"I give theft Both
fc* Me founding if-.i Colkift^ tUs Colony^

Bought with the income of the
William C. Egleston Fund,
1913

DATED EVENTS OF THE
OLD TESTAMENT

The Dated Events
of the Old Testament

Being a Presentation of
Old Testament Chronology

BY
Willis Judson beecher, D.D.

&

THE SUNDAY SCHOOL TIMES COMPANY
PHILADELPHIA

Copyright, 1907,
BY
The Sunday School Times Co.

M-Cw73 ^07 j?

PREFACE
The tables in this little volume present to the eye a reasonably complete list
of the events narrated in the Old Testament, with their time relations: first of
all the relations of each event to other near events, Israelitish or foreign, and also
its date in terms of the Christian era. The tables distinguish between the dates
which are fixed by positive evidence and those which are matters of conjectural
opinion. They also present to the eye a conspectus of the evidence by which each
event is dated, and the reasons for the variant opinions that men hold concerning
the chronology. And not least important, they make graphic by means of their
blank spaces the fact that in the Old Testament we have, never an attempt at a com
plete history, but everywhere narratives of selected incidents.
As to the structure and use of the tables see the Introduction, especially
Chapter V.

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION Chapter I
The Chronological Data in the Old Testament
Three kinds of numbers. — Time words. — Order of mention. — Nature of the events
narrated  Chapter II
Extertial Data for Old Testament Chronology
Jewish sources. — Greek and Roman sources. — Other ancient sources. — Compendium;?
of chronology. — Assyrian data. — Babylonian data. — Assyrio-Babylonian data. —
Egyptian data. — Astronomical data. — Connecting links 

Pagb 5

Chapter III
Chronological Units aud Methods
The ancient year. — The two Jewish years. — The Old Testament year. — Does the Old
Testament use different kinds of years? — Mode of counting time. — Tabulation
the only method  . . n
Chapter IV
Limits and Value of Bible Chronology
The Ussher chronology. — Recent chronological schemes. — Biblical chronology com
pared with Assyrian. — Biblical chronology compared with Egyptian. — Egyptian
minimum dates. — Biblical chronology compared with the earlier Assyrian and
Babylonian. — Results of the comparisons  16
Chapter V
The Tables
General considerations. — Divisions of the history and the chronology. — The columns
of numbers in the tables. — The explanatory columns. — How to use the tables. —
"Accession year" versus "first year." — The chronology of these tables com
pared with other chronologies. — Corollaries  28
TABLES OF OLD TESTAMENT CHRONOLOGY
First Table
Dated events from Abraham to Joshua  • ¦ 35
Second Table
Introduction. — Dated events from Joshua to Solomon  77

4 CONTENTS
Third Table Page
Dated events from the disruption of the kingdom to the close of Old Testament
history  125
Fourth Table
Introduction. — Dated events from the close of Old Testament history to the birth
of Christ  177
Appendix  197
Index  199

INTRODUCTION Chapter I
The Chronological Data in the Old Testament
Of the materials for chronology found in the Old Testament four kinds are
perhaps of especial interest: the numerals, the time words, the order in which
events are mentioned, the nature of the events.
i. The Chronological Numbers. — These are of three kinds: cardinal numbers,
indicating the time an event lasted; ordinal numbers, indicating the date when
an event occurred or began or ended; long numbers, measuring the interval be
tween two distant events. For example (i Ki. 15:33), Baasha began to reign
the third year of Asa, and reigned twenty-four years. Here the cardinal number
"twenty-four" states the duration of the event, and the ordinal number "third"
dates its beginning. Examples of long numbers are the 480 of 1 Kings 6:1,
the 300 of Judges 11: 26, the 430 of Exodus 12 : 40.
2. Time Words. — Chronological facts are indicated by the use of certain
connecting words and phrases, such as "afterward," "before this," indicating
the order in which events occurred (e. g. Neh. 13:4 or 2 Sam. 8: 1, 10: 1, 6: 1).
One should look carefully to see whether the time phrase comes from the final
narrator, or is part of a document quoted by him, for this might make an impor
tant difference. Such words as "then," in the English versions may not be
time words, but may stand for the Hebrew "and," being used in English merely
for the sake of variety.
3. The Order in -which a Narrative Mentions Events. — This is commonly that
in which they occurred. But sometimes, for various reasons, narrators speak
of events in a different order from that in which they occurred. We need to have
our eyes open for such variations in the order (see 40 below). Certain parts of
the Old Testament history have been dreadfully muddled through neglecting
facts of this kind.
4. The Nature of the Events Narrated. — This has obvious bearings on ques
tions relating to the chronology.
a. Sometimes we must infer the order of the events from their nature. For
example, the narrative mentions the marriage of Ahab to Jezebel after its men
tion of his accession. But it also says that their grandson was 22 years old about
33 years after Ahab's accession, and this proves that the marriage occurred some
years before the accession (1 Ki. 16:31; 2 Ki. 8:25-26). To bring up the ark
from Kiriathjearim David gathered his officers and the Israelitish people from
Shihor of Egypt to Hamath (1 Chron. 13: 1-5), which shows that the event oc
curred relatively late in his reign, after he had conquered those regions, and not at
its very beginning, as most readers have hastily supposed. If Phinehas, the grand-

6 DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
son of Aaron, was living at the time of the civil war with Benjamin (Jud. 20: 28),
then that event preceded most of the other events recorded in the book of Judges,
and the chronology must be adjusted accordingly. Instances of this kind are
so numerous and important that a due attention to them revolutionizes, at some
crises in the history, the mechanical chronology which we have inherited from
Josephus. b. Again, events themselves occupy time. An event may be begun and
finished within an hour, for example the slaying of Abner by Joab (2 Sam. 3: 27);
or it may occupy the time of several human generations, for example the sojourn
of Israel in Egypt. Or an event may belong to a certain period in a human life,
and may in that way involve data of time. For example, the seduction of Dinah
(Gen. 34) must have occurred after she had reached the age of adolescence, and
after her brothers had become warriors grown; and this proves that it did not
occur, as many have supposed, just thirteen years after her mother was first mar
ried. Since the accounts make the impression that Saul was an inexperienced
young man when he became king, it follows that an interval of some years must
have elapsed between the first acts of his reign (1 Sam. 11: 1-13:2) and those
recorded in the very next verses, in which his son Jonathan figures as a warrior
of prowess. There are many similar cases. We may infer dates for events from
the time required for human generations, or for the successive periods in a human
life, or for a military campaign, or for a journey from one point to another, or for
the recovery of the depleted population of a. country, or for other events that
require time.
c. Again, there are many important matters that depend on the nature of
the events as belonging to some particular season of the year, or to some particu
lar part of a month or week or day. To hide David's messengers the woman
spread a covering over the well and strewed bruised corn upon it (2 Sam. 17: 19).
The season was therefore that of freshly ripened grain, and attention to this will
clear up several matters connected with the rebellion of Absalom. So in other
instances. d. Attention to the nature of the events also makes it possible to supplement
the biblical data from without. When the Bible mentions Tiglath-pilezer or Cyrus
or Darius, for example, if we know from other sources the dates of these men,
that helps us to date the biblical events with which they were connected. And
it is at least supposable that the Bible so mentions natural phenomena that we
can apply astronomical or other computations for determining the dates at which
they occurred.

Chapter II
External Data for Old Testament Chronology
External data are now much more abundant than they were in the times
of Ussher and the other great biblical chronologists. To the Jewish and Greek
and Latin sources which they possessed have now been added an immense body
of facts accumulated in the explorations of the past sixty years.
5. fewish Sources. — Certain extrabiblical Jewish sources of chronological
information have long been known to scholars.
a. In the Septuagint and in the Samaritan copies of the Pentateuch are some
numerals and other chronological data that differ from those in our Hebrew
Bibles. The differences are especially important for the pre-Abrahamic times,
but are not limited to these.
b. Josephus abounds in chronological data, in addition to those which he
has copied from the Bible. His numerals have been carelessly copied, and it is
evident that he had only very confused ideas of such matters as, for example, the
succession of the kings of Persia. But he is generally reliable as a witness trans
mitting tradition, and in certain conditions his testimony to a number as tradi
tional is of great importance.
c. The Seder Olam is a Jewish chronological work written early in the Chris
tian era. The Seder Olam Zutta is an appendix to it, written many centuries
later. 6. Greek and Roman Sources. — Herodotus, about B. C. 445, Diodorus Siculus,
B. C. 44 nearly, Strabo, who died 25 A. D., with other classical writers, abound
in chronological materials, more or less trustworthy, for the peoples with whom
the Israelites came into contact.
7. Other Ancient Sources. — Certain ancient writers, Babylonian, Egyptian.
Tyrian, etc., are cited by Josephus and the classical historians and their successors,
Prominent among these are Berosus for the Babylonian history, and Manetho
for the Egyptian. Accounts of them may be found in books of reference. Manetho
wrote in Greek, at Alexandria, probably in the third century B. C. Fragments
of his history of Egypt are preserved in Josephus (Cont. Ap. i, 14, 26 and contexts)
and in Julius Africanus (see 8b). The fragments are often confused and con
tradictory, but they are still an important source for Egyptian chronology.
8. Compendiums of Chronology. — There were ancient attempts to arrange
history in chronological schemes, some of which have re lations with the chronology
of the Bible.
a. The introduction of eras began early. We are familiar with the Roman
methods of dating by consulships, or from the founding of the city; and with the
Greek methods by olympiads, or by the terms of the Archons. Among usages
of this sort the so-called Seleucid era is especially connected with the biblical

8 DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
chronology, being that so often mentioned in the books of the Maccabees and
in Josephus as "the year of the Greeks." It was initiated by the Seleucid Greek
dynasty at Antioch, its first year corresponding to B. C. 312.
b. Lists of dated historical events have been known from ancient times.
To say nothing of the work of Manetho and Berosus and others (mentioned in 7),
a famous book of this kind is the Chronographia of Julius Africanus, written about
220 A. D., and now extant only in the fragments quoted by Eusebius in his Chron
icon, written about 325 A. D., and in the citations made, in part from the Chronicon
and in part from a copy of Africanus, by the monk Georgius Syncellus of the ninth
century. c. On the whole the most important of these compendiums is the one which
is commonly described as the Canon of Ptolemy, made by Claudius Ptolemseus,
an Alexandrian geographer and astronomer and mathematician, in the second
century after Christ. In the form in which it is available for our use it is a list
of sovereigns, Babylonian, Persian, Greek, Egyptian, and Roman, beginning
B. C. 747, and extending to the time of the author. By its aid the date of any
astronomical or other occurrence of that period can be stated as in such and such
a year of such and such a king. In the Ussher chronology this canon is under
valued, but it is now regarded as accurate. At certain points Ptolemy may
have been mistaken as to his political facts, but not so as to affect his presenta
tion of the succession of the years.
9. Additional Sources Uncovered by Modern Explorations. — These are numer
ous and valuable, both for enabling us to understand the data that were previously
known, and as furnishing additional data. We can here look only at some of the
more important.
10. Assyrian Data. — a. The most important single document is the one
which, following Mr. George Smith, we will call the Assyrian Eponym Canon.
Other Assyriologists give various other designations to it. For certain purposes
the Assyrians named the year after a certain public official; and the canon is a
list of these officers, one for each year. No complete copy is known, but by piec
ing together what remains of several different copies there is a continuous list of
about 265 names, up to B. C. 647, with a broken list for the decades later than
that. So the hst covers the time from soon after the close of Solomon's reign to
the reign of Josiah. Some copies have historical notes appended, and these are
generally, though not always, confirmed by the other Assyrian data. It is possi
ble that some of the existing copies were made as early as the seventh century
before Christ, before the downfall of Assyria. There are some slight discrepan
cies, but the list is in a high degree trustworthy.
b. There are also now available many records of Assyrian kings. For ex
ample, we have annals of Shalmanezer II, Tiglath-pilezer III, Sargon, Sennacherib,
Esarhaddon, Asshurbanipal, giving dated accounts of their exploits, year by year,
besides other accounts which mention occasional dates. Long numbers are also
given. For example, Sennacherib says that he brought back certain gods which

EXTERNAL DATA FOR OLD TESTAMENT CHRONOLOGY 9
had been taken to Babylon 418 years previously, in the time of Tiglath-pilezer.
In some of these records a king mentions another as his son, or mentions his
father or grandfather, thus marking the reigns as continuous. These records
variously supplement and interpret the canon.
c. In addition there have been discovered records of temples, votive tablets,
laws, records of business transactions, including dated events that serve to fill
out those in the important documents.
d. The Assyrian chronology has two methods of designating any given year.
The year which we designate B.C. 678 is in the canon of Ptolemy the third year of
Esarhaddon, king of Babylon (and Assyria). The Assyrians would sometimes
designate it in the same way, the third year of Esarhaddon. But they would
also designate it as the year of the eponymy of Nergal-sar-utsur, and the follow
ing year as that of Abramu, and so forth.
11. Babylonian Data. — No Babylonian eponym list is known. But there
are Babylonian documents, especially what may in a general way be called the
Babylonian chronicles, written in the Persian period or earlier, including lists of
dynasties, lists of kings with the number of years they reigned, and other lists
with dated records of exploits in the reign of each king. The data also include
long numbers, especially summaries of the duration of the successive dynas
ties. Add to these the same kinds of private documents as are found among
the Assyrian sources.
12. Assyrio-Babylonian Data. — From very early times the history of Assyria
and that of Babylonia were interwoven, and there are some chronological mate
rials that are common to the two.
a. There are fragments of writings that gave a synchronous history of the two
countries. They describe the relations and the exploits of Babylonian and Assyrian
kings who were contemporaries, frequently dating events by year, month, and
day. Some of them carry the chronology far back, but they exist in so mutilated
a form that they do not give us a continuous chronology.
b. Some of the long numbers compare Babylonian events with Assyrian.
13. Egyptian Data. — These are abundant and various, but they give us no
continuous scheme of dates. All alleged continuous schemes are inferential.
That none of them are final may be inferred from the fact that they are numerous,
and increasing in number. The older sources give us three different and dis
agreeing recensions of the numbers of Manetho. The newer sources include
tables giving lists of kings, and superabundant materials for some parts of the
history, including portraits of kings and distinguished men, their authentic mum
mies, memoranda of their exploits and their business transactions and their religious
worship and their home life and their ideas. In these materials are immense num
bers of dates. At points in the history we are able to date minutely fragmen
tary successions of events. But anything like a complete Egyptian chronology
is still out of reach.
14. Astronomical Data. — Ancient records sometimes mention astronomical

10 DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
phenomena that are capable of being identified, and of being verified by calcula
tion. A particularly important instance of this kind is an eclipse of the sun
mentioned in the Assyrian records as occurring in the tenth year of Asshur-daan
III, the calculated date of which is June 15, B. C. 763.
Correct astronomical calculations are in themselves decisive, but the iden
tification of the phenomena on which they are based is often merely conjectural.
Most attempts to connect them with biblical dates are insufficiently grounded.
Men connect them with many Egyptian facts of different kinds, but no consensus
has been reached.
1 5. Connecting Links between the Biblical and the Ethnical Chronologies. —
With Assyria and Babylonia these are numerous and exact, and the continuity
with modern chronology is complete. For instance, the first year of Nebuchad
rezzar of Babylon was the year that began in March, B. C. 604. This was the fourth
year of Jehoiakim, king of Judah (Jer. 25:1, etc.). From such coincidences
one may derive a complete scheme of dates. The Egyptian connections are less
certain and less exact.

Chapter III

Chronological Units and Methods
1 6. The Ancient Year. — a. Our month-names, September, October, November,
December, the Latin for seventh month, eighth month, etc., are a monument of
the fact that the year of the ancient world was prevailingly that which began
at a new moon near the spring equinox. Whether determined astronomically,
or by watching the crops, or by noting the point of time when the days and nights
were of equal length, or in some other way, this "vernal" year, fixed by natural
phenomena of some kind, and not by a mere count of months and days, was very
widely recognized. We may conveniently describe it as "the year that began
in March," and this is accurate enough for most purposes. This was the current
year of the Babylonians and Assyrians, and is, as we shall see, the year commonly
used in the Bible.
b. Far back in history can be traced the recognition of other years than this.
It is commonly said that the Seleucid year (see 8a) began in September. The
Egyptians had two or more kinds of years (see 24). But the year beginning with
a new moon near the spring equinox is of principal importance in ancient chro
nology, and for most purposes no other year need be considered.
17. The Two Jewish Years. — We are familiar with the fact that the Jews
of our time celebrate their new year in September, and that two Jewish years
are recognized, commonly called the sacred and the secular. The following is
the order of the months in these years.

Sacred.

Secular.

Sacred.

Secular.

I

7

Abib, or Nisan.

7

I

Tizri.

2

8

Iyyar, or Ziv.

8

2

Bui.

3

9

Sivan.

9

3

Chislev.

4

10

Thammuz.

10

4

Tebeth.

5

11

Ab.

1 1

5

Shebat.

6

12

Elul.

12

6

Adar.

To the sacred year might be added the intercalary thirteenth month called
W'adar, "And-Adar."
18. The Old Testament Year. — Old Testament chronology has been greatly
muddled, from the time of Josephus, by the assumption that it counts secular
events in autumnal years. In fact it uses the vernal year so uniformly that no
account need be taken of any other.
a. The accounts of the exodus recognize only the year that has Abib for
its first month (e. g. Ex. 13: 4, 12:2, 23: 15, 34: 18), the passover being in Abib,
which is declared to be the first month, and is identified by its relations to the
harvest. In these passages the autumnal feast is said to be at the "going out
of the year" (Ex. 23 : 16), the ' 'coming around of the year" (Ex. 34: 22 ; cf. 2 Chron.
24: 23; 1 Sam. 1 : 20; Ps. 19: 6, these being all the places where the word is used).

12 DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
The parallel phrase "the turning back of the year" appears five times (2 Sam.
11:1; 1 Chron. 20:1; 1 Ki. 20:22, 26; 2 Chron. 36:10). In themselves these
phrases might easily be understood to indicate the termination of one year, which
is the beginning of another, and so as indicating an autumnal year. In fact,
however, their contexts show that the conception intended is that of the middle
of the year, the goal from which the year "turns back," retraces its steps to the
point where it began; from which it "comes around" to its starting point; where
it completes its "going out" and begins its coming in. At its start the days and
nights were of equal length. On its march the days have been longer than the
nights, but at the turning point they become equal again. On the return march
the nights are longer than the days, but they become equal when the vernal equi
nox is reached again.
The details of the three yearly feasts presuppose the conception of the vernal
year (e. g. Lev. 23: 5-36). In Joshua (e. gr. 4: 19, 5: 10, 11) we are told that Israel
crossed the Jordan the first month, which is identified as the passover month.
Dozens of passages might be cited.
b. The passages cited and many others affirm that the year having Nisan for
the first month was appointed by Jehovah through Moses. From Josephus
(Ant. I, iii, 3) down men have inferred that the vernal year was then a new insti
tution, introduced by Moses. But the accounts do not say this, and it is in itself
improbable. Apparently it was the Babylonian year, brought thence by Abraham
at his migration. In Egypt Israel may have reckoned by Egyptian years as well
as Babylonian, but now declared itself independent of the Egyptian usage.
c. That this year beginning near the spring equinox was the sacred year of
Israel is affirmed in the passages cited and in many others (e. g. Lev. 16: 29, 23: 5,
24, 27; Num. 9: 1, 5, 11, 28: 16, 29: 1, 7; 2 Chron. 5: 3, 7: 10; Ezra 6: 19; Neh.
7: 73-9:1; 1 Ki. 12:32, 33), and is disputed by no one.
d. This same vernal year is used in reckoning secular affairs. The ninth
month (Jer. 36:22, 23) when Jehoiakim burned Baruch's roll was at the season
when fire was used for warmth. Therefore it was not the summer month Sivan,
the ninth month of the autumnal year, but the winter month Chislev, the ninth
month of the vernal year. The seventh month (Jer. 40, 41, especially 40: 10,
41 : 8, 1 ; 2 Ki. 25: 25) when men in the hill country of Judah had stored up corn
and wine and oil and fruits from the deserted farms was not Nisan, the seventh
month of the autumnal year, but Tizri, the seventh month of the vernal year.
The successive dated events of the exodus are expressed in terms of the year that
began in the month when Israel left Egypt, that is, the month of the spring equi
nox. They started from their houses the fifteenth day of the first month, from
Elim the fifteenth of the second month, reached the wilderness of Sinai the third
month, set up the tent of meeting the first day of the second year, "declared
their pedigrees" the first day of the second month, started from Sinai the twentieth
day of that month, received the returning spies in the time of grapes and pome
granates and figs, gathered again at Kadesh the first month of the fortieth (year

CHRONOLOGICAL UNITS AND METHODS 13
conquered Sihon and Og several months later, were on the east bank of the Jordan
the first day of the eleventh month, mourned thirty days for Moses, crossed the
river early the first month of the following year (Ex. 12: 18, 29-37, 16: 1, 19: 1,
40:2, 17; Num. 1:18, 10:11, 13:20, 23, 20:1, 21: 2 iff; Deut. 1:3, 34:8; Josh.
4:19). e. In particular, we find it used in counting the regnal years of kings. The
first month of the first year of Hezekiah, as counted in Chronicles, was the passover
month (2 Chron. 29:3, 17, cf. 30:1-3, 13, 15). The same year, the months of
the harvest of corn and wine and oil in the uplands were from the third to the
seventh (2 Chron. 31:7). The second month of the fourth year of Solomon's
reign wasZiv, and the eighth month of his eleventh year was Bui (1 Ki. 6:1, 37,
38; cf. 2 Chron. 3:2). The first month of the twelfth year of Ahasuerus is Nisan,
the twelfth is Adar, the third is Sivan, the tenth month of the seventh year is
Tebeth (Esth. 3:7, 12, 13, 8:9, 2: 16). The ninth month of the fourth year of
Darius was Chislev, and the eleventh month of his second year was Shebat (Zech.
7:1, 1: 7; cf. the dates in Haggai).
/. Is there proof that any other way of reckoning years was customary in
Israel in Old Testament times? There is a traditional interpretation to this effect,
but is it well grounded ?
The flood of Noah began in the second month, the ark rested the seventh month,
the mountain-tops were seen the tenth month, the earth was generally visible
the first month of the following year, and was dry the latter part of the second
month (Gen. 7: 11, 8:4, 5, 13, 14). Josephus says (Ant. I, iii, 3) that this second
month was Bui, the second month of the autumnal year. Sayce says (Early
Hist, of the Hebrews, p. 126) that this was the second month of the autumnal
year, the beginning of the rainy season, the "seventh month" being the time
when the early rains are over. I do not care to controvert this view, though the
proof of it is not perfect.
The translation "the end of the year" (Ex. 23: 16, 34: 22) has misled English
readers into thinking that the autumnal feast was at the close of one year and
the beginning of another. See a above.
The fact that a law was made appointing the year that begins with Abib
(Ex. 12: 2) may justify the inference that the Israelites knew of more ways than
one of counting the year, so that the matter needed regulating, but nothing further
than that. See b above.
The blowing of trumpets in the seventh month (Lev. 25: 4, 9) is perpetuated
in the new year festivities now practiced by the Jews, but there is no proof that
it was anciently regarded as marking the beginning of a calendar year.
Jeremiah's phrase "unto the completing of the eleventh year of Zedekiah
* * * , unto the going of Jerusalem into exile in the fifth month " (Jer. 1 : 3)
has been cited as indicating a year that closed with the fifth month. But this
interpretation is not according to biblical usage. See 19.
In Nehemiah mention is made of the month Chislev in the twentieth year

14 DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
of Artaxerxes, followed by the mention of Nisan in his twentieth year (i : i, 2: 1).
Perhaps, though not necessarily, the autumnal year is here intended, Chislev be
ing the third and Nisan the seventh month.
However you decide these instances, there is not one of them that affects the
chronology. And there is no important Old Testament instance in which we need
to take into the account any other year than the one beginning near the spring
equinox. 19. Mode of Counting Time, in the Bible. — Four closely related peculiarities
should be noticed. First, the Bible writers count time by units only, disregard
ing fractions. Second, broken terminal units are for this reason liable to an am
biguous interpretation. Third, so are ordinal numbers. Fourth, the final unit of
a series is sometimes used without regard to the initial unit.
a. They reckon by units only. The three days that our Saviour lay in the
grave (in Matt. 12:40 "three days and nights") were not three times twenty-
four hours, but were part of Friday, the whole of Saturday, and part of Sunday,
not much more than 36 hours in all. It was a period of time which included
either wholly or in part three consecutive units of 24 hours each. Let this serve
as a typical instance of the difference between our usual way of reckoning and
the biblical way. In the biblical way years or days are not thought of as properly
measures of time, but as current periods wholly or partly covered by the events
spoken of. We use a like method in such matters as postage or mileage. A
letter requires one stamp for each ounce or fraction of an ounce. The fraction
is counted as if it were a full ounce.
b. They count a fraction of a terminal unit as if it were a complete unit.
The calendar year during which a king dies and is succeeded by another is counted
as the last year of the outgoing king. The whole of it is counted to him. It is
not divided, as we should divide it. In the Assyrian records, the year is also
counted to the incoming king, not as his first year, however, but as his accession
year, his first year being the one that begins with the following new year. For
example, Nebuchadrezzar became king at some time during the year that be
gan in March, B. C. 605, but that year is counted as the twenty-first year of
his father Nabopolassar, while the first year of Nebuchadrezzar was the year that
began in the following March. He was actually king for several months before his
"first year" began.
In the Bible the broken year at the close of a reign is always counted to the
outgoing king, but it is sometimes also counted to the incoming king, being in
these instances counted twice.
c. From this may arise an ambiguity in the use of ordinal numbers. When
it is said that a king began to reign in a certain year of another king, the meaning
may be that his first year is coincident with the designated year of the other king,
or it may be that his accession occurred during that year, so that the coincidence
is with his accession year, and not with his first year. For instances see the num
bers, as given in the following tables, for the kings of Israel and of Judah just after
the disruption:

CHRONOLOGICAL UNITS AND METHODS 15
d. Another form of this habit of counting by units and disregarding frac
tional parts appears in certain cases in which time is counted to a final terminus
only, neglecting the initial terminus. Samson's wife is said to have wept "the
seven days that their feast lasted," though she did not begin the weeping earlier
than the fourth of those days (Jud. 14:17,14). In this way of speaking the seven
days or other longer period is conceived of as if it were a unit, like a year or a day.
An event completed in the last year or day of such a period is spoken of as if it
had covered the period, irrespective of the time when it actually began. The
Israelites are said to have wandered 40 years in the wilderness, though the wan
dering did not begin till the second year of the forty. The 400 years that Israel
was to sojourn in Egypt may supposably count from the time when the matter
was revealed to Abraham, and the 430 years of the sojourn from the time when
Abraham came to Canaan. As we shall see, the formula in Judges, "And the
land was quiet 40 years," in each case means that the land was quiet until the
close of the forty-year period then current, the quiet in some cases being only
during the few last years of the period (Num. 14:33; Gen. 15: 13; Ex. 12:40;
Jud. 3: 11, 30, 5:31, 8:28).
20. Tabulation the Only Feasible Method. — We have found that the Bible
states numerical facts in ways different from those to which we are accustomed,
and that some of its statements may have more than one interpretation. This
does not necessarily render its statements uncertain or difficult to understand.
The true meaning is seldom in doubt provided we pursue a correct method. But
the question of method is exceedingly important.
For example, the numbers given for the years of the kings of Israel from
Jeroboam to Joram are 22 plus 2 plus 24 plus 2 plus 12 plus 22 plus 2 plus 12, a
total of 98. The numbers for Judah for the same period are 17 plus 3 plus 41
plus 25 plus 8 plus 1, a total of 95. This is often cited by superficial reasoners
as an instance of contradiction, discrediting the numbers. It is as if you handed
your clerk two bundles of letters to mail, each bundle weighing a pound, but the
two made up of letters of unlike weights, and then accused him of cheating you
because he used twenty stamps for one pound and twenty-four for the other.
Or it is as if you should expect two agents, traveling with mileage books from Chi
cago to New York, to use the same amount of mileage, though one stopped at way
stations, and the other at express stations only.
Many of the problems in Bible chronology cannot be solved by processes
of mere addition and subtraction or averaging or conjectural correction. At
tempts of that kind are blunders. The only solution is by studying each par
ticular number and ascertaining how it is used. This is not difficult provided
one has patience and some feasible way of expressing his results by tabulation.
There is no solution except by some process which shall make the numbers check
and interpret each other. Using such a process one will find that there are no
contradictions in the numbers above cited, and that the total of the years is neither
98 nor 95, but just 90, the differences being accounted for by co-reigns or by the
counting of the terminal years to more kings than one.

Chapter IV
Limits and Value of Bible Chronology
21. The Ussher Chronology. — This system, found in the margins of many
Bibles, is at most points admirably accurate. Its greatest fault is its attempt
to reduce the history to millennial periods. Ussher believed that the earth was
created just 4000 years before the birth of Jesus, and that Solomon's temple
was dedicated just 1000 years before the birth of Jesus, and he pulls some parts
of the chronology awry, to make it fit this theory. He regards the biblical numbers
for the times before Abraham as chronological, which I think is a mistake. He
adopts the mistaken method of trying to adjust years by fractional parts, after
our modern fashion, instead of recognizing the custom of counting the fraction
as a unit; but this does not often cause important differences. There are some
matters of detail in which he lacked information which is now accessible.
22. Recent Chronological Schemes. — There are other old theories besides that
of Ussher, but we need not delay with them. During the past half century a
multitude of new theories have appeared. They are as various as the men who
make them, but many of them are open to the following criticisms.
a. They use fallacious methods of reasoning. For example, they reject tes
timony with a thoroughly unscientific lack of discrimination. In particular,
they neglect alike the biblical numerals and the biblical statements of fact. Some
of them adopt the process of computing minimum dates, and afterward treating
these as if they were average or even established dates. Almost of necessity
this results in grave error. Further, the habit is common of relying upon astro
nomical computations and other exact processes, even when these are connected
with the events only by slight conjectures. Further still, there is the habit of
disposing of difficulties by resorting to averages or to conjectural corrections.
Illustrations of these various mistaken methods will presently be given. Any
of these processes may have a certain genuine value, but none of them give facts.
If we cannot get at the facts without them, then the only thing to do is to confess
that we do not know the facts.
b. Perhaps the worst of all the schemes of this kind are the compromise
chronologies which have appeared in some Teachers' Bibles and in other helps
to Bible study. A date in the terms of the Ussher chronology, whether correct
or incorrect, is at least a definite date. A date in the terms of a scheme which
cuts out a section from the Ussher chronology for the times of the judges, and an
other for the times after Solomon, may supposably be a definite date. But a date
that is based on a compromise between the two has nothing to recommend it.
Unfortunately, a good deal of compromise dating has found its way into our litera
ture on the Bible.
23. Bible Chronology as Compared with That of Assyria and Babylonia.  So

LIMITS AND VALUE OF BIBLE CHRONOLOGY 17
far as the matter can be traced they are in very exact agreement, except in one
exceedingly important matter.
a. The reign of Asshur-daan III of Assyria was contemporary with the lat
ter part of that of Uzziah of Judah. The first year of Asshur-daan was the year
that began in March of B. C. 772. In June of his tenth year occurred an eclipse,
which astronomical computation has fixed as in June of B. C. 763. Back to these
dates the cord of continuous chronology has from eight to a dozen firm strands,
and is unbreakable.
One strand is the Assyrian eponym canon, covering this period from about
B. C. 640 backward. A second strand is the fact that the Assyrian kings are
in many cases expressly said to be either father and son, or otherwise in immediate
succession. A third strand is the fact that of several of these kings we have annals
mentioning their exploits year by year. A fourth strand is supplied for parts
of the period in other dated Assyrian events. A fifth strand is Ptolemy's canon
of Babylonian kings, back to B. C. 747. A sixth is found in the synchronous
histories of Babylonia and Assyria, verifying many particular points in the line. A
seventh (though imperfect) strand consists of other dated Babylonian or Egyptian
events. An eighth strand is the long numbers given by Sennacherib and Naboni
dus and others. A ninth is the biblical chronological numbers. A tenth is the
biblical events interpreting and confirming the numbers. An eleventh is the
long numbers of the Bible and Josephus. A twelfth is the astronomical calcula
tion of the eclipse of Asshur-daan. Others might be specified in addition.
b. In the earlier period covering the time from Asa, king of Judah, to the
earlier years of Uzziah's predecessor, Amaziah, there are synchronisms just as
exact, though the cord has fewer strands. The Assyrian canon covers this period.
There are several Assyrian kings who claim to be father and son, or otherwise in
immediate succession. Some of them have left annals, celebrating their exploits
year by year. We know of other events in their reigns less systematically dated.
There are Babylonian synchronisms. And in the middle of this period Shalmanezer
II claims that in his sixth year he defeated Benhadad and Ahab, and that in his
eighteenth year he received tribute from Jehu. A reference to the table will show
that the sixth year of Shalmanezer was the twenty-first of Ahab, and his eighteenth
year the accession year of Jehu, and that it is impossible to move the synchronism
even one year forward or, backward.
c. For these periods the different lines of testimony, Assyrian, Babylonian,
Ptolemaic, biblical, are sometimes spoken of as agreeing in a general way, so that
they mainly confirm one another. A reference to the details in the tables will
show that the synchronisms are exact, and not merely general, provided we count
in vernal years, and otherwise follow the principles of interpretation laid down
in the last chapter; and will further show that variant facts, difficult of explana
tion, are exceedingly rare.
Men have not been slow to infer from this the correctness of the Assyrian
chronology. Certainly it is correct, being confirmed by a multitude of facts,

1 8 DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
and by the Ptolemaic and biblical chronologies, and by astronomical calculation.
This condition of things is equally a confirmation of the correctness of Ptolemy's
canon. But we should not neglect the fact that it is also equally a confirmation
of the correctness of the biblical data. Strange to say, this has been overlooked.
At these lines of contact the biblical chronology stands on the same footing of es
tablished correctness with the others.
d. Different is the period between the two Assyrian kings Ramman-nirari
III and Asshur-daan III, from the middle of the reign of Amaziah to the latter
part of the reign of Uzziah. For this interval the Assyrian canon has only the
10 years of the reign of Shalmanezer III, while the biblical data seem to call for
6 1 years. How shall we deal with this apparent contradiction?
At this point the number of strands in the cord is a minimum. There is no
Ptolemaic canon, no statement as to Shalmanezer's relations to the kings who
preceded or followed him, no annals giving the yearly exploits of kings, no syn
chronous history of Babylonia and Assyria, no other significant extrabiblical
events, no astronomical computation. Of the remaining lines of evidence some
are on one side and some on the other. On the side of the shorter chronology
there is simply the list of names which constitute the canon, confirmed by certain
long numbers1 which show that some later Assyrian and Babylonian chro-
nologers regard this list as continuous. For this chronology just these two strands
here remain; all the others have vanished. In favor of the longer chronology
are the biblical numbers, confirmed by the biblical accounts of the events, and by
the long numbers found in the Bible and in Josephus (see the tables). To these
three strands another of great strength is added when we find from the Egyptian
data that the invasion of Shishak in Rehoboam's time (i Ki. 14: 25) cannot have
been as late as B. C. 927, the Assyrian date for it, but was probably at the time
indicated by the biblical date, B. C. 978 (see 250).
The two views thus indicated are discrepant by 51 years. How shall we
dispose of the discrepancy? There are probably but three alternatives that need
to be considered. Either the Assyrian state writers omitted a period of 51 years,
perhaps because the events were discreditable to Assyria ; or the biblical and Egyp
tian numbers overlap one another, and can in some way be reduced so as to agree
with the Assyrian ; or the biblical accounts are to be rejected as untrustworthy.
The third of these alternatives is at present fashionable, but clearly it ought
not to be accepted without reason. Several creditable attempts have been made
1 For example, a tablet of Sennacherib quotes a tablet of Ramman-nirari as having been
buried and found again after 101 years (Smith's Assyr. Canon, pp. 77, 205). In Sennacherib's
Bavian inscription, lines 48-50 (Rec. of Past, IX, 21), he speaks of bringing back the gods that
had been in Babylon 418 years, from the time of Marduk-nadin-ahhi, king of Akkad and
Tiglath-pilezer, king of Assyria. There are also instances of the time of the Babylonian king
Nabonidus, going back to periods much earlier (Rec. of Past, III and IV, new series). Such
data seem to prove that the later Assyrian scribes held the eponym list, as we have it to be
continuous (see instance in 26).

