Numbers 13:25-14:37 Numbers 20:1 Deuteronomy 2:14-15 Joshua 14:6-7 |
c. 1538/7 | Miriam died (age not given) 1537 (?)—see the interval of time in Numbers between the death of Miriam and the death of her brother Aaron. Numbers 20:1–33:38. | Numbers 20:1 Numbers 33:38 |
1537 Ante C. 1452 |
The 40th year after the people of Israel had come out of Egypt (1577–1537). Aaron died. He was 123 years old (1660–1537). Moses also died. He was 120 years old (1657–1537).
|
Numbers 20:1 Numbers 33:38-39 Deuteronomy 34:7 Joshua 14:6-7 Psalms 90 |
1537–1505 —→Ante C. 1434 |
The conquest of Canaan, a period of 32 (?) years, beginning with Jericho (1536). The Bible does not state the number of the years of the conquest of Canaan during the lifetime of Joshua, only that Joshua was 110 years old when he died.[note 5] |
Deuteronomy 2:14 Joshua 6:2 Joshua 6:20-21 Joshua 6:26 Joshua 8:21-29 Joshua 11:10-22 Joshua 14:7-10 |
1505 Ante C. 1434 |
The year Joshua died.[note 15] He was 110 years old (1615–1505). "...Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua..." (Joshua 24:30-31).
|
Deuteronomy 34:1-9 Joshua 14:7-10 Joshua 24:25-26 Joshua 24:29-30 |
The Judges to the United Monarchy 1505—1018 BC
Before the Common Era (BC) |
Event | Bible texts |
---|---|---|
1505 | "...the people served the LORD...all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua...and there arose a generation after them, who did not know the LORD...."
|
Judges 2:7 Judges 2:10 Judges 2:18-19 Judges 11:26 Acts 13:19-20 "about 450 years" to c. 1055 BCE (1505 – 450 = 1055) |
1505–1497 | Israel served Cushan-Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia 8 years.
|
Judges 3:8 |
1497–1457 | Othniel, son of Kenaz the younger brother of Caleb, judged Israel.
|
Numbers 21:21-31 Deuteronomy 2:16-37 Judges 3:9-11 Judges 11:4-28 |
1457–1439 | Israel served Eglon king of Moab 18 years. | Judges 2:19 Judges 3:12-14 |
1439–1359 | Ehud delivered Israel and the land had rest for 80 years.
|
Judges 3:15-30 |
1359 | After Ehud died, Shamgar delivered Israel. | Judges 3:31-4:1 |
1359–1339 | Jabin king of Canaan cruelly oppressed the people of Israel for 20 years.
|
Judges 4:1-7 Judges 3:31 |
1339–1299 | The land of Israel had rest 40 years. | Judges 5:31 |
1299–1292 | Israel was in the hand of Midian 7 years. | Judges 6:1 |
1292–1252 Ante C. 1245→ |
Gideon/Jerubbaal delivered Israel (1292). The land of Israel had rest 40 years in the days of Gideon (1292–1252).
|
Judges 6:11-14 Judges 8:28 |
1252–1249 Ante C. 1235→ |
Abimelech ruled over Israel 3 years. | Judges 9:1-6 Judges 9:22 |
1249–1226 | Tola judged Israel 23 years. | Judges 10:1-2 |
1226–1204 | Jair judged Israel 22 years.[note 27] | Judges 10:3 |
1204–1186 | Israel was crushed and oppressed in the hand of the Philistines and in the hand of the Ammonites 18 years.
|
Judges 10:7-9 |
1186–1180 Ante C. 1187→ |
Jephthah judged Israel 6 years.
|
Judges 12:7 Ruth 1:1-4 |
1180–1173 | Ibzan judged Israel 7 years.
|
Judges 12:8-10 Ruth 1:3-6 |
1173–1163 | Elon judged Israel 10 years 1173–1163
|
Judges 12:11-12 Ruth 1:6-18 Ruth 4:13-17 1 Samuel 4:15-18 |
1163–1155 | Abdon judged Israel 8 years. | Judges 12:13-15 |
1155–1115 | Israel was in the hand of the Philistines 40 years. This can be divided into 2 periods:
|
Judges 13:1-5 Judges 15:20 Judges 16:31 |
no date | Unknown period of time (from Samson to Eli):
|
Judges 19:30 Judges 20:8-11 Judges 21:5-12 Judges 21:16-23 |
1115 | Eli was 59 years old (1174–1115), and he judged Israel 40 years (1115–1075).
|
1 Samuel 1:1-18 1 Samuel 3:19-4:1 1 Samuel 4:18 |
1115-1105 | Eli was 68 years old (1173–1105) and judge of Israel 40 years (1115–1075). Saul was anointed king over Israel by Samuel the prophet "when Samuel became old" and Samuel was judge over Israel. 1 Samuel 6–10. Saul reigned 42 years (1105–1063/2), according to 1 Samuel 13:1.[note 29]
|
1 Samuel 4:10-18 1 Samuel 6:1-3 1 Samuel 7:2 1 Samuel 8:1 1 Samuel 8:22 1 Samuel 9:25-10:1 1 Samuel 10:17-26 1 Samuel 13:1 1 Samuel 14:52 |
1103 | Eli was 70 years old and judge of Israel 40 years (1115–1075). 1 Samuel 4:15-18. Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, was anointed king over Israel by Samuel the prophet "when Samuel became old" and Samuel was judge over Israel. 1 Samuel 6–10. Saul reigned 40 years (1103–1063/2), according to Acts 13:21,[note 31][note 32] and according to some readings of 1 Samuel 13:1.[note 29]
|
1 Samuel 4:8-10 1 Samuel 6:1-3 1 Samuel 7:2 1 Samuel 8:1 1 Samuel 8:22 1 Samuel 9:25-10:1 1 Samuel 10:17-26 1 Samuel 13:1 Acts 13:21 |
1095 | Eli was 88 years old and judge of Israel (1115–1075). Saul was anointed by Samuel the prophet "when Samuel became old" and Samuel was judge over Israel. 1 Samuel 6–10. Saul reigned 32 years (1095–1063/2) according to 1 Samuel 13:1.[note 29]
|
1 Samuel 6–10 |
1092 | The year David son of Jesse was born.[note 12][note 15][note 5] Eli was 82 years old and judge of Israel (1115–1075). Saul had been king over Israel 13 years (1105–1092), 11 years (1103–1092), 3 years (1095–1092). |
1 Samuel 13:1 2 Samuel 5:4-5 2 Samuel 6:1-2 |
1075 Ante C. 1116 |
The ark of the covenant was captured by the Philistines. Eli died. He was 98 years old (1173–1075); he had judged Israel 40 years (1115–1075). The ark remained in the land of the Philistines 7 months.
|
1 Samuel 4:10-6:1 1 Samuel 7 |
1075 | The ark of the covenant was sent back to Israel, and it remained in the house of Abinadab 20 years at Kiriath-Jearim (1075–1055). | 1 Samuel 6:2-16 1 Samuel 7:1-2 2 Samuel 5:4-6:11 |
1075–1064 Ante C. 1096–1057 |
Samuel judged Israel 11 years after Eli died (1075–1064).
|
1 Samuel 7:15-8:7 1 Samuel 9-12 1 Samuel 13:1 1 Samuel 15:1 1 Samuel 16:1-13 1 Samuel 18:3 1 Samuel 19:1 1 Samuel 20:8-17 1 Samuel 22:17-19 1 Samuel 25:1 1 Samuel 26:2 Psalm 151 |
1064–1063/2 | David fled and dwelt at Ziklag 1 year 4 months. | 1 Samuel 27:1-4 1 Samuel 27:7 |
1063/2 Ante C. 1055 |
The year Saul was slain on Mount Gilboa with his sons. He died 72 years old, 70 years old, 32 years old, 3 years old, age unknown.[note 33][note 29][note 5] Compare Acts 13:21, 1 Samuel 7:2; 13:1 and 2 Samuel 5:4-6:11[note 32]
|
1 Samuel 7:2 1 Samuel 13:1 1 Samuel 31 2 Samuel 1:1-2:3 2 Samuel 5:4-6:11 Acts 13:21 |
1062–1055 | David at Hebron was anointed king over the house of Judah (1062).
|
2 Samuel 2:4-7 2 Samuel 5:4-5 |
1055 Ante C. 1044 |
David was anointed king over Israel by all the elders of Israel.
|
2 Samuel 5:3-10 2 Samuel 5:17-6:11 |
1055–1022 | David reigned over all Israel and Judah 33 years.
|
2 Samuel 5:4-5 2 Samuel 15:7 1 Kings 2:10-11 1 Chronicles 16:4-37 |
1022 Ante C. 1014 |
The year David died. He was 70 years old (30 + 40) (1092–1022). | 1 Kings 2:11-12 1 Kings 11:42-43 1 Chronicles 29:26-28 2 Chronicles 1:1 |
1018 Ante C. 1012 |
Solomon began to build the house of the LORD the 4th year of his reign (1022–1018).
|
1 Kings 6:1 Psalms 72 Psalms 127 |
1011 | Solomon finished building the house of the LORD the 11th year of his reign (1022–1011). He was 7 years building it (1018–1011).
|
1 Kings 6:37-38 |
1002 | Saul becomes first king of Israel (-1002 to -1000) and is defeated by Philistines.[33] | 1 Samuel 8–31 |
1000 | Accession of David as king of united kingdom of Judah and Israel (-1000 to -960).[33] | 2 Samuel 5:3-5 |
The Divided Monarchy to the Destruction of the Temple 982—587 BC
Before the Common Era (BC) |
Event | Bible texts |
---|---|---|
982 Ante C. 975 |
The year Solomon died (age not given). He had reigned 40 years (1022–982).
|
1 Kings 11:42-12:20 2 Chronicles 9:30-10:17 |
982–965/4 | Rehoboam reigned 17 years (982-965), and he died. He was 58 years old (41 + 17) (1022–964)
|
1 Kings 12:1-2 1 Kings 12:20 1 Kings 14:21 1 Kings 14:25-15:1 2 Chronicles 12:2-13 |
964–961 Ante C. 958→ |
Abijam reigned 3 years. | 1 Kings 15:1-2 2 Chronicles 13:1-2 |
961–920 Ante C. 955→ |
Asa reigned 41 years.
|
1 Kings 15:9-10 2 Chronicles 16:13-17:1 |
920–895 →Ante C. 889 |
Jehoshaphat reigned 25 years, and he died. He was 60 years old (35 + 25). | 1 Kings 22:8-28 1 Kings 22:42 2 Chronicles 17:7-9 2 Chronicles 18:7-27 2 Chronicles 20:31 |
895–887 | Jehoram/Joram reigned 8 years, and he died. He was 40 years old (32 + 8). | 2 Kings 8:16-17 2 Chronicles 21:5 |
887–886 | Ahaziah reigned 1 year, and he died. According to 2 Kings, he was 23 years old when he died (22 + 1). According to 2 Chronicles, he was 43 years old when he died (42 + 1). |
2 Kings 8:25-26 2 Chronicles 22:2 |
886–879 | Athaliah reigned 6/7 years, and was slain. | 2 Kings 11:1-16 2 Chronicles 22:10-23:15 |
879–839 Ante C. 878→ |
Jehoash/Joash reigned 40 years, and he died. He was 47 years old (7 + 40). | 2 Kings 11:21-12:1 2 Chronicles 24:1 |
839–810 →Ante C. 810 |
Amaziah reigned 29 years, and he died. He was 54 years old (25 + 29).
|
2 Kings 14:1-2 2 Kings 14:23-25 2 Chronicles 25:1 Hosea 1:1 Jonah 1:1 |
810-758 Ante C. 810→ |
Azariah/Uzziah reigned 52 years, and he died. He was 68 years old (16 + 52).
|
2 Kings 15:1-2 2 Kings 15:17-20 1 Chronicles 5:6 1 Chronicles 5:26 2 Chronicles 26:3 Hosea 1:1 Amos 1:1 Jonah 1:1 Jonah 3 Zechariah 14:5 |
758–742 Ante C. 758→ |
Jotham reigned 16 years, and he died. He was 41 years old (25 + 16).
|
2 Kings 15:32-33 2 Chronicles 26:23-27:1 2 Chronicles 27:9 Isaiah 1:1 Isaiah 6:1-13 Micah 1:1 |
742–726 | Ahaz reigned 16 years, and he died. He was 36 years old (20 + 16).
|
2 Kings 16:2-9 2 Kings 17:1-6 2 Kings 17:24 1 Chronicles 5:6 1 Chronicles 5:25-26 2 Chronicles 27:9-28:1 2 Chronicles 28:20 |
726–697 Ante C. 727→ |
Hezekiah reigned 29 years, and he died. He was 54 years old (25 + 29).
|
2 Kings 18:1-2 2 Kings 18:13 2 Kings 19:20-36 2 Kings 20:12 2 Chronicles 28:27-29:1 2 Chronicles 29:12-19 Tobit 1:1-22 Judith 2:11 DR Judith 2:20 NRSV Isaiah 6:9-13 Isaiah 7:10-20 Isaiah 36:1 Isaiah 37:33-37 Isaiah 39:1 Jeremiah 14:1-6 Joel 1:6-20 Joel 2:2-11 Amos 7:1-6 Nahum 3:15-17 |
697–642 Ante C. 698→ |
Manasseh reigned 55 years, and he died. He was 67 years old (12 + 55).
|
2 Kings 19:36-37 2 Kings 21:1-2 2 Kings 21:16-18 2 Chronicles 32:21 2 Chronicles 33:1 2 Chronicles 33:10-16 2 Chronicles 33:20 Tobit 1:22-2:11 Tobit 14:3 Judith 2:20 Judith 4:3 Isaiah 7:18-20 Isaiah 37:36-38 Joel 1:6-12 Micah 1:1 Micah 5:1 Nahum 3:8-10 Nahum 3:15-17 Prayer of Manasseh |
642–640 Ante C. 643→ |
Amon reigned 2 years, and he died. He was 24 years old (22 + 2).
|
2 Kings 21:19 2 Chronicles 33:21-25 |
640–609 Ante C. 641→ |
Josiah reigned 31 years, and he died. He was 39 years old (8 + 31).
|
2 Kings 22:1 2 Kings 22:15-23:25 2 Kings 23:29-30 2 Chronicles 34:1-3 2 Chronicles 34:8-18 2 Chronicles 34:23-33 2 Chronicles 35:16-25 Tobit 14:2-11 DR Tobit 14:2-11 NRSV Judith 4:3 Ecclesiastes 1:12 Ecclesiastes 2:9 Sirach 49:1-5 Jeremiah 1:1-2 Ezekiel 1:1 Nahum 2 Habakkuk 1:6-11 Zephaniah 1:1 Zephaniah 2:13-15 |
609 Ante C. 610 |
Jehoahaz reigned 3 months, and Pharaoh Neco took him away.
|
2 Kings 23:31-34 2 Chronicles 36:1-3 |
609–598 Ante C. 610→ |
Eliakim/Jehoiakim reigned 11 years, and he died. He was 36 years old (25 + 11).
|
2 Kings 23:36 2 Kings 24:6 2 Chronicles 36:5-7 Isaiah 6:9-13 Jeremiah 25:1-12 Jeremiah 26 Jeremiah 46:2 Jeremiah 47:1 Daniel 1:1-7 Daniel 13:41-51 Daniel 13:60-62 |
598 Ante C. 590 |
Jehoiachin/Jeconiah/Coniah reigned 3 months and ten days. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Zephaniah and Daniel were prophets.
|
2 Kings 24:6-17 2 Chronicles 36:9-10 Esther 11:2-4 Jeremiah 22:24-30 Jeremiah 24:1 Jeremiah 29:1-2 Jeremiah 37:1 |
598–588 Ante C. 590→588 |
Mattaniah/Zedekiah was 21 years old (598) when he was made king of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar. He reigned 11 years, until he was 32 years old (587).
|
Numbers 4:30 2 Kings 23:36 2 Kings 24:17-25:7 2 Chronicles 36:11-20 Judith 1:1-6 Judith 1:12-15 NRSV Judith 2:1-14 NRSV compare Judith 2 DR Jeremiah 21:1-7 Jeremiah 27:1-3 Jeremiah 28:1-29:3 Jeremiah 29:24-32 Jeremiah 32:1-15 Jeremiah 34:8-11 Jeremiah 37:3-21 Jeremiah 38:1-13 Jeremiah 39:1 Jeremiah 46:17 Jeremiah 52:28 Baruch 1:1-12 Ezekiel 1:1 Ezekiel 20:1 Ezekiel 24:1-2 Ezekiel 29:1-2 Daniel 5:18-22 |
587 | The 11th year of Zedekiah, the 18th year of Nebuchadnezzar. Isaiah, Zephaniah, Jeremiah, Daniel and Ezekiel were prophets.
|
2 Kings 25:2-9 2 Kings 25:22 2 Chronicles 34-35 2 Chronicles 36:17-19 Judith 2:1-14 Judith 4:1-3 Judith 13:4-10 Judith 14:8-15:2 Jeremiah 39:2-9 Jeremiah 52:24-29 Lamentations 4:21-22 Baruch 1:11-12 DR Ezekiel 31 Ezekiel 36 Obadiah 10-14 |
The Babylonian Captivity to the Decree of Cyrus 586—539 BC
Before the Common Era (BC) |
Event | Bible texts |
---|---|---|
586 Ante C. 588 |
The 19th year and 2nd year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar. The 12th year of the exile of Jehoiachin/Jeconiah/Coniah. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel and Ezekiel were prophets.
|
2 Kings 25:8-9 2 Kings 25:22 Isaiah 6:11-13 Jeremiah 37:8-10 Jeremiah 39:2-9 Jeremiah 40:1-12 Jeremiah 52:12-16 Ezekiel 32:1-16 Daniel 2-3 |
582 Ante C. 587 |
The 23rd year and 6th year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel and Ezekiel were prophets.
|
2 Kings 25:23-25 Jeremiah 40:13-41:10 Jeremiah 52:30 |
582/1 | The 24th year and 7th year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel and Ezekiel were prophets.
|
Isaiah 6:11-12 Jeremiah 41:11-44:30 |
581 | Tobit, 158 years old (RSVCE, KJV),[note 37] told his son to "leave Nineveh, because what the prophet Jonah said will surely happen", and then he died. (The destruction foretold by Jonah, described by Nahum and Zephaniah, occurred in 612 BCE.)[55]
|
Tobit 14:1-4 DR Tobit 14:1-4 NAB Tobit 14:1-4 NRSV Tobit 14:2-11 RSVCE, KJV Jonah 3 Nahum 2 Zephaniah 2:13-15 |
571 | The 27th year of the exile of Jehoiachin/Jeconiah (598–571). The word of the LORD to Ezekiel that Nebuchadnezzar will be given the land of Egypt and its wealth for his army as recompense for his labor for the LORD. |
Ezekiel 29:17-21 |
562 Ante C. 562 |
Nebuchadnezzar II died (reigned 605–562 BCE). He was succeeded by his son Evil-merodach/Awel-marduk. Daniel was prophet. |
2 Kings 25:27 |
561–560 | Evil-merodach/Awel-marduk began to reign in 561. Daniel was prophet. | 2 Kings 25:27-30 Jeremiah 52:31-34 |
560–539 | From the reign of Neriglissar (560) to the 1st year of Cyrus (539). Daniel was prophet.
|
Tobit 14:16 DR Baruch 1:11-12 Daniel 5:1-22 Daniel 7:1-14 Daniel 8:1-17 |
539 Ante C. 536 |
The 17th year of Nabonidus, and the 14th year of Belshazzar. Belshazzar's feast. Daniel interpreted the writing on the wall. Belshazzar proclaimed Daniel/Belteshazzar the 3rd ruler in the kingdom.
|
2 Chronicles 36:22-28 Ezra 1 Ezra 2:1-2 Ezra 3:1-2 Ezra 4:1-3 Daniel 1:21 Daniel 5:30-31 Daniel 6:28 Daniel 8:3-4 Daniel 9:1-2 Daniel 9:21-25 Daniel 14:1 DR Daniel 14:2 NAB |
The Second Temple to Alexander the Great 538—334 BC
Before the Common Era (BC) |
Event | Bible texts |
---|---|---|
538 Ante C. 535 |
The beginning of the 2nd year of the coming to the house of God at Jerusalem. Daniel was prophet.
|
Ezra 3:8-13 Ezra 4:1-5 Ezra 4:24 |
536 Ante C. 536 |
The 3rd year of Cyrus king of Persia. Daniel was prophet.
|
2 Chronicles 36:22-23 Ezra 1:1-4 Daniel 10:1-14 |
530–520 | Cyrus the Great died 4 December 530. He was succeeded by Cambyses II son of Cyrus (reigned 530–522).
|
Ezra 4:24 Tobit 14:14 Daniel 9:1-3 Daniel 9:23-27 |
520–519 Ante C. 519 |
520. The 2nd year of Darius the king (520). Haggai and Zechariah were prophets.
|
Daniel 9:23-27 Haggai 1:1-2:23 Zechariah 1:1-6:8 |
518–517 | The 4th year of Darius the king (reigned 522–486 BCE). Zechariah and Obadiah were prophets.
|
Ezra 3:12 Jeremiah 25:12-13 Obadiah 1 Obadiah 6-7 Zechariah 7:1 Zechariah 11:4-14 |
486 | "...and in the reign of Ahasuerus in the beginning of his reign they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Jerusalem." Ezra 4:6. | Ezra 4:4-6 Esther 1:1-2 Esther 11:2 Esther 13:1 Esther 16:1 |
484–483 Ante C. 519 |
The 2nd year of the reign of "Artaxerxes the Great"/Ahasuerus.
|
Esther 11:2-12:6 Esther 1:1-2:17 |
479–478 Ante C. 515 |
The 7th year of Ahasuerus (reigned 486–465/4 BCE).
|
Ezra 7:1-7 Ezra 10:10-12 |
474–473 Ante C. 510→508 |
The 12th year of Ahasuerus.
|
Esther 3:7-13 Esther 13:1-7 Esther 7:5-8:12 Esther 16:1-24 Esther 9:11-32 |
471 | The year that Tobiah, son of Tobit, died 127 years old, 110 years after the death of his father (581).[note 37] "But before he died he heard of the destruction of Nineveh" (612 BCE), and he rejoiced. | Tobit 14:14-15 RSVCE, KJV |
c. 460–445 | The Book of Malachi is not dated by a reference to a ruler or specific event.
|
Malachi 1:6-11 Malachi 2:1-3 Malachi 3:1 Malachi 3:10 |
c. 446/5 | "...and in the days of Artaxerxes..." (Artaxerxes I who reigned 465–424)
|
Ezra 4:7-23 |
445 Ante C. 454 |
The 20th year of Artaxerxes.
|
Nehemiah 1:1-2:15 Nehemiah 6:15 Nehemiah 7:2-5 Nehemiah 7:73-8:1 Nehemiah 7:66-67 Nehemiah 8:1-2 Nehemiah 9:1-2 Nehemiah 12:27-45 Nehemiah 13:1-3 |
445–433 →Ante C. 442 |
Nehemiah was governor of Judah 12 years, from the 20th year to the 32nd year of Artaxerxes (reigned 465–424, 41 years).
|
Nehemiah 5:14 Nehemiah 13:6-12 |
c. 445–333 | High priests recorded in Book of Nehemiah 12:10-11:
|
Nehemiah 12:1-26 |
c. 7th–5th century | See: Book of Job The author of the book of Job is not known; it was composed some time between the 7th and 5th centuries B.C.[87] "There was a man in the land of Uz..." |
Job 1:1-3 Obadiah 8 |
356–334 | Alexander was born in 356 BCE, son of Philip of Macedon. | Daniel 7:7 Daniel 7:23 Daniel 8:5-7 Daniel 11:3 1 Maccabees 1:1-4 |
Jaddua the high priest to John Hyrcanus 333—104 BC
Before the Common Era (BC) |
Event | Bible texts |
---|---|---|
c. 333 | Jaddua, son of Jonathan, was high priest probably at the end of the Persian period when Alexander the Great approached Jerusalem about 333 BCE.[90] | Nehemiah 12:1-11 Nehemiah 12:22 |
See: First Book of Maccabees (333–124 BCE) | ||
333–323 →Ante C. 323 |
Alexander, son of Philip of Macedon defeated Darius, and became king of the Persians and Medes (333 BCE). 1 Maccabees 1:1.
|
Daniel 7:7 Daniel 7:23 Daniel 8:6-7 1 Maccabees 1:1-7 |
323–217 | "Then his officers began to rule, each in his own place. They all put on crowns after his death, and so did their sons after them for many years; and they caused many evils on the earth" (323–175). 1 Maccabees 1:8-9. Compare Daniel 8:5-7; 11:3-44.[note 44][89] |
Daniel 8:8 Daniel 11:3-44 1 Maccabees 1:8-9 1 Maccabees 12:7 1 Maccabees 12:19-23 |
281–246 | Reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphus
|
Daniel 11 NAB literalist footnotes Daniel 11:5-6 |
219 | Simon, son of Jochanan/Onias, became high priest (219-196 BCE).[93]
|
Sirach 50:1-4 1 Maccabees 12:7 |
See: Third Book of Maccabees (217 June–c. 216/215) | ||
217–c. 215 | Persecution under Ptolemy IV Philopator
|
Daniel 11:11 3 Maccabees 1:1-5 3 Maccabees 3:1-5 3 Maccabees 3:12-29 3 Maccabees 6:38-7:16 |
200 | Syria defeated Egypt at the Battle of Paneas. Daniel 11:13. The siege of Sidon after the Battle of Paneas. Daniel 11:15[note 44] |
Daniel 11:13-15 |
197 | Antiochus III betrothed his daughter to Ptolemy V Epiphanes. | Daniel 11:17 |
See: Second Book of Maccabees (c. 196–161 BCE) | ||
196–175 | Onias III became high priest (196–175 BCE). | Daniel 11:18 2 Maccabees 3:1-3 |
177[95] or 78–77[96] Ante C. 177 |
"The 4th year of the reign of Ptolemy and Cleopatra, Dositheus, who said that he was a priest and a Levite, and Ptolemy his son brought to Egypt the...Letter of Purim..."