LIMITS AND VALUE OF BIBLE CHRONOLOGY 19
to work out the second, so far as the biblical data are concerned.1 But the first
should also be considered. Some say that the Assyrian eponym list is so well
accredited in its other parts that we are unreasonable if we doubt this part of
it. But, as we have already seen, the Bible numbers that here contradict it are
exactly as well accredited, and by the same pieces of evidence. As the canon is
merely a list of names, nothing could be easier than that 51 names might fall out
of it, either by design or by accident. This would be the easier because the num
ber of copies can never have been large, and the list was in the control of the state
scribes. If they dropped certain names, their successors would of course follow
the list as thus transmitted, and all trace of the omitted names would disappear
in two or three generations. The time in question is that of the generations
immediately preceding Tiglath-pilezer III, who was king of both Assyria and
Babylon. It is a fact that those times were disastrous to Assyria, and that the
history we have of them is obscure. It is also a fact that the traditions concern
ing the canon of Ptolemy affirm that the chronological records were tampered
with for the times before Nabonassar, the contemporary of Tiglath-pilezer, and
assign this as the reason why Ptolemy did not carry back his list further. Ad
ditional evidence may come to light, but as the case stands there is no reason
why one should surrender the biblical dates in favor of the Assyrian.
e. Back to the downfall of Samaria in B. C. 718, the chronological differences
only concern the ways of interpreting particular instances. For the time of the
reign of Ramman-nirari III and earlier, the biblical dates may be transposed into
the Assyrian by subtracting 51. For the intermediate dates the problem is not so
simple. When you crowd the events of a hundred years into fifty years, that
misplaces the events, and renders the dates uncertain.
24. Bible Chronology as Compared with Egyptian. — Modern Egyptologists
make much of astronomical data. Each advocate of a scheme regards his scheme
as having the certainty of a mathematical calculation. But there are many
schemes, and they disagree by centuries. Each chain has links of the solid steel
of astronomical computation, but they are tied together in places with rotten
twine of conjecture.
In these schemes the Sothic cycle figures largely. The Egyptians reckoned
time by a year of 365 days, while an astronomical year is 365J days nearly. Every
four years the beginning of their common year of 365 days came one day earlier
in the season, and so in the course of time it wandered through all the seasons.
Hence, this year is called the wandering or vague year. If the day when the star
Sothis first became visible before sunrise was the first day of one vague year,
it would be the second day of the vague year four years later, and so on. If some
stage of the overflow of the Nile occupied the third month of a vague year, it
would, a hundred and twenty years later, occupy the fourth month. So with
all the other phenomena of the seasons. As 1461 vague years equal 1460 astronom-
1 See, for example, the article on " Chronology " in the Bible Dictionary of Dr. John D.
Davis, or the article by the Rev. L. P. Badger in the Old Testament Student for June, 1886.

20 DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
ical years nearly, these numbers indicate the length of a complete cycle of changes.
Concerning the cycle itself there is no room for doubt. But it may be open to
question whether the Egyptian reckoning by vague years always remained unin
terrupted and uniform; and there is room for dispute as to the points of connec
tion between the cycle and the events of the history.
Two of these schemes especially require mention.
a. The first is that of Lepsius, generally accepted a few years ago by scholars
who disregarded the biblical data, including many who would object to being
so classed. A Sothic cycle known as that of Menophres terminated in 139 A. D.
(others say within the four years that began in July, 140 A. D), and therefore began
B. C. 1322. The identification of this Menophres is conjectural. But if he was
a king of Egypt, and if the name, being misspelled, is one more variant for Mer-
neptah, and if this particular Merneptah was the Amendphis to whose reign Manetho
and Josephus assign the exodus, and if they are correct in so assigning it, then the
exodus occurred about B. C. 1320. Other considerations were urged, and the
evidence was affirmed to be cumulative, and the biblical numbers inconsistent
with it were discarded. If we separate the Egyptian events from the biblical,
Lepsius held that the year B. C. 1322 was connected with the reign of Merneptah,
the immediate successor of Rameses II. Confidently as this theory was held,
it is now abandoned, though some unwittingly still give dates based upon it.
b. Its former adherents now commonly accept the theory presented by Mahler,
Edouard Meyer and others. An admirable account of this theory may be found
in Professor Breasted's Ancient Records, I, 23-48. It is based on the Sothic cycle,
with the claim that points of contact with the history have now actually been
established, and that the important dates have therefore been fixed within narrow
limits of possible variation.
Its advocates differ, however, notwithstanding their claim of being exact.
The year in which Merneptah succeeded Rameses II is fixed by Petrie as B. C.
1207, by Sayce as B. C. 1280, by Breasted as B. C. 1225. The synchronism of
Amenophis IV of Egypt with Burna-buriash of Babylon and Asshur-uballit
of Assyria, who are said by some to have flourished about B. C. 1430, formerly
used in confirmation of the Lepsian dates, is now used in confirmation of these
other dates, which differ from the Lepsian by from 40 to 120 years!
On this scheme the reign of Thutmose III of the eighteenth Egyptian dynasty
is astronomically fixed as beginning May 3, B. C. 1501 (Anc. Rec. I, 31), and various
other events are dated with the same exactness. We shall presently see that
this is in contradiction with accepted historical facts, and that the alleged basis
for astronomical calculations is wrongly placed, so that the whole scheme needs
readjustment. 25. Egyptian Minimum Dates. — Certain facts concerning Egypt, gradually
accumulated during the past few decades, are of great value for testing the schemes
that have been presented. On the monuments are mentioned dated events of
the reigns of many of the kings. By collating these we may obtain a minimum

LIMITS AND VALUE OF BIBLE CHRONOLOGY 21
number ior the years of a period. If the ninth year of a king is mentioned on the
monuments, that shows that he reigned at least those nine years, though it does
not show how many more years he reigned. Working on this basis, we have some
very solid facts, provided we use them correctly. Of especial importance is their
bearing on the questions concerning Sheshonk I (Shishak), the first king of the
Egyptian twenty-second dynasty, and concerning the eighteenth and nineteenth
dynasties. a. Shishak was contemporary with Solomon (1 Ki. 11 :4o), and invaded Judah
the fifth year of Rehoboam (1 Ki. 14: 25). According to the Egyptian records
this invasion was not later than the twentieth year of Shishak. The biblical
numbers place it in B. C. 978, and the Assyrian in B. C. 927. Which date do the
Egyptian records support?
According to the Assyrian records, supported by the biblical, Shabaka, the
So of the Bible, the first king of the twenty-fifth Egyptian dynasty, was on the
throne when Sargon invaded Palestine in B. C. 720. How long he had then reigned
we are not told. Call the date of his accession B. C. 720 plus x. Add to it the
minimum years for the preceding kings back to Shishak, and we shall have a mini
mum date for Shishak. 'In doing this we will use Professor Breasted's numbers
for the minimum years.
Accession of Shabaka.  B.C. 720 plus x
Twenty-fourth dynasty, years  6
Twenty-third dynasty  37 plus $x
Twenty-second dynasty  230%>lus 6x
Accession of Shishak  B. C. 993 plus lox
We have the data for a variant form of this computation. Tirhakah, the second
king after Shabaka, was on the throne (2 Ki. 19: 9) at the time of Sennacherib's
invasion, B. C. 701.
Accession of Tirhakah  B.C. 701 plus x
Previous kings of the dynasty, years.. 24
Accession of Shabaka  B.C. 725 plus x
Accession of Shishak  B. C. 998 plus \ox
This expression for the date of Shishak has the same value with the other,
the five years added to the numeral being taken from the x.
To get the true date we must augment the 998 by the value of the iox, and
must diminish it by the amount of another unknown quantity, namely the number
of the years that are counted twice by reason of overlapping reigns. Professor
Breasted estimates the latter at 30 years, and we provisionally accept his estimate.
But what is the numerical value of the ioz? that is, making averages, how
long did Shabaka or Tirhakah, respectively, reign before their respective defeats
by Sargon and Sennacherib? and in the case of nine other kings, how long did
each reign after the latest monumental date concerning him which we moderns
have happened to discover? The average highest date for the nine is less than
21 years. It is not unlikely that the average length of their reigns was several

22 DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
years more than that. It is very improbable that in all nine cases the latest date
that explorers have happened to find is one near the close of the reign. Certainly
the average value of x cannot be less than two or three or four years. In fine,
if we could ascertain all the values, it is probable that the additions and the sub
tractions would nearly balance, leaving the number 998 not greatly changed as
that of the year of the accession of Shishak.
If Shishak became king B. C. 998, and if, as has been commonly held, the
invasion occurred twenty years later, this date exactly synchronizes with that of
the biblical numbers. No significance, however, attaches to the exactness of
the synchronism, because there are elements of uncertainty in the Egyptian
numeral ; but great significance attaches to the point that the Egyptian facts thus
indicate a date which cannot possibly be very different from that given in the
Bible. Yet more significant is the point that these same Egyptian facts prove
the Assyrian date for the same events to be incorrect by several decades.1
It is astonishing that Egyptologists should still hold to the correctness of
the Assyrian dates for this period. How can they do it? One scholar does it
in this way: first, he estimates the Egyptian co-reigns and other overlaps at
thirty years, in which he is perhaps correct. Second, he cancels all the x values,
tacitly assuming that the last date found on the monuments for any reign indi
cates the last year of that reign — a false assumption, of course. Third, in contra
diction with the Assyrian and the biblical records, he makes the first year of Shabaka
to be B. C. 712, and that of Tirhakah B. C. 688. Fourth, he arbitrarily drops
10 years from the minimum dates for the twenty-third dynasty. Arithmetic
of this type does not commend itself.
b. It is a simple process to extend this computation back to the time of the
eighteenth dynasty, and to test by it the date (May 3, B. C. 1501) assigned for
the accession of Thutmose III, noting that the other alleged exact dates of the
scheme stand or fall with this. The data, except the first item, are from Professor
Breasted. Beginning of twenty-second dynasty  B. C. 998 nearly
Twenty-first dynasty, years  134 plus 6x
Twentieth dynasty  102 plus $x
Interim, " many years"  y
Nineteenth dynasty  139 plus dx
Eighteenth dynasty from accession of Thutmose... 147 plus 3X
Accession of Thutmose III  B. C. 1520 plus lox plus y
In the numbers for these last four dynasties the reductions for overlapping
reigns have already been made, so that no further reductions are in order. No
comment is necessary. Putting any value you please upon x, the numerals prove
conclusively that the accession of Thutmose was a good many decades before
1 The hypotheses that Sargon's Shabaka was some one earlier than the known king of
that name, and that Tirhakah's encounter with Sennacherib occurred before he became king
are unsupported.

LIMITS AND VALUE OF BIBLE CHRONOLOGY 23
B. C. 1 50 1, and consequently that the alleged basis for astronomical computation
does not exist.
To this some one will reply that the Assyrian date for the accession of Shishak
is to be accepted, even at the cost of rejecting the biblical and Egyptian testi
mony. Substitute the Assyrian date, about B. C. 947, for the 998 in the above
computation, and the result will become B. C. 1469 plus 20* plus y. As the value
of y is not a few years, but "many years," and as the average value of x can hardly
be less than 2 or 3 or 4 years, we still have a minimum far above the B. C. 1501
assigned by the theory for the accession of Thutmose III. This conclusion be
comes yet more decided when we look at certain details concerning the twentieth
and twenty-first Egyptian dynasties (see 26, 35). Probably the Egyptian
Sothic chronology has value, but its true interpretation is yet to be learned.
c. But if the time allowance of the current schemes of Egyptian chronology
for this period is thus too small, do not the Egyptian data equally prove that
the time allowance in the Bible is much too long?
The common opinion is that the exodus occurred shortly before the close
of the nineteenth dynasty. The biblical data give us nearly an even 500 years
from then to the accession of Shishak. Professor Breasted's estimate for the
same period is about 260 years. Is not the larger number in contradiction with
Egyptian facts?
The Egyptian events include the reigns of nineteen or twenty kings, the rule
of a Syrian usurper, and "many years" of anarchy. The reports of the total
in the different copies of Manetho range from 249 to 308. The monuments show
that Manetho's numbers in the case of some of the kings are too small. For the
kings, leaving out the usurper and the time of anarchy, Professor Breasted's mini
mum total of years is 2365 plus 1 ix. Certainly this showing does not strikingly
confirm the biblical representation, but it does not necessarily contradict it. The
500 years is not an excessively long period for twenty reigns or more. If we knew
more about the reigns we should be better qualified to judge. Additional informa
tion may show us that the events filled the full 500 years. We shall presently
find that the Babylonian long numbers affirm this.
Both now and in the past there have been those who assigned the exodus
to some earlier Egyptian dynasty. That is a matter to be decided on its own merits .
but it is not a necessity in order to the defense of the biblical statements.
26. Bible Chronology as Compared with the Earlier Babylonian and Assyrian. —
Prominent among the data are the Babylonian lists of kings, and certain long
numbers. a. The lists of kings, existing some centuries before Christ, reckoned eight
dynasties before that in which Ptolemy's canon (see 8c) begins. Of these
lists certain parts are now accessible, partly as the result of piecing together the
fragmentary contents of different copies.1
1 See books of reference. Very convenient is the account given by Sayce in Records of
the Past, new series, Vol. I.

24 DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
Of the first dynasty, that of Hammurabi, the names and years of all the n
kings, with a mutilated footing. The sum is 304 years.
Of the second dynasty the names and years of all the 1 1 kings, with the foot
ing 368 years.
Of the third dynasty the names or the years, much mutilated, of 22 of the
36 kings, the middle 14 names being entirely gone; and the footing 576 years and
9 months. For the fourth dynasty there were 12 lines, giving the names and years of
1 1 kings, and a footing. There remain the years of the first 2 kings, and mutilated
parts of the lines for the last 4, with the footing 72 years and 6 months.
Of the remaining dynasties it is sufficient to say here that the records are too
mutilated to give a continuous chronology. At points there is material from
other sources for supplementing the lists of the several dynasties.
b. To bridge over the broken places in these lists scholars resort to certain
long numbers that are found in the records. The following numbers of this class
bear on the period covered by the biblical chronology.
First, Sennacherib says that in B. C. 689 he brought from Babylon certain
gods that had been carried there 418 years previously by Marduk-nadin-ahhi,
king of Babylon, the contemporary of Tiglath-pilezer I, king of Assyria. Count
ing inclusively, 689 plus 418 equals 1106; that is, it was in B. C. 1106 that the
gods were carried to Babylon, and this gives us a date for these two contemporary
kings. Second, Sennacherib says that at the same date he brought from Babylon the
seal of Tukulti-ninip, which had gone there with that king 600 years before. The
600 is a round number, and is doubtless a little larger than the exact number.
This gives us a date in the reign of Tukulti-ninip not long after B. C. 1288. The
Babylonian contemporary must have been one of the kings whose name has been
lost from the lists of the third dynasty.
Third, Nabonidus, B. C. 555-539, says that he rebuilt a temple which had
not been rebuilt for 800 years, from the time of Shagashalti-buriash, the son of
Kudur-bel, the king. This gives the date about B. C. 1345 for the younger of
these two kings of Babylon. Their names are among those that have been lost
from the list of the third dynasty.
Fourth, Marduk-nadin-ahhi, mentioned in the first instance above, was proba
bly the king whose mutilated name appears ninth in the list of the fourth dynasty.
His reign of 1$ years closed 22 years before the close of the 72^ years of the dynasty.
As Tiglath-pilezer claims to have defeated him in two separate campaigns, his
victory over Assyria must have been earlier than the defeats, that is, in his ac
cession year. Accession of Marduk-nadin-ahhi  B. C. 1106
Previous years of fourth dynasty (72^ less 24^2)  48
Third dynasty, years nearly  577
Second dynasty  368
First dynasty from the accession of Hammurabi  192
Accession of Hammurabi  B. C. 2291

LIMITS AND VALUE OF BIBLE CHRONOLOGY 25
Fifth, Asshur-bani-pal, king of Assyria B. C. 668-626, who had wars with
Elam about B. C. 649, says that he brought back to her place the goddess Nana,
who had been in exile in Elam 1635 years. The carrying of her to Elam may
easily have been an incident of the Elamite wars that marked the earlier part of the
reign of Hammurabi, and this agrees well with Asshur-bani-pal's figures, for 649
plus 1635 equals 2284, a date 7 years after that just found for the accession of
Hammurabi. Sixth, Nabonidus1 informs us that Hammurabi preceded by 700 years Burna-
buriash, king of Babylon, the contemporary of Asshur-uballit, king of Assyria,
and of Amenhdtep IV of Egypt. Counting from accession to accession, 2291
minus 700 equals 1591, the approximate date in years B. C. of Burna-buriash.
As we have here a round number, and considerable room for variation, call this
date about B. C. 1600.
According to the long numbers we have therefore a series of dates: B. C.
1106, about B.C. 1288, about B.C. 1345, about B. C. 1600, B.C. 2291. Considerable
parts of the chronological line indicated by these points can be filled out in detail,
and on the whole the long numbers are confirmed by the details which we pos
sess. c. But this relatively simple solution of the problem does not at present
command a consensus of opinion among scholars. Professor Hommel (Ancient
Hebrew Tradition, p. 120) gives a table of variant opinions concerning the acces
sion of Hammurabi, in which the dates range from B. C. 1923 to B. C. 2394. In
his article on Babylonia in the Dictionary of the Bible, he abandons all these num
bers, dating Hammurabi B. C. 1772-17 17. How shall we account for these differ
ences ?
First, Professor Hommel and some others hold, I think correctly, that the
third dynasty immediately succeeded the first, the second dynasty being contem
porary. This reduces the date of Hammurabi by 368 years. By the figures given
above, it becomes B. C. 2291 less 368, thatis, B. C. 1923. The 1635 of the fifth
instance above and the 700 of the sixth instance are to be similarly reduced, as
it is evident that the chronologers counted in the 368 years of the second dynasty.
The other long numbers remain unaffected.
Second, the other differences of opinion are due to inferential or conjectural
corrections of the data. Especially has conjecture exerted itself, without accom
plishing anything like a consensus of opinion, to harmonize these Babylonian
and Assyrian data with the alleged Egyptian astronomical chronology (see 24).
But there is also a genuine difficulty with the data themselves.
According to the long numbers the accession of Burna-buriash was about
1600 B. C, and that of Tukulti-ninip cannot have been much earlier than 1300
B. C. For the intervening 300 years we know of but five Assyrian kings, and
it is incredible that five successive reigns should average sixty years each. The

1 In a document published by C. Bezold in the Proceedings of the Society of Biblical
Archeology, January 8, 1889, pp. 84ff.

26 DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
argument is strengthened by the claims made by some of these kings to the re
lation of father, son, grandson, though it is possible in some of the cases that the
terms are used to denote a more remote ancestry. For perhaps the first 120
years of the 300 our information concerning Assyrian history is somewhat full ;
it is a blank for what the long numbers represent to be the century and a half after
that. For that same century and a half our information concerning Babylonia
consists mainly in blanks in the list of the third dynasty, supplemented by what
Nabonidus says concerning Kudur-bel and Shagashalti-buriash. No wonder
that many assume the non-existence of a large part of this century and a half,
and try to correct the data accordingly.
d. This becomes more significant when we compare the eastern data with
the- biblical and the Egyptian. The blank century and a half corresponds in part
with the times of the judges, and with those of the twentieth Egyptian dynasty.
There is plausibility in the idea that the biblical chronology needs to be shortened
at this point. Counting the forties which so abound at this period as round
numbers, one might supposably reduce the time by several decades without posi
tively discrediting the Bible numbers.
But no one has done this successfully, and at present there are no sufficient
data for doing it accurately. When additional information comes in, it is quite
as likely to be of such a nature as to fill out the blank spaces and confirm the
long numbers as to be of any other nature. For the present the only thing to do
is to record the facts as the testimony gives them. If the testimony is to be cor
rected, that can be attended to when correcting evidence is found. As the record
stands, the date for Hammurabi is B.C. 1923, that for Burna-buriash about 1600,
that for Shagashalti-buriash about 1345, that for Tukulti-ninip about 1288, that
for Marduk-nadin-ahhi 1 106. These numbers are those of the Assyrian chronology.
To conform them to the biblical chronology as given in my tables, add in each
case 51 years.
27. A Generalization. — The principal question at issue between the biblical
chronology and the recent adverse schemes is whether the Bible makes the time
too long. Does it interpolate 51 years for the times after Solomon? Does it
interpolate two centuries and more for the times between Joseph and Solomon?
On this question we throw out the argument from the Egyptian Sothic cycle
as not having yet been properly connected with the events. This done, all the
positive testimony, biblical, Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian, favors the longer
chronology. All the evidence in favor of the shorter may be resolved into three
groups of negative facts.
First, the Assyrian eponym list omits 51 years in the time after Solomon,
and the later Assyrian and Babylonian chronologers follow the list as thus short
ened. This is merely negative proof, and we found it sharply contradicted by
positive facts from Egyptian sources (see 25a) as well as by the Bible.
Second, the lists and accounts we have of the twentieth and twenty-first Egyp
tian dynasties only account for a part of the time which the biblical records claim

LIMITS AND VALUE OF BIBLE CHRONOLOGY 27
between the exodus and Solomon. Again the proof is merely negative. If we
had the lists and accounts more in full they might account for more of the time.
Third, for a part of the same period the Assyrian documents, and for a shorter
part the Babylonian, fail to fill out all the time called for by the biblical chronology
(see 26c, d). Yet again, the fact affords only negative proof. The next news from
the Orient may supply some of the missing material. To some extent the Egyp
tian records are full when the Babylonian are empty, and vice versa. It is only
for a few decades that both are empty at the same time.
These omissions cannot be accepted as invalidating the positive evidence we
possess of the essential correctness of the Bible chronology.

Chapter V

The Tables

28. General Considerations. — a. I am afraid that some one will look at these
tables and say that they are crowded with details, and too complicated to be of
use. If such a one will fix his eye on the columns of events and of the Christian
era, he will see that these by themselves constitute the simplest possible table,
and that they can be used without paying attention to the rest. If after a time
he should take an interest in finding reasons, or in studying differences of opinion,
he will find that then the rest of the contents will be of use to him.
b. The tables have of course been made out from the point of view of one
who regards the biblical accounts as true history. But one who does not so regard
them yet needs to study them in the light of their time data, and to study the
problem of their time data itself.
c. The tables are properly tables of Old Testament chronology. The reason
for continuing them to include later times is to show the connection of the later
times with the Old Testament narrative.
29. The Divisions of the History and of the Chronology. — a. The division of
the history, as expressed in the Old Testament itself, is into four periods. The
first six books sketch what the writers regard as the formative period, terminating
with the establishment of Israel and Israel's sanctuary and institutions in the prom
ised land. The books of Judges and Ruth and Samuel sketch the period when
the institutions were fluctuating and the sanctuary wandering. The books of
Kings treat of the third period, during which they represent that the sanctuary
was fixed, was the permanent temple in Jerusalem. Notice that they do not
begin with the establishment of the monarchy, nor with David, but with the ar
rangements for building the temple. The connected series of books known as
1 and 2 Chronicles and Ezra and Nehemiah first makes a review of the three
preceding periods, and then treats of a fourth period, that of the postexilian
restoration of the sanctuary.
b. The divisions of the chronology are somewhat different. One method
prevails for the first period of the history. A second begins, overlapping a little,
at the beginning of the second period ; and a third begins, not at the close of the
second period but at the death of Solomon, and the disruption of the kingdom
which followed. It is convenient to treat these divisions of the chronology as
three separate though connected eras. The first is the era of the migration of
Abraham to Canaan (A. Mig.). The second is the era from the transit of Israel
across the Jordan under Joshua (A. T. J.). The third is the era of the disruption
of the kingdom (A. Di.).
30. The Columns of Numerals. — The heart of the graphic representation in
the tables lies in the columns of numerals in the middle of the right-hand page. The

THE TABLES 29
column to the right serves as a standard by which to measure the others, and is
printed in heavy-faced type. To the left are other columns, presenting the chrono
logical data as given in the Bible and other sources, and the dates B. C. The
number of columns varies, as many being used for any period as the data of that
period require.
On each side of the columns are heavy vertical lines, made up of alternating
black and white spaces corresponding to the horizontal lines of figures. Each
horizontal line represents a year. There are twenty-five lines on a page, that be
ing in many ways a convenient number for use.
Notice in particular the standard column. Many are accustomed to use ex
clusively the years of the Christian era as a standard for fixing dates. But that
is always inconvenient for the times before the beginning of the era, because of
the processes of subtraction which it requires; and it becomes particularly incon
venient when we get back to the times when the dates in years B. C. are in dis
pute. For these reasons, though I have extended a B. C. column throughout
the tables, I have not made that the standard for the earlier times, but
have used for that purpose the years of the three eras into which Old Testament
chronology naturally divides itself. It is convenient to note that the black spaces
in the heavy vertical lines are opposite the odd years in the standard, and the
white spaces opposite the even years. The years B. C, though provisional for
the earlier centuries, serve to bind the three eras together into a continuous course
of time. 31. The Explanatory Columns. — a. In the wide column to the right of the
numerals are placed the dated Israelitish events mentioned in the history, each
event opposite the numeral which indicates its date. An interrogation point
indicates that the dating is only a probable inference, or a conjecture.
b. The wide column to the left of the numerals is a similar record of syn
chronous events in other nations than Israel.
c. The right-hand column of the left-hand page is a resumed with references,
of the biblical statements that contain the dates. In the left-hand column are
placed such additional matters as it has seemed best to present.
32. The Use of the Tables. — They present to the eye a complete topical list
of the dated events of the history, arranged in the order of time, together with
the dates of the events and the intervals by which they were separated.
In the right-hand column select any event and follow the line across the page,
and you will find its date in terms of a biblical era ; the numbers that justify that
date ; its actual or provisional date in terms B. C. ; synchronous events in other
nations; the biblical or other data on which these conclusions are based.
Necessarily some of the pages are crowded, while others are nearly blank. But
this is in itself an important part of the presentation to the eye. Nothing could
more sharply distinguish the eventful parts of the history from the uneventful.
33. Accession Dates. — It is a necessity of the plan of tabulation that in the
tables the numeral 1 stands opposite the "first year" of a king; not opposite

30 DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
his "accession year" unless that is also counted as his first year (see 196).
Most writers give dates from the accession year, which is commonly the year
before the first year. Hence there is often a difference of one year between the
number given in the tables and the number as commonly stated, but the differ
ence is only apparent, and not real.
34. Comparison with Other Schemes ; the Later Times. — Most of the differences
are treated in the places where they occur. A few of the most important are grouped
together here.
a. Back to the fall of Samaria there should be no chronological differences
except in matters of detail. At that point there is a difference, though there
is really no room for it. The biblical numbers give the date as B. C. 718, as any
one may see by adding them. Ussher's millennial scheme (see below) led him to
stretch the time, at this point, to "about" B. C. 721. This has led many to regard
Sargon's capture of the city in B. C. 722 as its final capture, in spite of his saying
that Samaria was two years later in alliance with other nations against him. The
traditional false date is still very commonly given, and is very misleading.
b. From the downfall of Samaria back to the accession of Amaziah the differ
ences are more important. Many of my dates differ from those of Ussher by
either 4 or 7 or 1 1 years. Ussher supposed that he knew it to be a fact that just
1000 years elapsed between the dedication of the temple and the birth of Jesus.
The Bible numbers taken at their most obvious values make the interval 1007
years. Quite plausibly, he interprets the date of the accession of Uzziah (2 Ki.
15: 1) by assuming a co- reign of Jeroboam II with his predecessor, and thus short
ens the period by n years. Later he gets back 4 of the n years, thus making
his thousand an even one. In this it seems to me that he is mistaken.
It is in this period that the conflict comes in between the biblical and the
Assyrian chronology (see above, 23). For this period I add, for comparison, a
column giving the dates B. C. on the Assyrian basis.
Back from Amaziah to Solomon my dates should be reducible to those of
Ussher by subtracting 7, and to the Assyrian by subtracting 51.
c. For the reign of David the tables have considerable that is distinctive.
His 40 J years were 41 years by the more common way of counting. He reigned
one year after his fortieth year (2 Sam. 15: 7; 1 Chron. 26: 31). Absalom's re
bellion occurred in David's forty-first year, and most of the preparations for the
temple occurred earlier. The bringing up of the ark to Jerusalem was after David's
conquests and his great sin. See the details in the notes on the tables. The
chronology is of course affected by these views as to the order of the events.
35. Comparison with Other Schemes; the Middle Period. — As my tables add
7 to Ussher's date for the disruption of the kingdom, so of course they continue to
add the 7 for all the time previous. They also differ from Ussher in recognizing
the separate block of the chronology found in the forty-year periods when the land
was "quiet" (Jud. 3: 11, 30, 5: 31, 8: 28). In this block the other numbers used
are included in the forty-year period «.

THE TABLES 31
The question arises whether there are four of these periods or five; that is,
whether the eighty in Judges 3 : 30 does or does not include the preceding forty,
With this goes the question whether the 480 in 1 Kings 6 : 1 is counted from the
beginning of the 40 years of the exodus, or from the end. I have heretofore ex
pressed in print the opinion that there were five of these periods, and that the
count in Kings is from the close of the exodus period. It now seems to me safer,
however, to follow the shorter count, especially as there is in any case a provisional
element in the results reached.
For the period from Joshua to Solomon some chronologists have demanded
a much longer time, while the prevailing feature of the modern schemes is to
shorten the biblical computation by two centuries or more.
We have already considered this in our discussion of the Egyptian and Baby
lonian chronologies (above, 24, 25, 26). The 480 years (1 Ki. 6: 1) cannot be
greatly shortened except on the basis of the wholesale rejection of the biblical
numbers. 36. Comparison with Other Schemes ; the Earlier Times. — For the times before
the death of Moses the differences of opinion are wide.
a. Except as modifying elements enter, my dates for this period may be re
duced to those of Ussher by subtracting 7. For comparison with dates drawn
exclusively from Assyrian or Babylonian sources, the tabular numbers should be
reduced by 5 1 , with modifying elements in some instances.
b. My tables agree with Ussher in regarding the 430 years of the sojourn
in Egypt (Ex. 12:40, 41) as beginning when Abraham came to Canaan. This
is the traditional interpretation, explicitly stated in the Septuagint and Josephus,
and apparently followed by Paul (Gal. 3:17;. The 400 of Genesis 15: 13 seems
to be a round number to the same effect, beginning at about the time when the
message was given to Abraham. This way of counting, in which the initial ter
minus is left to inference, is not unknown in the Bible (see igd). "The
fourth generation" of Genesis 15: 16 is to be interpreted by such a succession as
Levi, Kohath, Amram, Aaron, or Kohath, Amram, Aaron, Eleazar, successions
in which four exceptional generations actually spanned the time of the sojourn
in Egypt. Some scholars, however, count the 430 years as occupied with the actual
sojourn in Egypt, thus lengthening the whole period by more than 200 years.
c. Among scholars who regard Abraham as a historical person there is a
very general consensus to the effect that he was contemporary with Hammurabi,
the distinguished king of Babylonia, the Amraphel of Genesis 14 (see 2&).1
The Assyrian and Babylonian long numbers, uncorrected, give us B. C.
1923 Assyrian, that is, B. C. 1974 in my tables, as the first year of Hammurabi
(see 26b). On this basis the migration of Abraham to Palestine was
1 On Hammurabi and Abraham see, among other works, Hommel's Ancient Hebrew
Tradition ; Pinches, Old Testament in the Light of the Historical Records of Assyria and
Babylon ; Clay, Light on the Old Testament from Babel.