|
Esther 11:1 |
no date | During the high priesthood of Onias III 196–175 BCE.
|
Daniel 11:20 2 Maccabees 3:1-35 |
175 | Seleucus IV Philopator king of Syria died. He was succeeded by Antiochus IV Epiphanes. |
Daniel 8:9 Daniel 11:21 Maccabees 3:1-35 2 Maccabees 4:7 |
175–170 Ante C. 175→ |
175. Antiochus Epiphanes began to reign in the 137th year of the kingdom of the Greeks (175 BCE). 1 Maccabees 1:10; Daniel 7:8.
|
Daniel 7:8 Daniel 7:24 Daniel 11:20-22 1 Maccabees 1:10 1 Maccabees 1:16-19 2 Maccabees 4:7 2 Maccabees 4:23-35 |
169–167 Ante C. 170→168 |
The persecution under Antiochus Epiphanes.
|
Daniel 7:25 Daniel 8:10-12 Daniel 11:28-31 Daniel 11:33-35 Daniel 12:11 1 Maccabees 1:20-24 1 Maccabees 1:29-54 1 Maccabees 2:15-44 2 Maccabees 5:1 |
166–164 | The Maccabean revolt
|
Daniel 8:13-14 Daniel 11:32-35 Daniel 12:1-3 Daniel 12:12 1 Maccabees 2:65-3:1 1 Maccabees 3:10-4:35 1 Maccabees 4:36-56 2 Maccabees 5:27 2 Maccabees 8:8-9:1 2 Maccabees 10:1-9 |
163–160 | The death of Antiochus IV to the death of Judas Maccabeus.
|
Daniel 11:44-45 Daniel 12:11-12 1 Maccabees 6:1-16 1 Maccabees 6:19-20 1 Maccabees 7:1 1 Maccabees 7:26-35 1 Maccabees 7:43-50 2 Maccabees 2:1-10 1 Maccabees 9:1-18 2 Maccabees 9:28 2 Maccabees 13:1-8 2 Maccabees 14:3-4 2 Maccabees 14:12-14 2 Maccabees 15:12-16 2 Maccabees 15:25-37 |
159–140 Ante C. 160→140 |
Jonathan Apphus accepted the leadership and took the place of his brother Judas (160/159 BCE). 1 Maccabees 9:28-31.
|
1 Maccabees 9:28-31 1 Maccabees 9:54-56 1 Maccabees 10:1-21 1 Maccabees 10:55-62 1 Maccabees 10:67-85 1 Maccabees 11:14-19 1 Maccabees 12:39-48 1 Maccabees 13:41-42 1 Maccabees 13:51-53 1 Maccabees 14:1-4 1 Maccabees 14:47 2 Maccabees 1:7-8 |
138–104 Ante C. 139→124 |
The 5th year of Simon the great high priest to the death of John Hyrcanus son of Simon.
|
Sirach 1:1 Daniel 7:27 1 Maccabees 15:10-14 1 Maccabees 15:37-41 1 Maccabees 16:1-10 1 Maccabees 16:14-24 2 Maccabees 1:1-9 |
Esther 11:1—the 4th year of Ptolemy and Cleopatra as possibly 78–77 BC
Before the Common Era (BC) |
Event | Bible texts |
---|---|---|
177 or 78–77 | "The 4th year of the reign of Ptolemy and Cleopatra, Dositheus, who said that he was a priest and a Levite, and Ptolemy his son brought to Egypt the...Letter of Purim..."
|
Esther 11:1 |
2 Maccabees 1:10-12—Aristobulus II 66–63 BC
Before the Common Era (BC) |
Event | Bible texts |
---|---|---|
66–63 | "...To Aristobulus,[note 47] who is of the family of the anointed priests, teacher of Ptolemy the king...Having been saved by God out of grave dangers we thank him greatly for taking our side against the king. For he drove out those who fought against the holy city."
|
2 Maccabees 1:10-16 |
Literalist difficulties in tabulating the chronology of the kings of Israel and Judah
The literal reading of the letter of the text of the Bible according to the method of letterism presents a particular difficulty when the comparative chronology of the kings is calculated, correlated and tabulated from the Bible alone.
Numerical totals of the reigns
Reference texts for Biblical data presented here are the RSVCE and KJV. Bible links are provided for verification and for multiple comparisons of different translations and versions of the Bible. All resulting figures are numerically derived from cited texts in published Bibles using plain arithmetic. The data presented here should not be regarded as definitive. This is not research, nor is this presented as research. This is an illustrative demonstration of simple mechanical arithmetic only, using known numbers in the Bible.
A literal count of the years of the chronology of the kings of Israel and Judah gives the following totals for the Divided Monarchy:
Kingdom of Judah: Rehoboam to Hezekiah
Rehoboam 17 years 1 Kings 14:21. ——Rehoboam 18 years 1 Kings 14:31-15:1
Abijam/Abijah 3 years 1 Kings 15:1-2
Asa 41 years 1 Kings 15:9-10
Jehoshaphat 25 years 1 Kings 22:41-42
Jehoram/Joram 8 years 2 Kings 8:16-17
Ahaziah 1 year 2 Kings 8:25-26
Athaliah 7 years 2 Kings 11:1-16
Jehoash/Joash 40 years 2 Kings 11:21-12:1
Amaziah 29 years 2 Kings 14:1. ——Amaziah 30 years 2 Kings 13:10; 14:7; 14:23
—(15th year + 15 years = 30 years)
Azariah/Uzziah 52 years 2 Kings 15:1-2
Jotham 16 years 2 Kings 15:32-33. ——Jotham 20 years 2 Kings 15:30
Ahaz 16 years 2 Kings 16:1-2
Hezekiah 29 years 2 Kings 18:1-2
The 12th year of the reign of Hezekiah of Judah saw the end of the Kingdom of Israel:
- 2 Kings 17:3-6; 18:10-11
12th year to the 29th year of Hezekiah = 29 – 12 = 17 years past the end of the Kingdom of Israel.
Reckoning 12 years of the reign of Hezekiah, and beginning with Rehoboam son of Solomon:
17 + 3 + 41 + 25 + 8 + 1 + 7 + 40 + 29 + 52 + 16 + 16 + 12 of Hezekiah = 267 years.
18 + 3 + 41 + 25 + 8 + 1 + 7 + 40 + 30 + 52 + 20 + 16 + 12 of Hezekiah = 273 years.
Kingdom of Israel: Jeroboam to Hoshea
Jeroboam son of Nebat 22 years 1 Kings 14:20
Nadab 2 years 1 Kings 14:20; 15:25
Baasha 24 years 1 Kings 15:27-28; 15:33. ——Baasha 33 years 2 Chronicles 16:1-5
—(3rd year to the 36th year = 36 – 3 = 33 years)
Elah 2 years 1 Kings 15:8; 15:16
Zimri, Tibni and Omri 12 years 1 Kings 16:10-29 verses 10, 15, 18, 21-23, 29. ——Zimri, Tibni and Omri 11 years
—(27th to the 31st year = 4 years, and 31st to the 39th year = 7 years: 4 + 7 = 11.)
Ahab 22 years 1 Kings 16:28-29
Ahaziah 2 years 1 Kings 22:48-51
Jehoram/Joram 12 years 2 Kings 1:17; 2 Kings 3:1
Jehu 28 years 2 Kings 10:36
Jehoahaz 17 years 2 Kings 13:1-2
Jehoash/Joash 16 years 2 Kings 13:10
Jeroboam II 41 years 2 Kings 14:16; 14:23
Zechariah 6 months 2 Kings 15:8.
Shallum 1 month 2 Kings 15:10; 15:30. ——Zechariah and Shallum 7 months, Zechariah and Shallum 1 year 2 Kings 15:8; 15:17
Menahem 10 years 2 Kings 15:14; 15:17.
Pekahiah 2 years 2 Kings 15:22-23
Pekah son of Remaliah 20 years 2 Kings 15:25-27
Hoshea son of Elah 9 years 2 Kings 15:30-32
22 + 2 + 24 + 2 + 12 + 22 + 2 + 12 + 28 + 17 + 16 + 41 + 6 months + 1 month + 10 + 2 + 20 + 9 = 241 years 7 months.
22 + 2 + 33 + 2 + 11 + 22 + 2 + 12 + 28 + 17 + 16 + 41 + 1 year of 12 months + 10 + 2 + 20 +
9 = 250 years.
Kingdom of Judah (to the 12th year of Hezekiah) 267/273 years.
Kingdom of Israel (to their exile) 241 years 7 months (242 years)/250 years.
By a literal count according to the Bible, the Kingdom of Israel was dissolved and the people taken into exile by Shalmaneser the 241st/242nd, 250th, 267th, 273rd year after Solomon 982 BCE.[note 12]
- 982 BCE – 241/242 years = 741/740 BCE
- 982 BCE – 250 years = 732 BCE
- 982 BCE – 267 years = 715 BCE
- 982 BCE – 273 years = 709 BCE
For the period of the Divided Monarchy, most historians follow either of the older chronologies established by William F. Albright or Edwin R. Thiele, or the newer chronologies of Gershon Galil and Kenneth Kitchen. See Kingdom of Israel (Samaria).
Biblical numberings of the years of the kings
In the following table the apparent internal numerical inconsistencies in all the numerical textual data relating to each ruler, together with the resultant numerical differences in reckoning the length and the beginning and ending dates of his reign, are carried forward and applied to the beginning and ending dates of the succeeding ruler. The mechanical arithmetical results in this table are thus cumulative.
Bible texts | The numbers and totals of the years of reigns reckoned according to the literal letter of the text | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Kings 11:42-43 | Solomon reigned 40 years and died, and his son Rehoboam began to reign over all Israel and Judah. | ||||||||
1 Kings 14:21 | Rehoboam of Judah began to reign the 40th year of Solomon. After Rehoboam began to reign the Monarchy became divided. Rehoboam reigned 17 years, from the 40th year of Solomon to the 17th year of Jeroboam. Rehoboam died the 17th year of Jeroboam of Israel. Rehoboam died, and his son Abijam/Abijah began to reign over Judah. | ||||||||
1 Kings 14:31-15:1 1 Kings 14:20 1 Kings 15:1-2 2 Chronicles 13:1-2 2 Chronicles 13:19-21 |
Abijam/Abijah son of Rehoboam of Judah began to reign the 18th year of Jeroboam. Abijam/Abijah reigned 3 years, from the 17th year of Jeroboam to the 20th year of Jeroboam. (17th to the 20th year = 3 years: 20 – 17 = 3.) Abijam/Abijah reigned 3 years, from the 18th year of Jeroboam to the 21st year of Jeroboam. Abijam/Abijah reigned 3 years, from the 20th year of Jeroboam to the 1st year of Nadab son of Jeroboam of Israel. Abijam/Abijah of Judah outlived Jeroboam of Israel.
Abijam/Abijah died, and his son Asa began to reign over Judah. | ||||||||
1 Kings 12:17-20 2 Chronicles 10:12-17 1 Kings 11:42-12:20 1 Kings 14:20-21 1 Kings 15:1-2 2 Chronicles 12:16-13:2 1 Kings 15:9 1 Kings 15:25 1 Kings 12:17-20 1 Kings 14:20 |
Jeroboam son of Nebat of Israel began to reign the 1st year of Rehoboam of Judah. Jeroboam of Israel reigned 22 years, from the 40th year of Solomon son of David to the 1st year of Asa son of Abijam/Abijah of Judah. (Rehoboam 18 years, Abijam/Abijah 3, 1st year of Asa 1 = 22 years: 18 + 3 + 1 = 22.) Jeroboam of Israel reigned 22 years, from the 40th year of Solomon to the 2nd year of Asa of Judah. (Rehoboam 17 years, Abijam/Abijah 3, 2nd year of Asa 2 = 22 years: 17 + 3 + 2 = 22.)
Jeroboam of Israel died before Abijam/Abijah of Judah died, before the 20th/21st year of the Kingdom of Judah, before the end of the reign of Abijam/Abijah. Jeroboam died the 2nd year of Abijam/Abijah of Judah.
Jeroboam of Israel died, and his son Nadab began to reign over Israel. | ||||||||
1 Kings 15:9-10
|
Asa son of Abijam/Abijah of Judah began to reign the 20th year of Jeroboam of Israel. Asa reigned 41 years, from the 20th year of Jeroboam of Israel to the 11th year of Omri of Israel. (Rehoboam 17 years, Abijam/Abijah 3, Asa 41 = 61 years of the Kingdom of Judah: 17 + 3 = 20 years + 41 years = 61. Jeroboam 22 years, Nadab 2, Baasha 24, Elah 2, Zimri-Tibni-Omri 12 = 62 years – 1 year = 61 years of the Kingdom of Israel = 11th year of Omri of Israel.) Asa reigned 41 years, from the 21st year of Jeroboam of Israel to the 12th year of Omri of Israel. (Rehoboam 18 years, Abijam/Abijah 3, Asa 41 = 62 years: 18 + 3 + 41 years = 62. Jeroboam 22 years, Nadab 2, Baasha 24, Elah 2, Zimri-Tibni-Omri 12 = 62 years = 12th year of Omri of Israel.)
Asa reigned 41 years, from the 1st year of Baasha of Israel to the 3rd year of Ahab of Israel: 24 + 2 + 12 = 38 + 3rd year of Ahab = 41 years. This makes the 1st year of Jeroboam of Israel the 38th year of King Solomon who reigned 40 years: thus Jeroboam began to reign 3 years before Rehoboam son of Solomon began to reign, from the 37th year of Solomon forward to the 40th year = 3 years, Rehoboam 18 years, Abijam/Abijah 3, Asa 41 = 65 years: 3 + 18 + 3 + 41 = 65; in Israel, Jeroboam 22 years, Nadab 2, 1st year of Baasha 1 = 25 years + Baasha 23 more years, Elah 2, Zimri-Tibni-Omri 12, 3rd year of Ahab 3 = 65 years: 22 + 2 + 24 + 2 + 12 + 3 = 65. The 4th year of Ahab results with a reckoning of 17 years for the reign of Rehoboam.) Counting literally back 41 years of Asa from the 3rd year of Ahab son of Omri (and Ahab began to reign the 38th year of Asa), the resultant year of the beginning of Asa's reign is the 1st year of Baasha of Israel. Asa died the 11th year of Omri of Israel.
Asa of Judah died, and his son Jehoshaphat began to reign over Judah. | ||||||||
1 Kings 15:25
1 Kings 14:31-15:1 |
Nadab son of Jeroboam of Israel began to reign the 2nd year of Asa of Judah. Nadab reigned 2 years, from the 2nd year of Asa of Judah to the 4th year of Asa of Judah. (Rehoboam 17 years, Abijam/Abijah 3, 4th year of Asa 4 = 24 years: 17 + 3 + 4 = 24 years to the 4th year of Asa. Jeroboam 22 years, Nadab 2 = 24 years: 22 + 2 = 24 to the 4th year of Asa.)
Nadab was killed by Baasha son of Ahijah of Israel the 4th year of Asa of Judah.
Nadab was killed, and Baasha son of Ahijah began to reign over Israel. | ||||||||
1 Kings 15:23 | Baasha son of Ahijah of Israel began to reign the 3rd year of Asa son of Abijam/Abijah of Judah.
Baasha reigned 24 years, from the 4th year of Asa of Judah to the 28th year of Asa of Judah.
Baasha died the 28th year of Asa.
Baasha died, and his son Elah began to reign over Israel. | ||||||||
1 Kings 16:8 | Elah son of Baasha of Israel began to reign the 26th year of Asa of Judah.
Elah reigned 2 years, from the 28th year of Asa of Judah to the 30th year of Asa of Judah.
Elah was killed by Zimri, and Zimri began to reign over Israel. | ||||||||
1 Kings 16:15
|
Zimri began to reign over Israel the 27th year of Asa of Judah.
Zimri reigned 7 days the 38th year of Asa (or later).
Zimri fled from Omri, and burned the king's house over himself, and died.
| ||||||||
1 Kings 16:15-23 1 Kings 15:9-10 1 Kings 12:1-20; 14:20 |
Omri of Israel contended 4 years with Tibni of Israel for the Kingdom of Israel, from the 27th year of Asa of Judah to the 31st year of Asa of Judah. Omri of Israel began to reign the 31st year of Asa of Judah, 4 years after the 27th year of Asa and 10 years before the 41st year of Asa when Asa died. Omri reigned 12 years, from the 31st year of Asa of Judah to the 2nd year of Jehoshaphat of Judah.
Omri reigned 12 years, from the 30th year of Asa of Judah to the 1st year of Jehoshaphat of Judah.
Omri died, and his son Ahab began to reign over Israel. | ||||||||
1 Kings 16:29
1 Kings 22:42
|
Ahab son of Omri of Israel began to reign the 38th year of Asa of Judah.
Ahab reigned 22 years, from the 9th year of Jehoshaphat son of Asa of Judah to the 6th year of Jehoram/Joram son of Jehoshaphat of Judah.
Ahab died from battle, the 6th year of Jehoram/Joram son of Jehoshaphat son of Asa of Judah.
Ahab died the 6th year of Jehoram/Joram son of Jehoshaphat of Judah (Joram reigned 25 years).
Ahab died, and his son Ahaziah began to reign over Israel. | ||||||||
1 Kings 15:24
1 Kings 15:33
|
Jehoshaphat son of Asa of Judah began to reign the 4th year of Ahab son of Omri of Israel.
According to 1 Kings 15:33 Baasha reigned 24 years.
The reigns of the kings of Israel which are correlated to the years of the reign of Jehoshaphat of Judah will vary according to the reckoning of the years, all drawn from the literal letter of the texts of the Bible. A literal count of the years from the 1st year of Rehoboam son of Solomon to the end of the reign of Jehoshaphat son of Asa of Judah gives a variant total of 86 or 87 years (1 Kings 14:21; 14:31-15:1).
A literal count of the years from the 1st year of Jeroboam son of Nebat to the 86th or 87th year of the Kingdom of Israel ends variously in the reigns of Omri, Ahab son of Omri, Ahaziah son of Ahab, and of Jehoram/Joram brother of Ahaziah son of Ahab.
Jeroboam to the 1st year of Jehoram/Joram of Israel = 87 years.
Ahab son of Omri of Israel died the 24th, 23rd, 22nd, 21st, 20th, 19th year of Jehoshaphat of Judah: 6 different years.
In a table displaying the correlated years of the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah the 9 years extending the 24-year reign of Baasha of Israel to 33 years from the 3rd year of Asa of Judah to the 36th year of Asa of Judah places the reigns of Omri, Ahab and Ahaziah of Israel 9 years farther from the 87th year of the Kingdom of Judah (9 years later) and the end of a 1-year reign of Ahaziah son of Ahab of Israel 8 years farther (8 years later). The 11th year of Omri of Israel when Asa died then becomes the 3rd year of Omri of Israel when Asa died and the 1st or 2nd year of Jehoram/Joram son of Ahaziah son of Ahab, as the year Jehoshaphat died, becomes the 17th year of Ahab of Israel, as the year Jehoshaphat died. All of the above data, taken directly from the text of the Bible itself, strictly according to the letter of the text, and arithmetically reckoned mechanically, provides the following resultant figures:
Jehoshaphat of Judah died, and his son Jehoram/Joram began to reign over Judah.
| ||||||||
The table to this point illustrates the complex problem of constructing a literal chronology of the reigns of the kings of Israel and Judah according to the letter of the text of the Bible alone. Understanding the actual intent of the Biblical authors through the historical-grammatical method of literalist exegesis provides a means of harmonizing apparent inconsistencies according to the literal sense.[22][note 5]
Historical-grammatical method in Biblical literalist chronology
The apparent numerical inconsistencies highlighted by letterism can be harmonized and resolved by interpretation of the Biblical data according to the historical-grammatical method, which aims at discovering the sensus literalis historicus, or literal sense of the text.[107][108][109][22]
Every person who approaches bible study, usually to learn about the historical events it relates, is heavily influenced by the hermeneutical theory, or interpretive understandings, he or she brings to the text, consciously or unconsciously. According to Dr. J. Philip Hyatt, very little of the Bible relates history for its own sake, or for the purposes that a modern historian would adopt. It is, therefore, history of a special order, designed not simply to inform the reader, but to awaken in the reader a response to what the Lord of history has done.[20][25]
- "A person who is not open to the possibility of God entering the historical process in a very tangible and real way is not going to get very far with the meaning of those events." —Dr. Donald A. Hagener, Fuller Theological Seminary[110]
The aim of the historical-grammatical method is to strive to discover the Biblical author's original intended meaning in the text, to discover that meaning of the passage and that message which the original author would have intended and what the original hearers would have understood without adding to or taking away from the meaning of the message. Almost all of the books of the Old Testament were written to be read aloud to an assembly of persons. A fundamental principle of exegesis or exposition of the text is that the words and sentences can have but one significance in one and the same connection: a text has at least one meaning, and one's interpretations of that meaning will be right or wrong. The moment this principle is neglected the message of the author becomes obscured by uncertainty and conjecture, and exegesis becomes eisegesis.[20][25] Eisegesis is severely condemned according to many literalist readings of the text of the Book of Deuteronomy and the Book of Revelation:[111]
"Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish aught from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you." KJV —Deuteronomy 4:2[112]"For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophesy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophesy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." KJV —Revelation 22:18-19
In an effort to avoid any deviation from the literal meaning of the text, Biblical literalist chronology draws data from the best available textual evidence. Using the best textual readings of letterism as a beginning, a literalist chronology can be established and sometimes also be corroborated by the most reliable extant extra-biblical findings of archæologists and textual historians (see Biblical manuscript). Where widely varying interpretations obtain, those most closely supporting the literal reading of the letter of the Biblical text are adopted by Biblical literalist researchers, such as Donald G. Bryant, Gershon Galil and Kenneth Kitchen. Apparent internal inconsistencies in the textual data can often be harmonized, not always to the satisfaction of everyone, by recognizing such common practices in antiquity as coregencies or overlapping reigns of a king and his successor, and rival kings contending for the rule of the kingdom and differences between the records of Israel and Judah in the manner of counting the years of a king's reign.[note 13][note 5] Uncertainty remains at many points. Biblical chronology includes numbers which were significant to the biblical authors, and at times integral to their message.[note 50] Differences between ancient and modern calendars often necessitates the giving of alternate dates, a resultant year both earlier and later by modern reckoning (such as 587/586 BCE). Furthermore, different methods of harmonizing the dates of Biblical kings yield slightly different results.[note 4][25]
Moses Maimonides: figurative and literalist readings
Moses Maimonides wrote that passages in the Bible which, in their literal sense, contain statements that can be refuted with proof, must and can be interpreted other than literally in a figurative manner, but that a mere argument in favor of a certain proposed theory which rejects literal readings is not enough reason to reject the literal meaning of a Biblical text and interpret it figuratively when the literalist theory can be supported by an equally good argument in its favor. (Guide for the Perplexed, Chapter XXV.)[113]
Lack of consensus
A comparison of literalist chronologies such as those listed in the External links below and those which have been established by William F. Albright, Edwin R. Thiele, Donald G. Bryant, Gershon Galil and Kenneth Kitchen present some apparent differences which to date have not been completely resolved, and research continues. See Biblical archaeology.
Given current difficulties of harmonizing the numerical dating of plainly stated numbers of years in the chronology of the Biblical text, together with a lack of precision due to unknown numbers of years not included by the Biblical authors, a self-consistent, textually-based Biblical literalist chronology leading to total and complete consensus on the fixing of precise historical dates in the Bible by the methods of literal letterism and historical-grammatical exegesis does not at present appear possible. Currently, Biblical literalists have agreed that more recent literalist chronologies constructed from data in the Bible together with historical-critical findings provide useful approximations of datings as they begin to converge. More recent scientific datings of historical archaeological findings are seen to be in closer harmony with the chronology of the Biblical text.[114] What has been called an "unreasonable" insistence on only figurative meanings has begun to decline, yet the theory still remains influential. (B. Ramm, W. A. Elwell, J. P. Hyatt, Pontifical Biblical Commission, J. F. Drinkard, Jr., E. R. Clendenen).[20][22][115][116][note 4] See Biblical Minimalism and Historicity of the Bible.
See also
- Chronology of the Bible
- Council of Jamnia
- Dating creation
- History of ancient Israel and Judah
- Intertestamental period
- Universal history
- Young earth creationism
Notes
- 1 2 3 Anstey, Rev. Martin, B.D., M.A. (London), The Romance of Bible Chronology, Marshall Brothers, Ltd., London, Edinburgh and New York. October 3rd, 1913. This work is seen as significant within the tradition of Biblical literalism for developing the first Bible chronology that successfully resolved the Bible's apparent chronological gaps. See Chronology of the Bible.
- ↑ Mandy Wilson, "The History of Biblical Literalism: What You May Not Know": —Wilson's provocative blog does not seem to be derived from an academic peer-reviewed source, nor from a traditional published medium with an active editor. Wilson appears to be quoting several sources, and citation of her source references is not offered, e.g.:
- "Some scholars date the birth of Christian fundamentalism (as we know it) back to the 1878 Niagara Bible Conference." (no citations given);
"Some have referenced Martin Luther, stating that fundamentalism was born along with his theology of Sola Scriptura." (no citations given);
"In the 1980’s, theologian and pastor Urban T. Holmes went so far as to state that 'literalism is a modern heresy—perhaps the only heresy invented in modern times'." (no citation given);
"Another theologian, Ruth Tiffany Barnhouse, suggests that fundamentalism should be regarded as 'the bastard child of science and religion'." (no citation given)
1878 as a specific, significant date needs to be firmly defended, or softened, or abandoned.
(See Urban T. Holmes, III, Episcopal priest; and Ruth Tiffany Barnhouse, author; also Mandy Wilson).