32 DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
in the forty-sixth year of Hammurabi. One could assign plausible reasons for
correcting the data somewhere, so as to put the migration earlier in Hammurabi's
reign. But the data for a well-founded correction are lacking. As matters stand,
one should not be too dogmatic as to the dates B. C. In any case the synchro
nism is real.
37. Corollaries. — a. The biblical chronology is not yet superseded. Irre
spective of religious questions it deserves to be carefully studied, if only for the
light it throws on the results of modern explorations.
b. There is no biblical chronology for the times before Abraham. The pre-
Abrahamic tables of numbers (Gen. 5 and 11: 10-25) are ethnical and not
biographical, and we have no key to the duration of time intended in them. On
the basis of the Babylonian long numbers, and on other grounds, it is now com
monly held that there were civilizations in the valleys of the Euphrates and of
the Nile some thousands of years before Abraham.
c. Our chronological results are valuable even when they are more or less
provisional. For the times before the downfall of Samaria there is no agreement
among scholars as to the dates in years B. C. of the Old Testament events, and
many of the dates commonly given are misleading. The further back we go the
more pronounced are the differences. For the times of the judges scholars differ
by hundreds of years, and yet more for the time of the sojourn in Egypt and for
the earlier times. Nevertheless, in most cases the order of even the earlier events
can be ascertained, and they can be dated relatively to each other and to events
occurring in foreign nations, even when these dates cannot be fixed in the terms
of our era. We can find blocks of correctly known chronology, even when the
blocks are not continuous. Synchronisms constitute the most important element
in chronology, and the synchronisms given in my tables ought to be accepted,
most of them, even by persons who hold different theories as to the dates in years
B.C. 38. For the Assyrian, Babylonian, and Egyptian matters in this volume I
have made many references to the series of little books entitled Records of the
Past, to George Smith's Assyrian Canon and Assyrian Discoveries, and to Schrader.
I hope that I have not in any instance failed to verify my statements by more
recent works. I have retained these references, partly for the convenience of
using notes made long ago, but principally because in these volumes one can go
as near to the original sources as an honest translation brings him, and because
I suppose that these are still the most accessible works in English which will enable
one to do this.

TABLES

OF

OLD TESTAMENT CHRONOLOGY

FIRST TABLE

ABRAHAM TO JOSHUA

36

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
In explanation of the Tables see Intro
duction, especially Chapter V.
a The column B. C. is marked with an in
terrogation point as being provisional (Int.
Chap. IV). The proof for the numbers
given consists in tracing them back from
some point that is undisputed, B. C. 604
for example.
The years contemplated in the tables are
vernal years, beginning in March, at a new
moon near the spring equinox (Int. Chap.
III). b The abbreviation A. Mig. stands for
Anno Migrationis, the year of Abraham's
migration to Canaan (Int. 296, 30, 31).
c The numbers in the column headed
"Abraham" denote the years of Abraham's
age. d A. Mig. 8. On this occasion Abraham
raised 318 men (Gen. 14: 14). The narra
tive throughout represents him as at the
head of a considerable clan.
e A. Mig. 9. For the numerals (Gen.
15: 13, 16) see Introduction 366.

Explanations op the Dates.
Abraham came to Canaan when he was
75 years old (Gen. 12:4).
His going to Egypt must have been at
an early date following.
His separation from Lot must have been
some years after they came to Canaan,
and some years before Lot became perma
nently identified with Sodom,
Abimelech's attempt to marry Sarah
must have occurred before some of the
events of Chapter 19, and is to be placed
as early as possible. The writer first fin
ishes what he has to say concerning Lot,
and then returns to this earlier incident.
The marriage with Hagar was after 10
years' residence in Canaan (Gen. 16:3),
Ishmael was born when Abraham was
86 years old (Gen. 16: 16). Compare 99
minus 13 (Gen. 17: 24, 25).
At the circumcision Abraham was 99 years
old, and Isaac was to be born when Abra
ham was 100 (Gen. 17: 1, 17, 24, 21), the
season after the theophany at Mamre
(Gen. 18: 10, 14), which occurred just be
fore the destruction of Sodom. The three
events belong to the same year, or prac
tically the same.

THE TABLES

37

Foreign Dated Events.

<3
d m
A..

< <
tiPS
<

6

Il928

75

1 1

0l927

76

2 f

1 1926

77

3 Ij

f]l925

78

4 1

Il924

79

5 1

[Il923

80

6 1

11922

81

7 1

H1921

82

8 1

11920

83

9 1

N1919

84

10 [

11918

85

II

fll917

86

12 f

Il916

87

13 1

Pl915

88

14 f

11914

89

15

Pl913

90

16

¦ 1912

91

17

fll911

92

18 [

Il910

93

19

H1909

94

20

Il908

95

21 \

Pl907

96

22

¦ 1906

97

23 |

Pl905

98

24 i

¦ 1904

99

25

Israelitish Dated Events.

Shepherd kings in Egypt, as
is shown by Abraham's recep
tion there.

Hammurabi (Amraphel),king
of Babylonia, which has re
cently become powerful by the
consolidation of smaller states.
Ur and Larsa (Ellasar) and
other kingdoms have become
either subject or tributary, and
Elam has been reduced from a
superior to a subordinate posi
tion.

Abraham's first vear in Canaan (Gen.
12:1-9).
? Abraham in Egypt (Gen. 12 : 10-20).

? Separation of Lot from Abraham
(Gen. 13).
? Abimelech takes Sarah (Gen. 20).

? Abraham rescues Lot d (Gen. 14).
? Melchizedek (Gen. 14 : 18-22).
? The covenant of the parts e (Gen.
15).
Abraham marries Hagar (Gen. 16).

Ishmael born (Gen. 16 : 4-16).

\

Covenant of circumcision (Gen. 17).
Theophany at Mamre (Gen. 18).
Destruction of Sodom (Gen. 19).

38

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
o A. Mig. 28. It does not follow from
the sending away of Ishmael that Abraham
broke off relations with him. It was neces
sary that the tribe should not be torn by
doubts as to who should succeed Abraham
as its chief, but doubtless Abraham made
provision for Ishmael as his son (cf. Gen.
25:6), and for Hagar as well. It was
tragedy for Hagar, but there is no reason
for giving a needlessly harsh interpreta
tion to the incident.

Explanations of the Dates.
Isaac was born when Abraham was 100
years old (Gen. 21:5).
The sending away of Ishmael occurred
at the weaning of Isaac, and before Ishmael
was full grown. He was not so heavy but
that his mother could carry him (21:15).
Two years after the birth of Isaac answers
these conditions.
The dates for the covenant with Abime-
lech and for the birth of Moab and Ammon
are purely conjectural, except that the
events occurred at some time in these years.
Ishmael was of course grown up when
he married (Gen. 21:21). Beyond that
the date is conjectural.
At the time of the sacrifice Isaac was old
enough to carry the wood (ver. 6), a rather
heavy load. In the absence of other evi
dence I have followed Josephus (Ant. I.
xiii, 2), who says that Isaac was then 25
years old.

THE TABLES

39

Foreign Dated Events.

cj

o <<
in

< < «
<

6
a

Israelitish Dated Events.

1903

1

100

26

The birth of Isaac (Gen. 21).

1902

2

101

27

1901
3
102
28
? Ishmael sent away a (Gen. 21:8-
21).
1900 1899
4 5
103 104
29 30
? Covenant with Abimelech (Gen.
21:22-34).
? Moab and Ammon born (Gen.
19" 30-38)-
1898
6
105
31
Shepherd kings in Egypt,
and kings of the dynasty 1
of Hammurabi in Babylon. 1
1897 1896
78
106 107
32 33
1895
9
108
34
1 ? Ishmael marries an Egyptian wife.
1894
10
109
35
|l893
11
110
36
Ishmael begins gathering a
clan akin to that of Abraham,
but independent.
1892
J1891
1213
111112
3738
1890
14
113
39
i
11889
¦
15
114
40
1888
16
115
41
] 1887
17
116
42
1886
18
117
43
1
|l885
19
118
44
1884
20
119
45
1883
21
120
46
1882
22
121
47
1881
23
122
48
1880
24
123
49
1879
25
124
50
? The Isaac sacrifice (Gen. 22).
4°

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes
u, A. Mig. 63. The narrative affirms that
Sarah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Levi, Joseph,
Moses and others attained to an extraor
dinary old age. It does not represent that
people generally lived longer then than now.
The instances of great longevity are clearly
individual and exceptional, though the
biblical writers evidently think of the stock
as being exceptional for robustness and
length of life.

Explanations of the Dates
We have tolerably definite information as
to the length of the reigns of the eighteenth
and nineteenth Egyptian dynasties. As
suming that the exodus was near the close
of the nineteenth dynasty, and that its
date was B. C. 1498 (B. C. 1447 by the Assyr
ian reckoning), we can assign dates to the
Egyptian kings that are approximately
true on these assumptions. On the basis
of these dates, it will be found, the biblical
and the Egyptian events in many cases
fit very closely. Of course dates of this
kind have a wide margin of variation.
Sarah died at the age of 127 years (Gen.
23:1). As she was 10 years younger than
Abraham (Gen. 17:17), this was when he
was 137 years old.
Isaac married at the age of 40 years
(Gen. 25: 20).
To give time for Keturah's sons (Gen.
25: 1-6) to grow up before Abraham's death,
we must assume that he married Keturah
soon after the death of Sarah.

THE TABLES

4i

O

<

W <A

6 M

Foreign Dated Events.

n..

t-4

PS
<

<

Israelitish Dated Events.

Il878
26
125
51
M1877
27
126
52
11876
28
127
53
f]l875
29
128
54
Il874
30
129
55
M1873
31
130
56
|l872
32
131
57
1871
33
132
58
1870
34
133
59
1869
35
134
60
Kings of the Hammurabi
dynasty in Babylon. Am- 1
miditana claims to be "adda
(suzerain?) of the Amorite 1
region," as Hammurabi and
his Elamite predecessors had
been. j
1868 18671866
363738
135
136 137
6162 63
Death of Sarah, u. Purchase of
burial place (Gen. 23).
a
1865
39
138
64
? Abraham marries Keturah.
The clans of Moab and
Ammon beginning to form
east of the Jordan. 1
18641863
40 41
139 140
65 66
Isaac marries Rebekah (Gen. 24).
1862
42
141
67
1861
43
142
68
About this time the ex
pulsion of the shepherd kings
in Egypt, and the beginning
of the eighteenth dynasty.
1860 1859
4445
143144
6970
1858
46
145
71
]l857
47
146
72
•
1856
48
147
73
11855
49
148
74
|l854
50
149
75
42

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a A. Mig. ioo. The conception of Abra
ham or Jacob or Ishmael or Midian or Sheba
or Dedan (Gen. 25: 1-5) as the originator
of a clan is not that the person thus named
is the lineal progenitor of all the members
of the clan. He is rather their father in
the sense of being leader and protector. Some
of Abraham's sons were men of force and
ability. Aided by the powerful influence
of his father and kindred, one of these young
men would gather followers around him,
and his following would ultimately become
an important clan or group of clans.

Explanations of the Dates
The twins Esau and Jacob were born when
Isaac was 60 years old (Gen. 25: 26).
Before his death, which took place when
he was 175 years old (Gen. 25: 7), Abraham
made provision for "the sons of the concu
bines," "and he sent them away from Isaac,
his son . . . unto the east country"
(Gen. 25:6). The sons of Hagar and Keturah
must be here intended. The narrative does
not say that Abraham attended to this busi
ness all at once. Presumably, he made the
provision for Ishmael some decades earlier
than for the others. Not long before his death
he made similar provision for the sons of
Keturah, perhaps making it anticipative
in the case of the younger of them. He
dealt with them in a fatherly way, and yet
prevented their contesting the claims of
Isaac.

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44

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a A. Mig. 102. Whichever son had the
birthright would be second in command
during Isaac's life, and chief of the clan after
Isaac's death.
b A. Mig. 103. The incident of Abime-
lech and Rebekah (Gen. 26: 7-1 1) is Hke
two incidents in the life of Sarah (Gen. 12 : 11-
20, 20:2-18); and Isaac's covenant with
Abimelech, connected with the name Beer-
sheba, is paralleled in the narrative concern
ing Abraham (Gen. 26:26-33,21:22-34).
There is no reason in either case for regard
ing the narratives as mere variations of the
same story. Such incidents, if they occurred
at all, were likely to repeat themselves.
In Genesis 21 and 26 the region is called
the land of the Philistines, and the people
are called Philistines. Possibly the term
is here used only in a geographical sense,
the Philistines proper coming in later. See
at A. Mig. 444.

Explanations of the Dates.
Abraham was 175 years old at his death
(Gen. 25: 7).
From the order of the narrative we infer
that the birthright incident occurred before
the sojourn in Gerar. Perhaps Abraham's
death set the boys to thinking of the birth
right. Esau married when he was 40 years old
(Gen. 26:34),

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46

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a A. Mig. 145. Presumably Isaac in
tended the blessing as a formal recognition
of Esau as having the birthright. He re
garded Jacob's purchase of it as null, and
meant to prevent contention after his death.
Note that Jacob obtained no possession of
the birthright till after he had made restitu
tion to Esau, nor until Esau abandoned it
(Gen. 36: 6) after Isaac's death.
b It is common to assume that Jacob's
6 years of service for cattle followed with
out interval his 14 years of service for his
wives (Gen. 31:41, 38 cf. 29: 18, 20, 27, 30);
but this is not explicitly asserted in the nar
rative, and the facts show it to be impossi
ble. In the table I have averaged the inter
vals between the births of Leah's children
at two years, and have conjectured four
years for the interval during which she was
not bearing.

Explanations of the Dates.
Jacob's fraud for the blessing was com
mitted just before he went to Paddan-aram.
The date of his going thither is fixed by the
fact that he was 130 years old when he went
to Egypt (Gen. 47: 9). For details look up
that date, and trace the dates back from it,
in the tables. Joseph was 38 when Jacob
was 130; Dinah was a young lady when
Joseph was 6 years old; Leah bore six chil
dren older than Dinah, besides an interval
when "she left off bearing." These facts
fix a minimum for the time. The maximum
is fixed by the fact that Rachel bore a son
after the return to Canaan. Jacob's wait
ing 7 years for her suggests that she was but
a child when they first met. b
Esau's alliance with Ishmael was probably
not delayed long after Jacob's departure.
Probably, though not necessarily, it took
place before Ishmael himself died at the
age of 137 (Gen. 25:17). As Ishmael was
born A. Mig. 12, this would be. A Mig. 148.

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48

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a A. Mig. 159. After his 14 years of ser
vice for his two wives Jacob seems to have
had a period of drifting. Doubtless he re
mained with Laban, but he was a demoral
ized man, and he afterward counted these
years as nothing. He was recalled to self-
respect by Jehovah's kindness to him in
giving him Joseph.

Explanations of the Dates.
By way of reasons for the dates see
references in the table, and the explanations
and notes on the preceding pages.

THE TABLES

49

cj

a0

<

6 H

Foreign Dated Events.

pq

<
1-1

CO
M

<i

Israelitish Dated Events.

|l778

67

126

151

Jl777
68
127
152
? Jacob's 7th year of service for
Rachel.
1776
J1775
6970
128129
153 1
154
? Jacob marries Leah and Rachel
(Gen. 29: 20 ff).
? Birth of Reuben (Gen. 29: 32).
1774
71
130
155
? Birth of Simeon (33).
J1773
72
131
156
1772
73
132
157
? Birth of Levi (34).
1771
74
133
158
Kings of the Kassite dy
nasty in Babylonia, and of
the eighteenth dynasty in
Egypt.
17701769 1768
757677
134135136
159160161
? 14th year of service of Jacob, a
? Birth of Judah (35).
? Leah's years of waiting begin (35)
? Dan born of Bilhah (Gen. 30: 1-6)
?Gad born of Zilpah (9-1 1).
J1767
78
137
162
? Naphtali born of Bilhah (7-8).
1766
79
138
163
?Asher born of Zilpah (12-13).
1765
80
139
164
? Reuben and themandrakes(i4-i6).
? Issachar born of Leah (17-18).
1764
81
140
165
Il763
82
141
166
? Zebulun born of Leah (19-20).
1762
83
142
167
Il761
84
143
168
? Dinah born (21).
1760
85
144
169
1759
86
145
170
1758
87
146
171 |
1757
88
147
172
1756
89
148
173
1755
90
149
174
1754
91
150
175 |
5°

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a A. Mig. 182. This scene, in which Jacob
and all his heirs join in acknowledging Esau
as lord, that is, in renouncing all claim to
the birthright, has been strangely neglected
in estimating the story.
b A. Mig. 193. When Jacob came back
from Paddan-aram he found the Shechem
and Dothan region agricultural, with flour
ishing cities. A few years later, when Joseph
went there to see his brothers, the region
seems to have been a pasturage wilderness,
with dry cisterns and other evidences of
former prosperity. Doubtless it had been
devastated, either by the Egyptians or by
their opponents, in some of the wars of
Thutmose III,

Explanations of the Dates.
Joseph was 30 years old the first of the
7 years of plenty (Gen. 41:46). Therefore
he was 38 the second year of the famine that
followed those seven years, and Jacob was
that year 130 years old (Gen. 45:6, 47:9).
This gives us the first year of the life of Jo
seph. The six years of service for cattle (Gen.
31:41). The hostile treatment of Shechem pre
ceded the solemnity at Bethel and the birth
of Benjamin (Gen. 35:5). Rachel was al
ready pregnant with Benjamin, while on
the way to Palestine (Gen. 31:34-35).
To allow room for the other events of
Chapter 38, we must place the marriage of
Judah and the birth of Er as soon as possi
ble after Jacob's return to Palestine.
Joseph was 17 when taken to Egypt
(Gen. 37:2).

THE TABLES

5i

Foreign Dated Events.

'A
Ph
wCO O
•->

n00

0 <
CO

1753

92

151

1752

1

93

152

1751

2

94

153»

1750

3

95

154

1749

4

96

155

1748

5

97

156

1747

6

98

157

1746

7

99

158

1745

8

100

159

1744

9

101

160

1743

10

102

161

1742

11

103

162

1741

12

104

163

1740

13

105

164

1739

14

106

165

1738

15

107

166

1737

16

108

167

1736

17

109

168

1735

18

110

169

1734

19

111

170

1733

20

112

171

1732

21

113

172

1731

22

114

173

1730

23

115

174

1729

24

116

175

o I— I

Israelitish Dated Events.

About this time the
wars, for 20 years, in
which Thutmose HI sub
jugated the peoples from
the Mediterranean to be
yond the Euphrates, and
afterward punished them
for attempting to throw
off the yoke.

Kings of the Kassite dy
nasty in Babylon.

The clans of Ishmael
and Midian and Medan,
under the generic name
Ishmaelite (Gen. 37:25, 27,
28, 36 and 39:1).

176 177178179
180 181182183 184 185 186187188189190
191
192 193
194
195 196197 198199
200

Birth of Joseph. The first of
Jacob's 6 years of service for
cattle (Gen. 30:22 ff).
f Sixth year. To shearing time
(Gen. 31 : 1-19).
Return to Palestine (Gen. 31:
20 ff).
Reconciliation with Esau a
(Gen. 32 and 33).
Shechem and Dinah (Gen. 34).
? Judah marries Bath-shua
(Gen. 38).
Solemnity at Bethel (Gen. 35:
1-15).
Birth of Benjamin and death
of Rachel (Gen. 35 : 16-20).
? Birth of Er (Gen. 38:3).
? Birth of Onan (Gen, 38 : 4).

Joseph taken to Egypt b (Gen.
37).
Joseph in Potiphar's house (Gen.
39)-

52

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a A. Mig. 205. Esau's great wealth after
Isaac's death was doubtless his inheri
tance from Isaac. The birthright was still
in his possession. Practically he lost it
by going to Seir (Gen. 36: 6) where his in
terests became amalgamated with those of
the relatives of his wives.
b A. Mig. 206. Joseph was not made
grand vizier, but simply head of the corn
storage department. Other heads of de
partments were like him second in rank only
to the king.
Just now some persons are persistent in
speaking of Joseph's Pharaoh as one of the
shepherd kings. A dozen points in the
narrative are inconsistent with this. For
example, horses abound, a shepherd is an
abomination to the Egyptians, the native
priesthood is in high favor.
c A. Mig. 214. Interpret the statement
that 70 persons went to Egypt by the de
tails found in Genesis 46. Probably the tribe
included some thousands in all, the seventy
being those who, later, came to be counted
as heads genealogically.

Explanations of the Dates.
Er was not old enough to marry much
earlier than A. Mig. 203, and the marriage
was not much later than that if Perez and
Zerah (Gen. 38: 27-30) were born before the
going to Egypt. (Gen. 46 : 12).
Joseph's two years (or more) in prison
directly preceded his exaltation, at the age
of 30 years (Gen. 41: 1, 46).
Isaac died at 180 years of age. Esau's
moving to Seir seems to have been soon
after. Kohath's birth is of interest for tracing
the four generations that spanned the sojourn
in Egypt. The date given is provisional, ob
tained by averaging (Ex. 6: 16, 18, 20).
Jacob was 130 years old when the tribe
went to Egypt (Gen. 47:9).
Apparently, Leah went to Egypt with her
thirty-two descendants (Gen. 46: 15). Jacob
buried her at Machpelah (Gen. 49: 31), prob
ably not long after.

THE TABLES

53

Foreign Dated Events.

w
tt CO O
i— >

BO •
CJ <!

CJ <J<!
CO

o M
<

Israelitish Dated Events.

1728

25

117

176

201

1727
26
118
177
202
1726
27
119
178
203 |
? Er marries Tamar.
1725
28
120
179
204
Joseph 2 years in prison (Gen.
39-4o).
1724
29
121
180
205
Death of Isaac (Gen. 35: 28-29)
Esau finally goes to Seir a
17231722
3031
122
123
206 207
(Gen. 36).
Joseph exalted b (Gen. 41).
First of the 7 years of plenty.
1721
32
124
208
"
1720
33
125
209
Kings of the Kassite
dynasty in Babylonia.
Perhaps Amenhotep II of
the eighteenth dynasty in
Egypt.
17191718
1717
34
3536
126127
128
210211
212
Seventh of the years of plenty.
? Perez and Zerah born (38 : 6-
3°)-
First year of famine.
? Kohath born.
1716
37
129
213
1715
38
130
214
Jacob and his clan go to Egypt c
(Gen. 42-47).
1714
39
131
215
1713
40
132
216
1712
41
133
217
? Death and burial of Leah.
1711
42
134
218
1710
43
135
219
Seventh year of famine.
1709
44
136
220
1708
45
137
221
1707
46
138
222
1706
47
139
223
1705
48
140
224 1
1704
49
141
225 |
54

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a A. Mig. 231. The narrative represents
that Jacob's funeral cortege made a cir
cuitous march, arriving at Hebron from "be
yond Jordan" (Gen. 50: 10). Supposably
this may be accounted for by the rebellions
and other disturbances which attended the
accession of Thutmose IV. These may have
just then taken such a form as to render
the shorter route impracticable.

Explanations of the Dates.
Jacob died at the age of 147 years (Gen.
47:28). After his death few notable events
are mentioned for several generations.

THE TABLES

55

Foreign Dated Events.

u

w
Ph
B

Israelitish Dated Events.

About this time, perhaps,
Amenhotep 11 succeeded by
Thutmose IV.

Kings of the Kassite dy
nasty in Babylon.

17031702
17011700 1699 16981697 1696
1695 16941693 1692 16911690 1689 1688 1687168616851684 168316821681 16801679

50 51
52 53 5455 565758 59 60 6162 63 64 65 66676869 7071 727374

142143 144 145 146
147

226
227 228229230 231232 233234235236 237 238239 240 241 242
243 244245 246247248 249 250

Death and burial of Jacob a (Gen.
48-50).

Israel in Egypt.

56

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a B. C. 1671. The wide international
movement revealed in the Amarna letters
is of great interest.
6 A. Mig. 261. The representation is that
during the sojourn Israel had especial
though not exclusive possession of the land
of Goshen, in the Nile delta; and that in
Goshen they mainly retained the character
of sheep and cattle farmers. But the ac
counts also imply that the Israelites, as
they became numerous, spread elsewhere
in Egypt, perhaps engaging in other occupa
tions.

Explanations of the Dates.

THE TABLES

57

Foreign Dated Events.

cJ M

w
p<
w CO O
i — >

d M
«i

Israelitish Dated Events.

1678

75

251 1

1677

76

252 0

1676

77

253 1

1675
78
254 M
1674
79
255 1
11673
80
256 \
About this time correspondence,
preserved in the Amarna letters,
between Kallimmasin, king of
Babylon, and Amenhotep III, king
of Egypt, a
167216711670
Jl669
81
828384
257 1
258 y
259 1
260 \
1668
85
26 1 1 Israel in Egypt. *
Also correspondence between
Egypt and nations to the north.
]l667
86
262 y
1666
87
263 1
J1665
88
264 y
1664
89
265 1
1663
90
266 y
1662
91
267 1
1661
92
268 y
1660
93
269 1
1659
94
270 n
1658
95
2711
1657
96
272 y
1656
97
2731
1655
98
274 n
1654
99
275 f
58

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a B. C. 1652. For the date of Burna-
buriash see the Introduction (266, Sixth,
and context). The date there given is about
B. C. 1600 Assyrian, which is about 1650
by the chronology of these tables.
Amenhotep IV is often spoken of as "the
heretic king." He substituted the wor
ship of Aton for that of Amon. After 5
years he took the name Ikhn-aton. He
built a new capital at Amarna, changing
from Thebes. Owing perhaps to religious
opposition, his reign was weak, and there
was a great falling away of the peoples to
the east and northeast of the Mediterranean.

Explanations of the Dates.
The birth of Amram has the same sort of
interest in the chronology with that of
Kohath (see at A. Mig. 213 and 293).
Joseph was 1 10 years old at his death.
Levi died at the age of 137 years (Ex.
6: 16).

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6o

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a B. C. 1628. Amenhotep IV reigned
more than 17 years, and was succeeded by
perhaps three weak kings, who vacillated
between Amon and At on. Then Harmhab,
a general and a man of experience in public
affairs, took the throne and ruled strongly
for more than 34 years. Perhaps he should
be counted as the first king of the nineteenth
dynasty. He restored the Amon cult.
In Assyria Asshur-uballit had as lineal
successors Bel-nirari, Budu-ilu, Ramman-
nirari I. Their reigns were probably long,
but the length is unknown. In Babylon
the successors of Kuri-galzu included the
kings Nazi-maruttash and Kadashman-
turgu. After these, the Babylonian suc
cession seems to me uncertain, and is partly
blank, and the Assyrian succession is blank.

Explanations of the Dates

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62

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
o A. Mig. 330. The accounts of the op
pression speak of the great numbers of the
Israelites in Egypt. At the exodus they
make the number to be 600,000 adult men
(Ex. 12 : 37). This number is to be interpre
ted by the two census accounts (Num. 1
and 26). As the details are in even hundreds
and thousands, clearly the enumeration is
of regiments and companies rather than of
individuals, and we naturally infer that
few of the hundreds and thousands were
full, and that many of them were far from
full. That is, a strictly individual count
would give a much smaller aggregate. The
lowest estimate, however, cannot be less
than many hundreds of thousands. As the
Israelites were characteristically rural and
pastoral in their occupations, and as they
lived mingled with other peoples, the terri
tory over which they spread must have been
some thousands of square miles. They
and their flocks had long distances to travel
when they started from their homes, at the
exodus. In forming our picture of what
took place, we should not neglect these
facts.

Explanations of the Dates.
It is evident that the oppression began
years after the death of Joseph, and years
before the birth of Moses. Probably not
early in the reign of Harmhab, and not
violent during his reign.
The exodus occurred just at the close of
the year 430 A. Mig. (Ex. 12:40, 41, see
Introduction 366). Moses was then 80
years old (Ex. 7:7). Hence the first year
of his life was 351 A. Mig., and Aaron was
born 3 years earlier. We infer that the
law for slaying the male children was made
within those three years.
Kohath died at the age of 133 (Ex.
6: 18). See notes at A. Mig. 213 and 28c.

THE TABLES

63

U

6
3

Foreign Dated Events.

m
0-.

<i

Israelitish Dated Events.

1603

326

1602
327
1601
328
1600
329
1599
330
? The oppression of Israel begins a
(Ex. 1).
1598
331
1597
332
Kings of the Kassite dynasty in
Babylon. j
1596 1595
333 334
1594
335
About this time Harmhab succeeded
by Rameses I, and he, after 2 years,
by Seti I.
15931592
336 337
1591
338
Palestine and the more distant re
gions, formerly subjugated by Thut
mose I and Thutmose III, have be
come independent, and Seti and his
son Rameses II have to reconquer
them. f
1590
15891588
339
340341
1587
342
1586
343
1585
344
1584
345
? Death of Kohath, the son of Levi.
1583
346
1582
347
1581
348
Birth of Aaron (Ex. 7 : 7).
1580
349
1579
350 [
? Law for destroying male infants
(Ex. 1 : 15-22).
64

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a A. Mig. 351. Modern treatments are
apt to ignore the biblical numerals, and
crowd the events of the infancy of Moses
into the reign of Rameses II.
The exploits of Moses as given in Josephus
include many fanciful additions to the Bible
story (Ant. II. ix-xi).
Israel continued to increase rapidly. Ap
parently the law for slaying the male in
fants fell into disuse.

Explanations of the Dates.
The exodus occurred just after the close
of the year 430 A. Mig., so near to the close
of the year that the difference is negligi
ble (Ex. 12:40, 41). The death of Moses
occurred shortly before the year's close 40
years later. Moses was 80 years old at the
beginning of the 40 years of the exodus,
and 120 years old at their close (Ex. 7:7;
Deut. 31: 2, 34: 7).

THE TABLES

65

0

cnw cn

d
3

Foreign Dated Events.

n-.

O

<

Israelitish Dated Events.

1578

1

351

Birth and infancy of Moses a (Ex.
1 : 1-2 : 10).

1577
2
352
1576
3
353
1575
4
354
1574
5
355
1573
6
356
1572
7
357
Kings of the Kassite dynasty in
Babylonia.
15711570
8
9
358
359
1569
10
360
1568
11
361
About this time begin the 67
years of Rameses II in Egypt.
1567
12
362
Israel in Egypt.
1566
13
363
1565
14
364
1564
15
365
1563
16
366
1562
17
367
1561
18
368
1560
19
369
1559
20
370
1558
21
371
1557
22
372
1556
23
373
1555
24
374
1554
25
375 1
66

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a A. Mig. 390. Jethro and his clan were
Kenites by race (Jud. 1: 16, 4: n; 1 Sam.
15:6). It is only in a geographical sense
that they are called Midianite (Ex. 2: 15,
16, 3: 1, 4: 19, 18: 1 ; Num. 10: 29).

Explanations of the Dates.
For the date when Moses went to
Midian we accept Stephen's testimony (Acts
7: 23, 30), "well nigh 40 years old."
It is correct to say that the biblical for
ties may supposably be general, but each
forty is to be considered by itself. In the
life of Moses the first 80 and the last 40 are
given as exact numbers, while the division
of the 80 into two forties is by its terms
merely general.

td

w

" hj

p

•<! s-

3

sr 3
a cn

m

I'f

IM

P

v:

13

ft

&.

><!

3
Ol toNO
Cn OJ
o
Cn OJi— *
On OJ
to
On OJOJ
OnOJ4^
On OJ
Cn
Cn OJON
Cn Oj
Cn OJ00
Cn OJ
NO
Cn 4-
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Cn 4^i — »
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Cn 4>
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On 4*
On 4^
Cn
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Cn 4-
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CnCn OJ
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4*NO
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Oo
CO COCO
CO CO
00
CO CO
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CO CO
OT
COCOC71
CO CO
COCOCO
COCOro
CO CO
COCO
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COCO
CO
COOT
CO00cn
COCO
COCOCO
CO00ro
CO 00
CO00o
COCO
CO00
CO
CO¦vjOT
A. Mig.
M 0
"~t
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f *
0Q
a
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r-D
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Crq
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X
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ON
^4
68 DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
Notes. Explanations of the Dates.
Amram died at the age of 137 (Ex. 6: 20).
See notes at A. Mig. 213, 280, 345.

THE TABLES

69

Foreign Dated Events.

m*
c>-.

oiWtn O

0w
% <

Israelitish Dated Events.