- "Some scholars date the birth of Christian fundamentalism (as we know it) back to the 1878 Niagara Bible Conference." (no citations given);
- ↑ See literalist premise expressed in multiple 17th—21st century literalist Bible commentaries on the meaning of 2 Timothy 3:16 "All scripture is inspired by God". Multiple translations and versions of this Bible text are presented, followed by the text of the commentaries with their original published sources noted. (biblehub.com)
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 An exact historical chronology is linked to fixed events known to have occurred on a specific date, in contrast to a relative chronology which lists events in general chronological order, often without dates. Exact historical dates are provided for ancient Israel by Assyrian chronology, through the use of lists of year names (eponyms) that can be linked to a solar eclipse known to have occurred in 763 BCE. Assyrian tablets refer to Ahab king of Israel, who fought Shalmaneser III at the Battle of Qarqar and died in 853 BCE, and to Jehu king of Israel, who in his 1st year paid tribute to Shalmaneser III in 841 BCE. From these dates an historical chronology is reckoned from the length of the reigns in the books of the Kings, giving Solomon's 40-year reign as 970 to 930 BCE, instead of 1022 to 982 as reckoned from the length of the reigns in the books of Kings starting from the historically established date of the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar in 587 BCE. Source: Joel F. Drinkard, Jr. and E. Ray Clendenen, "Chronology of the Biblical Period", Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 2003, p. 291b. ISBN 978-0-8054-2836-0. —Note that the well-known exact historical chronologies of William F. Albright and Edwin R. Thiele based on Assyrian chronology do not agree.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Reading strictly according to the "surface meaning" of the literal letter of the text alone can be problematic. The task of resolving apparently inconsistent numerical and chronological data in the Scriptures according to the actual "literal sense" of the text so as to support and preserve confident belief in the veracity, authenticity and accurate historical reliability of the Bible against the skepticism of its detractors is entrusted to competent biblical researchers:
See Leo XIII Encyclical (18 November 1893) Providentissimus Deus (PD)—online link to document- "...the first thing to be done is to vindicate the trustworthiness of the sacred records at least as human documents..." (PD 17.)
"... It follows that those who maintain that an error is possible in any genuine passage of the sacred writings, either pervert the Catholic notion of inspiration, or make God the author of such error. And so emphatically were all the Fathers and Doctors agreed that the divine writings, as left by the hagiographers, are free from all error, that they labored earnestly, with no less skill than reverence, to reconcile with each other those numerous passages which seem at variance – the very passages which in great measure have been taken up by the "higher criticism"; for they were unanimous in laying it down, that those writings, in their entirety and in all their parts, were equally from the afflatus of Almighty God, and that God, speaking by the sacred writers, could not set down anything but was true...." (PD 21.)
- "Bible study is the study of the Bible. There are many methods and departments; none is without value; all of them, when done thoroughly rather than superficially, tend to the deepening of conviction as to the accuracy of the records." —From the Foreword by Rev. G. Campbell Morgan, D.D.
- "...the manner of speaking, relating and writing in use among the ancients is made clear by [studying] innumerable examples." (DAS 12.)
"For it is the duty of the exegete to lay hold, so to speak, with the greatest care and reverence of the very least expressions which under the inspiration of the Divine Spirit have flowed from the pen of the sacred writer, so as to arrive at a deeper and fuller knowledge of his meaning." (DAS 15.)
"...the supreme rule of interpretation is to discover and define what the writer intended to express." (DAS 34.)
"...moreover there are not wanting even non-Catholic writers, who by serious and calm inquiry have been led to abandon modern opinion and to return, at least in some points, to the more ancient ideas [of literal interpretation]." (DAS 43.)
- "...the first thing to be done is to vindicate the trustworthiness of the sacred records at least as human documents..." (PD 17.)
- ↑ For published sources which explain the literalist premise of Bible interpretation—
—see online Literalist Commentaries on 2 Timothy 3:16 —which features:- Barnes Notes on the Bible —Albert Barnes 1834
Clarke's Commentary on the Bible —Adam Clarke 1831
Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible —John Gill 1746–63
Geneva Study Bible —notes 1599
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary —David Brown, et al. 1882
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary —Matthew Henry 1708–1710
People's New Testament —B. W. Johnson 1891
Pulpit Commentary —Electronic Database by BibleSoft, inc. © 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2010
Scofield Reference Notes —Cyrus I. Scofield 1917
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge —R. A. Torrey c. 1880
Vincent's Word Studies —Marvin R. Vincent 1886
Wesley's Notes —John Wesley 1754-65
See also the same "Bible commenter" feature link in the external online menu for each of the other Bible passages cited and linked following in the same paragraph: Hebrews 11:6; Titus 1:2; 2 Peter 1:20-21; John 17:17; 14:16-17; 16:13-14; 1 Peter 1:23-25; John 10:35; Romans 3:4; and 1 John 5:10. The Biblecommenter link provides the same source commentaries listed above for each of these, providing a supporting representative overview of the literalist premise for interpretation of the letter of the biblical text.
- Barnes Notes on the Bible —Albert Barnes 1834
- ↑ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, Greek Dictionary of the New Testament, Strong's number 3089. λυω "luō"; to "loosen" (literally or figuratively):—break (up), destroy, dissolve, (un–) loose, melt, put off.
- ↑ Ussher annotations seem to date back to the early 1700s, possibly late 1600s. - see page 6 of Jones, F.N. Chronology of the Old Testament. New Leaf Publishing Group, Mar 1, 2005 ebook version ISBN 978-1-61458-210-6 (pages 1 to 60 available via Google Books).
- ↑ For discussions of the history of controverted debates over variant translations of the text, such as those here cited between the Douay-Rheims and the KJV as examples, see:
• Hobbes, Thomas, Leviathan (1651). Chapter 35: The Signification in Scripture of 'Kingdom of God'. Hobbes advances detailed critical arguments why the Vulgate rendering (basis of the Douay-Rheims translation) is to be preferred.
• Bobrick, Benson (2001). Wide as the Waters: the story of the English Bible and the revolution it inspired. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0-684-84747-7.
• Bruce, Frederick Fyvie (2002). History of the Bible in English. Cambridge: Lutterworth Press. ISBN 0-7188-9032-9. - ↑ The Douay-Rheims Bible reads: "...from the day the ark of the Lord abode in Cariathiarim days were multiplied, (for it was now the twentieth year,)..." that is, when the Books of Samuel were first written, at the beginning of the reign of King David. 1 Samuel 7:2. See 1 Chronicles 29:29-30. —Source: "Samuel, books of", Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 1440–1443.
- ↑ For discussion of this and other apparent numerical discrepancies in the Bible's chronology of the years of the reigns of the kings see "Chronology of the Biblical Period", Joel F. Drinkard, Jr. and E. Ray Clendenen, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 2003, Holman Bible Publishers, p. 291b ISBN 978-0-8054-2836-0.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 587 BCE back to 1022 BCE = 435 years: Zedekiah 11 years 587–598, Jehoiachin and Jehoiakim 11 years 598–609, Jehoahaz and Josiah 31 years 609–640, Amon 2 years 640–642, Manasseh 55 years 642–697, Hezekiah 29 years 697–726, Ahaz 16 years 726–742, Jotham 16 years 742–758, Uzziah 52 years 758–810, Amaziah 29 years 810–839, Joash 40 years 839–879, Athaliah 7 years 879–886, Ahaziah 1 year 886–887, Joram 8 years 887–895, Jehoshaphat 25 years 895–920, Asa 41 years 920–961, Abijam 3 years 961–964, Rehoboam 17 years 964/5–982, Solomon 40 years 982–1022 = 435 years. 587 BCE plus 435 years = 1022 BCE minus 4 years = 1018 BCE. The 4th year of Solomon thus calculated literally is 1018 BCE.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "The Bible is not completely self-interpreting. We can gain much from thorough reading of the text itself, and frequently from comparison of various passages in the Bible. Still, we often require aid from outside the Bible itself." Hyatt, The Heritage of Biblical Faith , p. 45.
- ↑ Genesis 15:13-16 apparently equates 400 years with four generations.
Numbers 32:11-13 may reckon a generation as 60 years; it included people 20 and above giving them 40 more years to die; or a generation may be interpreted as the 40 years of adulthood between ages 20 and 60.
Job 42:16 states that after his tragedies Job lived 140 years and saw four generations, making a generation about 35 years.
2 Kings 10:30 and 15:12 relate God's promise to Jehu that his sons would rule to the fourth generation, apparently meaning four sons: Jehu began ruling about 841 B.C., his first son Jehoahaz about 814 B.C., and in the fourth generation Zechariah of Israel died about 752 B.C.: five generations ruling less than 90 years, the four sons (four generations) ruling about 60 years, a generation averaging fewer than 20 years.
The text of Psalms 49:11 in the literal Hebrew expression "generation and generation" actually means in its most literal sense through all generations or forever. In Numbers 10:8 "to your (his, their) generations" similarly means forever.
Source—"Generation", Trent C. Butler, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, p. 634b. - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 (David brought up the ark 1055 BCE) 1055 BCE to 1577 BCE = 522 years. The ark had remained in the house of Abinadab 20 years back to the death of Eli 1055–1075, Eli judged Israel 40 years 1075–1115, Samson (20 years 1115–1135) and the Philistines (the same time period, but preceding him by 20 years 1135–1155) a total period of 40 years 1115–1155, Abdon 8 years 1155–1163, Elon 10 years 1163–1173, Ibzan 7 years 1173–1180, Jephthah 6 years 1180–1186, the Ammonites and Philistines 18 years 1186–1204, Jair 22 years 1204–1226, Tola 23 years 1226–1249, Abimelech 3 years 1249–1252, Gideon 40 years 1252–1292, Midian 7 years 1292–1299, the land rested after Deborah 40 years 1299–1339, Jabin 20 years 1339–1359, Shamgar and Ehud 80 years 1359–1439, Eglon 18 years 1439–1457, Othniel 40 years 1457–1497, Cushan-Rishathaim 8 years 1497–1505, a generation that did not know the LORD (zero 0 years, the Bible does not specify), the days of the elders who outlived Joshua (zero 0 years, the Bible does not specify), death of Joshua 110 years old back to Kadesh/wilderness of Paran (age 40?) 70 years (?) 1505–1575, Kadesh/wilderness of Paran to the Exodus 2 years 1575–1577. 1055 BCE plus 522 years = 1577 BCE.
- 1 2 3 4 "4246 BC." Reckoning the years (beginning with the Exodus from Egypt as 1577 BCE) in Egypt 430 years, Israel/Jacob (before 17 years in Egypt) 130 years, Isaac 60, Abraham 100, Terah 70, Nahor 29, Serug 30, Reu 32, Peleg 30, Eber 34, Shelah 30, Arpachshad 35, Shem 100 (2 years after the flood), Noah 503 (601 years old when the flood ended and Shem was 98—he was 503 years old when Shem was born—503 years), Lamech 182, Methuselah 187, Enoch 65, Jared 162, Mahalalel 65, Kenan 70, Enosh 90, Seth 105, Adam 130 = 2669 years back to 4246 BCE (1577–4246).
- 1 2 3 4 Joseph at 17 years old was a mere "lad", a "boy" ( נער ). Joshua was a "young ( נער ) man". According to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary of the Old Testament, the word "lad" or "boy" (Genesis 37:2), and "young (man)" (Exodus 33:11), is a translation of Strong's number 5288 נער na'ar. It means an active boy from the age of infancy to adolescence, and by implication a servant—boy, child, lad, servant, young (man).
- ↑ In the Bible the words "stricken in years" and "well stricken in years" (KJV), "advanced in years" (NRSV, NAB), "very old" (REB, JB), also "full of years" and "full of days", and "ancients", "elders", "seniors", are applied only to persons about 70 years old and upward. —See: Genesis 17:17; 18:11; 21:5; 24:1; 25:7-8; 35:28-29; Leviticus 19:32; Joshua 13:1 —Joshua 14:6-13 and Hebrews 7:7— Joshua 23:1-13; 24:24-29; 2 Samuel 5:4-5 and 1 Kings 1:1; 1 Kings 2:10-11; 1 Chronicles 23:1; 29:26-27; Ezra 3:11-12; Job 42:12-17; Psalms 119:100; Jeremiah 19:1; Ezekiel 9:6; Daniel 7:9.
- ↑ As with the literalist reckoning of the Ussher Chronology, the dates associated with the literalist reckoning of the Seder 'Olam Rabbah (A.M.) should not be relied upon as fact. —Source: Jenkins, Everett, (The Creation: secular, Jewish, Catholic, Protestant, and Muslim perspectives: The Seder Olam Chronology, p. 330)
- ↑ The King James Version of Genesis 21:14 translates ילד yeled as "child". According to Strong's Concordance of the Bible Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary of the Old Testament (Strong's number 3206) this word also means "young man".
- ↑ "lad": According to Strong's Concordance of the Bible, Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary of the Old Testament, number 5288. נער na'ar, a boy (as active) from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant:—babe, boy, child, lad, servant, young (man). The same term is also applied (by interchange of gender) to a girl, a damsel, of similar latitude in age.
Ishmael 17–20 years old by the reckoning in this table was also נער na'ar (Genesis 21:17-20), a "lad", a "boy", young (man), youth, when he and his mother Hagar were cast out after Isaac was weaned. - 1 2 Ra-amses/Rameses was the site of the new Hyksos capital (1638–1530 B.C.) called Avaris before they were driven out by the Theban pharaoh Ahmose I, the first pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty, who then established a fortress and settlement on this site. Ahmose I's successors, down to Thutmose III, built and used a large royal compound just south of this site, which was in use until the reign of Amenhotep II. However, Pharaoh Raamses II/Ramesses II also built near this site. Source: "Pithom and Rameses", Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, p. 1301.
- ↑ According to carbon-dating, Jericho (Jericho City IV) was destroyed between 1617 and 1530 BCE. The site remained uninhabited (Joshua's curse ? 6:26) until the city was refounded in the 9th century BCE. John Garstang determined that Jericho was destroyed by fire around 1400 BCE, corresponding to the biblical dating of the Israelite conquest current at that time. Kathleen Kenyon's findings disagreed with Garstang and the accepted biblical dating, and she dated the destruction and the city wall to a much earlier time, in the 1600–1500s, c. 1550. But she believed that the Exodus and the conquest under Joshua took place in the 1200s and declared that, since the city had already been long uninhabited through the entire 13th century, it was impossible that Jericho had been destroyed by Joshua according to the biblical account. "While critical scholars underline the conflict between archaeological data and the biblical conquest narrative, in reality there is no conflict here."—Karen Joines and Eric Mitchell.
—Source: "Jericho", Karen Joines and Eric Mitchell, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 885–888.
Israeli-Canadian journalist Simcha Jacobovici (The Exodus Decoded, 2006) pointed out that if researchers of the future insisted that the American Civil War took place at the time of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States in the 1960s at the time of the Vietnam War, and then looked for evidence supporting occurrence of the Civil War at that time, they would find none, and the presidency of Abraham Lincoln would be regarded as only legendary. If chronological dating provided by a more literal reading of the Tanakh were taken seriously, then concrete archaeological evidence for the historical accuracy of the biblical text would become more evident: "It's staring them in the face, and they don't recognize it." - ↑ The account of Moses' death in the Book of Deuteronomy, among other texts in the Torah, suggests that Moses did not write the whole of what is contained in the Five Books of Moses. —Source: "Deuteronomy, book of", Daniel I. Block, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 415–419, page 417a.
- ↑ "1498. The Exodus." See The Exodus Decoded: Simcha Jacobovici's arguments. Simcha Jacobovici coincidentally argues for a similar literalist date of c. 1500 BCE without directly adverting to the arithmetically derived textually based chronological date used in this table. His use of extra-biblical archæologically dated evidence in support of his arguments for a 16th/15th century date for the Exodus has been criticised and rejected by a majority of mainstream researchers (critical sources cited in article The Exodus Decoded#References).
- ↑ Harmonizing the 300 years of Judges 11:4-28 back to the time of Israel in the wilderness, and the 450 years of Acts 11:19-20 as the period of time between Joshua and King Saul, is an apparent inconsistency which is resolved simply by proposing the speculative possibility that one or both of these numbers is/are figures of speech used by the speakers, and/or that many of the saving actions of the "governors" שופטים shoftim ("judges") in Israel could have occurred simultaneously or overlapped in time. This is not explicitly stated in the Book of Judges, which "plainly" relates their exploits solely as a sequential series of events, so that taking the texts literally, without recourse to the method of grammatico-historical exegesis, confronts uninstructed readers of the Bible with what appears to them to be an impossible inconsistency which can be unsettling. See Chronology of the Bible.
- ↑ Pharaoh Merneptah (1224–1214 BCE) mounted a campaign against Canaan in the 5th year of his reign (about 1220). In his record of that campaign, he records that, among others, Israel was utterly destroyed, evidence that the people of Israel were already a recognized group in Canaan. —Source: "Chronology of the Biblical Period", Joel F. Drinkard, Jr. and E. Ray Clendenen, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, p. 293b.
- 1 2 3 1183 BCE—from 1092 BCE back to 1183 BCE, 2 generations plus 10 years. Counting back literally 2 generations, mechanically allotting the traditional 40 years each (total 80), from the birth of David reckoned as 1092 BC, literal count, plus 10 years according to Ruth 1:1 (total 90 years) = 1182 BC (1092 + 90), a time of famine during the historically documented Bronze Age collapse 1206–1150 BCE. Such a literalist calculation is pure speculation and has no recognized historical value. The Ussher chronology places the famine in 1298 BC. The Book of Ruth is not dated by reference to a ruler or specific event, other than a famine. The totalled numbers of the years of the 2 generations (80 years) cannot be drawn from the letter of the text of the Bible; the Bible does not give the ages and years of the 2 generations, only the genealogy of Boaz, father of Obed (1st generation), the father of Jesse (2nd generation), the father of David. Many dismiss the genealogy in 4:18-22 as irrelevant. —Source: "Ruth, book of", Daniel I. Block, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 1422–1424.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 The text of the manuscript, translation or version of the Bible being consulted will affect the calculation and tabulation of the years in a literalist chronology based on the Old Testament texts/translations of 1 Samuel 13:1. Saul's age when he began to reign and the number of years he reigned according to published texts vary and remain uncertain (the variant Bible versions in English are here abbreviated):
Saul was 30 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned 42 years (1105–1063/2). NIV, NLT, NASB, HCSB, ISV, NIRV
Saul was [30] years old when he began to reign, and he reigned [42] years (1105 ? – 1063/2). GOD'S WORD
Saul was [30] years old when he began to reign, and he reigned [40] years (1103 ? – 1063/2). NET
Saul was 30 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned (?) years (unknown). Hexaplar
Saul was 40 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned 32 years (1095–1063/2). NLV
Saul was 40 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned (?) years (unknown). ASV, WEB, Amplified (est.)
Saul was 30 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned 2 years (1065–1063/2). ERV
Saul was (?) years old when he began to reign, and he reigned 2 years (1065–1063/2). CEV, Darby, Complete Jewish Bible (chabad.org), with Rashi commentary (chabad.org), Latin Vulgate, Luther Bibel 1545, MT (Masoretic) and JPS (1917) Jewish Hebrew-English, NRSV (Oremus)
Saul was a son/child of one (1) year in his reigning/when he became king/began to reign, and he reigned 2 years over Israel.
DR, Jubilee Bible 2000, Wycliffe Bible, YLT - 1 2 3 4 Compare 1 Samuel 14:18 in multiple English translations together.
Bible versions based on the Masoretic Text state that "the ark" was with Saul and the people as they went into battle.
Bible versions based on the Septuagint state that "the ephod" was with Saul and the people as they went into battle—this reading is supported by the statement in the text (v. 19) that Saul told the high priest Ahijah "withdraw your hand" (from within the ephod).
The possibility that after the death of Eli the ark was brought out of the house of Abinadab by Saul to go before the people in battle is only a speculation when the text of 1 Samuel 7:2 plainly states that the ark remained in the house of Abinadab in Kiriath-jearim for 20 years, "a long time", after the death of Eli.
The possibility that Saul was king for 30, 28, 20 years (literal reckoning) as commander of 3,000 men of Israel (1 Samuel 13:2 and 14:52) before and during the battle with the Philistines when the ark was captured appears unlikely, when 1 Samuel 4–8 does not mention Saul and only long afterward in chapter 8 do the elders of the people say to Samuel, "Give us a king." - ↑ See Acts 13:21 multiple text comparison and commentaries (biblehub.com).
- 1 2 Acts 13:21. "...God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for 40 years." Saul was anointed king of Israel by the prophet Samuel long after the high priest Eli died (1 Samuel 4:10-8:10) "when Samuel became old" and Samuel was judge over Israel (1 Samuel 7:15-16). The subsequent 7 months after Eli died, and the 20-year period during which the ark of the covenant remained in the house of Abinadab after the death of Eli, until David removed it to Jerusalem, does not allow a literal 40-year reign after Eli died, plus a literal 7 years 6 months for David's reign over the house of Judah before he was crowned king over all Israel and Judah, after which he brought the ark up to Jerusalem: a total of at least 48 years 1 month. Taking literally the numerical data of 40 years at face value as presented by the letter of the text of Acts 13:21, together with the 20 years of 1 Samuel 7:2, plus the 7 years 6 months of 2 Samuel 5:4-5 after Saul died and before David brought the ark up to Jerusalem, Saul would thus have been king 28 years before the death of Eli when the Philistines captured the ark, returned it to Israel after 7 months, and it was placed in the house of Abinadab for 20 years: therefore (strictly according to a reading of the letter of the text) long after the death of Eli, when Samuel was old, Saul was anointed king and reigned 28 years before Eli died.
This apparent paradox is resolved by literalist researchers using the literal letter of the text (letterism) as a beginning, and applying the historical-grammatical method of exegesis, following the rules of sound interpretation, to uncover what they believe to be the real sensus literalis historicus, the true "literal sense" of the text—the actual meaning intended by the biblical author.
See below Historical-grammatical method in Biblical literalist chronology
See above Apparent textual inconsistencies
See also Figure of speech and Hyperbole
—Sources:
Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) n. 116
Martin Anstey, Romance of Bible Chronology
Edwin Thiele, Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings - 1 2 Several literalist Bible translators present Saul as being one year old when he became king (1 Samuel 13:1):
"Saul was a child of one year when he began to reign..." Douay-Rheims Bible
"Saul was a son of one year when he became king..." Jubilee Bible 2000
"Saul was a son of one year..." Wycliffe Bible
"A son of a year [is] Saul in his reigning..." Young's Literal Translation
See 1 Samuel 13:1—multiple translations.
Some versions state in footnotes that the "Hebrew text is defective", and "The number is lacking in Heb."
Some Bible footnotes and commentaries offer additional speculative interpretations of the meaning of "one year" according to what their authors as researchers see as the actual "literal sense" according to the rules of sound exegesis (for example, Douay-Rheims Bible, Young's Literal Translation). - ↑ Micah is an abbreviated form of Micaiah. Micah was prophet during reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah (758–697).
The interval of years from last year of Jehoshaphat through 1st year of Hezekiah 895 through 726, 170 years inclusive, makes it unlikely that Micaiah and Micah are the same. Compare 1 Kings 22:28 "Hear, all you peoples!" and Micah 1:2 "Hear, you peoples, all of you!".
—Source: "Micah", Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, p. 1117, "Micaiah", p. 1119. - 1 2 Many scholars divide the Book of Isaiah among 2 or more authors, but other scholars hold a single authorship. —Source: "Isaiah, book of", Harold Mosley and Steve Bond, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 837b–841b.
- 1 2 In the 1899 edition of the Douay-Rheims Bible, prefatory notes correlate the period of the Book of Judith with the reign of Manasseh and state that the writer of this book was "generally believed to be the high priest Eliachim (also called Joachim)".
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 The text of the manuscript, translation or version of the Bible being consulted will affect the calculation and tabulation of the resulting numbers of the years in a literalist chronology.
Tobit died 102 years old according to online Douay-Rheims Bible 1899 (American edition)—in 637 BC, during the reign of Josiah.
And his son Tobiah died 82 years later 99 years old in 555 BC.
Tobit died 112 years old according to online New Revised Standard Version (OREMUS)—in 627 BC, during the reign of Josiah.
And his son Tobiah died 100 years later 117 years old in 527 BC.
Tobit died 112 years old according to the 4 versions in The Complete Parallel Bible with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books: New Revised Standard Version NRSV, Revised English Bible REB, New American Bible NAB, New Jerusalem Bible NJB, © 1993, Oxford University Press, New York, Oxford.
Tobit died 158 years old according to standard printed editions of RSVCE and KJV with Apocrypha Bibles—in 581 BC, during the Exile, 31 years after Nineveh was destroyed. And his son Tobiah died 110 years later 127 years old in 471 BC. - ↑ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary of the Old Testament, 6950. קהל qahal, to convoke, assemble, gather. Qahal is the root of the word Qoheleth (Greek Ecclesiastes), translated "preacher", one who assembles or gathers the people.
- ↑ The Bible shows Josiah greater and wiser than Solomon, which is not the popular tradition. 2 Kings 23:25 and Sirach 49:1-5. Josiah's wisdom did not depart from him as it departed from Solomon in his old age. 1 Kings 11:4, 6, 11, 33; Ecclesiastes 2:9. Both Qoheleth (Hebrew) and Ecclesiastes (Greek) denote one who presides over an assembly, that is, a preacher or teacher (cf. 2 Kings 23:1-3 and 2 Chronicles 34:29-32). Traditionally, Solomon has been identified as the author of Ecclesiastes/Qoheleth, "but in modern times many, including a large number of conservative scholars" assign the book to an author and a period later than Solomon. The Bible does not state that Solomon ever read the Book of the Law, the Law of Moses, or the Torah, to the assembly of Israel. cf. 1 Kings 8 and 10:24, and 2 Chronicles 5:2-7:10 and 9:22-23 —Sources:
"Josiah", M. Stephen Davis, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 954–956.