1528

51

401

1527

52

402

1526
53
403
1525
54
4041
1524
55
405
1523
56
406
1522
57
407
1521
58
408
1520
59
409
1519
60
410
Kings of the Kassite dynasty in
Babylon. |
1518
61
411
Rameses II in Egypt. 1
1517
62
412
Israel in Egypt.
1516
63
413
1515
64
414
1514
65
415
J1513
66
416
? Death of Amram.
1512
67
417
J 1511
68
418
1510
69
419
]l509
70
420
1508
71
421
Jl507
72
422
1506
73
423
Il505
74
424
|1504
75
425
DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a A. Mig. 430. Pharaoh's first rejection
of Moses occurred after the harvest, and
while the stubble (or the refuse of the
threshing floors) remained in the fields (Ex.
5: 12). The seventh of the ten plagues was
at a season such that the barley and the flax,
but not the wheat and the spelt, were de
stroyed by the hail (Ex. 9:31, 32). The
tenth plague was after the beginning of
Nisan. It follows that the narrated events
covered several months, closing nearly
with the close of the vernal year A. Mig.
43°- 6 A. Mig. 431. The Jethro division into
thousands, hundreds, etc., was the census.
It was made before the tent of meeting was
finished (Ex. 38:25-28), but officially pro
mulgated the second year (Num. 1 : 1-3
and 1: 18), "At that time" (Deut. 1 : 9, 6).

Explanations of the Dates.
A. Mig. 431, first month.
Day 10, Lamb taken (Ex. 12: 3).
14, Lamb slain (12: 6, 18).
Firstborn slain (12: 12-14).
15, They start from their homes.
? Rameses to Succoth (12: 37).
? To Etham (13: 20).
? To Pi-hahiroth (14: 2).
Crossing the Red Sea.
3 days in the wilderness (15: 22).
Marah (15: 23-26).
Elim (15: 27).
Second month, 15th day, wilderness of
Sin (16: 1).
Third month, 1st day, Sinai (19: 1).
x days, including 6 and 3 (24: 16, 19: 11).
40 days in mount (Ex. 24: 18; Deut. 9:9,
n).
40 days of intercession (Deut. 9: 18, 25).
40 days in mount (Ex. 34: 28; Deut.
10: 10).
These events filled more than half the
year. In the latter half occurred the
making of the tabernacle, the ark, etc. (Ex.
25-39), the visit of Jethro, at "the mount of
God" (Ex. 18), and the organization into
thousands, hundreds, etc. b (Ex. 18: 21-25).

THE TABLES

7i

Foreign Dated Events.

tj M

i
cn o

1503

76

1502

77'

1501

78

1500

79

1499

80

1498

81

1497

82

1496

83

1495

84

1494

85

1493

86

1492

87

1491

88

1490

89

1489

90

1488

91

1487

92

1486

93

1485

94

1484

95

1483

96

1482

97

1481

98

1480

99

1479

100

o
<i

Israelitish Dated Events.

About this time the 67 years of
Rameses II close, and the reign of
Merneptah begins.

Kings of the Kassite dynasty in
Babylon.

After a reign of more than 10
years, Merneptah is succeeded by
three other kings, reigning briefly
one after the other, and then there
are "many years" of anarchy.

About this time, or perhaps much
earlier (see Gen. Chaps. 21, 26, and
Note b on A. Mig. 103), the original
Philistines forcibly made their set
tlements on the coast. They were
Greek pirates, but they married na
tive women, and their descendants
rapidly became Semiticized in
language and civilization (see Deut.
2:23; Am. 9:7;Jer. 47 14).

426
427428429430431432
433434435436437438439440
441442443
444445
446 447
448449
450

f Moses at the burning bush, his
return to Egypt, his message
to Israel, his negotiations with
Pharaoh , the ten plagues a ( Ex .
3-i 1).
The exodus (Ex. 12-39). See op
posite page.
First day, the tent of meeting set
up (Ex. 40, especially 2, 17); the
tent, altar, furniture and priests
anointed (Ex. 40 : 9-16, cf. 29 : 7,
36; Lev. 8 : 10-12; Num. 7 : 1).
First 7 days, the priests, tent,
etc., set apart, Moses officiating
day by day (Ex. 29 : 35-37; Lev.
8-10). First 12 days, offerings (Num.
7 : 1, 10, 12 . . . 78), beginning
the day when the altar was an
ointed. 8th day, Aaron takes charge;
fire on altar (Lev. 8-9, especially
8:33-35, 9 = '; Ex. 29:35-37).
Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10).
The tribal offerings for this and
the following 4 days continue as
before. 14th day at evening, regular
passover (Num. 9 : 1-5).
Second month, first day, cen
sus published. See note b. Vari
ous arrangements (Num. 1-8).
14th day, second passover (Num.
9). 20th day, the march begun
(Num. 10). 3 days (10 : 33).
One month and more (Num.
11:19,20,21). Taberah, manna,
Eldad and Medad, quails, the
plague (Num.10-11). 7daysand
more,Miriam (Num.12). 40 days
at Kadesh (Num. 13 : 25). Sea
son of grapes, figs, pomegranates
(23), that is, about mid-year.
The years of wandering begin
(Num. 13-17); many days in
Kadesh; 38 years from Kadesh to
Zered (Deut. 1 : 46, 2 : 14).

72

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a Events of A. Mig. 471.
1st month: the command to advance
(Josh. 1 : 1-9) ; 6th day, spies in Jericho be
fore sunset (2 : 1-5) ; 7th to 9th days, the
spies in the mountain country 3 days (2: 16,
22); 7th day, notice to move in 3 days
(1: 11, 3: 2).
Conference with the two and a half tribes
(1: 12-18).
9th day: from Shittim into line along the
river (1:11, 3:2); "lodged there,'' "mor
row" (3: 1, 5 cf. 4: 19).
The night by the river (ibid, and 3:7).
Return of the spies.
10th day: the crossing (4: 19).
The re- circumcision (5: 2-15).
14th and 15th days: passover (5: 10).
1 6th day: wave-sheaf? unleavened cakes
and roast ears (5: 11-12; cf. Lev. 23: 11, 14).
7 days and more: Jericho (6: 1, 4, etc.).
Some weeks: the region north from Jeri
cho; Ai (Josh. 7-8).
7th month? Ebal and Gerizim (8: 34-
35; cf. Deut. 31: 10-13).
The Gibeonites (Josh. 9) ; battle of Gibeon
and consequences (Josh. 10).

Explanations of the Dates.
Events of A. Mig. 470.
The march north from the Elanitic region
(Deut. 2:3; Num. 33: 36).
1st month: rendezvous at Kadesh, death
of Miriam, water from the rock, message to
Edom, march from Kadesh to Hor (Num.
20: 1-22).
5th month, 1st day: death of Aaron, 123
years old (Num. 20:23-29, 33:38-39).
30 days of mourning (20: 29).
Arad, march from Mount Hor, serpent
of brass, Zered after 38 years (Num. 33 : 40-
41, 21: 1-12; Deut. 2: 14 and context).
Conquest of Sihon and Og (Num. 2 1 ;
Deut. 2-3).
The encamping in the Jordan valley,
Balaam, Beth-peor, second census, an
nouncement of the succession of Joshua,
war with Midian (Num. 22-31; Deut. 2-4).
First assignment of territory, that to the
two and a half tribes (Num. 32; Deut. 3:12-
20) ; laws for land-division, cities of refuge,
etc. (Num. 33:50-36: 13).
nth month, 1st day: the first address in
Deuteronomy, with the setting apart of three
cities of refuge (Deut. 1 : 3-4: 43 ; Num. 35 .-14).
The remaining parts of Deuteronomy pur
port to be of about the same date.
Death of Moses and 30 days of mourn
ing (Deut. 31-34; Num. 27: 12-23).

THE TABLES

Foreign Dated Events.

Israelitish Dated Events.

Kings of the Kassite dynasty in
Babylon.

In Egypt, confusion, or, perhaps,
the twentieth dynasty.

14781477 1476 1475 1474 147314721471147014691468 14671466 14651464 1463146214611460 1459
1458 14571456
14551454

101102 103 104105106 107 108109
110 111
112 113114

451452 4531454 455; 456457458459460 1
461462!
463 j
464

The middle part of the 40 years
(about 37^ years of actual time)
of the "wandering in the wil
derness." Israel exists in the
form of hundreds of small bands,
in the regions both west and
east of the eastern arm of the
Red Sea, living the hard life of
"shepherds in the wilderness"
(Num. 14:33).

115

4651

116

466 H

117

467 1

118

468 tt

119

469 1

120
Joshua. l

470 y
471 1

2

472 H

3

4731

4

474 y

5

475 1

Israel in the region of Mount Seir,
the Red Sea and Ezion-geber
(Deut. 2 : 1-3; Num. 33 : 35).
For events see opposite page.
For events see opposite page, a
? Battle of the waters of Merom
(Josh. 11).

Second assignment of territory
(Josh. 13-17). Caleb's 45 years
minus 40 (Josh. 14 : 10).

74

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a A. Mig. 476. The events are:
The locating of the Tent (Josh. 18: iff).
The surveying of the land (3-9).
Casting lots in Shiloh (18: 10-19: 51).
Giving cities of refuge (20).
Cities for the priests (21).
Return of the 40,000 (22).
Considerations of weather and business
indicate that the affair began about the
time of the autumnal feast. Within a few
weeks the citizens were probably in their
new homes, engaged in agricultural opera
tions for the coming year.
b A. Mig. 479. The earlier subjugation
of the same regions (Josh. 10) seems not to
have been sufficiently thorough.
c A. Mig. 495. Josephus says (Ant. V,
i, 28, 29) that the administration of Joshua
lasted 25 years. Joshua was associated
with Moses from the beginning, being
younger than Moses, though perhaps not
much younger (Ex. 33: n, 17: 9, 24: 13, etc).
Such phrases as "long time," "old and well
stricken in years" (Josh. 11:18, 13:1) are
used for the times before the second distri
bution of territory, as well as "many days''
for the times after (Josh. 23:1). Eight
years seems to me a more probable limit
than twenty-five.

Explanations of the Dates.
For reasons given on the following pages
these events must be placed as compactly as
possible. The first assignment of territory
was that by Moses, east of the Jordan (Num.
32), to two and a half tribes. The second,
to Judah, Ephraim and Manasseh (Josh. 13-
17), is dated (14: 10) 45 years after the send
ing of the spies from Kadesh. This was
38J years before the accession of Joshua,
but is presumably counted as an even 40
years, making the date the 5th year of
Joshua rather than the 6th or 7th. The
third assignment, to the remaining 7 tribes,
and partly of territory that had already been
given to Judah and Joseph, must have come
soon after. Josephus (Ant. V, i, 19) com
bines the second and third, giving the date
as the 5th year of Joshua.

THE TABLES

75

<

6

ci
pw
hi
Foreign Dated Events.
n-.
0
<!
Israelitish Dated Events.
1453
6
476
? Setting up the tent at Shiloh, a
and the third assignment of ter-
About this time the 31 years of
477
' ritory (Josh. 18-21).
Rameses III of the twentieth dy
1452
7
? Joshua's first convocation (Josh.
nasty in Egypt. |
23)-
1451
?
478
? Joshua's second convocation (Josh.
1450
479
24).
? Death of Joshua (Josh. 24: 29-30).
? Further conquests, b Judah and
1449
480
Caleb at the front (Jud. 1: 1-20;
1 Josh. 15:14-19).
1448
481
1447
482
1446
483
1445
484
1444
485
|l443
486
Kings of the Kassite dynasty in
Babylon.
1442
487
J 1441
488
? Oppression of Cushan-rishathaim.
1440
489
J 1439
490
1438
491
1437
492
1436
493
1435
494
1434
I
495
Death of Joshua, according 10
Josephus. c
SECOND TABLE

JOSHUA TO SOLOMON

THE SECOND CHRONOLOGICAL PERIOD
The formative historical period closes with the establishment of Israel in the
promised land, and for that reason we have extended the era of the migration of
Abraham so as to make it include the exploits of Joshua. The transition of
chronological method, however, is at the beginning of Joshua's career (unless
one places it 40 years earlier, at the opening of the exodus period), so that for some
purposes there is an overlap of the two periods. For this new period note three
introductory points.
The Biblical Forties. — The number of periods of forty years each for the his
tory between Moses and Solomon is so large as to be noticeable. It is well enough
to say that the 40 in these cases is a round number, and may be far from exact,
but one ought to look at each instance by itself. The 40 years of the exodus are
defined as opening and closing so near the end of the year that the inexactness
is a negligible quantity. The 40 years of king David are defined to be 40^ years
(2 Sam. 5:4-5), and are treated chronologically, as we shall see, as 41 years.
The respective forties of Solomon, of Saul, of Eli, of the Philistines (1 Ki. 11 : 42 ;
Acts 13:21; 1 Sam. 4:18; Jud. 13:1) are undefined. There remain the four
instances in which the formula is used, "the land had rest 40 years" (Jud. 3:11,
30, 5:31, 8:28). The natural suggestion is that we have here a section of
the narrative in which the chronology is kept in continuous periods of 40 years,
the other numbers used being included in the forties. This suggestion is followed
in the tables, its correctness being confirmed by the test of practical use (see In
troduction 35).
The International Situation at the Time of the Conquest. — In Joshua 13-17
we have an account of the giving of territory to two and a half tribes west of the Jor
dan. Two and a half tribes have previously received their territory east of the
Jordan. The suggestion is that the remaining seven tribes will be provided
for on the same scale, and largely from land yet to be conquered. Instead of this
when the final distribution comes (Josh. 18-21), the scale is vastly reduced, and
the territory of three of the seven tribes is largely carved out of that which had
been previously assigned. This suggests the arising of a condition of things
in which the main movement of conquest has been suddenly and unexpectedly
arrested. I suppose that the records of Rameses III of Egypt give us two great
facts that have a bearing on this matter.
The first of these facts is this. He says that the closing time of the nineteenth
dynasty was a time of lawlessness and bad conditions in Egypt, and that it was
followed by an interim of "many years" in which things were as bad as possible.
He mentions a Syrian named Arsu as having things all his own way. Out of
this, in the second year before the reign of Rameses began, he and his father rescued
Egypt. If the confusion in Egypt lasted into the years when Joshua was over-

80 DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
running Canaan, and if then a strong government was established in Egypt, ob
viously Israel would be compelled to take into account the change thus made.
The other fact is the great invasion of the whole region by hordes from the
north. As long previously as the reign of Merneptah, Egypt was at war with
peoples bearing Greek names, peoples of northern Africa and their allies from
other coasts. Of these, the Philistines and others had effected settlements on the
east Mediterranean coast. There came a time when in a concerted movement
from all Greek regions numberless hordes poured south, by land and by sea, to
plunder and occupy Egypt and the countries on the way. The crisis came in the
eighth year of Rameses III. He claims to have defeated the hordes by land in
southern Palestine, and to have defeated them by sea.
If the exodus occurred under Merneptah then Israel had relations of some
kind with these events narrated by Rameses III. Egypt had held dominion,
and still claimed dominion over Canaan; are Joshua's Israelites the hordes by
land whom Rameses describes? Or did Israel make common cause with the other
Palestinian peoples and with Egypt against the northern hordes? This is not
the place to discuss the part that Israel took, but obviously it cannot have been
that of an inactive spectator.
I have adjusted the table of events on the theory that Joshua's great move
ment of conquest was brought to an end by the establishment of the Egyptian
twentieth dynasty and the events that followed.
Chronological Problems of David's Reign. — These are of peculiar importance,
and have been phenomenally neglected.
Our most original sources of information here are the second book of Samuel
and the first chapter of Kings. In i Chronicles the statements of Samuel and
Kings are repeated in part and supplemented. These sources, either in the specific
statements they make or through the nature of the events, give the data for a sub
stantially complete chronology, but the successive narratives in them are not ar
ranged in chronological order. In 2 Samuel the last four chapters are made up of
six short pieces dealing with events of different dates. The eighth chapter is
a summary of events, some of the details of which are repeated in Chapters 10-12.
The events of the sixth and seventh chapters belong, in time, after most of those
of chapters 8-12. These facts do not indicate incompetence on the part of the
writer or writers, but rather that the book is a collection of memoranda, not
digested into a continuous story. The writer in Chronicles follows the order
of Samuel only in part, but makes no attempt to establish an order of time for
the several narratives.
Unfortunately, Josephus ignored all this. He assumes that the events in
2 Samuel 24 are later than the rebellions of Absalom and Sheba spoken of in the
preceding chapters, and that therefore the events mentioned in 1 Chronicles
after the twenty-first chapter are still later. In his consequent distorted and
impossible presentation of the reign of David he has been generally followed.
The scholars of the newer tradition, instead of correcting his blunder, make it

THE TABLES 81
the basis of their inference that our accounts of David are largely unhistorical.
By the usual biblical way of counting, David's reign of 40 years and 6 months
(2 Sam. 5 : 4-5) would be spoken of as 41 years. At the close of his fortieth year
he had one year yet to reign.
The Chronicler (1 Chron. 21 and 22: 1) regards the purchase of Oman's
threshing floor as the determining of the site for the temple, and proceeds to give
details as to David's preparations for the temple and its worship. Some of the
details are in fragmentary shape, but they are framed together by headings
into a systematic whole (1 Chron. 22:1-29:220). The preparations include
the making of Solomon king, and the holding of a great public assembly (1 Chron.
23:1 and 28:1-29:220), and the account terminates with the sacrificial feast
at the close of the assembly (29: 22a). It is immediately followed by a brief ac
count (1 Chron. 29: 226-24, which ought to be printed as a paragraph separate
from what precedes) of Solomon's being made king a second time. Nearly the
entire phraseology of this paragraph is repeated from the first chapter of 1 Kings,
and the paragraph is evidently an epitome of that chapter. Solomon's
being made king the second time was in connection with Adonijah's
attempt to take the kingdom. His being made king the first time was an earlier
affair, and something had occurred between the two to render the second affair
necessary. The Chronicler dates some of these temple preparations, and by inference
dates them generally, in the fortieth year of David (1 Chron. 26: 31). The natural
suggestion is that the 9 months and 20 days of the census (2 Sam. 24 : 8) began
in David's 39th year, and closed at the wheat threshing season (1 Chron. 21: 20)
in the 40th year, and that the great public assembly was at the close of the 40th
year. Absalom's rebellion broke out just after the close of David's 40th year
(2 Sam. 15: 7), David's flight occurring in his 41st year in the time of bruised corn,
shortly before the harvest (2 Sam. 17: 19, 28). There was time after that in that
year for the operations against Absalom and Sheba, the schemes of Adonijah,
and the first events of the reign of Solomon.
These facts, with the numerical data found in 2 Samuel, give us the chronology
of the last 12 years of Davidjs reign, beginning with the thirtieth. The earlier 21
years of his reign over all Israel naturally divide themselves into two periods, a
period of strenuous fighting and a period of rest. As mention is made of six cam
paigns against the Philistines and five or more against the eastern and northern
peoples (see the tables), we may conjecturally assign about 13 years to the fighting
period, and about 8 years to the rest period.
David's great sin in the matter of Uriah occurred near the close of the fight
ing period. The bringing of the ark to Jerusalem (2 Sam. 6; 1 Chron. 13, 15, 16) occurred
after the fighting period, when David's conquests were substantially complete.
Not till then could he have assembled Israel "from the Shihor of Egypt even unto
the entrance of Hamath" (1 Chron. 13:5). The Chronicler's statement that

82 DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
the removal of the ark occurred, not soon after David's capture of Jerusalem,
but a good many years later, after David's victories in war, after his repentance
for his great sin, when the country had become secure and prosperous and Jeru
salem had become magnificent, is confirmed by the details as given in both Samuel
and Chronicles. Later came the great promise (2 Sam. 7; 1 Chron. 17), when
Jehovah had given David rest from all his enemies round about (2 Sam. 7:1).
We have already seen that this view of the chronology brings the events
of the external history into an orderly sequence quite in contrast with the vio
lently improbable order involved in the Josephan cast of the events. While
David was king in Hebron both he and Ishbosheth probably accepted the suze
rainty of the Philistines. When David was made king of Israel of course the Phil
istines objected. Having repulsed them in two successive campaigns, David was
too wise a general not to carry the war into the enemy's country, and in course
of time he took the reins away from the Philistines (2 Sam. 8:1), and held them
himself. His other conquests followed, and his sin and his repentance, and his
interest in the building of a temple, and his fondness for Solomon. It is no wonder
that dissatisfaction arose over the prominence thus given to Jerusalem, and no
wonder that there came to be a legitimist party which preferred the succession
of elder sons of David to that of Solomon. All these things follow in consecu
tive order when we once get the correct point of view.
The same is true of the personal experience of David. Following the Josephan
theory the ethical history of David is a series of contradictions; it becomes an
intelligible continuity when we arrange it on the line of the biblical time data. Up
to the time of the death of Samuel David's conduct is not merely exemplary, but
fine. Then he begins to deteriorate. He plans to avenge himself on Nabal.
He begins the practice of marrying wives for the sake of political influence. In
the land of the Philistines he practices horrible and unjust cruelties. He gets
himself into a position where he must choose between faithlessness to Israel and
treachery to Achish, his benefactor, and escapes from it only through his having
such a reputation that the Philistine lords do not trust him. In these and the
following events he maintains many of the virtues that belong to a great leader,
but in other directions he continues to deteriorate. A time comes when he ceases
from active military service (2 Sam. 21: 17), though he is not ashamed to take
credit for the exploits which others have wrought in his service (2 Sam. 12: 27-
29). He gives himself more and more to luxury and self-indulgence. At length
this culminates in the Uriah sin, with all the aggravations that mark it as a pecul
iarly ungrateful, atrocious, foolish, mean, low-down piece of conduct. Other
kings, ancient and modern, have done dirtier deeds, but, in view of David's moral
capabilities, it was for him a plunge into the lowest depths. Then came his re
pentance, which was sincere and thorough, but which did not relieve him from
the entanglements of his bad past. He became mindful of the obligations of friend
ship, and took care of Mephibosheth. He became mindful of religious obli
gations, and made provision for the ark and the sanctuary. But he could not

THE TABLES 83
get rid of Joab, his colleague in crime. He could not prevent the feuds that arose
among the children of his polygamous marriages. He could not prevent Amnon
and Absalom and Adonijah from following the bad example he had set them.
Ahithophel was as treacherous with him as he himself had been with Uriah.
The climax came early in his forty-first year, when his splendid demonstration
for Solomon and the temple was presently followed by the simultaneous outburst
everywhere of the Absalom rebellion. David bore up bravely as long as the con
tests with Absalom and Sheba continued, and then became a broken old man.
It was with difficulty that Nathan and Bathsheba aroused in him a flash of his
old-time spirit, for placing Solomon on the throne instead of Adonijah.
A true chronology brings a like continuity into the religious history of the
period. In the times of his deterioration David had never forgotten Jehovah,
but he had become careless in regard to the national religion. As his sons became
men, he made priests of them (2 Sam. 8: 18). After his repentance he turned
his attention to the ark, but at first without due care. It was necessary for Jeho-
'vah to rebuke him through the death of Uzza, in order to lead him to take the pains
requisite to serve as Jehovah required to be served. After that we have no ac
count of any irregularities on David's part.

84

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
o A. T. J. stands for Anno Transitus
Jordanis, the year when Israel crossed the
Jordan under Joshua.
6 The years of Joshua and of others from
this point are those of their term of leader
ship, not as heretofore of the years of their
life. This is an item in the change of chrono
logical method which here marks a change
of era.
c B. C. 1452. The notable wars mentioned
by Rameses III are those with the Lybians
in his fifth year, with the northern hordes
in his eighth year, with the Lybians in his
eleventh year, and in Syria, believed to have
been soon after the last.
d A. T. J. 18. Who was Cushan-risha-
thaim? Josephus describes him asChusarth,
king of the Assyrians (Ant. V, iii, 2). As
good a guess as any is that he was Rameses
III.

Explanations of the Dates.
Most of the dates on this page are infer
ential, depending more or less on a theory
of the Egyptian synchronisms.
For the events of the time of Joshua see
at A. Mig. 470-478.
The margin of supposable variation is
pretty wide for the dates on this page. The
8 years of Cushan-rishathaim might be
placed in some other part of the 40 years.
Josephus assigns 25 years to Joshua, and
speaks of an "anarchy" of 18 years follow
ing (Ant. V, i, 29 and VI, v, 4. See at A
T. J. 229). Possibly he would be correct
if he included the 18 in the 25,

THE TABLES

85

•0

*3

CJ
<w
•-i
Foreign Dated Events.
n
n-.
0
h- ,
<
Israelitish Dated Events.
1458
1
1
The conquest, south (Josh. 1-10).
1457
2
2 [
? The conquest, north and sum
mary (Josh. 11-12).
1456
3
3
1455
4
4
1454
5
5
Territory to Judah, Ephraim, Man
asseh (Josh. 13-17).
1453
6
6 [
? The tent placed; final division of
territory (Josh. 18-22).
? About this time the accession 1
of Rameses III, the second king 1
1452
7
7
? Convocation (Josh. 23).
of the twentieth dynasty . c j
1451
?
8
? Shechem convocation, and death
of Joshua (Josh. 24).
1450
9
? Further conquests (Jud. 1; Josh.
15:14-19).
1449
10
Kings of the Kassite dynasty in 1
1448
II
Babylon . 1
14471446
12 [
13
? About this time Rameses de
1445
a
P3
14
feats the hordes from the north. L
x\
1444
a
Xi in
¦c s
.EI
15
1443
16
? About this time the second 1
1442
c/1
3
O
17
Lybian war of Rameses. r
? About this time Rameses in- 1
1441
1
18
? Oppression by Cushan - risha-
vades Syria. j
thaim d (Jud. 3:7-11).
1440
2
19
1439
3
20
1438
4
21 f
1437
5
22
1436
6
23
1435
7
24 |
1434
8
25 1
[Death of Joshua, according to
Josephus.]
86

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a A. T. J. 26. See Explanations and
Notes at A. T. J. 25 and 229.
b A. T. J. 26. Othniel was Caleb's son-in-
law, distinguished in the wars that followed
the death of Joshua (Jud. 1:10-15; Josh.
15: 13-20). The probabilities concerning his
age fit the time hmits here assigned.
t A. T. J. 37. The policy of extermina
ting the Canaanites was bound up with the
divine promise in the matter. The revoca
tion of the promise (Jud. 2: 1-5) implies a
change from that time in the policy. Hence
forth the Canaanites were under the same
law with other conquered nations (Deut.
20: 11-15), subject to mas, that is, to com
pulsory service (cf. Ex. 1: 11), instead of be
ing made an exception to the law (Deut.
20: 15-18). The narratives say that this
changed policy was adopted (Josh. 16: 10,
17: 13; Jud. 1: 28, 30, 33, 35).

Explanations of the Dates.
The distribution of the events is open to
difference of opinion. "The land had rest
40 years" is a phrase in which the count
is to the final terminus only (Int. 191O,
Josephus to the contrary notwithstanding
(Ant. V, iii, 3). The meaning is that there
are no further events which the writer will
put on record, up to the close of the forty-
year period then current.
The one fixed fact is that the 8 years of
Cushan-rishathaim belong somewhere be
tween the death of Joshua and the close
of the 40 years. If we followed Josephus
in regarding Cushan-rishathaim as Assyrian
(Note d, A. T. J. 18), we might place his 8
years later in the 40.
In the Leshem narrative a grandson of
Moses appears as a young man (Jud. 18: 30,
3, 15 and 17: 7). The incident was long
enough before the Benjamite war to justify
the expression "from Dan even to Beer-
sheba" in the narrative, and that war was
before the death of Phinehas (Jud. 20: 1, 28)

THE TABLES

87

0

h\
H

Foreign Dated Events.

<

Israelitish Dated Events.

1433 1432
J1431
2627 28
The "anarchy" of Joseph us? a
Othniel,b deliverer and judge for an
I unknown length of time, till the
1 close of the period of 40 years (Jud.
1 3:7-ii)-
1430
29
1429
30
1428
31
1427
32
1426
33
1425
34
Rameses III in Egypt.
1424
35
Kings of the Kassite dynasty in
Babylon.
14231422
3637
1 ? The Angel at Bochimc (Jud. 2 : 1-5).
1 ? The adoption of the mas policy.
1421
38
1420
39
1419
40
1 First forty-year period ends
1 (Jud. 3:11).
1418
41
1417
42
1416
43
1 ? Leshem captured and named Dan
I (Josh. 19:47; Jud. 17-18).
1415
44
1414
45
1413
46
1412
47
1411
48
1410
49
1409
50
DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a B.C. 1396. Shagashalti-buriash reigned,
in round numbers, 800 years before
Nabonidus, B. C. 555~539- That is, about
B. C. 1345 Assyrian, or B. C. 1396 in these
tables (see Introduction 266, Third, and
note at B. C. 1157)-
b A. T. J. 64. Scattered through the Pen
tateuch and Joshua are allusions and items
that presuppose events later than the death
of Moses or of Joshua. Few or none of
them presuppose anything later than the
lifetime of Phinehas. On the hypothesis
that a contemporary of Phinehas was the
literary executor of Moses, there is very
little need of the additional hypothesis
of later changes, in order to account for all
the phenomena.

Explanations of the Dates.
The war with Benjamin occurred after
the establishment of Dan as the northern
limit of Israel (Jud. 20: 1), and before the
death of Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron
(Jud. 20: 28). It left Israel demoralized.
For some generations the Benjamites be
came especially cousins of Ephraim (Jud.
21). The oppression by Eglon was made possi
ble through the demoralizing effects of the
war with Benjamin.
Phinehas (Num. 25:7, 11, 31:6; Psa.
106: 30; Josh. 22), though prominent be
fore the death of Moses, was perhaps then
a very young man. He may have survived
Moses by 60 or more years without having
lived to an extraordinary age.

THE TABLES

89

Foreign Dated Events.

O

H <

Israelitish Dated Events.

14081407

51
52

1 ? Benjamite civil war (Jud. 19-21;
Jos. Ant. V, ii, 8-12).

1406
53
1405
54
1404
<
55
J1403 1402
J 1401 1400
O0%0 0
w
5657 5859
J 1399
60
From about this date materials
for continuous Egyptian history
are lacking for a long time.
About this time, but with a wide
margin for difference, Shagashalti-
buriash, king of Babylon, a
13981397
1396
J 13951394
1
2 3
4
6162636465
? Beginning of the 18 years of the
J oppression by Eglon (Jud. 3:12-
J 30, 10 : 1 1— 12).
? Latest hexateuchal events A (Josh.
J 24:29-33; Jud. 1, 2 :6-9).
1 ? The hexateuch completed.
]l393
5
66
? Death of Phinehas.
1392
6
67
]l391
7
68
1390
8
69
]l389
9
70
1388
10
71
1 1387
11
72
1386
12
73
1385
13
74
J1384
14
75
9o

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a A. T. J. 79. Ehud was a man of Benja
min (Jud. 3: 15), but he "blew a trumpet
in the hill country of Ephraim" to raise
his forces. Doubtless he was half Ephraim-
ite, a son of one of the marriages of the
girls seized by Benjamin at Shiloh (Jud.
21: 23). Both in paying tribute and in rais
ing forces (Jud. 3: 15, 27-30) he acted as
representative of Israel as a whole.
b B. C. 1375. See note at B. C. 1329.

Explanations of the Dates.
Doubtless the Moabite oppressor was at
the head of a confederacy including the Am
monites and other peoples; but even so Israel,
normally, would be too strong for him. It
must be that he took advantage of the de
moralization caused by the war against
Benjamin. We must place the 18 years
(Jud. 3: 14) of the oppression early enough
for this, and late enough for Ehud to have
grown up as one of the sons of the Ephraim-
ite mothers.
The exact place of the 20 years of Jabin
(Jud. 4:3) in the third forty-year period
(Jud. 5: 31) can only be conjectured.

td
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92

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a A. T. J. 108. In Deborah's song the
singer says, addressing Ephraim: "After
thee [came down] Benjamin, among thy
peoples." This was accurately the status
of Benjamin, say two generations after
the civil war closed with the marriage of the
Benjamite warriors with the girls taken at
Shiloh (Jud. 5: 14, Jud. 21),

Explanations of the Dates.
Concerning this first Philistine oppres
sion we are able to gather a few facts. In
Judges 10: 11 a Philistine oppression is men
tioned as following an Ammonite oppres
sion. The latter may naturally be that of
Eglon. Shamgar appears in Judges and
Josephus (Jud. 3:31, 5:6; Jos. Ant. V,
iv, 3). He is the contemporary of Jael and
Deborah. There was a Philistine oppres
sion contemporary with that of Jabin, and
Shamgar, probably of Judah, was the de
liverer. The Philistines pursued the same
tactics as later, in Saul's time, disarming
the Israelites (Jud. 5:8, 3:31; cf. 1 Sam.
13: igff). Necessarily the Philistine yoke
lay heaviest on the southern tribes, and this
accounts for the absence of Judah and
Simeon from Deborah's roll-call of the
tribes

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94 DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
Notes. Explanations of the Dates.
a B. C. 1329. Sennacherib says that he The oppression by the Midianites lasted 7
brought back the seal in B. C. 689, after 600 years (6:1), and the impression made by the
years. This gives about B. C. 1288 (As- narrative is that it came early in the forty-
Syrian) as the date when Tukulti-ninip went year period, leaving a longer time for the ad-
to Babylon with the seal. The Babylonian ministration of Gideon than was had by
chronicle says (see Records oj tlie Past, new most of the judges.
series, V, 1 1 1 ) that he governed at Babylon 7
years, and was then displaced by Ramman-nadin-ahhi. This reign of 7 years is not recognized in
the Babylonian list of kings. A king whose name is lost began a reign of 17 years in B. C. 1271
(Assyrian). This can be no other than Ramman-nadin-ahhi. His unknown predecessor is
credited in the list with 26 years, and the last 7 of these must be the 7 years of Tukulti-ninip —
beginning B. C. 1278 Assyrian, that is, B. C. 1329 in these tables.
Here a difficulty emerges. Tukulti-ninip was son to Shalmanezer I, who speaks of himself as
son of Ramman-nirari I, the son of Budu-ilu (see note at B. C. 1628). Ramman-nirari was
great-grandson to Asshur-uballit, the contemporary of Burna-buriash, whom these tables date
about B. C. 1650. From B. C. 1650 to 1329 is too long an interval for this short succession of
Assyrian kings.
The solution may lie in the hypothesis that Ramman-nirari was Shalmanezer's father only in
the sense of being his ancestor or predecessor; like Asshur-uballit, whom Shalmanezer also calls
his father (see note at B. C. 1157, also Records 0} the Past, new series II, 206). This hypothesis
is thoroughly consistent with the Babylonian data of the period.