"Ecclesiastes, book of", Stephen R. Miller, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 452b–455a. - ↑ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary of the Old Testament, 1892. הבל hebel, heh'-bel; or (rarely in the abstract) הבל hab-ale'; from 1891; emptiness or vanity; figuratively something transitory and unsatisfactory; often used as an adverb:— (in KJV from an idiom peculiar to the Hebrew) altogether, vain, vanity.
- ↑ Judith 4:1-3 (DR) citation is placed here according to a literal reading of the text which uncritically takes "Nabuchodonosor" as one of the forms of the name of Nebuchadnezzar II (as noted in the Douay-Rheims preface to Judith, and as used in Baruch 1:11-12 Douay-Rheims), also called Nebuchadrezzar in the books of Jeremiah and Ezekiel; just as Tiglath-pileser is also called Tiglath-pilneser and Pul, and Azariah king of Judah is also called Uzziah, and Jehozadak the high priest is called Jozedech and Jozadak in 1 Chronicles (6:14-15), Ezra and Nehemiah. —Source: articles "Jehozadak", "Tiglath-Pileser", "Uzziah", Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 879, 1595, 1644.
- ↑ The prophetic author of Obadiah in verses 10-14 refers to the past. The book itself belongs to the early postexilic period. —Source: "Obadiah 10.", "Obadiah, book of", Leslie C. Allen, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 1204b-1205.
- ↑ There has been some debate as to when the second siege of Jerusalem took place. Though there is no dispute that Jerusalem fell the second time in the summer month of Tammuz (Jeremiah 52:6), William F. Albright dates the end of Zedekiah's reign (and the fall of Jerusalem) to 587 BC, whereas Edwin R. Thiele offers 586 BC, and Bernard Grun proposes 581 BC (The Timetables of History).
• Thiele, Edwin, The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings, (1st ed.; New York: Macmillan, 1951; 2nd ed.; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1965; 3rd ed.; Grand Rapids: Zondervan/Kregel, 1983). ISBN 0-8254-3825-X, ISBN 978-0-8254-3825-7.
• Hughes, Jeremy, Secrets of the Times (Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1990) 229.
• McFall, Leslie, "A Translation Guide to the Chronological Data in Kings and Chronicles", Bibliotheca Sacra 148 (1991) 45.
• Strand, Kenneth, "Thiele's Biblical Chronology as a Corrective for Extrabiblical Dates", Andrews University Seminary Studies 34 (1996) 310, 317.
• Finegan, Jack, Handbook of Biblical Chronology (rev. ed.; Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1998) 257–259.
• Young, Rodger C., "When Did Jerusalem Fall?" Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 47 (2004) 21–38. - 1 2 Daniel 11:3-44. When read literally these verses plainly describe the dynastic histories of the Ptolemies in Egypt (the king of the south) and the Seleucids in Syria (the king of the north), the two divisions of the Hellenistic empire that were of interest to the author (verse 6). In verses 10-20 is described the struggle between the two kingdoms for control of Palestine, in which the Seleucids were eventually victorious. The reference in verse 20 is to Seleucus IV, who sent Heliodorus to plunder the temple treasure in Jerusalem (2 Maccabees 3). Finally, verses 21-45 describe the career of Antiochus IV and his persecution. —Source: New American Bible, Daniel 11:5-45 "The Hellenistic Age", footnotes. —Rulers and battles are listed individually by name with dates.
- ↑ Daniel's prophesy of the death of Antiochus IV Epiphanes "among the mountains in a strange land" (2 Maccabees 9:28; Daniel 11:44-45) is controverted. Daniel 11:45 does not specify which "sea". Some students of the Bible [source: "Daniel", S. Miller, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary] identify Antiochus literally with Daniel 11:21-44, which accords with the description of his policies and actions in 1 and 2 Maccabees. 1 Maccabees 6:1-16 and 2 Maccabees 9:1-16, 28 shows that Antiochus died travelling on the great east-west highway running through Persia, northeast of Judea and Mount Zion and southwest of the southern shores of the Caspian Sea, in the mountainous Zagros region of Persia between Ecbatana and Babylon. It is evident that he did not die in Palestine between Mount Zion and the Mediterranean Sea. Traditionally, "the sea" and "the great sea" in the Bible is the Mediterranean (Joshua 1:4; 9:1; 15:12 and 15:47; 23:4;Isaiah 11:11; Jeremiah 25:19-22; Ezekiel 47:19;Daniel 7:2-3; compare Joel 2:20 "eastern sea" and "western sea", and Micah 7:12 "from sea to sea"). This is the understanding of a majority of Old Testament Biblical scholars such as C. L. Seow [Daniel, 2003, Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, Kentucky, ISBN 978-0-664-25675-3], and John J. Collins, Peter W. Flint, and others [The Book of Daniel: Volume 1 Composition and Reception, 2000, BRILL, ISBN 978-90-04-11675-7] who hold that Daniel 11:45 refers to the mountains of Judea between Mount Zion and the Mediterranean Sea, or more specifically to Mount Zion, and conclude that the prophesy that Antiochus would die in Palestine "is totally inaccurate" since he died in Persia. Bible translations of this passage differ: some have Antiochus pitching his pavilion "between the seas", others have it "on the glorious holy mountain", while others more literally have it "between the glorious holy mountain and the sea" (see variant translations at Daniel 11:44-45). The conclusion of most Old Testament scholars is that the account in Daniel 11 is completely accurate through verse 44, but wrong in verse 45, and therefore it must have been completed near the end of the reign of Antiochus but before his death in December 164, or at least before news of it reached Jerusalem. But this scholarly reading of "the sea" as the Mediterranean, and those translations having Antiochus' pavilion "on/in the glorious holy mountain (Zion)" in Palestine, are simply dismissed as wrong by a literalist plain reading of the Biblical text (context) as it relates to the death of Antiochus among the mountains of Persia "in a strange land" between the Caspian Sea and Mount Zion. —Sources:
"Mediterranean Sea", Philip Lee, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 1097–1098.
"Daniel, book of", Stephen R. Miller, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 386–388.
"Antiochus", Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 76–77.
New American Bible, Daniel 11:5-45 and footnote; 1 Maccabees 6:1 and footnote; 2 Maccabees 9:1-28 and footnote. - ↑ The Book of Judith is an oblique parabolic tale of the Maccabean triumph over the hostile forces of the enemies of God: Judith beheaded Holofernes and Judas Maccabeus beheaded Nicanor.
See Judith 14:11:- "As soon as it was dawn they hung the head of Holofernes on the wall..." (RSVCE)
- "...he hung Nicanor's head from the citadel, a clear and conspicuous sign to every one of the help of the Lord.... And from that time the city has been in the possession of the Hebrews." (RSVCE)
- "And no one ever again spread terror among the people of Israel in the days of Judith, or for a long time after her death."
- ↑ Aristobulus II (son of Alexander Jannaeus [ruled 103–76 BCE] son of John Hyrcanus). It is unlikely that the earlier Aristobulus I is indicated, who imprisoned his mother, killed his brother, and ruled less than one year 104–103 BCE as ethnarch and high priest. Ant. 13:11:1–3 (§§301–317).
- ↑ Mahlon H. Smith states that Antiochus X Eusebes died fighting the Parthian Empire (which included Persian territory). See Antiochus X Eusebes: Mahlon H. Smith.
- ↑ Some scholars (The New American Bible for example) believe that the Antiochus referred to in this text of 2 Macc. 1:14 was Antiochus IV Epiphanes: "1, 14-17: A different account of the death of Antiochus IV is given in 2 Mc 9, 1-29 and another variant account in 1 Mc 6, 1-16. The writer of this letter [2 Macc. 1:10–2:18 one copy to Aristobulus in Jerusalem, one copy to the Jews in Egypt] probably heard a distorted rumor of the king's death. This fact and other indications show that the letter was written very soon after Antiochus IV died, hence in 164 B.C. —New American Bible, 2 Maccabees 1:14–17, footnote.
As with the text of Daniel 11:45, a literalist interpretation of 2 Maccabees rejects the scholarly view of a "distorted rumor" in favor of an "inerrant" reading that takes the narrative as an accurate report, and therefore as not referring to the death of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, but to the actual death of another Antiochus who was slain by Parthians in the (Syrian) region of Persia/the Parthian Empire in the temple of Nanaya. The extra-biblical evidence cited by Mahlon H. Smith and others regarding the circumstances of the death of Antiochus X tends to support this literalist view, but this is currently a minority opinion. - ↑ Significant numbers include 7, 49, 70, 12, 24, 72, 12,000, 144,000, 3, 4, 40, 318, 666. "Any interpretation based on gematria must be treated with care; such interpretation always remains speculative." — Source: "Number systems and number symbology", Joel F. Drinkard, Jr., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 1199–1201. See also Significance of numbers in Judaism.
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "''Encyclopedia Britannica'': "Literal interpretation"". Britannica.com. Retrieved 2014-03-25.
- ↑ Hyrus, Conrad. "Biblical Literalism: Constricting the Cosmic Dance", The Christian Century, August 4–11, 1982. pp. 823–27. The Christian Century Foundation
- ↑ Wilson, Mandy. "The History of Biblical Literalism: What You May Not Know", Causeways, March 24, 2013.
- ↑ Borg, Marcus J., Reading The Bible Again For The First Time: Taking the Bible Seriously But Not Literally, HarperSanFrancisco; Reprint edition (February 5, 2002); HarperCollins, Oct. 13, 2009. 336 pages.
- ↑ Review of Marcus J. Borg's book: Reading the Bible Again For The Very First Time.
- ↑ Armstrong, Karen (2000). The Battle for God: Fundamentalism in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, Knopf/HarperCollins. Part Two: "Fundamentalism"
- ↑ The Fundamentals: A Testimony To The Truth, 1910–1915, 4 Vol. Bible Institute of Los Angeles, ed. A. C. Dixon, Reuben Archer Torrey.
- ↑ The 1878 Niagara Bible Conference Creed (NBCC) Retrieved 25 December 2013
- ↑ Text of Chicago Statement On Biblical Inerrancy, October 1978 —Retrieved 28 January 2014.
- ↑ Kenyon, Kathleen 1906–1978 WorldCat Identities: Works by Kathleen Kenyon Retrieved 19 January 2014
- ↑ Dever, William G. curriculum vitae 2002 (published works), University of Arizona. Retrieved 19 January 2014. see also William G. Dever: Selected Publications
- ↑ Thompson, Thomas L., 12 works. Retrieved 19 January 2014. see also Thomas L. Thompson: Books.
- ↑ Albright, William F., The Bible and the Ancient Near East, ed. G. Ernest Wright, Bibliography: lists over 825 published scholarly contributions which appeared between 1911 and 1958. see A Review by Thomas F. McDaniel of William F. Albright's History, Archaeology, and Christian Humanism, Palmer Seminary. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
- ↑ Wood, Bryant G. 1936– WorldCat Identities: Works by Bryant G. Wood. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
- ↑ Geisler, Norman (1977, May 1996) A Popular Survey of the Old Testament, Baker Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-8010-3684-2; Geisler, Norman (1982, 4 August 2004) Decide For Yourself: How History Views the Bible, Zondervan. ISBN 978-1-59244-783-1.
- ↑ Thompson, Thomas L., (2000)The historicity of the patriarchal narratives, Trinity Press, pp. 14–15.
- ↑ Ahituv, Shmuel, ed., Echoes from the Past: Hebrew and Cognate Inscriptions from the Biblical Period (Jerusalem: Carta, 28 February 2008). p. 528. ISBN 978-965-220-708-1.
- ↑ Palmer B. Is the Earth 6,000 Years Old, 9,000 Years Old, or 13,000 Years Old? How biblical literalists get their numbers.
- 1 2 3 4 "Chronology of the Biblical Period", Joel F. Drinkard, Jr. and E. Ray Clendenen, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2003), pp. 691b–695a. ISBN 978-0-8054-2836-0.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Hyatt, J. Philip (© January 1, 1964 by The Bethany Press). The Heritage of Biblical Faith: an aid to reading the Bible. Saint Louis, Missouri: The Bethany Press. p. 367. ISBN 978-0-8272-1416-3., ASIN B000MLV588, Library of Congress Catalogue Card Number 64-13404. Chapter I: A Modern Approach to the Bible. (1964 edition in the public domain, not the 1977 edition published by Chalice Press © 1977.
- ↑ Hyatt, J. Philip, The Heritage of Biblical Faith, 1964, p. 41
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) n. 116: "The literal sense is the meaning conveyed by the words of Scripture and discovered by exegesis, following the rules of sound interpretation: 'All other senses of Sacred Scripture are based on the literal.' St. Thomas Aquinas STh I, 1, 10 ad 1." ISBN 1-57455-109-4. "The task of interpreting the Word of God authentically has been entrusted solely to the Magisterium of the Church, that is, to the Pope and to the bishops in communion with him"Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) n. 100.