THE TABLES

95

Foreign Dated Events.

ci(-¦-.

h^i<

Israelitish Dated Events.

1333

126

1332
w
127
]l331
M
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128
1330
£
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About this time Tukulti-ninip a
of Assyria takes a. seal to Babylon
and governs there 7 years. His
successor in Babylon is Ramman-
nadin-ahhi, who reigns 17 years.
Jl329 13281327
1
2 3
130 131132
? Oppression by the Midianites
(Jud. 6-S).
1326
4
133
Il325
5
134
1324
6
135
Il323
7
136
? Gideon of West Manasseh.
1322
137
J1321
138
1320
139
1319
140
1318
141
At about this time Tukulti-ninip
succeeded in Assyria by Asshur-
natsir-pal. j
13171316
1315
142
143144
1314
145
j.
|l313
146
1312
147
1311
148
1310
149
1309
I50|
95

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a B. C. 1305. The names and years of
this and the eleven following Babylonian
kings are taken from the list. The twelve
reigns cover just 100 years.
b A. T. J. 160. Before Gideon the judges
were raised up when needed, and there
seem to have been intervals when Israel
had no judge. Under Gideon a change
to hereditary government was proposed
(Jud. 8: 22-23). He refused, but an actual
change of constitution then came in, the
judges from that time directly succeeding
one another. With this change the chrono
logical method changes, the dates being
henceforth given in terms of the years
of the ruling judge, and no longer in terms
of 40 years.
c A. T. J. 161. The title given to Abime-
lech is peculiar, but notice that it is national,
no matter how local may be the recorded
events of his career.

Explanations of the Dates.
The 40 years of Judges 8: 28, unlike the
three preceding forties, connects itself with
a particular event, the death of Gideon.
Doubtless the 3 years of Abimelech (Jud.
9: 22) are counted from the close of the 40
years, whether the death of Gideon occurred
exactly at that date or not.
Tola's 23 years (Jud. 10: 2).

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98

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
oA. T. J. 1 80. Properly speaking, we
have no account at all of Samson's term
as judge, but only of his wild youth before
he became judge, and of the last few months
of his life, when he relapsed into follies.
His administration, however, judging by
its apparent results, was a worthy one.

Explanations of the Dates.
The story of Samson (Jud. 13-16) is out
of chronological order, like the two stories
that follow it (Jud. 17-18, 19-21). A Phil
istine oppression had begun before he was
born, and was active before he became
judge (Jud. 13:5, 15:11), but he seems
to have taught the Philistines to keep on
their own side of the border (Jud. 16), thus
fulfilling the promise that he should begin
to save Israel from them. Is this state of
things mentioned elsewhere in the narrative?
It is by many identified with the times of
Eli, but that is a hopeless misfit. It is
rather the second Philistine oppression,
which is mentioned between the account
of Jair and that of the Ammonite oppres
sion of Jephthah's time, and is distinguished
from an earlier oppression, which must be
that of Shamgar (Jud. 10: 7, 11). This
fixes the 20 years of Samson's judging
Israel (Jud. 15:20, 16:31) as next after
the 22 years of Jair, and the probable date
of his birth as some years before the accession
of Jair.

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100 DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
Notes. Explanations of the Dates.
See preceding pages.

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102

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a A. T. J. 229. "After the death of
Joshua, for 18 years in all, the multitude
had no settled form of government, but
were an anarchy, after which they returned
to their former polity judged
by the best and most cour
ageous warrior" (Jos. Ant. VI, v, 4). "An
archy" here is not necessarily confusion;
it may be merely the absence of centralized
control. Presumably there is a traditional
basis of some sort for this statement con
cerning 18 years. There is no room for
an additional 18 years early in the history.
If they belong there, they must either be
included in the 25 years which Josephus
assigns to Joshua (see at A. T. J 25 and Expla
nations), or must include the 8 years of
Cushan-rishathaim, or both. I suspect,
however, that the tradition was to the effect
that there was a centralized government of
some sort in Israel from Joshua to the mon
archy, except for 18 years, and that the
18 years intended were those of the Am
monite oppression.

Explanations of the Dates.
For the times of the successive judges,
the times after Gideon, the length of an
oppression in years is given only here and
in Judges 13: 1. Presumably these numer
als are given for their chronological value,
and are to be counted as a part of the total.
The narrative connects the 18 with the in
terval between the death of Jair and the
accession of Jephthah. The 18 years of
the oppression were followed by the 6 years
of Jephthah (Jud. 12: 7).
Jephthah's round number 300 (Jud.
1 1 : 26) would be very marked if we counted
the 80 of Judges 3: 30 as excluding the 40
of Jud. 3:11. By that way of counting,
it was 287 years from Israel's conquest of
Sihon to the first year of Jephthah. Count
ing the other way it is 247 years, and one
may infer that Jephthah had in mind the
date when Ammon lost the region to the
Amorites from whom Israel took it.

THE TABLES

103

Foreign Dated Events.

ci M*

V,0
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1233

18

1232

19

1231

20

1230

1

1229

2

1228

3

1227

4

1226

5

1225

6

1224

7

1223

8

1222

9

1221

10

1220

11

1219

12

1218

13

1217

14

1216

15

1215

16

1214

17

1213

18

1212

1

1211

2

1210

3

1209

4

Israelitish Dated Events.

? Asshur-daan I in Assyria. His
reign may have begun earlier.

The first of the 13 years of Mar-
duk-pal-iddina of Babylon.

The 1 year of Zama-shum-iddina
of Babylon. Invasion by Asshur-
daaii I of Assyria.

226227228229230 231232 233234235236237238239240 241242 243244245246247248249 250

Samson's foolish last deeds (Jud.
16).
Oppression by the Ammonites a
(Jud. 10:7-18).

Jephthah, of Gilead, judge (Jud. 11 :
1-12:7). 300 years (Jud. 11:26).

104

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a B. C. 1 1 88. Scholars differ as to the
place of Nebuchadrezzar among the kings
of this dynasty. The place here assigned
is the only one that can be given him with
out making corrections in the Babylonian
list of kings. Very likely, however, he
was the brains of the preceding reign of 17
years, so that practically his exploits and
his rule extended over the whole 23 years.

Explanations of the Dates.
The chronological numbers are to be
found in the references in the column of
events.

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DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
u A. T. J. 278. We may conjecture that
the Philistines would not permit a national
judge in Israel, and that the functions of
judge therefore shifted to the high priest.
b A. T. J. 287. The missing generations
in the line of David were before Boaz, not
after. c B. C. 1 162. Tiglath-pilezer gives us
a very full account of his accession year
and the following 5 years (see Rec. 0/ Past,
new series, I, 86ff). As he does not men
tion his Babylonian wars, we infer that
these six years preceded those wars, by
how many years we do not know.

Explanations of the Dates.
The 40 years of this Philistine oppression
seem to have coincided with the 40 years
of Eli (Jud. 13: 1 ; 1 Sam. 4: 18).
The famine which drove Elimelech's
family from Judah, and kept them away
10 years (Ruth 1 : 4), was of course partly
the result of invasions. It belongs to the
early part of the oppression, when Israel
was struggling against subjugation. After
resistance ceased, agricultural prosperity
returned. The marriage of Ruth was not many
weeks after their coming to Bethlehem.
At the close of the 40 years Samuel was
an influential prophet (1 Sam. 3: 19-21).
Therefore he must have been born early
in the 40 years; but some years after they
began (1 Sam. 1 : 3, 7, etc.).

THE TABLES

107

Foreign Dated Events.

o a

Israelitish Dated Events.

Kings of the dynasty of Pashe' in
Babylon.

Tiglath-pilezer I on the throne in
Assyria, c

1183 11821181 1180 1179 1178
1177 11761175 1174 11731172 11711170 116911681167 1166 1165 116411631162116111601159

7 8 1
2 3
4 5 6 7 8
9
1011 12 1314 15 16 17 18 19
20212223

276 277 278 279 280 281282283 284285 286287288 289 290 291 292293 294295 296297 298299300

A third Philistine oppression be
gins.
? Naomi flees to Mnab (Ruth).
Eli, the high priest, acts as judge a
(1 Sam. 1-4).

? Naomi returns from Moab.
? Boaz marries Ruth.
? Obed born, b
? Samuel born ( 1 Sam. 1 : 1-2 : 1 1 ).

The bad conduct of Eli's sons (1
Sam. 2: 12-36).

? The call of Samuel ( 1 Sam. 3).

io8

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.

Explanations of the Dates.

The chronological numbers are found
in i Samuel 4: 18 and 7: 2.

a B. C. 1 157. See Introduction 26. Sen
nacherib says that in B. C. 689 he brought
from Babylon the gods which this Marduk
had taken thither 418 years before. That
this year (1106 B. C. Assyrian, 1157 B. C.
in these tables) was the accession year of
Marduk, not his first year or later, appears
from the fact that he only reigned ii years,
and that Tiglath-pilezer defeated him in
two campaigns.
This date gives us other dates. Accord
ing to the Babylonian Hst of kings Mar-
duk's accession year was the 49th year of
the dynasty of Pashe, and the preceding, the
Kassite, dynasty lasted 577 years nearly.
This gives 1782 B. C. (1731 B. C. Assyrian)
as the date of the beginning of the Kassite
dynasty. The first 4 kings of this dynasty reigned
68 years, to B. C. 1714. Between 1714
and the accession of Ramman-nadin-ahhi,
B. C. 1322 (see note, B. C. 1329), a period
of 392 years, the list reckons 19 kings, the
reigns averaging nearly 21 years. The
last 17 of the 19 names have been lost from
the list, but at least 12 of them are known
from other sources.
Four of the 19 reigned before Burna-
buriash (about 1650 B. C, see note at
B. C. 1652): Adu-me-ur, Uzzi-u-mash, Kara-
indash, Kallimma-sin. There is not much
room for others, though many place here
the long reign of Agu-kak-rimi and other
actual or conjectural reigns. Burna-buriash
can be reconciled with current theories of
Egyptian chronology only by the process
of putting as many kings before him, and
as few after him, as possible.
Among the kings after Burna-buriash were
Nazi-bugash the usurper, Kadashman-
hharbe, "Kuri-galzu the second," and Nazi-
maruttash. How many years they reigned is unknown. Their Assyrian contemporaries 'were
Asshur-uballit, Bel-nirari, Budu-ilu, Ramman-nirari I (see note, B. C. 1628).
Just before Ramman-nadin-ahhi the hst places two kings whose names are lost. They
reigned 48 years, that is, from B. C. 1370. They, and perhaps their predecessor, were contem
poraries of Shalmanezer I of Assyria and his son Tukulti-ninip I.
Between the contemporaries of Ramman-nirari I and those of Shalmanezer I the Babylonian
documents place Kadashman-turgu, perhaps Agu-kak-rimi, Kudur-bel and his son Shagashalti-
buriash (see note, B. C. 1396), and 3 kings whose names are lost. These are enough to fill
all the time required by the chronology of these tables.

THE TABLES

109

Foreign Dated Events.

(J n

l-I
w

?A
5-i <

Israelitish Dated Events.

1158

24

301

Marduk successful against As
syria, a j
First year of Marduk-nadin-ahhi
in Babylon. Defeated by Tiglath-
pilezer. j
Defeated again. Reigned but
half the year (Rec. of Past, new
series I, 17; IV, 30). j

1157

25

302

1156 1155 1154

26 2728

303304 305

1153
29
306
1152
30
307
1151
31
308
Kings of the twenty-first dy
nasty in Egypt.
1150 1149
3233
309310
1148
34
311
1147
35
312
1146
36
313
About this time Tiglath-pilezer I
was followed by Asshur-bel-kala,
whose Babylonian contemporaries
were Marduk-shapik-zer-mati and
Ramman-aplu-iddina (Rec. of Past,
new series IV, 31).
11451144114311421141
37 3839
40 1
314315316317318
Death of Eli ; Israel defeated ; the
ark captured and returned ( 1
1 Sam. 1-6).
20 years of waiting ( 1 Sam. 7 : 2-4).
1140
2
319
1139
3
320
1138
4
321
1137
5
322
1136
6
323
1135
7
324
|ll34
8
325
110

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
u A. T. J. 338. The account of the ad
ministration of Samuel is so brief that one
might lose sight of the fact that it is repre
sented to have been strong and brilliant.
He remained judge all his life (r Sam.
7: 15), though from the accession of Saul
the king was chief magistrate, and the
judge was so no longer. "All the days of
Samuel" (13) means the days while he was
chief magistrate.
The achievements attributed to him in
this brief passage are continuous success
against the Philistines, the recovery of the
Israelitish cities that were in the Philistine
country, the terminating of the condition
of feud which had till then existed between
the Israelites and such of the Amorites
as remained in the land, and a systematic
arrangement for the administration of jus
tice and of public affairs.
Of the cities in his circuit (1 Sam. 7: 16)
Gilgal may have been in the Jordan valley,
and Mizpah in Gilead, making the circuit
national. And even if one holds that the
four cities were all within a few miles of
his home, still the account presents his ad
ministration as national.
The success of it appears, for example,
in the populousness of the country when
he turned over the power to Saul (e. g. 1 Sam.
11:8).

Explanations of the Dates.
For 20 years after the death of Eli, Samuel
wisely prefers the part of influential citi
zen to that of official ruler. Then he sees
that the time is ripe for another attempt at
independence, so he permits the people
to make him chief magistrate. Of course
the Philistines interfere by armed force, for
a united Israel is a menace to their power
over Israel. By Jehovah's help Samuel
defeats them signally, and thus establishes
his authority.

THE TABLES

m

Foreign Dated Events.

«

lit SS

Israelitish Dated Events.

Close of dynasty of Pashe1 in
Babylon. Followed by the dynasty
"of the land of the sea."
Perhaps Asshur- bei- kala still
king of Assyria.

Kings of the twenty-first dy
nasty in Egypt.

1133
11321131 11301129 1128112711261125 11241123 1122 1121112011191118111711161115 1114
1113 1112111111101109

9
101112 13 141516 171819
20 1
2 3
4 5 678
9
10 11
12 13

326
327 328329330 331332333 334335 336337338 339340 341
342343 344345 346 347348349350

Samuel judge a (i Sam. 7 : 5-17).

112

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
u A. T. J. 357. Samuel remained judge,
but the judge was now outranked by the
king. b A. T. J. 358. Had he a military camp
for a capital?
c A. T. J. 371. Our information con
cerning the Philistine "garrison" (1 Sam.
13: 3) is too meager to justify inferences.
d A. T. J. 371. The magnitude of the
Philistine preparations (1 Sam. 13:5) in
dicates how formidable Israel had become
under the statesmanship of Samuel. But
now, owing to the dissensions between Sam
uel and Saul, Israel seems to have been
subjugated by the Philistines without
a struggle.

Explanations of the Dates. .
The movement for monarchy covered
some years, just before Saul was made king.
The 19 years here assigned to Samuel
are simply the interval between the dated
events that precede and those that follow.
According to the 480 of 1 Kings 6:1, if
counted from the beginning of the exodus
period, the fourth year of Solomon was
the year 440 A. T. J. Counting back
through the 4 years of Solomon, the 41 of
David (2 Sam. 5 : 5) and the 40 of Saul
(Acts 13: 21), we obtain 357 A. T. J. as the
first year of Saul (see table).
That Samuel's term can have been neither
much longer nor much shorter than these
19 years appears from three facts. He
had been many years prominent before the
term began; it lasted long enough to give
his sons time to prove themselves failures;
Samuel lived after it nearly to the end of
the reign of Saul.
Make a wide paragraph space between
1 Samuel 13:2 and 13:3. The second
verse closes what the narrator has to say
concerning the first two years of Saul. Saul
is a young man, and Jonathan a little boy,
though old enough to be guarded by troops,
as the prince royal. This is confirmed
by the representation that Abner, Saul's
uncle and senior, was not a supeiannuated
man some years after the close of Saul's
40 years.
The date of David's birth is computed
by counting his 30th year as the first year
of his reign in Hebron (2 Sam. 5: 4-5).
The beginning of Saul's wars with the
Philistines was after Jonathan became a
warrior, soon after, or the events will be too
crowded. Of Saul's exploits as summarized in
1 Samuel 14: 47-52, those against Moab,
Ammon, the Philistines, Amalek, may be
the ones narrated in 1 Samuel. Those
against Edom and Zobah are mentioned
without date or other details.

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U4

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a A. T. J. 386. Or Pas-dammim. See
1 Samuel 17; 1 Chron. 11: 10-14; 2 Samuel
23: 8-12.
b A. T. J. 386. Saul's attempts on the
life of David fall into four series. First,
soon after the slaying of Goliath, Saul hurled
his spear at David, and afterward trans
ferred him from the court to a post of danger
(1 Sam. 18:6-13).
For probably a year or more following,
David's ability and growing popularity
made Saul jealous. He made his second
series of attempts, extending over some
months, stimulating David to reckless deeds
that he might fall by the hand of the Phil
istines (1 Sam. 18: 14-27). The result was
that David married into Saul's family.
Saul refrained for a time, and then made
a third series of attempts, stirring up his
servants to assassinate David (1 Sam. 18: 28—
19: 7). He was rebuked by Jonathan,
and again received David into favor.
When David again distinguished him
self the fourth series began, and the situa
tion became chronic.
c A. T. J. 394. This places Samuel's
death 434 years after Israel left Egypt,
perhaps the round number 450 of Acts.

Explanations of the Dates.
The war against Amalek and the final
break between Samuel and Saul must be
placed early enough to allow room for the
events of the life of David, who was 30 years
old when he became king (2 Sam. 5:4).
Perhaps David was 16 years old when
he was anointed — old enough to tend sheep,
but not expected as a man at the sacrificial
feast. Perhaps he was 19 when he first went
to Saul with his harp, having already a
reputation for wisdom and prowess as well
as for minstrelsy.
Perhaps he was 20 when he slew Goliath,
and 22 when he married Michal, and 25
when they watched the house to kill him,
and Saul's desire for his death became per
manent and dominating. See note b.
The date of Samuel's death is inferred
from the order of the narrative.
David was in the Philistine country "a
full year and four months" (1 Sam. 27:7),
going there, apparently, about the beginning
of a vernal year, and remaining that year
and 4 months of the next. Then came
the death of Saul, and after 2 months
of negotiations David became king in Hebron
(2 Sam. 1:1-2:4 and 1 Sam. 30:26-31).
See on page 80 ff, Chronological Problems
0} David's Reign.

THE TABLES

Foreign Dated Events.

ra

1083 20

p

Kings of the twenty-first dy
nasty in Egypt.

1082
1081 1080 1079 1078 1077 1076 10751074 1073 1072 1071 1070 1069 1068 1067 1066 1065 1064
1063 10621061 1060 1059

Israelitish Dated Events.

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 2829 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 3839 40

1
2 34 5

376 377378 379 380 38 1
382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 39039 1
392 393394 395396 397 398399 400

? War against Amalek ( i Sam. 15).
? Final break between Samuel and
Saul (15:35).
? David anointed (1 Sam. 16:1-13).

? David goes to Saul with his harp
(1 Sam. 16: 13-23).
? Battle of Ephes-dammim. a Goliath,
? Saul's attempts on David, ist series, b

? Saul's attempts on David, 2d
series.
? David to marry Merab, but fails.
[_? David marries Michal.

? Saul ' s attempts on David , 3d series.
? Saul's attempts on David, 4th series.
? David au outlaw with 400 meu (1 Sam.
22).
? David at Keilah with 600 men (1 Sam.
23). ? Saul seeks David in wilderness
of Ziph.
? The skirt incident (1 Sam. 24).
? Death of Samuel, 450 years c (Acts 13: 19).
? Nabal. The spear and cruse (1 Sam. 25,
26).
David 1 year and 4 months in the land of
the Philistines (1 Sam. 27-30).
Death of Saul (iSam. 3152 Sam. 1).
David becomes King in Judah (2
Sam. 2).

At first negotiations, and then war,
between the houses of Saul and
David (2 Sam. 2:4<i>-7, and 2:8ff).

116 DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
Explanations op the Dates.
Ishbosheth's death occurred before the middle of the year, while the wheat harvest was
being stored (2 Sam. 4: 6). His 2 years (2 Sam. 2: 10) were the seventh year of David and part
of the eighth. The eighth year, after his death, was occupied with negotiations, and with prepa
rations for crowning David over all Israel at the following new year.
That following year, David's ninth year, was eventful. In it occurred the gathering of
the tribes (1 Chron. 12: 23-40); the coronation (2 Sam. 5: 1-5; 1 Chron. 11: 1-3); the taking of
Jebus and the promotion of Joab (2 Sam. 5:6-8; 1 Chron. 11:4-6); the return of the people
to their homes; the Philistine interference (2 Sam. 5:17-21; 1 Chron. 14:8-12). All these
were so early in the year that the Jordan was still in flood.
The Philistines occupied the vicinity of Jerusalem, cutting David off from the northern
tribes. Here belongs the water-drawing incident (2 Sam. 23:136-17; 1 Chron. 11:156-19).
The Gadites somehow got across the swollen Jordan (1 Chron. 12:15), an(i David, thus reinforced,
routed the Philistines.
David's 33 years over all Israel naturally divide themselves into three periods: the period
of his wars of defense and conquest, that of rest after the wars, and that of domestic troubles.
The third period, beginning with the wrong done to Tamar, is furnished with date numbers
(see table and explanations). It occupied the last 12 years of the reign, leaving 21 years for
the other two periods.
David's national wars began with the defensive campaign already spoken of against the
Philistines. We may be sure that the Philistines did not delay beyond the following year their
attempt to retrieve their fortunes (2 Sam. 5:22-25; 1 Chron. 14:13-17). David's four cam
paigns of conquest (2 Sam. 21: 15-17, 18, 19, 20-22, paralleled in 1 Chron. 20) probably followed
at once, in successive years, resulting in his suzerainty over Philistia (2 Sam. 8: 1 ; 1 Chron. 18: 1).
On these events see further page 8off, Chronological Problems of David's Reign. Not
less than 12 years are needed for the Philistine campaigns, the eastern and northern campaigns,
and the interval between them; and considerations concerning the age of Solomon forbid the
extending of the time more than 2 or 3 years. David's sin in the matter of Uriah seems to be
long to the last year of the wars, and his repentance to have been early the following year.
The bringing up of the ark and the other events doubtless followed without much delay.

THE TABLES

in

CJ

0

Foreign Dated Events.

ra
A-

«i

Israelitish Dated Events.

1058
6
401
1057
7
402
Ishbosheth king 2 years (2 Sam.
2:8-4:12).
1056
8
403
Ishbosheth slain.
1055
9
404
David king of all Israel (2 Sam. 5; 1
Chron. 11, 12, 14). [For the events see
opposite page.]
1054
10
405
Second defensive war against the-P-hilis-
i tines (a Sam. 5:22-25; i Chrrjn. 14: 13-17).
1053 1052
11 12
406 407
Four campaigns of conquest in
J Philistia (2 Sam. 8: 1 ; 1 Chron.
i 18:1, and details in 2 Sam. 21:15-
j 22; 1 Chron. 20:4-8).
1051
13
408
1050
14
409
1049
15
410
Kings of the twenty-first dy
nasty in Egypt. J
104810471046
161718
411 412
413
David's eastern and northern con-
1 quests (2 Sam. 8:2-18; 1 Chron.
j 18:2-17, aud details in 2 Sam.
| 10-12; 1 Chron. 19, etc.). Five
1045
19
414
or more campaigns.
1044
20
415
1043 104210411040
21222324
416417418419
? Uriah (2 Sam. 11). ? Final Ammonite
campaign (2 Sam. 12). ? Conquest of
J Edom.
1 ? Bathsheba's child (2 Sam. 12: 14-23).
I ? Bringing up ark (2 Sam, 6 ; 1 Chron. 13-
j ib.) ? Mephibosheth (2 Sam. 9).
? The great promise (2 Sam. 7; 1
j Chron. 17). ? Birth of Solomon
J (2 Sam. 12: 24-25).
1039
25
420
1038
26
421
1 ? Vengeance on Saul's sons (2 Sam.
1 21:1-14).
1037
27
422
1036
28
423
1035
29
424
11034
30
425
1 The wrong done to Tamar (2 Sam.
13) and its consequences.
n8

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
u, A. T. J. 434. The message of Gad the
prophet concerning the census is the latest
recorded incident in his career. The earliest
is in the time when Saul is persecuting David
(1 Sam. 22:5; 2 Sam. 24; 1 Chron. 21; cf.
1 Chron. 29: 29; 2 Chron. 29: 25).
6 A. T. J. 437. When Solomon says
that he is "a little child" he means that
he is conscious of being too immature for
the responsibilities placed upon him. There
is no getting away from the fact that his
son Rehoboam was born not later than
Solomon's first year.
c A. T. J. 438. The prophet Nathan
appears in connection with the affair of
Uriah, in the giving of the great promise,
in the defeat of the plans of Adonijah, and
as a historical and liturgical writer (2 Sam.
12:7 and 7:2-17; 1 Chron. 17; Psa. 51 ; 1 Ki.
1 ; 1 Chron. 29: 29; 2 Chron. 9: 29, 29: 25).

Explanations of the Dates.
See page 8off Chronological Problems oj
David's Reign.
The dating in the table goes on the assump
tion that the Chronicler is correct in holding
that great preparations for the temple were
made in David's 40th year (1 Chron. 26: 31),
and that in connection with these Solomon
was made king (1 Chron. 23: 1), the arrange
ments culminating in a national gathering
( i Chron. 28:1-29:22(1); and that Absa
lom's rebellion broke out soon after the close
of David's 40th year, shortly before the
harvest (2 Sam. 15:7, 17:19, 28). In
Chronicles the temple arrangements follow
the purchase of Oman's threshing floor,
after the pestilence after the census ( 1 Chron.
21 and 22:1; cf. 2 Sam. 24). Therefore,
the 9 months and 20 days of the census
(2 Sam. 24: 8) closed just before wheat har
vest (1 Chron. 21: 20; cf. 2 Sam. 24:22) the
40th year of David, and therefore began before
the middle of his 39th year.
Josephus (Ant. VII, ix, 1) dates the re
bellion of Absalom 4 years after his recon
ciliation with David. This accords with
probability, and it is gratuitous to regard
the 4 as a mere variation of the 40 of 2 Sam.
15:7. This places the reconciliation in the
37th year of David, Absalom's return to
Jerusalem 2 years earlier, Amnon's death
3 years yet earlier, and the wrong to Tamar
2 years before that (2 Sam. 14:28, 13:38,
23) For the dates for David's 41st year and
for the reign of Solomon see page 120.

THE TABLES

119

Foreign Dated Events.

a
ra

Kings of the twenty-first dy
nasty in Egypt.

>
Q

10331032 1031 103010291028 1027 10261025 1024
1023 10221021 1020 10191018101710161015 101410131012 10111010 1009

313233 34 35 363738 3940 41 1
2 3
4 5 6 7 89
1011 12
13 14

426 427
428 429 430431432433 434435 436437438439 440 441442443 444445 446447448 449 450

Israelitish Dated Events.

Death of Amnon.
Absalom 3 years in banishment.

Absalom 2 years in seclusion (2
Sam. 14).

Absalom conspicuous for 4 years (2
Sam. 15: 1-6 cf. Josephus).

The census begun (2 Sam. 24; 1 Chron. 21).
The prophet Gad. a
Three days of pestilence. Preparations
fortemple(l Chron. 22-27). Ahithophel
and Absalom secretly active.
[For David's 41st year see page 120.]
Solomon, first year£(i Ki. 2). ? Pharaoh's
daughter (i Ki. 3:1). Solomon's vision,
and his wisdom (1 Ki. 3, 4 ; 2 Chron. 1).
The prophet Nathan, c
Death of Shimei (i Ki. 2 : 36-46).
Temple founded 2d month, and
7^ years in building (1 Ki. 5-7;
2 Chron. 1-4).

Temple finished, 8th month.
Solomon's house begun.
"Temple dedicated, 7th month (1
Ki. 8; 2 Chron. 5-7).
? Solomon's second vision (1 Ki.
9 : 1-9; 2 Chron. 7 : 12-22).

120

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a A. T. J. 46 iff. The important recorded
events of Solomon's great reign are numer
ous, but the record is mainly in the form of
undated general statements. To sort the
events and arrange them, on the basis
of the nature of each, in their time relations,
would require more space than can here
be given.

Explanations of the Dates.
The events of the 41st year of David
were the following: At the very beginning
of the year the assembly when Solomon
was recognized as king and the offerings
were made for the temple (1 Chron. 28:1-
29: 22a); in the weeks that followed before
the harvest on the uplands, the outbreak
and spread of the Absalom rebellion (2 Sam.
15-17); later the suppression of the rebel
lion and the bringing back of David (2 Sam.
18-19); the Sheba affair (2 Sam. 20); the
physical and mental breakdown of David
(1 Ki. 1); the Adonijah affair, and the
making of Solomon king "a second time"
(1 Ki. 1; 1 Chron. 29:226-25); David's death
(1 Ki. 2) ; perhaps the birth of Rehoboam
(1 Ki. 14:21, cf. 11:42 and note 6 on A.
T. J. 437)-
Presumably the deaths of Adonijah and
Joab, the retirement of Abiathar and Shimei,
Solomon's vision, the incident of the two
women, and possibly the marriage with
Pharaoh's daughter (1 Ki. 2:12-38, 3:2-
15, 16-27, 1) all occurred not later than
the first year of Solomon. The death of
Shimei was 3 years later, counting inclu
sively (1 Ki. 2:39). For the years follow
ing the numbers explicitly affirm that the
temple was founded the fourth year of Sol
omon, that it was 7 years in building, that
it was finished in the 8th month of his nth
year, that it was dedicated in the 7th month
of a year, presumably his 12th, that he was
13 years in building his own house, and 20
years in building the two (1 Ki. 6:1, 37,
38, 7:1, 8:2, 9: 10).

THE TABLES

121

O

0s
0 a

i-A
Eh"

Foreign Dated Events.

n..

0
CO

«i

Israelitish Dated Events.

1008

15

451

1007
16
452
1006
17
453
1005
18
454
1004
19
455
1003
20
456
1002
21
457
1001
22
458
1000
23
459
Solomon's palace completed (1 Ki.
9: 10; 2 Chron. 8:1).
999
24
460
At about this time Sheshonk I
(Shishak) establishes the 22d dy
nasty in Egypt.
998
997996
252627
4614621463
As the years pass, Solomon's splen
did and enterprising reign de
generates, becoming luxurious,
idolatrous, oppressive (1 Ki. 9-
11; 2 Chron. 8-10). a
995
28
4641
? Queen of Sheba ( 1 Ki. 10; 2 Chron.
9)-
994
29
465 1
993
30
466 [
992
31
467 1
991
32
468 [
? Hadad in Edom and Rezon 1
in Damascus become influential f
990
33
4691
against Solomon ( I Ki. n : 14-25).
989
34
470 1
988
35
471 1
987
36
472 y
986
985
3738
473 1
474 n
Disintegrating processes (1 Ki. n).
? Jeroboam flees to Shishak ( 1 Ki.
n : 26-40).
984
39
475 1
122

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a B. C. 983. Sheshonk I, the Shishak of
the Bible, was the founder of a new dynasty
in Egypt. The policy of the preceding
dynasty seems to have been one of friendh
ness to both Solomon and his opponents
(1 Ki. 3:1, 11:14-22). The Bible says
that Shishak received Jeroboam when he fled
from Solomon, and that he invaded Judah
(1 Ki. n: 40, 14: 25, and details in 2 Chron.
12:2-10); but it does not necessarily fol
low that he was friendly to the northern
kingdom. On the great Karnak relief he
claims to have conquered many cities of
both kingdoms.
Near the close of his 21st year he com
missioned his priestly chief of public works
to build for him the Karnak monument,
now so celebrated. The work, from the
quarrytothe completed decoration, must have
required several years, and he claims to
have completed it (Breasted, Ancient Records,
IV, 706, 721). Probably his reign was
nearer 30 years in length than 20.
He gives no date for his operations in
Palestine. The general guess is that his
invasion of Judah in Rehoboam's fifth year
was not many years before Shishak's twenty-
first year.
See Introduction Chapter IV, especially
24-

Explanations of the Dates.
The duration of the reign of Solomon
was 40 years (1 Ki. n : 42). For the dates
of Jeroboam and Rehoboam see the first
pages of the next table.

THE TABLES

123

Foreign Dated Events.

pq"

£<0w0 «
H

S5OO a0
to

5-!

Israelitish Dated Events.

Sheshonk I, king of
Egypt, a

983 982

1

40 1

476477

Death of Solomon and accession of
Rehoboam. Secession of Jero-
1 boam and 10 tribes. First year
:] of Jeroboam and of Rehoboam.

981

2

2

478

980

3

3

479

1 Rehoboam forsakes the way of
1 David.

979
4
4
480
978
5
5
481
1 Invasion by Shishak.
J 977
6
6
482
976
7
7
483
1975
8
8
484
974
9
9
485
8 /
1 973
10
10
486
THIRD TABLE

THE DISRUPTION TO THE CLOSE OF OLD
TESTAMENT HISTORY

126

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a Head of column A. Di. stands for
Anno Discidii, the year of the disruption
of Israel into the two kingdoms of Israel
and Judah.
6 Head of column. The synchronisms
of the Israelitish and Assyrian dated events
now become exact (see at B. C. 910). To
reduce the biblical years B. C. to the Assyrian
as now commonly received, subtract 51
(see Introduction 23, 27, 34).
c A. Di. 4. Ahijah gave a message to
Jeroboam before the death of Solomon,
and another later; he was a writer; and pos
sibly the father of king Baasha (1 Ki. 11 : 29-
39, 12:15, 14:2-18, 15:29, 33; 2 Chron.
10:15, 9:29).
Jedo (not Iddo) appears as a. writer in
2 Chronicles 9: 29. He is probably the
prophet from Judah of : Kings 13, whom
Josephus calls Jadon.
Shemaiah forbade Rehoboam' s making
war against Israel, rebuked him in the
time of Shishak, and wrote his history
(1 Ki. 12:22; 2 Chron. 11:2, 12:5-7, x5).
d A. Di. 5. Concerning Shishak see In
troduction 24, 27, and note at B. C. 983.
e B. C. 963. At this point the Assyrian
eponym canon (see Introduction io, 23)
becomes continuous. I follow George Smith
in making 911 B. C. Assyrian (962 B. C.
biblical) the eponym year of Ramman-
nirari II, and the preceding year therefore
his first year.
See B. C. 1 104 in these tables.
/A. Di. 21. The Septuagint is mistaken
in dating Asa the 24th year of Jeroboam.

Explanations of the Dates.
Solomon's reign extended to 40 years
(1 Ki. 11:42). Doubtless the division into
two kingdoms occurred at once, though the
details may have extended over several
years. The introduction of the calf wor
ship may have been gradual, but we must
think that Jeroboam began this policy at
once. Rehoboam was faithful 3 years (2 Chron.
11:17, 12:1). In his 5th year was the
Shishak invasion (1 Ki. 14: 25; 2 Chron.
12: 2).
Rehoboam reigned 17 years (1 Ki. 14: 21).
The first of Abijam's 3 years was the 18th
year of Jeroboam (1 Ki. 15: 1, 2). Asa's
accession year (1 Ki. 15:9) was the 20th
year of Jeroboam, his first year beginning
the following new year, as the subsequent
numbers prove (see Introduction, Chapter
III). Jeroboam reigned 22 years (1 Ki. 14: 20).
Nadab succeeded him the second year of
Asa (1 Ki. 15:25). That year is counted
as the 22d year of Jeroboam, but it is also
counted as the first year of Nadab. In
actual time Nadab's 2 years are the clos
ing part of the 2d year of Asa, and the open
ing part of Asa's 3d year. Asa's 3d year
is also counted as the first year of Baasha
(iKi. 15:33).

THE TABLES

127

Foreign Dated Events.

t-H

a
a<:
<>
<
a 0
0
«
ci M
n-.
>
inxn
<
<j 0
55 w
h-l I—.
3 0
g ID
0
I982
1
1
1 [
H981
2
2
2 [
980
3
3
3
979
4
4
4 [
978
5
5
5
977
6
6
6
976
7
7
7
975
8
8
8 [
974
9
9
9
973
10
10
10
972
11
11
II
1 971
12
12
12
970
13
13
13
I 969
14
14
14
968
h- 1
15
15
15
J 967
3
16
16
16
966
17
17
17
965
<aa
18
1
18
964
<
19
2
19
963
1
20
3
20
i
962
2
21
1
21
| 961
3
22 1
2
22
960
4
2 1
3
23
|959
5
2
4
24
| 958
6
3
5
25
Israelitish Dated Events.
931 B. C. Assyrian.
About this time Shes
honk I, late in his 21st
year, commissionsHarem-
saf to build the Karnak
structure.
About this time began
the 36 or more years of
Osorkon I of Egypt.
Death of Asshur-daan
II of Assyria. Accession
of Ramman-nirari II. e
He was in relations with
Shamash-inudammiq and
his successor Nabu-shum-
ishkun, kings of Babylon
(Rec. of Past, new series
IV, 3*)-
The disruption (1 Ki. 11, 12; 2
Chron. 10, 11). Jeroboam (1
Ki. 12-14). Rehoboam ( 1 Ki.
14:21-31; 2 Chron. 11-12).
Bethel and Dan established.
Rehoboam forsakes Jehovah.
The prophets Ahijah,
Shemaiah.*:
Invasion by Shishak. d
Jedo,
Death of Rehoboam. Accession
of Abijam.
Abijam (1 Ki. 15:1-8; 2 Chron.
13).
Death of Abijam. Accession of
Asa.
Asa (1 Ki. 15:9-24; 2 Chron.
14-16)./
Deathof Jeroboam. Accession of
Nadab. Nadab(\~Kl\. 15:25-32).
Death of Nadab. Accession of
Baasha. Baasha ( 1 Ki. 15:16-
16:7).
128

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a A. Di. 36. "And war not having oc
curred to the 35th year of the kingdom of
Asa, in the 36th year of the kingdom of
Asa, Baasha, king of Israel, came up upon
Judah" (2 Chron. 15: 19, 16: 1). Not "no
more war," as in the English versions. The
writer is speaking of war with Israel, not
with other countries. During the 15 years
of which he has been speaking there has
been no war with Israel, but war began the
following year. Either the numbers 35
and 36 are to be corrected, or they give
the date in terms starting from the disrup
tion. Josephus perhaps made the dates the 25th
and 26th of Asa. He says: "So after this
Baasha had no leisure to make expeditions
against Asa, for he was prevented by death"
(Ant. VIII, xii, 4). But this is not so
well. 6 A. Di. 37ff. Oded and his son Azariah
prophesied to Asa (2 Chron. 15: 1-8).
Hanani rebuked Asa for seeking assis
tance from Benhadad (2 Chron. 16: 7).
Jehu, the son of Hanani, testified against
Baasha, inspired Jehoshaphat to his work
of reform, wrote history that was inserted
in the book of the Kings (1 Ki. 16: 1, 7,
12; 2 Chron. 19: 2, 20: 34).

Explanations of the Dates.
Jehoshaphat was 35 years old the first
year of his reign (1 Ki. 22: 42), A. Di. 62.
Asa's reign began with 10 years of quiet
(2 Chron. 14: 1).
The cattle captured in the Zerah war
were used in the sacrifices the 3d month of
the 15th year of Asa (2 Chron. 15:10).
Therefore, the invasion either began the
preceding year, or extended over more
years than one.
For the date of the Baasha war see note a.
Baasha reigned 24 years (1 Ki. 15:33).
His 24th year was the 26th of Asa, and
was also the first of the 2 years of Elah
(1 Ki. 16:8). Elah's 2d year was the 27th
of Asa, in the course of which he was slain
by Zimri (1 Ki. 16: 10, 15). The same
year was the first of the 12 years of Omri,
which terminated in the 38th of Asa (1 Ki.
16: 23, 29). The 31st year of Asa is also
given as the date of Omri's accession. It
is possible to infer that Omri became sole
king at that date, Tibni's rivalry having
lasted the 4 intervening years.
That the Tyrian alliance and the mar
riage of Ahab and Jezebel occurred very
early in Omri's reign is inferred from the
fact that a grandson of that marriage was
22 years old in A. Di. 90, which see.

THE TABLES

129

Foreign Dated Events.

n-.

<
tih,
. %
in hi
m *=<
<< <
Pi

?J 5

a

<

Israelitish Dated Events.

906 B. C. Assyrian.

957

7

4

6

26

956

8

5

7

27

Jehoshaphat born.

J 955

9

6

8

28

954
10
7
9
29
953
11
8
10
30
Close of 10 years of quiet.
952
12
9
11
31
951
13
10
12
32
950
14
11
13
33
949
15
12
14
34
? Invasion by Zerah (2 Chron.
I4 = 9ff)-
Zerah the Cushite must
have been either Osorkon
I or his ally.
948
J947
1617
13
14
1516
3536
Final defeat of Zerah.
Great festival, 3d month.
Up to this time no war with Israel.
War with Baasha and Israel a (1 Ki.
15:16-22; 2 Chron. 15:19-16:10).
946
18
15
17
37
The prophets, Oded, Azariah.
Hanani, Jehu, b
J945
19
16
18
38
944
20
17
19
39
J 943
21
18
20
40
Death of Ramman-ni
rari II. Accession of
Tukulti-ninip II.
942941
22 1
19
20
2122
4142
940
2
21
23
43
939
3
22
24
44
938
4
23
25
45
937
5
24 1
26
46
Baasha dies. Accession of Elah .
Elah and Zimri ( 1 Ki. 16:8-20).
Death of Tukulti-ninip II.
Accession of Asshur-nazir-pal.
936
6
2 1
27
47
Elah dies. Accession of Zimri.
Zimri dies. Accession of Omri.
His reign of 25 years was
from the outset a series of
935
1
2
28
48 1
Tibni contests the crown.
Omri and Tib ni (1 Ki. 16:21-28),
conquests. See his standard inscription
in Rec. of Past, new series, II.
| 934
2
3
29
49
? Tyrian alliance formed.
? Ahab marries Jezebel.
About this time began the
23 or more years of Takelot I, |
|933
3
4
30
50 1
of Egypt.
130

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
u. A. Di. 61. Some Greek copies date
Jehoshaphat the nth year of Omri, and
Ahab the 2d year of Jehoshaphat. Very
likely these numbers are correct as indica
ting a coreign. If so, it is not included
in the 25 years attributed to Jehoshaphat.
6 A. Di. 65. We have no information
as to the beginnings of the careers of these
two celebrated prophets. Their contest
with Jezebel for influence over Ahab began
early. c B. C. 910. The synchronism is at this
point perfectly definite. Shalmanezer says
that in his 6th year he defeated the allies
Benhadad and Ahab, and in his 18th year
he received tribute from Jehu. Hence his
1 8th year cannot have been earlier than
the accession year of Jehu, and his 6th year
cannot have been later than the 21st of
Ahab, for Ahab and Benhadad were never
allies after that. The synchronism can be
moved neither backward nor forward by
so much as one year.

Explanations of the Dates.
The Moabite stone says that Omri and
his sons oppressed Moab 40 years. Hence
the oppression began not later than the 40th
year before the close of the dynasty.
Jehoram was born 32 years before he
became king (2 Ki. 8: 17).
Omri founded Samaria after reigning
6 years (1 Ki. 16: 23).
Omri 12 years (1 Ki. 16: 23). Ahab's
accession year and first year was the 38th
of Asa (1 Ki. 16: 29). Asa's disease was
in his 39th year (2 Chrou. 16: 12), and his
reign was 41 years (1 Ki. 15: 10). Jehosh
aphat became king the 4th year of Ahab
(1 Ki. 22:41), but the subsequent num
bers prove that his first year is counted
from the following new year. His teaching
mission was in his 3d year (2 Chron. 17: 7-9).
The sudden appearance of Elijah (1 Ki.
17) implies previous relations with Ahab,
presumably for years. Elisha was an old
acquaintance of the Shunammite family
when their child was born.
Jehoram and Athaliah were married early
enough so that their son Ahaziah was 22
years old in A. Di. 90, which see.
The restoration of the Shunammite boy
occurred more than 7 years before the death
of Benhadad and of Joram, king of Israel,
(2 Ki. 8:1-8); hence his birth was some
years before the close of the reign of Ahab.
It was before the relations of Ahab with the
prophets ceased to be friendly.
The 3^ years (1 Ki. 18:1; Luke 4:25;.
Ja. 5: 17) of Elijah's seclusion must have*
been an appreciable time before the close
relations of the prophets to the king in
the Syrian wars (1 Ki. 20).

THE TABLES

131

Foreign Dated Events.

o

N <
$ £ *
>< w <i

w M
« a
hH Q

Q

Israelitish Dated Events.

Bi B. C. Assyrian.

At various dates Asshur-
nazir-pal represents him
self as invading the coun
tries on the eastern coast
of the Mediterranean , tak
ing tribute from the Phoe
nicians, among others,
and carrying off timber
from Lebanon.

Death of Asshur-nazir-
pal. Accession of Shal
manezer II.
There have been pre
served to us the records, c
year by year, of his ex
ploits, for a large part of
his long reign. See Rec.
of Past, new series, II and
IV.

I 932 931

Asshur-nazir-palincon- ¦ 930
flict with Nabu-aplu-id-
dina of Babylon. || qoo

928
I 927 926925 924923
I 922 921 920
I 919 918 917
| 916 915914 913912911910909
908

4 5 6 78
9
10 111213 1415 16 171819
20 21 222324 25 1
23

56 7
89
1011 12 1 2 3
4 5 67 89
10 11 1213 14
15 161718

313233
34 35
363738394041 1
2 3
4 5 6 789
101112 1314

51
5253545556 57
58 596061 626364 65 66 6768 69
70 717273 74 75

' Omri sole king on death of Tibni.
He conquers Moab. Jehoram,
of Judah, born.
I Samaria founded.

Death of Omri. Accession of
Ahab. ^4Aa6(iKi.i6:29-22:5i).
Asa diseased in his feet.

Death of Asa. Accession of
Jehoshaphat. a
1 Baalism now prevalent in Israel.
\Jehoshaphat (1 Ki. 22; 2 Ki. 1-3;
2 Chron. 17-20).

Jehoshaphat's teaching mission
(2 Chron. 17).
j ? The prophets Elijah and
Elisha. b (1 Ki.17t02Ki.13).

Marriage of Jehoram and Atha-
liah.
Ahaziah of Judah born.

? Shunammite's son promised
' (2Ki. 4).
I ? Shunammite's son born.
I ? Elijah goes to Cherith (1 Ki.
' i7:i-7)-
? Elijah goes to Zarephath ( t
Ki. 17:8-24).

I ? The slaughter at Carmel. Eli
jah's flight. The call; of
Elisha (1 Ki. 18-19).

132

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a A. Di. 79, Explanations. Concerning
Micaiah, otherwise Micah, and Eliezer and
Jahaziel, we have only the information
given in the passages here cited.
6 A. Di. 86. Presumably Naaman was the
brains of the Benhadad confederacy, which
resisted Shalmanezer for so many years.
c A. Di. 96. Some Greek copies date
Joash in the 8th year of Jehu, possibly count
ing Jehu's accession year as his first year.

Explanations of the Dates.
For Osorkon see the preceding Egyptian
dates. For Shalmanezer see his inscrip
tions (e. g., Rec. of Past, old series III, new
series IV), and the accounts of him under
"Assyria" in the large Bible Dictionaries.
The second victory of Ahab was at "the
turn of the year," that is, the autumnal
equinox. The Naboth affair is here dated
from the order of the narrative. The
"third year" of the 3 years of peace (1 Ki.
22: 1-2) was the last year of Ahab, making
the 3 years to be A. Di. 77, 78, 79. The
fighting of 1 Ki. 20 occurred not long before
the 3 years. Syria and Israel fought one an
other in the odd years when they were not
in alliance to fight the Assyrian.
Ahaziah's 2 years were the 17th and 18th
of Jehoshaphat (1 Ki. 22:51; 2 Ki. 3:1).
As these years are included in the 22 years
of Ahab (1 Ki. 16: 29), it is a case of coreg-
nancy. Perhaps Ahab associated his son
with himself as a precaution before the
war against Shalmanezer.
The hypothesis that Jehoshaphat made
a like arrangement with his son Jehoram,
and repudiated it afterward, would explain
the otherwise misfitting statement (2 Ki.
1:17) that Joram of Israel became king
the 2d year of Jehoram of Judah.
The 1 8th year of Jehoshaphat is both
the accession year and the first year of Joram
of Israel (2 Ki. 3:1), so that this year is
counted three times— to Ahab, to Ahaziah,
to Joram.
The events of the year 79 A. Di. seem
to have had their beginnings in the follow
ing order. Of course they overlapped.
Jehoshaphat in alliance with Ahab (1 Ki. 22:2-40; 2 Chron. 18). Micaiah son of
Imlah.a His visit "at an end of years" (2 Chron. 18: 2).
Ramoth-gilead. Death of Ahab.
Jehoshaphat's partnership in commerce with Ahaziah (1 Ki. 22: 48-49; 2 Chron. 20: 35-37)
Eliezer, son of Dodavah.a Jehoshaphat's judging reformation (2 Chron. 19). His son
Jehoram turned down(?).
Revolt of Moab (2 Ki. 1 : 1, 3: 5).
Death of Ahaziah of Israel. Fire from heaven (2 Ki. 1).
Invasion by Moab and allies (2 Chron. 20). JahaziEL.u
Edom changes from deputy to king (1 Ki. 22: 47; cf. 2 Ki. 3).
In the following year, probably, the expedition against Mesha (1 Ki. 3).
(Continued on page 134.)

THE TABLES

133

Foreign Dated Events.

856 B. C. Assyrian.
About this time began
the 30 or more years of
Osorkon II, of Egypt.
Shalmanezer defeats the
Benhadad-Ahab alliance.

Shalmanezer defeats
Marduk-bel-usati,of Bab
ylon. Shalmanezer slays Mar
duk. Shalmanezer defeats
Benhadad and allies.
He again defeats Ben
hadad and allies.

He again defeats these
allies.

Shalmanezer defeats
Hazael, and receives trib
ute from Jehu and others.

Shalmanezer defeats
Hazael. Tribute from
Phoenicia.

After the downfall of
the dynasty of Omri came
the successes of Mesha
against Israel, as recorded
on the Moabite stone,
covering some years.

rjm

M1— 1
<> "j,

htw'A
w
M

a
<

a <
a0
1— 1

H «!a<a0a
w
i-i

907

4

19

15

906

5

20

16

905

6

121

17

904

7

2

22
1

18

903

8

2

19

902

9

3

20

901

10

4

21

900

11

5

1

22

899

12

6

2

23

898

13

7

3

24

897

14

8

4

25

896

15

9

5

895

16

10

6

894

17

11

7

893

18

12

8

892

19

1

1

891

20

2

2

890

21

3

3

889

22

4

4

888

23

5

5

887

24

6

6

886

25

7

1

885

26

8

2

884

27

9

3

883

28

10

4

I

76
77 787980 818283 8485
8687 888990919293949596979899
100

Israelitish Dated Events.

Ahab defeats Benhadad twice ( 1
Ki. 20).
Naboth (1 Ki. 21). Three years of
peace between Israel and Syria.
Ahaziah. 2 years coregnant with
Ahab Jehoram coregnant with
Jehoshaphat(?).
Death of Ahab. Ahaziah sole king.
Death of Ahaziah. Accession oi
Joram. Joram of Israel (1 Ki. 1-9).
[For events of A. Di. 79, 80, see
opposite page.]

'Jehoram coregnant with Je
hoshaphat.
. Jehoram of Judah (2 Ki. 8: 16-
I 24; 2 Chron. 21).
j Translation of Elijah (2Ki. 2).
[Miracles of Elisha (2Ki. 2-7).
Fighting between Syria and
Israel (2 Ki. 5:2).
? Naamani (2 Ki. 5).

Fighting between Syria and
Israel (2 Ki. 6-7).
Jehoram sick 2 years.
f Death of Jehoram. Accession of
j Ahaziah.
") Ahaziah in Judah (2 Ki. 8:25-29; 2
Chron. 22).
Death of Joram. Accession of Jehu.
Death of Ahaziah. Accession of
Athaliah.
Jehu in Israel (2 Ki. 9-10).
Athaliah in Judah (2 Ki. 11; 2
Chron. 22 : ioff).

Death of Athaliah. Accession
of Joash. c
j Joash in Judah (2 Ki. 11-12; 2
Chron. 23-24). Jehoiada.

In Jehu's reign and later, Israel
suffered from Hazael, the Mo-
abites, etc. (2 Ki. 10:32-33,
13:20; Amos 1:3-2:4; cf. 2 Ki.
8:12).

134

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a B. C. 876. For the Assyrian dates see
copies of the Eponym Canon (e. g., George
Smith's Assyrian Canon). For Shamash-
ramman and Ramman-nirari, see inscrip
tion of the former in Rec. of Past, old series
I, 9, and Synchronous History in Rec. oj
Past, new series IV, 33-35, 26.
6 A. Di. 119. Josephus (Ant. IX, viii,
5) makes the reign of Jehoahaz to begin
the 2 1 st of Joash, and gives other num
bers to match this. His numerals, if
accepted, would shorten the chronology by
2 years, and there would be no misfit till
we reach the later long numbers.

Explanations of the Dates.
(Continued from page 132.)
The first year of Jehoram of Judah was
the 5th of Joram of Israel, and his 8 years
closed at the end of a year (2 Chron. 21 : 19),
at the change from the nth year of Joram
to the 12th (2 Ki. 8: 16, 17, 25 and 9: 29).
In actual time Ahaziah's reign occupied
only a small fraction of the year that is counted
to him, the year 90 A. Di. ; and the last year
of Joram's reign consisted of only a similar
fraction of the same year. Early in that
year Jehu and Athaliah waded in blood
to their respective thrones, the first year
of each being counted from the following
new year.
Note that the biblical and the Assyrian
accounts synchronize exactly in the simul
taneous disappearance of Benhadad and
the dynasty of Omri, and their replace
ment by Hazael and Jehu.
Athaliah reigned 6 years, and the first
year of Joash was the 7th of Jehu (2 Ki
n : 3-4, 12:1; 2 Chron. 22: 12, 23: 1).
On the Moabite stone (see e. g., Rec. of
Past, new series II, or the large Bible Dic
tionaries), the successes of Mesha are dated
after the dynasty of Omri had oppressed
Moab 40 years. Hence they all belong
to a later time than the events of 2 Kings 3.
The close of the reign of Shalmanezer
II was disturbed by revolts, and the history
is obscure.Amaziah was 25 years old when his reign
began, A. Di. 137 (2 Ki. 14:2; 2 Chron.
25: 1). The marriages of Joash were early
enough for this; in view of his age they
cannot have been much earlier.
Jehu reigned 28 years (2 Ki. 10: 36).
The first year of Jehoahaz was the 23d of
Joash (2 Ki. 13: 1). The renewed interest
in the temple is dated from the 23d year
of Joash (2 Ki. 12:6).

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136

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a A. Di. 133. Jehoash and Joash, Hke
Jehoram and Joram, are mere variant spell
ings of the same name; but it is convenient
to use one spelling for the Israelitish name,
and the other for the Judahite.
b A. Di. 135. The historical situation
in the book of Joel accurately fits the time
of the invasion by Hazael, and that is the
strongest known indication of the date of
the prophet.
c A. Di. 149. The book of Obadiah pre
sents two historical situations, one the same
with that of Joel, the other that of a signal
punishment inflicted on Edom.
d B. C. 833. See Introduction 23. Thus
far we have followed the exact synchronism
established for the time of Shalmanezer II
and Ahab and Jehu. The next accurately
ascertained synchronism is that between
Sargon and the downfall of Samaria. Back
ward from that the Assyrian dates are contin
uous to the first year of Asshur-daan III,
B. C. 772. For the interval between Ram
man-nirari and Asshur-daan the Assyrian
Canon has only the 10 years of Shalmanezer
III, while the biblical numbers make the
time to be 61 years, and specify, though
briefly, the events that occupied those years.
If we place Shalmanezer immediately
before Asshur-daan, the preceding 51 years,
from the point of view of the Assyrian Canon,
have no existence, and the events which
the Bible assigns to them have to be dis
tributed through the decades that follow,
in some instances crowding out of place
the events which the Bible assigns to those
decades. For these reasons we drop the Assyrian
column from the table for the next two
pages, and for those and the following
pages add a column giving the years B. C.
to which Assyriologists assign the biblical
events. Most of the dates in that column
are taken from the article on "Chronology"
in the Hastings Bible Dictionary.

Explanations of the Dates.
The incident of Zechariah must have oc
curred late in the reign of Joash.
Jehoash of Israel the 37th year of Joash
of Judah (2 Ki. 13: 10). That this was
the beginning of a. coreign of 3 years, not
counted in the 16 years of Jehoash, appears
from the statement that Amaziah lived
15 years after the death of Jehoash (2 Ki.
14: 17; 2 Chron. 25: 25).
Jehoahaz 17 years (2 Ki. 13: 1), Joash
of Judah 40 years (2 Ki. 12:1), Amaziah
2d year of Jehoash of Israel (2 Ki. 14: 1).
The Seder Olam (19) says that Amaziah's
invasion of Edom was made in his 12th
year, and this is as likely a date as any.
His defeat by Jehoash occurred at some
time between the Edom affair and his death
(2 Ki. 14; 2 Chron. 25).

THE TABLES

137

Foreign Dated Events.

B. C. 806 Assyrian.
About this time begin
the 52 years of Sheshonk
III in Hgypt.

857 856 855 854 853

* 3

852 11

Expedition of Ramman-
nirari to Manzuat (Epo
nym Canon).
'Scholars conjecture
that this was the expedi
tion in which he says that
he took tribute from the
entire region west of the
Euphrates, " Tyre, Sidon, the land
Omri, Edom, Philistia,
As far as the great sea to
the setting of the sun ;"
and that he humbled Ma-
riha the king of Damas
cus (see e. g. Smith's
Canon, p. 115)- Marina
means "lord," and Ma-
riha may have been
Hazael, or Benhadad who
succeeded him about the
beginning of the reign of
Jehoash (2 Ki. 13:22-25).

Here begins the diver
gence between the bibli
cal and Assyrian chronol
ogy. —

851 850 849 848 847 846 845 844 843 842 841 840 839 838 837 836
1835 834833

55 w

10

12 13 14 15 1617 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 2627 28 29

8 9
10

9 11

13 14 15 16 17 1
2 34 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 1213 14 15

30 31 3233

12 34

35 36 37 38 39 40 1
2 3 4 5 6 7 89
10 11 12 13 14

Q

126 127 128 129 1
I30| 131 132 133' 134! 135 136 137 1381 139 140! 141 142 1431 1441

Israelitish Dated Events.

Zechariah, son of Jehoiada (2
Chron. 24 : 20).
Jehoash a, of Israel, coregnant
with Jehoahaz.

("Hazael's expedition. ? Joex. b
\ Death of Jehoahaz. Accession of
( Jehoash. ? Death of Elisha,
(Jehoash in Israel (2 Ki. 13-14) •
¦! Death of Joash. Accession of
{_ Amaziah.
Amaziah in Judah (2 Ki. 14;
2 Chron. 25).
? Victories of Jehoash over Da
mascus (2 Ki. 13:24-25).

[Ussher makes the 41 years of
Jeroboam II begin the 4th
year of Amaziah, the first 11
years being a coreign. Thus
he closes the gap between
Amaziah and Uzziah. His
date for the 4th of Amaziah
is 836 B. C]

145 146' 147
I 48 II ? Amaziah beats Edom.
I 49 I ? Obadiah. c
I 50 II ' Jehoash beats Amaziah.

138

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a A. Di 153. The writer of the book
of Jonah has presented accurately the values
of the historical situation. It was the un
known disasters in Assyria, just after Ram
man-nirari had broken the power of Damas
cus, that rendered the successes of Jero
boam possible.
6 B. C. 825. At the beginning of this
blank period the Assyrians, under Ram
man-nirari, are taking tribute from the
whole Mediterranean region, Judah ex
cepted. At its close we find a situation
in which their power over the region has
been lost, and they are engaged in a des
perate struggle to regain it.

Explanations of the Dates.
The reign of Jehoash of Israel lasted 16
years (2 Ki. 13: 10). Jeroboam's first year
was the 15th of Amaziah (2 Ki. 14: 23).
Ussher counts this as the date of Jeroboam's
sole reign, and holds that his 41 years be
gan 11 years earlier.
The writer in Kings places Jonah early
enough so that he promised the successes
which Jeroboam achieved. Probably these
began early in -his reign. The preaching
of Jonah may have been a large factor in
them. Uzziah was 16 years old when he became
king, A. Di. 177 (2 Ki. 15: 1-2).
Amaziah reigned 29 years (2 Ki. 14: 2).
Perhaps his reign was merely nominal from
the time when Jehoash defeated him and
broke down the walls of Jerusalem. Jeho
ash and Jeroboam seem to have used their
successes wisely, and thus to have main
tained a dominant influence in Judah.

THE TABLES

139

Foreign Dated Events.

fj M

Israel. Jehoash.

<
3 f
cnCO
<O pq
/v.

X
. <

0 <

832

16 1

782

15

1511

831

2

16

152 1

830

3

17

153 1

829

4

18

1541

828

5

19
155
827
6
20
156
826
7
21
157
825
8
22
158 [
824
9
23
159
823
10
24
160
822
11
25
161
821
12
26
162
820
13
27
163
819
14
28
164
818
15
767
29
165
817
16
166
816
17
167
815
18
168
814
19
169
813
20
170
812
21
171
811
22
172
810
23
173
809
24
174
808
25
175
Israelitish Dated Events.
Between this date and
B. C. 720 the second half
of the 52 years of Shes
honk III, the 6 years and
more of Pemou, the 37
years and more of Shes
honk IV, the 23 years and
more of Pedibast, the 14
years and more of Osor-
kon III, the 6 years and
more of Bekneranef, per
haps other kings, and the
beginning of the reign of
Shabaka. Here the Assyrian rec
ords are virtually a blank.
The period, whether a few
years only or several dec
ades, was a period of dis
aster (see note at B. C.
765). b
Death of Jehoash. Accession
of Jeroboam . Jeroboa m II i u
Israel (2 Ki. 14).
? Jonah ( 2 Ki. 14 : 25) . a
In these years Jeroboam II be
comes suzerain of all the
peoples from the Mediterra
nean to the Euphrates.
Birth of Uzziah.
Death of Amaziah. Interreg
num in Judah 11 years.
140

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a B. C. Assyrian 741. Dr. J. Taylor in
"Amos" in the Dictionary of the Bible
dates the death of Jeroboam about 750 B. C,
and the prophesying of Amos about 760
B. C.
Dr. A. B. Davidson in "Hosea" in the
same Dictionary dates the death of Jero
boam about B. C. 746-745, and the be
ginning of Hosea' s ministry "some time
previous." 6 A. Di. 191. Here the Bible numbers in
dicate an interregnum of 22 years in Israel
— quite in accord with Hosea's program.

Explanations of the Dates.
Uzziah's reign began the 27th year of
Jeroboam II (2 Ki. 15:1). Ussher dates
this not from the beginning of Jeroboam's
reign in the 15th year of Amaziah (2 Ki.
14: 23), but from an assumed coreign with
Jehoash which began 1 1 years earlier. In
this way he closes up the gap of 1 1 years
between Amaziah and Uzziah.
The prophecies of Amos are dated (Am.
1 : 1 confirmed by the whole book) in a par
ticular year, "two years before the earth
quake," at a time when Jeroboam and Uzziah
were both reigning. Israel has recovered
from its crushed condition of the time of
Hazael, and is rich and luxurious. To
give time for this, the date is to be set as
late as possible. The prophet dreads an
invader, evidently the Assyrian, but the
nation does not share his dread.
The prophecies of Hosea extend over
several decades (Hos. 1 : 1-2 and the whole
book), the earliest being of about the same
date with Amos.

THE TABLES

Foreign Dated Events.

ci

Israel. JeroboamII.

>
inin
<
ci «

< h.

H
Q

807

26

176
806
27
789 or
767
l
177
805
28
2
178
804
29
3
179
803
30
4
180
The contemporary As
syrian history is a blank.
The contemporary Egyp>
tian history is complicated
by questions of overlap
ping reigns. :
802 801800
31 3233
5 67
181
182183
799
34
8
184
798
35
9
185
797
36
10
186
796
37
11
187
795
38
12
188
794
39
13
189
793
40
14
190
792
41
741a
15
191
791
16
192
790
17
193
J789
18
194
788
19
195
J 787
20
196
786
21
197
j 785
22
198
784
23
199
1783
24
200
141
Israelitish Dated Events.
Close of interregnum. Acces
sion of Uzziah. Uzziah in
Judah (2 Ki. 15 ; 2 Chron. 26).
? Amos.
? Hosea, earliest prophecies.
Death of Jeroboam 11.6
Hosea's program for waiting
many years without a king,
and then accepting the dy
nasty of David (Hos. 3).
Uzziah succeeds Jeroboam in
the suzerainty of the re
gion (?).
?The earthquake (Am. 1 : 1;
L Zech. 14:5)-
142

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a A. Di. 218. Pul is the man who later
seized the throne of Assyria, and reigned
as Tiglath-pilezer III. There are two mutila
ted Assyrian inscriptions, one of them
quite long (Rawlinson's Cuneiform Inscrip
tions, Vol. 3, page 9, Nos. 2, 3, translated
in Smith's Assyrian Canon, 117; Assyrian
Discoveries, 275ff. ; Schrader on 2 Kings
15, and other works), which mention Aza
riah of Judah. Of the shorter one only
disconnected clauses are legible, but it
speaks of populations who "to Azariah
had turned and strengthened him," and of
great fighting, in which of course the Assyr
ians defeated Azariah. The other gives
details of extensive operations in northern
Syria, including the punishments inflicted
on wide districts that had revolted to Aza
riah, and including tribute from "Menahem,
of Samaria" and from Damascus, Tyre,
and other nationalities. These seem to be
events of one campaign, and are followed
by events dated in "my ninth year." Had
rach is prominently mentioned.
Assyriologists attribute these inscriptions
to Tiglath-pilezer, though the events can
not be consistently placed anywhere within
the 18 years of his reign. I think that
they belong to the 8th year of Asshur-daan,
and that Tiglath-pilezer, then an Assyrian
general, had a part in them. The Canon
attributes to Asshur-daan that year an
expedition to Hadrach.