- ↑ "Literalism". Dictionary.com LLC. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
- ↑ Ramm, Bernard (1970). Protestant Biblical Interpretation. Baker Book House. ISBN 0-8010-7600-5. p.48
- 1 2 3 4 "Bible hermeneutics", Steve Bond, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 203–207.
- ↑ "Jericho", Karen Joines and Eric Mitchell, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 885–888.
- 1 2 Stroud, Kenneth A., "Thiele's Biblical Chronology As a Corrective for Extrabiblical Dates", Andrews University Seminary Studies 34 (1996), pp. 293–317.
- ↑ Dever, William G. (March/April 2006). "The Western Cultural Tradition Is at Risk", Biblical Archaeology Review 32 (2): 26 & 76.
- ↑ Millard, Alan Ralph, James Karl Hoffmeier, David Wesley Baker, Faith, Tradition, and History, Eisenbrauns, 1994 ISBN 978-0-931464-82-9, p. 15.
- ↑ Bryant G. Wood and Piotr Bienkowski debate:Biblical Archaeological Review, Volume 2, Number 3 March/April 1990 issue
- 1 2 Albright, William F., The Biblical Period From Abraham to Ezra: An Historical Survey, New York, Harpercollins College Div, June 1, 1963. ISBN 978-0-06-130102-5.
- 1 2 Thiele, Edwin, The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings, (1st ed.; New York: Macmillan, 1951; 2nd ed.; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1965; 3rd ed.; Grand Rapids: Zondervan/Kregel, 1983). ISBN 978-0-8254-3825-7.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Grun, Bernard, The Timetables of History: A Horizontal Linkage of People and Events, New Fourth Revised Edition based on Werner Stein's Kulturfahrplan, English Language Edition Simon & Schuster, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7432-7003-8.
- ↑ Green, William Henry, "Primeval Chronology", Bibliotheca Sacra, 1890.
Warfield, B. B., "On The Antiquity and Unity of the Human Race", Princeton Theological Review, 1911. - 1 2 Sources for Ussher Chronology dates:
—September 1, 1899 Edition, Douay-Rheims Version, The Old Testament, translated from the Latin Vulgate, first published by The English College at Douay 1609, footnotes —(Saint Benedict Press, Charlotte, North Carolina, XXIX);
—A. D. 1611 King James Version and Revised Version of A. D. 1881 arranged in parallel columns, O. A. Browning & Co., Toledo, Ohio, Potter, Chase & Co., Kansas City, MO, J. H. Buckmaster, Toledo, Ohio, 1881, intercolumnar notes. - 1 2 General Editors: Chad Brand, Charles Draper, Archie England. Associate Editors: Steve Bond, E. Ray Clendenen. General Editor, Holman Bible Dictionary: Trent C. Butler, eds. (2003). Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Nashville, Tennessee: Holman Bible Publishers. ISBN 978-0-8054-2836-0.
- ↑ "Generation", Trent C. Butler, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 634–635.
- 1 2 3 "Elder", Fred A. Grissom, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 472-473.
- ↑ "Conquest of Canaan", Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 330–331.
- ↑ Revised Standard Version, © 1966 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America, published by Thomas Nelson Publishers for Ignatius Press, ISBN 0-89870-490-1.
- ↑ Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. (1987) [1980, 1970]. Saint Joseph Edition of The New American Bible. Catholic Book Publishing Co., New York, N.Y.
- ↑ Clayton, Peter A., Chronicle of the Pharaohs, p. 42. Thames and Hudson, London, 2006. ISBN 978-0-500-28628-9.
- ↑ Malek, Jaromir, "The Old Kingdom" in The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, ed. Ian Shaw, Oxford University Press, 2000, ISBN 978-0-19-280458-7, p. 88.
- ↑ Dates of Sargon according to Sumerian King List. Kramer, S. Noah, The Sumerians: Their History, Culture and Character, Chicago, 1963.
- 1 2 3 "Hammurabi", Gary D. Baldwin and E. Ray Clendenen, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 708–710.
- ↑ "Egypt", Daniel C. Browning, Jr. and Kirk Kilpatrick, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 463b–469.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Ryholt, Kim S. B., The Political Situation in Egypt during the Second Intermediate Period c. 1800–1550 B.C., (Carsten Niebuhr Institute Publications) vol 20, Copenhagen: Museum Tusculanum Press, 1997. p. 192.
- ↑ Ryholt, K. "The Date of Kings Sheshi and Ya'qub-Har and the Rise of the Fourteenth Dynasty", The Second Intermediate Period: Current Research, Future Prospects, edited by M. Maree, Orientalis Lovaniensis Analecta 192, Leuven, Peeters, 2010, pp. 109–126.
- 1 2 3 Thomas Schneider: Ancient Egyptian Chronology – Edited by Erik Hornung, Rolf Krauss, and David A. Warburton. Brill 2006. available online, scroll down to pp. 195/6 and footnote 135 for Schneider date 1658 BC. "Providing any exact figure for the total duration of the period of Dyn. 13–17 is impossible." (p. 195)
- ↑ Shaw, Ian, ed. (2000) The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt. Oxford University Press. p. 148. ISBN 0-19-815034-2.
- ↑ "one year old" —See The Pulpit Commentary: 1 Samuel 13.
- ↑ Hebrew text: RSVCE 2 Samuel 15:7 "And at the end of four years...—footnote: "Gk Syr: Heb. forty".
- ↑ "forty years": according to the New American Standard Bible (NASB), King James Version (KJV), King James Version 2000 (KJV 2000/Jubilee 2000), American King James Version (AKJV), Douay-Rheims Bible (DR), Darby's Translation (DARBY), English Revised Version (ERV), Webster's Translation (WT), World English Bible (WEB), Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
- 1 2 "Hosea", Billy K. Smith, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 784-785.
- 1 2 "Nineve or Nineveh", Edwin Yamauchi, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, p. 1192.
- 1 2 "Amos", Ray L. Honeycutt, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, p. 1192.
- ↑ "Tiglath-Pileser", Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, p. 1595.
- ↑ 2 Kings 25:11-12, 25:21, 25:26; 2 Chronicles 36:20-21; Lamentations 1:3-5.
- ↑ "Micah", Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, p. 1117.
- 1 2 "Joel, book of", Alvin O. Collins, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 929–930.
- ↑ "Merodach-Baladan", Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, p. 1108.
- ↑ "Assyria", Daniel C. Browning, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, p. 136.
- ↑ "Esarhaddon", M. Stephen Davis, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, p. 502.
- ↑ "Nahum, book of", Scott Langston, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, p. 1170.
- 1 2 3 4 "Zephaniah 2.", "Zephaniah, book of", Paul L. Redditt and E. Ray Clendenen, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 1706-1707.
- 1 2 3 "Ezekiel", Daniel I. Block, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 536–537.
- ↑ "Habakkuk", "Habakkuk, book of", John H. Tullock, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 696–594.
- ↑ "Nabopolassar", Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, p. 1167.
- ↑ "Necho", "Nechoh", "Neco", Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, p. 1181.
- ↑ "Hophra", Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, p. 781.
- ↑ "Lamentations, book of", David K. Stabnow, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, p. 1008.
- ↑ "Johanan 1.", Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, p. 931.
- 1 2 "Babylon", Daniel C. Browning, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 155–160.
- ↑ "Evil-merodach, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, p. 521.
- 1 2 "Cyrus", Mike Mitchell, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 377b-378.
- ↑ "Darius 1. Darius the Mede", T. J. Betts, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 389–390.
- ↑ "Haggai, book of", E. Ray Clendenen, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, p. 701.
- ↑ "Sheshbazzar", Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, p. 1485.
"Zerubbabel", Paul L. Redditt, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 1708–1709. - ↑ "Darius 2. Darius I", T. J. Betts, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 389-390.
"Persia", Albert F. Bean, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 1279-1280. - ↑ "Haggai", "Haggai, book of", E. Ray Clendenen, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 701–703.
- ↑ "Zechariah 18." "Zechariah, book of", Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 1701–1702.
- ↑ "Obadiah", Leslie C. Allen, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, p.1205.
- ↑ "Nabateans", Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 1166–1167.
- ↑ "Ahasuerus", Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, p. 37.
See also "Persia" pp. 1279-1280, and "Xerxes" p. 1694. - ↑ "Malachi, book of", E. Ray Clendenen, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 1070-1071.
- ↑ "Jeshua 3.", Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, p. 898-899
"Joiakim", p. 940, "Eliashib 3." p. 477, "Joiada 2." p. 940b, "Jonathan 11. 12." p. 944 - ↑ New American Bible, Book of Job, prefatory notes.
- 1 2 "Alexander the Great", Lynn Jones, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, p. 45.
- 1 2 See Book of Daniel: Symbolic imagery and historical chronology.
See also "Daniel, book of," Stephen R. Miller, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 386–388, "Outline", p. 388b.
See also New American Bible, Daniel 7:1-27, footnote, 8:1-27, footnote, 11:2-4, footnote. - ↑ "Jaddua", Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, p. 864b.
- ↑ New American Bible, 1 Maccabees 12:7, footnote.
- ↑ New American Bible, Daniel 11:6, footnote.
- ↑ New American Bible, Sirach 50:1, footnote; 1 Maccabees 12:7, footnote. "son of Jochanan", Onias I, high priest from 323 to 300 or 290 B.C.
- ↑ New American Bible, 2 Maccabees 3:1-3, footnotes. Onias III high priest, 196–175 BC; Seleucus IV Philopator, reigned 187–175 BC.
- ↑ Douay-Rheims Bible 1899 American edition, Esther 11:1, footnote
- ↑ The Saint Joseph Edition of the New American Bible © 1986, 1970 by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C., Esther chapter F, 10
- ↑ New American Bible, 2 Maccabees 4:23, footnote.
- ↑ New American Bible, 2 Maccabees 3–4, footnotes. The gymnasium where the youth exercised naked lay in the Tyropoeon Valley to the east of the citadel, directly next to the temple on its eastern side.
- ↑ New American Bible, 2 Maccabees 5:1, footnote. "168 BC"
- ↑ New American Bible, 1 Maccabees 1:54, footnote.
- ↑ Psalms 48:1-2; 50:2
- ↑ New American Bible, 1 Maccabees 10:21, footnote.
- ↑ New American Bible, The Book of Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), Foreword, according to footnote 2: "Thirty-eighth...Euergetes: 132 BC. The reference is to Ptolemy VII," [sic] "Physkon II Euergetes II (170–163; 145, 117 B.C.)"
- ↑ New American Bible, 1 Maccabees 16:23-24, footnote.
- ↑ Saint Joseph Edition of The New American Bible, copyright 1987, 1980, 1970 by Catholic Book Publishing Co., New York, N.Y. The Book of Wisdom, prefatory notes, page 750.
- ↑ Saint Joseph Edition of The New American Bible, copyright 1987, 1980, 1970 by Catholic Book Publishing Co., New York, N.Y. The Book of Judith, prefatory notes, page 485.
- ↑ "The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church" Text and Commentary; ed. Joseph A. Fitzmeyer; Subsidia Biblica 18; Rome: Editrice Pontificio Institutio Biblico, 1995. See esp. p. 26, "The historical-critical method is the indispensible method for the scientific study of the meaning of ancient texts." Document, Pontifical Biblical Commission
- ↑ Terry, Milton S. (1974), Biblical Hermeneutics: a treatise on the interpretation of the Old and New Testaments, Zondervan Pub. House, Grand Rapids, Mich. page 205.
- ↑ "Bible, methods of study", Robert H. Stein, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 207–211.
- ↑ The History Channel. Mysteries of the Bible Season One: "Jesus: Holy Child. 4. The Virgin Birth" A&E television production, original airdate 24 April 1994.
- ↑ See Literalist commentaries on Revelation 22:18 and Literalist commentaries on Deuteronomy 4:2 (biblehub.com).
- ↑ see also Deuteronomy 5:32; 17:11 and 17:20; 27:26
- ↑ See Guide for the Perplexed, by Moses Maimonides, Friedländer tr. (1904), at sacred-texts.com.
- ↑ Kitchen, Kenneth (2003), On the Reliability of the Old Testament, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids and Cambridge. Preface, pp. xiii–xiv. ISBN 0-8028-4960-1.
- ↑ Elwell, Walter A. (1984). Evangelical Dictionary of Theology. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House. ISBN 0-8010-3413-2. p. 643.
- ↑ Ramm, Bernard (1970). Protestant Biblical Interpretation, Baker Book House, p. 45. ISBN 0-8010-7600-5.
External links
- Bible Timeline (Biblehub.com) —Retrieved 27 December 2013
- Bible World History timeline (bibleworldhistory.com) —Retrieved 27 December 2013
- Bible Time Lines and Chronology (teachinghearts.org) —Retrieved 27 December 2013
- Timeline of Biblical and World Events (gbgm-umc.org) —Retrieved 27 December 2013
- Searchable text of the 1917 version of Scofield Reference Bible reference notes including the Ussher chronology
- Bratcher, Dennis, "The Date of the Exodus: The Historical Study of Scripture" —Retrieved 27 December 2013
- Bratcher, Dennis, "The Modern Inerrancy Debate" —Retrieved 27 December 2013
- CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Biblical chronology (literalism)