Explanations of the Dates.
Hosea's rebukes for idolatry, lawlessness,
greed, intrigue, are of course not confined
to a particular date.
Jotham was 25 years old in A. Di. 229
when he began to reign (2 Ki. 15: 33).
Zechariah 6 months the 38th year of
Uzziah, and Shallum 1 month in his 39th
year (2 Ki. 15:8, 13). It follows that the
6 months were at the close of the year,
and the 1 at the beginning of the next year.
The 39th year of Uzziah was the accession
year of Menahem, and he reigned most of
that year, but his 10 years were the years
40 to 49 of Uzziah (2 Ki. 15: 17, 23).
The prophesying of Isaiah extended
over several decades (Isa. 1 : 1 and the book),
beginning in the reign of Uzziah.
Doubtless Assyrian intrigue had been
many years busy in Israel, and Menahem
had Assyrian support from the first. The
great invasion by Pul was probably the
one mentioned in the Assyrian records.
"The Burden upon the land
of Hadrach" is the title of the prophecy
recorded in Zechariah 9-1 1. The name
occurs nowhere else in the Bible; it is promi
nent in the Assyrian records of the time
of Asshur-daan III and Tiglath-pilezer III.
Many points in the prophecy indicate this
date for it.
According to the Hebrew text, Ahaz
was born 20 years before he became king
in A. Di. 245 (2 Ki. 16:2; 2 Chron. 28:1)
This would make him only 11 years old
at the birth of his son Hezekiah. Some
copies of the Greek substitute 25 years for
20 years, and I have followed these.

THE TABLES

M3

¦ M
< .

>
<

Foreign Dated Events.
M
5 §
> $
in 2
< to
i-t<M
CO
M
rt-.
5 §
kB
Q<
Israelitish Dated Events.
? Shalmanezer III.
782
1
25
20 1 1 hosea's program for union hin-
I dered by the idolatry and
781
2
26
9(10 lawlessness of Israel, by the
N grasping spirit of Judah, and
on„ 1 by intrigue with Egypt and
d\j-o I Assyria (Hos. 4-6).
780
3
27
]779
4
28
204 y
778
5
29
205 1 Birth of Jotham.
J 777
6
30
206 0
776
7
31
207 1
J 775
8
32
208 n
774
9
33
209 1
? Death of Shalmanezer.
Accession of Asshur-daan
1 773
10
34
210 n
III. Expedition to Hadrach.
772
1
35
21 ll
771
2
36
2I2M
770
3
37
213 1
0 1 A W Zechariah , king of Israel, 6
769
4
741
38
tl4|| months (2 Ki. 15:8-12).
1 (Shallum, 1 month (2 Ki. 15 : 13-16).
2 1 5 1 \ Accession of Menahem (Hos, 7-8?).
~^ n (? Leprosy of Uzziah (Zech. 11 :8).
768
5
39
767
6
1
741
40
9IR Menahem, of Israel (2 Ki. 15:
^IDU 14-22).
766
7
2
41
2171? Isaiah, early prophecies.
Second expedition to
Hadrach.
765
8
3
738
42
2 1 8 II ? Invasion by Pul, of Assyria, a
764
9
4
43
2191? Zechariah, 9-14.
Eclipse of the sun June
j 763
10
5
44
220 y
15th, 10th year of Asshur-
daan.
762
11
6
45
221 1? Birth of Ahaz.
761
12
7
46
222 y
760
13
8
47
223 1
759
14
9
48
224 \
|758
15
10
737
49
225
1 Death of Menahem. Accession
1 of Pekahiah.
144

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a A. Di 227. Doubtless Assyrian intrigue
was concerned with all these changes.
Zechariah, of the house of Jehu, was pro-
Assyrian, Shallum anti-Assyrian, Menahem
and his son Pekahiah pro-Assyrian, Pekah
anti-Assyrian, Hoshea at first pro-Assyrian.
b B. C. 753. The Greek and Roman
dates are from the Enclycopedia Britannica.
c B. C. 747. For canon of Ptolemy see
Introduction 8c. From this point the Baby
lonian chronology is continuous.
d A. Di. 243. Nowack in the Hastings
Dictionary dates Micah perhaps 734 B. C.
e A. Di. 247. Two mutilated slabs of
Tiglath-pilezer mention Pekah (Schrader,
or Assyr. Disc, pp. 284-286, citing from
Layard page 66, and Rawlinson III, 10, 2).
The> speak of operations against Gaza,
Egypt, Arabia, which seem to be different
from those narrated in the inscriptions which
describe his Philistine campaign of his nth
year (B. C. 734). They speak of Pekah
being killed, but are too mutilated to tell us
when or by whom. Tiglath-pilezer says
that he appointed Hoshea over Israel, but
not that he made him king.
Tiglath-pilezer was in Armenia in his 9th
and 10th years, but the operations there
were not so strenuous as to forbid the idea
that he may also have operated in Palestine.
Hence there is no reason for denying that
the campaign occurred at the bibUcal
date, B. C. 736. If the slabs be connected
with the campaign of B. C. 734, the parts
referring to Pekah may be retrospective.
In any case the interval between the
death of Pekah and the final downfall of
Samaria was longer than the 9 years of
Hoshea. Presumably he governed as the
deputy of Assyria till the death of Tiglath-
pilezer, and then took upon him the state
of king. This hypothesis exactly fits the
biblical interim of 9 years.

Explanations of the Dates.
Pekahiah's reign began the 50th year of
Uzziah, and lasted 2 years (2 Ki. 15:23).
Pekah the 52d year of Uzziah (2 Ki.15: 27).
Hosea 9-10 fits if assigned to the time when
Pekah slew Pekahiah. Isaiah 6 is dated
in the year when Uzziah died.
Uzziah reigned 52 years (2 Ki. 15: 2).
Jotham began the second year of Pekah
(2 Ki. 15:32). Jotham's regency (2 Ki.
15: 5) is not counted as a part of his 16
years. It may have begun when he was
a young boy (see Isa. 3: 2, 12 and context).
Hezekiah was born 25 years before his
first year as king, A. Di. 260 (2 Ki. 18: 2).
The accounts mention here at least two
invasions of Judah by Syria and Ephraim.
One, begun before the death of Jotham,
was successful (2 Ki. 15: 37; 2 Chron. 28: 1-
15). In the other the Syrians captured
Elath, but failed at Jerusalem (2 Ki.
16:5ft"; 2 Chron. 28:23ft; Isa. 7: iff). The
Philistine and Edomite invasions (2 Chron.
28: 17-18).
Jotham 16 years (2 Ki. 15:33). Ahaz
17th of Pekah (2 Ki. 16: 1). Pekah smitten
by Hoshea, who "reigned in his stead" the
20th year of Jotham (2 Ki. 15: 30). The first
year of the government of Pekah was the
twentieth from the accession of Jotham.

THE TABLES

145

Foreign Dated Events.

<! <

«
COCO
<
6

5J "
*-> p

Israelitish Dated Events.

Death of Asshur-daan
III. Accession of Asshur-
nirari II.

Rome founded, b

Death of Nabu-shum-
ishkun. Accession of Na-
bonassar. Here begins the Canon
of Ptolemy. c Nabonassar,
of Babylon, 14 years.
Death of Asshur-nirari II.
Accession of Tiglath-pilezer
III, who invades Babylonia.
Invades Babylonia
again. Tiglath-pilezer in Ar-
pad. Tiglath-pilezer in Ar-
pad. Tiglath-pilezer in Ar-
pad. Tiglath-pilezer in Ar-
pad. About this time Pi-
ankhi and Osorkon III in
Egypt. Cf. Isaiah 19.

Tiglath-pilezer does
desperate and protracted
fighting in Media.

Tiglath-pilezerinvades Phil
istia. Death of Nabonassar.
Accession of Nadius.
Nadius, of Babylon, 2 years.
Tiglath-pilezer in Damascus.

757 756 755 754753 752 751750
749 748747 746 745
744743742741 740739 738
737736735734733

16 1718 1
2 3
4 5 6789
10 1
2 3
4 5 678
9
10 1112

1
2 1
2 3
4 5 6 78
9
10 11
12 1314 151617 1819
20

737 736 736 753 737

735

734

50 51 52 1
2

226227 228229230

3

231

4

232

5

233

6

234

7

235

8

236

9

237

10

238

11

239

12

240

13

241

14

242

15

243

16

244

1

245

2

246

3

247

4

248

5

249

6

250

Pekahiah in Israel (2 Ki. 15 :
23-27).
Death of Pekahiah. Accession
of Pekah. a ? Hosea 9-10.
Pekah in Israel (2 Ki. 15 : 27fF).
Deathof Uzziah. Accession of Jotham
as sole king (Isaiah 6).
Jotham in Judah (2 Ki. 15:32-
38; 2 Chron. 27).

Birth of Hezekiah.

? Micah, d (Mic. 1:1 and book).
Successful invasion by Rezin and
Pekah. Death of Jotham. Acces
sion oi Ahaz. Oded (2 Chron. 28:9).
j Ahaz in Judah (2 Ki. 16; 2
Chron. 28; Isa. 7).
Unsuccessful invasion by Rezin and
Pekah. Philistine and Edomite in
vasion. Ahaz tributary to Assyria.
I Deportation from the north by Tig
lath-pilezer (2 Ki. 15:29). Deathof
Pekah. Hoshea governor, e

? Deportation from east of Jor
dan by Tiglath-pilezer (1
Chron. 5:6, 26 ; Isa. 9:1?).

146

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a A. Di. 251. More than one of the in
scriptions of Tiglath-pilezer mention Ahaz
among his tributaries.
6 B. C. 722. Other Assyrian documents
seem to date Sargon's accession 2 years
later. Perhaps this is the view of the writer
of 2 Kings 18: 9, who speaks of Shalmanezer
as king when the siege of Samaria began.
The Babylonian chronicle, however, dates
the death of Shalmanezer the 10th month
of his 5th year, and the accession of Sargon
the 12th day of that month, and that of
Merodach-baladan the following Nisan.
The records of Sargon are unusually full
and well preserved, giving the events of
his reign year by year ("Assyria," "Babylon,"
"Sargon" in the large Bible Dictionaries,
or Records of Past, old series, vols. VII, IX,
XI, or Smith, Assyr. Disc, p. 288ft). Sargon
was a usurper, the founder of a dynasty.
That the biblical date for the downfall
of Samaria is B. C. 718, and not "about
B. C. 721" (Ussher's date), any one can
see by counting up the numbers. It is the
fashion to say that Sargon dates that event
B. C. 722, and his record is sometimes quoted
in the form of a restoration based on that
theory. But he says that he imposed
tribute on Samaria, and that it was in arms
against him 2 years later. This is exphcit
against this date for the final downfall.

Explanations of the Dates.
The journey of Ahaz to Damascus (2 Ki.
16: 10-16; cf. 2 Chron. 28: 23; Isa. 8:6, 9: 13,
10:20) seems to belong to the 13th year of
Tiglath-pilezer, after the Assyrians were
in possession.
The later chapters of Hosea belong after
Pekah, the 14th chapter contemplating
perhaps the passover of Hezekiah (2 Chron.
30; cf. 2 Ki. 17: 2).
On Hoshea see note at A. Di. 247. His
9 years as king began not later than the
close of the 12th year of Ahaz (2 Ki. 17: 1),
and also not earUer, as the subsequent nu
merals show.
Hezekiah's 29 years began not later than
the close of the 3d year of Hoshea (2 Ki,
18: 1, 2, 9, 10). Perhaps he was coregnant
with Ahaz for a time. At all events his
first year is the year that is also counted
the 1 6th of Ahaz.
In the account of the great passover
(2 Chron. 29-31) his first year is differently
counted, as beginning with the Nisan after
his accession.
The 3 years of the siege of Samaria
(2 Ki. 18: 9, 10) are not mentioned by Sargon,
but, naturally, they began in his 2d year
after his defeating the allies.
Hezekiah's rebellion began when Sargon
was occupied elsewhere, after the punish
ment of Samaria, and before Sargon's
Ashdod expedition, when he speaks of Judah
as in rebellion.
Probably "the 14th year of king Heze
kiah" (2 Ki. 18:13-16; Isa. 36:1) is not
an inadvertence, but the date of an earlier
invasion by Sennacherib. It is not likely
that Sargon, after reducing Ashdod, left
Judah wholly unpunished. Probably he
sent an army the following year under
his son Sennacherib against Hezekiah.
Hezekiah's sickness is dated that same
14th year — 15 years before the close of
his 29 years (2 Ki. 20: 6),

THE TABLES

147

M1— 1

ft>inin

¦i 4
• ¦<
<
Foreign Dated Events.
0 m
5 £
p» .
in rj
w h.
< l-i
3 »
ft O
W hri
h* H-t
ci M
H*
<
Israelitish Dated Events.
Tiglath-pilezer in Da
mascus. Death of Nadius,
732
13
7
or 1 1 ? Ahaz meets Tiglath-pilezer in
1 Damascus.^
of Babylon. Accession of
Yukin-zer, 3 years.
731
14
8
252 y
730
15
9
2531
Tiglath-pilezer captures
Yukin-zer, and becomes
j 729
16
10
254 ? Hosea 11-13.
king of Babylon for 2
¦
years ; the Porus of Ptol
728
17
11
255 1
emy.
n
Death of Tiglath-pil
1 727
18
12
256
ezer. Accession of Shal
y
manezer IV over Assyria
726
1
1
734
13
0R7 1 Hoshea becomes king (2 Ki.
and Babylon for 5 years.
¦ 15:3°. 17 ¦ 1-18:12).
The Ilulaeus of Ptolemy.
1 725
2
2
14
258 y
724
3
3
15
2591
J 723
4
4
726 or
715
16 1
OCfl Isa"ah H • 28ff- Death of Ahaz. Ac-
£OU cession and ist year of Hezekiah.
Death of Shalmanezer. Ac
cession of Sargon hi Assyria.
722
5
5
2
| 1 Great passover.
261 1 J Hezekiah (2 Ki. 18-20; Isa.
He captures Samaria and im
M y 36\39; 2 Chron. 29-32).
poses tribute, b Merodach-
baladan in Babylon for 12
J 721
1
6
3
262 y
Sargon defeats Shabaka
720
2
7
4
263 1 Final siege of Samaria begun.
of Egypt with Samaria
n
and other allies. Fights
719
3
8
5
264 H
Ummanigas of Elam.
718
4
9
722
6
265 1 ? 6s years (Isa- 7:8).
I Final downfall of Samaria.
From his 2d to his 10th
J 7 17
5
7
266 \
years Sargon was fighting
Merodach-baladan , the
Elamites, the Medes, Ar
716
6
8
1 ? Hezekiah rebels against As-
267 I syria.
n ? Smites the Philistines.
menia, etc., in many
cases deporting the in
715
7
9
268 H
habitants to the regions
269 1
east of the Mediterranean .
1714
8
10
713
9
11
270
712
10
12
271 1
Sargon's expedition to
1 711
11
13
272 M Isaiah 20.
Ashdod.
___ 1 First invasion by Sennacherib.
? Sargon "subjugator of
710
12
14
d.10 1 Hezekiah's sickness. Ambassa -
Judah." Sargon captures
11 dors from Merodach-baladan.
Merodach-baladan, and
| 709
| 708
13
15
274 1|
becomes king of Babylon
¦
for 5 years.
14
16
275
1
148

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a B. C. 705. Ptolemy describes these 2
years of Sennacherib as an interregnum.
b A. Di. 282. The Bible says that Sen
nacherib purposed to deport the whole popu
lation ; his failing of this was a victory for
Judah, though only a remnant remained
(2K1. 18:32, 19:29-31). "That night"
(2 Ki. 19: 35) is the night when Jehovah
fulfilled his threat, not necessarily the night
after the prophet uttered the threat. There
is nothing in the Bible to contradict Sen
nacherib's statement that he left Palestine a
victor, and that Hezekiah sent tribute
after him.
c B. C. 700, 698. The Babylonians car
ried away their gods in ships across the
Persian Gulf. Two years later Sennacherib
brought the gods back. Note how exactly
the passages in Isaiah fit if they are regarded
as allusions to these events.
d B. C. 697. This is the one record of a
great reverse found in the Assyrian annals
(Taylor cylinder, and Nebbi-Yunus inscrip
tion). Sennacherib does not say how many
of his men perished. But he had to return
at once to Nineveh, One can imagine
the sensation produced in Judah when the
tidings reached there. Why should not
the prophet, when he came to write of Jeho
vah's providences in the matter of Sen
nacherib, recall these successive events in
which Jehovah protected his people by
his dealings with the other nations ?
e B. C. 688. Ptolemy counts these 8
years an interregnum.

Explanations of the Dates.
Supplemented from the records of Sen
nacherib and from other sources, the Assyrian
numbers here given are from the Eponym
Canon (see Introduction 10) ; the Babylonian
numbers are those of the Canon of Ptolemy
(Introduction 8) and the Babylonian list
of kings. I have used the Babylonian
names, but have omitted some of the shorter
reigns. For the Babylonian lists see Records
of the Past, new series I; for Sennacherib
see same VI and IV, and old series I, VII,
IX, XI.
Manasseh began to reign at 12 years of
age (2 Ki. 21: 1).
The great invasion by Sennacherib (2 Ki.
18: 17ft ; Isa. 36: 2ff) was not the one in Heze
kiah's 14th year (2 Ki. 18: 13-16; Isa.
36: 1); the Assyrian records date it in the
4th year of Sennacherib.
The details of the withdrawal of Sen
nacherib were of such a nature that agricul
ture was not resumed till the third year
(2 Ki. 19: 29). Therefore, the annihilation
of Sennacherib's army was not an event
which occurred at once there in Palestine.
The processes by which Jehovah, king of
nations, saved Judah are those which ap
pear in the left-hand column of the table.
Hezekiah reigned 29 years (2 Ki. 18: 2).

THE TABLES

[49

Foreign Dated Events.

ci

0 &
a 0
> 0
n ft
< <

« °
to «<
<3 to

<
i I
a M
£ W

707

3

15

17

706

4

16

18

705

5

17

19

704

1

1

20

703

2

2

21

702

1

3

22

701

2

4

23

700

3

5

24

699

1

6

25

698

2

7

26

697

3

8

27

696

4

9

28

695

5

10

29

694

6

11

1

693

1

12

2

692

1

13

3

691

2

14

4

690

3

15

5

689

4

16

6

688

1

17

7

687

2

18

8

686

3

19

9

685

4

20

10

684

5

21

11

683

6

22

12

Israelitish Dated Events.

Third year of Sargon
in Babylon.

Death of Sargon. Ac
cession of Sennacherib in
Assyria and Babylon, a
Sennacherib fighting
with Merodach-baladan.
Sennacherib makes Bel-
ibni king in Babylon.

Sennacherib invades Pales
tine. Tirhakah in Egypt (2 Ki.
18 :2i, 19:9).
Sennacherib invades Baby
lonia. The gods flee to Elam. c
He makes his son, Asshur-
nadiu-shuma, king.
Fights Babylon and Elam
and brings back the iugitive
gods. Fighting Elam. His army
crushed by a winter storm. of
Fighting in Elam and
Babylonia.

Elamites dethrone As-
shur-nadin-shuma. Sennacherib devastates
Elam and Babylonia Nergal-
ushezib, 1 year.
Mushezib-marduk, 4
years. Sennacherib defeats
Elam and Babylon at
Hhalule. In November, Senna
cherib sacks and nearly
destroys Babylon.
Sennacherib in Babylon
8 years, e

Second Messenian war,
B. C. 685-668.
Archonship at Athens
made annual.

276
277278279
280281
282283284285286
287288 289
290 291292293294 295296297298299
300

Birth of Manasseh.

Judah invaded by Sennacherib. b
? Isaiah 43 : 14, 46 : 1-2.
Agriculture resumed in Judah.

I? The 185,000 (2 Ki. 19:35 and
parallels).

Death of Hezekiah. Accession
of Manasseh.
Manasseh of Judah (2 Ki. 21; 2
Chron. 33).

? Isaiah 47, 48 : 20.

I5Q

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a B. C. 674. These accounts of the migra
tions of the gods are pretty frequent in the
Assyrian and Babylonian records.
b B. C. 668. Asshurbanipal and Shamash-
shum-ukin were sons of Esarhaddon. The
Babylonian chronicle assigns but 12 years
to Esarhaddon, and gives particulars. For
chronological convenience, however, I have
followed Ptolemy, giving him 13 years.

Explanations of the Dates.
The column of Foreign Dated Events is
made up from the Babylonian Chronicle
(Rec. of Past, new series I) or from the records
of Esarhaddon or Asshurbanipal. The origi
nals often date the events by the month
and the day.
We can only conjecture the date when
Manasseh began to persecute the prophets.
Presumably the change from the policy
of Hezekiah was gradual. There is no diffi
culty in the way of conjecturing that Isaiah
may have lived long enough to have heard
the news of the death of Sennacherib, and
to have written Isaiah 37 : 38 (cf . 2 Chron.
32:32). Amon was born 22 years before he became
king (2 Ki. 21: 19). See A. Di. 344.

THE TABLES

151

Foreign Dated Events.

u
PQ

m to

w a
o ¦«!
to W
<1 CO

Israelitish Dated Events.

Death of Sennacherib.
Accession of Esarhaddon.

Early in his reign he
operates against Sidon,
aud claims Judah and all
the neighboring kings as
tributary.

Sidon subdued.
Esarhaddon in Egypt.
Esarhaddon in Egypt.
The gods of Accad move
from Elam to the city of
Accad. a

Severe and decisive
fighting in Egypt.

Death of Esarhaddon.
Accession of Asshurbani
pal in Assyria and Sham
ash-shum-ukin in Baby
lon, b Asshurbanipal at
once invaded Egypt, tak
ing tribute from Judah
and 22 other kingdoms
on the way.
Death of Tirhakah (Apis-
stele, Schrader on Nah. 3 :8).
Sack of Thebes by As
shurbanipal.

Founding of Byzan

tium.

682 681 680 679678 677 676 675674 673 672 671
670 669 668667 666665664663662 661660659658

78 1
2 3
4 5 67 89
1011 1213 1
2 3
4 5 6789
10

23 24 1
2 3
4 5 6 789
10 1112 13 1
2 3
4 5 6 7 8
9
10

13 1415 16 17 1819
20 212223 24 25262728 29 303132 3334 35 36 37

301
302303 I ? Manasseh persecuting the
•-»--'•-' I prophets.
304 1 1 ? Death of Isaiah.
305 1
306307308 30931013113121 3131314 315316 j
317 3183193201321 3221 323 I Birth of Amon.
324 1
3251

152

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a A. Di. 336. Nahum threatens the over
throw of Assyria. Zephaniah does the
same. Apparently, Assyria had never been
so prosperous as under Asshurbanipal. His
dominion extended from Egypt to the
far east. But it was a prosperity pro
duced by the overstraining of resources in
holding peoples in subjection by brute force.
Perhaps Nahum and Zephaniah had the
sagacity to recognize its fictitious charac
ter. The collapse, when it came, was sud
den and complete.

Explanations of the Dates.
It is a plausible conjecture that the gen
erals of the Assyrian king carried Manasseh
to Babylon (2 Chron. 33:11) at the time
when Asshurbanipal was besieging the
city. That leaves but a few years of his
old age for the reformation (2 Chron. 33: 13ft)
that followed his return.
It is believed that Nahum prophesied
for the generation that witnessed the sack of
Thebes by Asshurbanipal B. C. 663 (Nah. 3:8).
Also he seems to have prophesied during
a period of reform in Judah ( 1 : 15).
Josiah was 8 years old when he began to
reign (2 Ki. 22: 1), 345 A. Di.
Manasseh reigned 55 years (2 Ki. 21:1).
Amon reigned 2 years (2 Ki. 21: 19). The
actual time might be a year more or a year
less than that assigned in the table. The
mean number is safest, and is confirmed
by the long number at 362 A. Di.
Zephaniah is dated in the reign of Josiah
(1: 1), following a reformation from which
some have apostatized ( 1 : 4ft) . This was
the reformation of the last years of Manasseh,
rather than that of the 18th year of Josiah

THE TABLES

153

Foreign Dated Events.

0

In these years Shamash-
shum-ukin was stirring up
the peoples everywhere
against Asshurbanipal.

Asshurbanipal captures
Babylon. Shamash-shum-
ukin dies by fire. He was
followed in Babylon by
Isiniladanus, who is, per
haps, Asshurbanipal un
der another name. In
the years following the
capture of Babylon, As
shurbanipal took ven
geance on the allies of
his brother, including the
seacoast.

Asshurbanipal captures
Susa, and puts an end to
the kingdom of Elam
(Hommel on "Assyria"
in Die. of the Bib.).

657 656655654653652 651
650649648
647646 645
644
643642
641
640
639638
637636
635634
633

g w
> s
M <
< a
raw

11
12 131415161718
19
20 1
23
4 567
8
9
10 11
1213
1415

"2 to

11 12
13
14151617
1819
20
2122
2324
2526
2728
293031
32
3334
35 I

38
39
40 41
42
4344
4546
47
4849 5051
52
5354
55 1
2 1 2 3
456

Q

326
327
32832933033 1
332
333334
335336337
338339340
34 1
342
343344
345 346
347348
349350

Israelitish Dated Events.

? Manasseh carried to Babylon.
? His return and reformation.
? Nahum. a
Birth of Josiah.

Manasseh dies. Amon succeeds
him.
Amon, king of Judah (2 Ki.
21:19-26; 2 Chron. 33:21-25).
Death of Amon. Accession of
Josiah. Josiah, king of Judah
(2 Ki. 22-23 ; 2 Chron. 34-35).
? Zephaniah.

154

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a B. C. 632. These Scythian invaders ap
pear in the inscriptions as "Manda." It is
not in all cases easy to avoid confusing
them with the Medes. Apparently there
has been an element of confusion from the
time of Herodotus.
b A. Di. 369. Our copies of Chronicles
date this birth 10 years later (2 Chron.
36:9). c A. Di. 375. The Bible is doubtless
correct in saying that Neco was marching
against the king of Assyria, Josiah's
suzerain. Josephus (Ant. X, v, 1) is partly
right in saying that the march was against
the Medes and Babylonians. The Assyrian
was moribund, and the question was which
of the rival powers could seize upon the
estate.

Explanations of the Dates.
In his 8th year Josiah began to "seek
after the God of David his father," and he
began to "purge Judah" in his 12th year
(2 Chron. 34: 3).
Jehoiakim was 25 years old, and Jehoahaz
23 years old, when they each began to
reign, A. Di. 376 (2 Ki. 23: 36, 31).
Jeremiah began prophesying the 13th
year of Josiah (Jer. 1:2, 25:3, 1).
The date in the 18th year of Josiah (2 Ki.
22: 3, 23: 23; 2 Chron. 34: 8, 35: 19) is that
of the great passover, which began the
middle of the first month of the year. It
follows that a good many of the events that
are mentioned occurred the preceding year.
Josephus says (Ant. X, iv, 4) that Josiah's
profanation of the altar at Bethel (2 Ki.
23: isff) occurred 361 years after it was
foretold by Jadon (see 1 Ki. 13). Ap
parently this is in Josephus a genuine tradi
tional number. It disagrees with most of
the chronological schemes that have been
framed. It fits accurately the chronology
of these tables, and is a confirmation of no
small value.
Zedekiah was born 21 years before his
first year, A. Di. 387; and Jehoiachin 18
years before he occupied the throne in
A. Di. 386 (2 Ki. 24: 18, 8).
The death of Josiah occurred in the 31st
year of his reign. That was the year of the
Neco expedition. The 3 months of Jehoahaz
may have been in that year, or in the year
following (2 Ki. 22: 1, 23: 29ff).

THE TABLES

155

Foreign Dated Events.

rj

CO

?j<
M Of,
« P
< 3

0 0
1—1 >—i

R <

Israelitish Dated Events.

632

16

36

7

351 1

631

17

37

8

qco Josiah begins to seek after God.
U Jehoiakim born.

630

18

38

9

353 1

629

19

39

10

354 Jehoahaz born.

628

20

40

11

3551

627

21

41

12

356 Josiah begins his reforms.

626

22

42

13

357 1 JBREmiah begins prophesying.

625

1

w

14

358

624

2

rl~ O•-t

15

359

623

3

O l-rl>

16

3601

622621 620

4 5 6

tn
5" 1-tOi
<w 3 re0

17 1819

361 362 363

Josiah's great reformation.
The reformation passover.
Huldah (2 Ki. 22 : 14).
361 years after Jadon.

619

7

><

20

364

618
8
2
21
365
617
9
w OjO
22
366
616
10
3 P
23
367
Birth of Zedekiah.
615
11
w
24
368
614
12
n
25
369
1 Birth of Jehoiachin. b
613
13
£
¦^
26
370
612
14
27
371
611
15
28
372
610
16
29
373
609
17
30
374
608
18
31
375
I Expedition of Pharaoh-Neco. c
1 Death of Josiah. Jehoahaz 3
months.
About this time, ac
cording to the Greek his
torians, the Assyrian em
pire invaded by a people
whom they call Scythians,
the field of the invasion
extending from the far
east to the Mediterra-
Death of Isiniladanus.
Accession of Nabopo-
lassar. First year of Nabopo-
lassar. Legislation of Draco at
Athens.
156

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Explanations of the Dates.
The date of Jehoiakim's submission (2
Ki. 24: 1) must be that when Daniel was
carried to Babylon (Dan. 1:1), the accession
year of Nebuchadnezzar, not his first year.
Baruch's reading of Jeremiah's prophe
cies is dated in the 4th and 5th years of
Jehoiakim (Jer. 36: 1, 9). The 3 years
(2 Ki. 24: 1) of Jehoiakim's fidelity to
Nebuchadnezzar were his 3d, 4th and 5th
years — Nebuchadnezzar's accession year, his
first year, and his 2d year. The same were
the 3 years (Dan. 1:5) of the training of
Daniel and his companions. Nebuchad
nezzar's dream occurred before the close of
the 3d of these 3 years (Dan. 2:1).
Jehoiakim 11 years (2 Ki. 23:36). Jehoi
achin deported in the 8th year of Nebuchad
nezzar (2 Ki. 24: 12).
For the date when Ezekiel began to
prophesy see Note b. The Hananiah inci
dent the 4th year of Zedekiah (Jer. 28: 1
and marg. of 27: 1).
Ezekiel 8: 1 gives the date the 5th day of
the 6th month of the 6th year, and Ezekiel
20: 1 the 10th day of the 5th month of the
7 th year.
For the date of the investment of Jeru
salem see 2 Kings 25: 1; Ezekiel 24: 1. For
details see 2 Kings 25; 2 Chronicles 36;
Jeremiah 39, 52; Ezekiel 24-39.
The events of the year A. Di. 396 are Jeremiah's purchase of land (Jer. 32; cf. 33-34), dated
the 10th year of Zedekiah "which was the 18th year of Nebuchadnezzar" (Jer. 32: 1); Egyptian
interference (Jer. 37-38 ; cf. Ezekiel's prophecies against Egypt) ; the incident of the fiery furnace
(Dan. 3) according to some copies of the Septuagint; the deportation of 832 persons (1 8th of
Nebuchadnezzar, Jer. 52:29); Ezekiel's denunciation of Egypt (Ezek. 29-30), the 12th day of
the 10th month (29: 1).
The date in Ezekiel 26: 1 is the first day of some month of the nth year; in 31: 1 it is the
first day of the 3d month of the nth year. For the taking of Jerusalem see 2 Kings 24: 18,
25: 8, etc. Ezekiel got the details from a fugitive 5 months later, in the 12th year of "our
captivity" (Ezek. 33: 21). The 12th year in Ezekiel 32: 1, 17 may be that of "our captivity."

Notes.
a A. Di. 377. A dominant note in
Habakkuk is dread of the Chaldaeans, who
are overrunning, the earth. Perhaps the
time of Nabopolassar, after the overthrow of
Nineveh. 6 A. Di. 390. Ezekiel began prophesying
the 5th day of the 4th month of a year de
scribed as "the 30th year," and as "the
5th year of king Jehoiachin's captivity"
(Ezek. 1 : 1-2). It may have been the
30th year of the prophet's age, or from
Josiah's great reform year. The era of the
"captivity" is mentioned five times in the
Bible (2 Ki. 25:27; Jer. 52:31; Ezek. 1:2,
33: 21, 40: 1). Its first year is the nth of
Jehoiakim, the year when Jehoiachin and
the best of the people were deported. Most
or all of the other dates in Ezekiel are in
terms of the years of Zedekiah, the first year
of Zedekiah being one year later than the
first year of the "captivity."
c A. Di. 390 and 397! This is the proper
place for looking at certain long numbers,
found in the Bible and Josephus, for the
times of the kings. We take them in their
order. Josephus says that the downfall of
(Continued on page 158.)

THE TABLES

157

Foreign Dated Events.

0

<
m
. <
0 9
> 0

a<pp
1— »

Judah. Jehoiakim.

607

19

1

606

20

2

605

21

3

604

1

4
603
2
£>
5
602
3
*>
6
601
4
+j
7
600
5
fU
8
599
6
O to
9
598
7
rt
>
10
597
8
1
11
596
9
2
1
595
10
3
"2
594
11
4
3
593
12
5
4
592
13
6
5
591
14
7
6
590
15
8
7
589
16
9
8
588
17
10
9
587
18
11
10
586
19
12
11
585
20
13
584
21
14
583
22
15
Israelitish Dated Events.
Downfall ofNineveh.
Death of Nabopolassar.
Accession of Nebuchad
nezzar. First year of Nebuchad
nezzar. He defeats Egypt
in the great battle of Car
chemish, and becomes
sovereign of the east.
Legislation of Solon at
Athens.
Pythian games begun.
Nebuchadnezzar lays
siege to Tyre for many
years.
376377 3783793803813821383384385 j
386387 1
388389390 1
391 3921393
394395396397
398399 400
Jehoiakim (2 Ki. 23:34-24:7
and 2 Chron. and Jer.).
I ? Habakkuk. a
J Jehoiakim submits to Nebuchadnez
zar.
Daniel taken into e-sile (Dan. 1).
j ? Uriah son of Shemaiah (Jer. 26:2off).
Bartjch (Jer. 36, 45).
'Baruch, 9th month (Jer. 36).
Jehoiakim rebels.
Daniel expounds the king's
dream (Dan. 2).
Jehoiakim reduced by Nebu
chadnezzar (Jos. Ant.X, vi, 1).
?Jonadab (Jer. 35).
3023 deported 7th year of Nebu
chadnezzar (Jer. 52 : 28).
Death of Jehoiakim. Jehoiachin 3
mouths. The great deportation.
Accession of Zedekiah.
Zedekiah (2 Ki. 24-25; Chron.; Jer.;
Ezek.). ? Jeremiah and thefigs (24).
? Jeremiah to the exiles (29; cf. 30-31).
? Jeremiah against Elam (49 ;34fif).
f Ezekiel prophesying ( 1 -7 ) . b
| 390 years (Ezek. 4 : 5). c
I Jeremiah and'Hananiah (Jer.
\ 27-28). Jeremiah against
Babylon (Jer. 50-51). Zede-
I kiah goes to Babylon (Jer.
l5i:59).
Zedekiah's perjury (Ezek. 8-19,
espec. 17: nff).
Ezekiel 20-23.
Jerusalem invested loth day of
10th month.
[For events see opposite page.]
f Ezekiel against Tyre (26-28).
i Ezekiel against Egypt (31).
Jerusalem burned 7th day of
5th month. Zedekiah n
years (2 Ki. 24:18). Geda-
liah. Flight to Egypt (Jer.
40-44). When Ezekiel hears
[ the news (33-39)-
Ezekiel against Egypt (32).
158 DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
Notes. Explanations of the Dates.
(Continued from page 156.) The date given in Ezekiel 40: 1 is the
Samaria occurred 240 years, 7 months and 25th year of "our captivity;" "14 years
7 days after the disruption (Ant. IX, xiv, 1). after that the city was smitten," the 10th
Evidently this number is obtained by daY of the year-
adding the regnal numbers of the books of Ezekiel promised Egypt to Nebuchad-
kings, counting Joram's reign (2 Ki. 9:29) nezzar the 27th year, presumably of
as eleven years. The 7 months and 7 days Zedekiah, possibly of "our captivity."
are the reigns of Zechariah, Shallum, and 0ur knowledge of Nebuchadnezzar's in-
Zimri. It has value as indicating that the vading Egypt in his 37th year comes from
numbers have been correctly transmitted, an inscription,
but no other value, inasmuch as it inter
prets the numbers falsely, and neglects the
interregna. "In yet 65 years Ephraim shall be broken that it be not a people" (Isa. 7 : 8). This number
has thus far proved a hopeless puzzle. It agrees with our tables if we regard it as affirming that
the downfall of Samaria will occur in the year '65 of the disruption, '65 being put by abbrevia
tion for 265.
The statement of Josephus (see at A. Di. 362) that Jadon's prediction was fulfilled 361 years
after it was made agrees exactly with these tables, though it is in conflict with other statements
of Josephus. The 390 of Ezekiel 4: 5 coincides with the number of the years from the disruption. It is
less easy to match this with a coincidence for the 40 of Ezekiel 4: 6.
Josephus incorrectly says (Ant. X, viii, 5 and ix, 7) that the destruction of Jerusalem oc
curred the 1 8th year of Nebuchadnezzar. He says that this was 130 years, 6 months, 10 days after
the carrying away of the ten tribes. Now 265 plus 130$ equals 395$, the middle of the 18th
year of Nebuchadnezzar as given in the table (Ant. X, ix, 7).
He says (Ant. X, viii, 5) that the temple was destroyed 470 years, 6 months, 10 days after
it was built. He says that Solomon reigned. 80 years (Ant. VIII, vii, 8), that is, 76 years after
the founding of the temple in his 4th year. Add 76 to 395J and we have 470J within one year.
He says (Ant. X, viii, 4) that David's dynasty lasted 514^ years. To the 4704 add 40
years of David and Solomon's 4 years before founding the temple, and you have the 514J. Com
pare Josephus Ant. XI, iv, 8, some copies, and VI, xiv, 9. Apparently Josephus takes this 514
years, 6 months, 10 days of the dynasty of David, and, by carelessly adding 18, obtains 532 years,
6 months, 10 days for the whole period of monarchy.
The argument from these long numbers in confirmation of my chronology does not depend
on the trustworthiness of Josephus, but on the coincidences presented. These would be virtually
impossible unless the coinciding numbers were correct.

THE TABLES

159

Foreign Dated Events.

rj PQ

Babylonia. Nebuchadnez zar.

O,
rtu u
3
O

0

Israelitish Dated Events.

Josephus says (Ant. X, ix,
7 ) that Nebuchadnezzar in
vaded Egypt.

582
j 581

2324

1617

401402

1 745 deported (Jer. 52:30).

580

25

18

403

J 579

26

19

404

578
27
20
405
] 577
28
21
406
576
29
22
407
J 575
30
23
408
-fEsop, sixth century B. C-
574
31
24
409
1 573
32
25
410
Ezekiel 40-48.
572
33
26
411
571
34
27
412
570569
3536
2829
413414
1 Ezekiel promises Egypt to Nebu-
1 chadnezzar, first month, first day
(Ezek. 29 : 17).
Nebuchadnezzar invades
Egypt.
568567
37
38
3031
415
416
566
39
32
417
565
40
33
418
564
41
34
419
563
42
35
420
Death of Nebuchadnezzar. 1
Accession of Evil-merodach. 1
Pisistratus tyrant of Athens 1
till B. C. 527. Death of Evil- 1
merodach. Accession of Ne- [
riglissar.
562
561
560559
43 1
2 1
3637
421422
423424
Jehoiachin released 25th day of
! 12th month (2 Ki. 25 : 27-30; Jer.
1 52:31-34-
558
2
425 j
i6o

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a B. C. 539. At this point the Bible
brings in "Darius the Mede" (Dan. 5:31,
6: 1, 6, 9, 25, 28, 9: 1, 11: 1). The original
makes Daniel 5:31 the opening of the fol
lowing story, not the close of the preceding
story. There is no implication that the
accession of Darius was connected with the
slaying of Belshazzar, and this idea should
be eliminated as misleading.
This Darius is not mentioned under this
name in any known literature outride the
Bible. He has been identified with various
persons, for example with Astyages or with
Cyaxares, kings of Media, or with Gobryas,
the general of Cyrus, who captured Babylon,
or with the later king, Darius Hystaspis.
As plausible a. notion as any is that Darius
is Cyrus himself under another name.
For most purposes, however, we have no
need to solve this problem. At all events
the first year of this Darius is the first year
of Cyrus; and this is sufficient for adjusting
the dates.

Explanations of the Dates.
The dated events for Cyrus are taken
from inscriptions of Nabonidus and Cyrus,
which give the dates in years of the reign
of Nabonidus (e. g. Rec. of Past, new ser. V).
The Persian-Babylonian accounts mention
Belshazzar, but the dates for him in these
tables are from the Bible. The third year
of Belshazzar Daniel was in Shushan on the
king's business (Dan. 8:1, 2, 27). It fol
lows that this was after Daniel entered the
service of the Persian king, and therefore
after the taking of Babylon by Cyrus; and
that the third year of Belshazzar was his
last year; and therefore that his three years
were the years 15, 16, 17 of Nabonidus.
Daniel's counting this date in terms of
the years of Belshazzar (not those of the
Persian king) is paralleled by the Cyrus
inscription, which counts his exploits in
terms of the years of Nabonidus.
Daniel's vision of the four beasts is dated
the first year of Belshazzar, and his next
vision the third year of Belshazzar (Pan.
7:1, 8:1). The fourth month of this year
the generals of Cyrus captured Babylon.
Belshazzar's feast probably occurred earlier.
In the succeeding months Daniel received
rapid promotion (Dan. 8:2, 27, 6: 1-4).
The affair of the lions probably belongs to the
same year, or early the following year. In
that following year, the first year of Darius
and of Cyrus (Dan. 9:1, and see note),
Daniel was concerned for the restoration of
Jerusalem (Dan. 9). He now had great
prestige and influence. Presumably it was
due to this that the first returning exiles
reached Jerusalem this year, early enough
to set up the altar in the seventh month
(Ezra 1 and 3).
Daniel's last vision is dated the third year
of Cyrus (Dan. 10: 1). He probably died
soon after, and his death enabled the oppo
nents of the Tews to make headway at court.

THE TABLES

161

Foreign Dated Events.

U n

Q<

Israelitish Dated Events.

Death of Neriglissar. Accession
of Nabonidus. First mention of
Cyrus, kingof Anshan (Shushan).

Cyrus making headway against
the Manda. " s

Cyrus has become king of the
Medes. ? Cyrus conquers Croesus.
Cyrus is called king of Persia.

Belshazzar reigns with Nabonidus.
? Pythagoras flor. B. C. 540-510.
Babylon taken by Gobryas, July.
Babylon occupied by Cyrus, Oc
tober, a
Cyrus king in Babylon, first year.

Polycrates tyrant of Samos cir.
B. C. 536-522.
? Thespis first exhibits tragedy.

557
556555554 553
552 551550 549548547546545544543 542 541540
539 538
537 536
535 534
533

3
4 1
2 3
4 5 678
9
101112131415 16
17 1
2 3
4 5 6

426427428
429 430 431432 433
434 435436437438439440 441
442443444
445446447 448 449 450

Daniel's vision of lion, bear, leop
ard and fourth beast (Dan. 7).
(Belshazzar's feast (Dan. 5). Daniel in
\ the Persian service Daniel's vision
( of ram, he-goat. etc. (Dan. 8).
f Daniel's prayer for Jerusalem (Dan. 9).
\ ? Daniel in theden of lions (Dan. 6).
I The decree for the return (Ezra 1).
I Thealtarsetup, 7th month (Ezra 3: 1-6).
Temple founded, second month
(Ezra 3).
Daniel's last vision (Dan. 10-12).
Thebuilding of the temple hindered
for many years (Ezra 4).
Jeshua high priest from before the
first year of Cyrus.

l62

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a B. C. 531. Cyrus had a "first year"
as king of Anshan before B. C. 556; and a
"first year" as king of the Medes and Per
sians about B. C. 550. His first year as
"king of kings" was B. C. 538. If "Darius
the Mede" was his associate, Cyrus may
have had yet another "first year," when he
became sole king. Cambyses was coregnant
with Cyrus during more or less of the nine
years of his reign as king of kings.
6 A. Di. 461. The narrative in Ezra
mentions two Persian kings between Cyrus
and Darius Hystaspis, calling them Ahas
uerus and Artaxerxes. The natural sug
gestion is that they are the two who actually
came in that order, and who are commonly
known as Cambyses and Gomates. The
difference in the names is not an insuperable
objection, since it is common for a king to
be known by two or more names. The
opposing view to the effect that these two
kings are the later Xerxes and Artaxerxes
introduces inextricable confusion into the
narrative. To understand the matter one should read
carefully the Persian account of the events
as found in the Greek historians and in the
great Behistun inscription of Darius. See
books of reference, including Rec. of Past,
old series, I and VII. Darius emphasizes
his reversing the policy of Gomates, who had
reversed the policy of his Achemenian pred
ecessors. This fits the biblical account.
It fits also the fact that they resumed the
work without asking permission, claiming
that the stopping of it had been a nullity
(Ezra 5: 16).
In the first six years of his reign Darius
claims to have overthrown at least nine
usurpers, fighting about twenty great battles,
most of which he dates by the month and
the day. The books of Ezra and Haggai
and Zechariah should be read in the light
of these facts of the history.

Explanations of the Dates.
After the death of Daniel the opponents
of the Jews were successful in lobbying
against them at the Persian court, hindering
their plans during the rest of the reign of
Cyrus and the eight years of Cambyses
(called Ahasuerus in Ezra). Their opposi
tion was doubtless the more effective because
of the unsettled condition of things in
Palestine due to the war of Cambyses against
Egypt. Great changes occurred near the close of
the seventh year of Cambyses. The Per
sian dates in the table are from the Behistun
inscription (see Note b), and numerical
dates appear in Ezra 4:24; Haggai 1:1,
15, 2: 1, 10, 20; Zechariah 1: 1, 7, 7: 1. A
close examination of the Persian and the
biblical dated events shows that they
dovetail into one another most remarkably.
The usurper variously known as Gomates,
Bardes, pseudo-Smerdis, is not recognized
in Ptolemy's canon, and his reign may have
been counted as a nullity by his successors.
But he was actually on the throne during
parts of two calendar years, about seven
months in all. This agrees with the state
ment in 1 Esdras 5: 73, to the effect that the
work on the temple was suspended two
years. The completion of the temple was in the
vernal year corresponding with B. C. 516,
but actually in February of B. C. 515.

THE TABLES

16.3

Foreign Dated Events.

o
pq

3 in
cn P
ft ft
» >
ph a

a

Israelitish Dated Events.

Cambyses coregnant with Cyrus. a
Death of Cyrus. Accession of
Cambyses. First year of Cambyses.

Cambyses conquers Egypt.

Gomates rose up 12th mo., 14th
day. He became king 5th mo. , 9th day.
Gomates slain 1st mo., loth day. )
Darius king. Revolts crushed in Susi- 1
ana, Babylonia, Media, 9th mo.. 27th [
day, and 10th mo. , 2d and 27th days. J
Revolt crushed in Armenia, 2d,
3d and 10th months.
Revolts crushed in Armenia, Media,
Sagartia.Parthia, 2d, 4th and 12th months.
Revolt in Parthia crushed 5th month.
Revolt inMargiana crushed 9th month_
Revolt crushed in Persia, 2d, 5th,
10th and 12th months.
Revolt crushed in Babylonia, 8th
month. Anacreon in Athens from B. (
522.

Tarquin expelled from Rome.
First treaty of Rome with Carthage.

532

7

451

531

8

452 [

530

9

453

529

1

454

528

2

455

527

3

456 [

526

4

457

525

5

458

524

6

459

523

7

460

522

8

461

521

1

462

520

2

463

519

3

464

518

4

465

517

5

466

516

6

467

515

7

468

514

8

469

513

9

470

512

10

471

511

11

472

510

12

473

509

13

474

508

14

475

Temple work still hindered (Ezra
4)-

Work on temple suspended (Ezra
4:7-24)-^

Haggai prophesies 6th mo., 1st day.
Work on temple 6th mo., 24th day.
Interference of Tattenai (Ezra 5).
Haggai 7th mo. (2 : 1-9).
Zechariah 8th mo. (1 : 1-6).
Haggai 9th mo. (2 : 10-23).
Zechariah nth mo. (1:7-6:15).
Favorable reply of Darius (Ezra 6).

Zechariah, Chaps. 7-8.

Temple finished 3d of Adar (Ezra
6:i5ff).
Passover (Ezra 6 : 19-22).
For nearly 60 years from this time
we have no direct information
concerning the Jews in Palestine.
Jeshua still high priest.

1 64

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a B. C. 485. Xerxes is simply a modified
form of the name which appears in the
Bible as Ahasuerus.
Josephus, following some copies of the
Septuagint, places the activities of Ezra
and Nehemiah in the time of Xerxes, and
the events of the book of Esther in the time
of his successor, Artaxerxes. Several con
siderations show that this is erroneous, and
that our common Hebrew text is correct.
For the king of Ezra and Nehemiah the
Bible gives a date in his thirty-second year,
and Josephus gives dates in his twenty-
fifth and twenty-eighth years (Neh. 5: 14,
13:6; Jos. Ant. XI, v, 7, 8), while Xerxes
reigned only 21 years. Add to this the
interfitting of the Persian and the biblical
events, as exhibited in the table.

Explanations of the Dates.
The three first high priests after the exile
were Jeshua, who held the office in B. C.
538 (Ezra 3: 2, etc.), Eliashib, who held it
B. C. 444 to 433 (Neh. 3: 1, 20, 21 and 13: 4),
and Joiakim (Neh. 12: 10, 12, 26), who came
between the two. Because the time is so
long we infer that Jeshua's term began not
long before B. C. 538, and that Eliashib's
term closed not long after B. C. 433. For
other facts bearing in the same direction
see under Johanan at page 173. On the
basis of these data the approximate dates
of the first three high priests are obtained
for the table by averaging.
The deposition of Vashti is dated in the
third year of Xerxes (Esth. 1 : 3).

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1 66

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
a B. C. 481. The historical value of the
book of Esther consists mainly in the picture
it gives of the situation of the Jewish people
at that time, and this value remains even if
one regards the story as a parable. The
narrative fits into the Greek accounts of
Xerxes. The really great though vain
glorious Xerxes is the same character who
is drawn by the Greek historians, though the
lines of the drawing are utterly different.
The dated events of the book of Esther fit
into those given in the Greek accounts.
For example, it is interesting to note that
while Xerxes was preparing and leading his
expedition against Greece — the mightiest
expedition till then known in history — he
maintained his high and mighty attitude
concerning Vashti; but "he remembered
Vashti" when he came home disgusted,
after the defeats at Thermopyla? and Salamis.
6 A. Di. 525. Attempts have been made
to identify the Artaxerxes of Ezra and
Nehemiah with one of the kings later than
Longimanus, but the attempts are not
successful.

Explanations of the Dates.
The deposition of Vashti is dated in the
third year of Xerxes (Esth. 1 : 3). The dates
concerning Esther are either expressly stated
or given by implication in Esther 2: 16, 12,
1-4. The date of the promotion of Haman is
conjectural, but within narrow limits.
The dates for the casting of the lot, the
writing of the decree, Mordecai's letters,
the time appointed for the slaughter, the
days of vengeance, are given in Esther 3 : 7
3: 12; 8: 9; 3: 7, 13 and 8: 12 and 9: 1, etc.
9- 1. !3. 15, 17, 18 19. 2I-

THE TABLES

167

Foreign Dated Events.

a

. to
< W
* a
« S

Q

Israelitish Dated Events.

Xerxes
Greece, a

preparing to invade

Persians defeated at Thermopylae.
Defeated at Salamis, September.
Mardonius defeated at Plataea,
September. Anaxagoras teaching philosophy
at Athens B. C. 480-450.

Sophocles B. C. 496-406.
Death of Xerxes. Accession of
Artaxerxes Longimanus.
First year of Artaxerxes.

482

4

501

481

5

502

480

6

503

479

7

504

478

8

505

477

9

506

476

10

507

475

11

508

474

12

509

473

13

510

472

14

511

471

15

512

470

16

513

469

17

514

468

18

515

467

19

516

466

20

517

465

21

518

464

1

519

463

2

520

462

3

521

461

4

522

460

5

523

459

6

524

458

7

525

Ahasuerus remembers Vashti (Esth. 2).
Esther in training 12 months (2 15-15).
Esther taken to Ahasuerus, 10th
month (Esth. 2: 16-23).

? Haman promoted (Esth. 3: 1-4).

Haman's plot and its defeat (Esth, 3-9).
Haman casting lots early 1st month.
Decree for destruction, 13th day of 1st
month.
Esther's intervention (Esth. 4-7).
Mordecai's letters, 3d mo., 23d day
(Esth. 8).
Appointed time of slaughter, 12th
month, 13th day.
Days of vengeance, 12th mo., 13th, 14th,
15th days.
Subsequent events (Esth. 9: 20-
10:3).

Not many years earlier or later
than this Joiakim was succeeded
by Eliashib as high priest. See
"Explanations" on preceding
leaf.

Ezra goes to Jerusalem, 7th year b
of Artaxerxes (Ezra 7-10).
Starts istday of 1st month; leaves
Ahava 12th day; reaches Jeru
salem 1st day of 5th month
(Ezra 7 = 7-9, 8:31-33).
The convocation in the rain, 20th
day of 9th month (Ezra 10:9).
Trying those who had married
foreign wives, 1st day of loth
month to 1st day of 1st month
(10: 16-17).

1 68

DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Notes.
For the interval of 58 years between the
completion of the temple in B. C. 515 and
the going up of Ezra in B. C. 458 we have
no direct information concerning the Jews
in Palestine. That they had not been in
a high degree either faithful or prosperous
may be inferred from the state of things as
found by Ezra and Nehemiah.
. The account in Ezra 3 does not speak of
the fortifying of the city; but in the con
ditions then existing that was an immediate
necessity, and we may be sure that it was
not neglected. The strongly built temple
may have been a part of a scheme of forti
fication (Ezra 5:8, 6:4, 4: 12-16). It is a
matter of course that Ezra found the city
fortified. Thirteen years later Nehemiah heard that
the walls of the city were full of broken
places, and that the gates had been burned.
The natural inference for explaining this is
that it had resulted from Ezra's interference
with the marriages with foreign women.
This had led to hostilities, and the party
that held with Ezra had been worsted.
Later, like attempts were made, but
Nehemiah succeeded in foiling them.

Explanations of the Dates.
The blank spaces are here significant.
Virtually all the recorded events for the 26
years from the 7th to the 32d of Artaxerxes
belong either to the first year of Ezra or the
first year of Nehemiah.
Nehemiah received the bad news in the
month Chislev of the twentieth year, the
ninth month counted vernally, and after
ward asked leave of the king in the month
Nisan of the twentieth year (Neh. 1:1,
2:1). If the numbers are correctly given
we have here one of two exceptional uses
of language. Either the years are counted
autumnally, or else the writer has in mind
the Nisan directly following the twentieth
year, instead of the Nisan with which that
year began.
The building of the wall took 52 days,
and was finished the twenty-fifth day of
Elul (Neh. 6: 15), the sixth month. There
fore it began about the third day of the
fifth month. It agrees with this that
the usury incident (Neh. 5) occurred in the
season of the new crops.
In the account of the great convocation
there are specifications concerning the first
day of the seventh month, the second day,
the week of the booths (that is, the fifteenth
to the twenty-third days, see Lev. 23 : 33-
36), the twenty-fourth day (Neh. 8:2, 13,
18 and 9: 1).
It is specified that this first administra
tion of Nehemiah lasted 12 years, and
terminated the thirty-second year of
Artaxerxes (Neh. 5: 14, 13: 6).

THE TABLES

169

0
?J

O
co <!
ft t.
Q
Foreign Dated Events.
PQ
W Pt
Ph <
<
Israelitish Dated Events.
457456
8
9
526527
Trying the cases of those who had
married foreign wives completed
1st mo., 1st day (Ezra 10 : 17).
Herodotus B. C. 484-424.
1455
10
528 y
454
11
529 1
1 453
12
530 y
452
13
5311
First decemvirate at Rome.
451
14
532 y
450 (
15
533 1
449
16
534 tt
448
17
5351
J 447
18
536 fl
446
19
537 1
Euripides B. C. 480-406.
Pericles becomes supreme at
Athens.
445 444
2021
538 tt I
539 1
ad news from Jerusalem, month
Chislev (Neh. 1.)
'First year's work of Nehemiah
(Neh. 2 : 1-1 1 : 2).
The parthenon at Athens built
by Phidias B. C. 443-438.
ThucydidesB. C. 471-403.
443442
J441 440
222324
25
540 y
541 1
542 y
543 1
He asks leave of the king, Nisan.
Goes to Jerusalem, makes prepa
ration (Neh. 2).
Wall begun about 3rd day of 5th
month.
Building the wall (Neh. 3-6).
The usury outcry (Neh. 5).
Wall completed 25th day of 6th
month.
¦
1439 438
26
27
544 y
545 1
Great convocation 7th mouth
(Neh. 7-9).
Subsequent arrangements (Neh.
10 and 11 : 1-2).
437
28
546 n
436
29
547 1
435
30
548 y
434
31
5491
1433
32
550 1
C
lose of Nehemiah's first adminis
tration.
170 DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
Notes. Explanations of the Dates.
Many date the beginning of Nehemiah's
second administration in B. C. 433 or 432.
In fact, we have no information as to when
it began, but his interval of absence was
probably not long.
The situation in the book of Malachi — the
remissness of the people in supporting the
priests and temple servants, the consequent
remissness of the latter in their duties, the
foreign marriages, and the strenuous protest
against these — is accurately that of the
beginning of Nehemiah's second administra
tion. Eliashib must have been an old man when
Nehemiah returned and interfered with his
arrangements concerning the temple. It is
not probable that he retained the high-
priesthood long after that, though very
likely his term closed naturally by his death.
Josephus says that Sanballat was "sent
into Samaria as satrap by Darius the last
king" (Ant. XI, vii, 2). In the following
sections he speaks as if this Darius were the
king with whom the Persian monarchy
closed, being overthrown by Alexander the
Great. In this he is mistaken, his knowledge
of Persian history being hazy, as usual.
Nevertheless he may here be following a
correct tradition. Sanballat may have been
appointed by Darius Nothus, the last king
before the "other Artaxerxes" spoken of
in the section, namely Artaxerxes Mnemon.
Nothing could be more natural than that
Darius should favor Sanballat, as his
predecessor had favored Nehemiah.

THE TABLES

171

Foreign Dated Events.

u
Ph

S3O
i4
co <:
at H
w «
Ph <

Q

Israelitish Dated Events.

Peloponnesian war begun, last
ing 27 years.

Comedies of Aristophanes, B. C.
427-388.

Death of Artaxerxes. Accession
of Darius Nothus.
First year of Darius.
Alcibiades B. C. 450-404.
Socrates B. C. 47°~399-
Hippocrates B. C. 460-377.

Expedition of Nicias to Sicily,
B. C. 41 5-413-

Persia intriguing with Sparta and
Athens.

Second invasion of Sicily by the
Carthaginians.

432431 430 429 428427 426 425 424
1 423 422
421 420419418
1 417 416415414
|413 412
411
14101 409408

33 3435 3637 38 39
40 41 1
2 3
4 5 678
9
101112131415 16

551552 553554 555556 557558 559560 561562 563
564 565566567 568569570571572573574575

Not long after Nehemiah's departure,
Eliashib, the high priest, gives Tobiah
a chamber in the house of God, and
things generally go wrong (Neh. 13 : 4-
6, 10 and context).
At a date not specified Nehemiah
comes back as governor, dedi
cates the wall, renews the pro
vision for the temple servants
(Neh. 12 : 27-13 : 14).
Malachi. Not many years earlier or later
than this Joiada succeeds Eliashib
as high priest (Neh. 13 : 28 and
12 : 10, 11, 22).

? Sanballat made satrap in Samaria.

Nehemiah remains governor till he
is a very old man (Jos. Ant. XI,
v, 8), and attends to many mat
ters of enrolment and adminis
tration and reform (Neh. 11 : 3-
13 = 31)-

172 DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
Explanation of the Dates.
"And of the sons of Joiada the high priest there was a son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite,
and I expelled him from beside me" (Neh. 13: 28). This seems to be a condensed account of
the incident given in Josephus (Ant. XI, vii and viii). Josephus gives the names, and says that
Manasseh was the brother of Jaddua, and was excluded in favor of Jaddua.
The statements of Nehemiah seem to imply that the marriage of Manasseh occurred be
fore Joiada was succeeded by Johanan, and that the exclusion was accomplished while Johanan
was high priest. For the date of the enrolment the text in Nehemiah gives five points.
First, it followed an earlier enrolment made "in the days of Joiakim" (Neh. 12: 12-21 cf.
26 a). Second, by general description it was "in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan and
Jaddua" (Neh. 12: 22).
Third, it was "in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest, the scribe"
(Neh. 12: 266).
Fourth, it was "upon the kingdom of Darius the Persian" (Neh. 12: 22).
Fifth, it was "up to the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib" (Neh. 12: 23).
Noteworthy is the fact that this enrolment, expressly limiting itself by the "days of
Johanan," yet includes the name of his successor, Jaddua. A natural explanation of this is
found in the inference that Jaddua was enrolled as a part of the proceedings for the exclusion
of Manasseh. According to these data, these events occurred in the lifetime of Nehemiah and his con
temporary Sanballat, and some of them before the death of Ezra. Some of them occurred in
the reign of Darius, presumably Darius Nothus, the successor of the Artaxerxes of whom the
narrative has been speaking. Being "up to the days of Johanan," it cannot have been the
later Darius, for he did not reign till many years after the death of this Johanan. Clearly the
Samaritan schism and the accession of Johanan occurred in the latter part of the reign of Darius
Nothus, probably in the closing decade of the fifth century B. C.
There are confirmations of this. According to the Talmuds Simon, the son of Onias, was
the high priest who came out to meet Alexander the Great when he marched upon Jerusalem in
B. C. 332 (see the story in Jos. Ant. XI, viii, 4-5, though Josephus says that the high priest was
Jaddua). Simon was preceded by Onias for 19 years, and he by Jaddua for 20 years, and he
by Johanan for 32 years. Now 332 plus 19 plus 20 plus 32 gives us B. C. 403 as the latest
possible date for the accession of Johanan, and a few years earlier as the probable date for that
accession. This is confirmed by the passage in 2 Maccabees 1 : 23, which speaks of this Jonathan
(Johanan) as contemporary with Nehemiah,
Against this is the fact that Josephus, in considerable detail, represents that Jaddua, and
not Simon, was high priest in the time of Alexander, and thus dates this group of events about
B. C. 330. In this, however, he contradicts his own testimony, as well as that of the other sources
of information. Following Josephus some books of reference date the accession of Johanan about B. C.
371, or later. This makes the four pontificates of Jeshua, Joiakim, Eliashib and Joiada to have
extended over more than 167 years, which is incredible; while it is easily credible that they may
have extended over the 130 years required by the date given to Johanan in the table.
Simon the son of Onias had been succeeded by Eleazar as high priest before B. C. 285, the
date of the scheme for the Alexandrian translation of the Old Testament (Jos. Ant. XII, ii and
other sources). This proves that Jaddua cannot possibly have been high priest about B. C.
330, for we must here find room for the 40 years of Simon, and the 19 years of Onias who was
father to Simon and son to Jaddua. ( Continued on page 174. )

THE TABLES

173

Foreign Dated Events.

0

to Pa
n
. 0
3 «
W «!
Ph 0

407

17

406

18

405

19

404

1

403

2

402

3

401

4

400

5

399

6

398

7

397

8

396

9

395

10

394

11

393

12

392

13

391

14

390

15

389

16

388

17

387

18

386

19

385

20

384

21

383

22

R<

Israelitish Dated Events.

Dionysius tyrant of Syracuse
B. C. 405-367.
Death of Darius Nothus. Acces
sion of Artaxerxes Mnemon.
First year of Artaxerxes Mnemon .
Thrasybulus restores democracy
at Athens.
Xenophon B. C. 430-357.
Revolt of Cyrus against Arta
xerxes. Cyrus slain at Cunaxa.
Retreat of the 10,000 Greeks.
Plato B. C. 429-347.
Ctesias, the historian.
Death of Socrates.
Isocrates B. C. 436-338.

Corinthian war B. C. 394-387.

Asian Greek cities submit to Per
sia. Rome burnt by the Gauls.

576577578 579
580581 582583584585586587588589590591
592 593594
595596
597598599600

Not many years earlier or later
than this occurred the Samaritan
schism, including the following
events. Manasseh, of the family of
Joiada the high priest, married
Nicaso, of the family of Sanballat
(Neh. 13:28; Jos. Ant. XI, vii, 2,
and viii).
Joiada, the high priest, was
succeeded by Johanan (Neh. 12 :
22, 23 ) , otherwise called Jonathan
or John (Neh. 12:11; Jos. Ant.
XI, vii).
Manasseh, apparently the son
of Johanan, was excluded from
the high priesthood in favor of
his brother Jaddua.
An enrolment was made, "up to
the days of Johanan," but inclu
ding Jaddua his son in the high
priestly succession (Neh. 12 : 10-
23)- Sanballat made Manasseh priest
of the rival temple which he now
established at Mount Gerizim,
and many of the priests followed
the fortunes of this temple (Jos.
Ant. XI, viii).

After these events the completing
of the Old Testament, and the
death of Nehemiah.

Not far from this time Johanan
slays his brother Jeshua in the
temple, and Bagoses, the general
of "another Artaxerxes' army,"
oppresses the Jews 7 years (Jos.
Ant. XI, vii).

174 DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
Explanation of the Dates.
( Continued Jrom page ij2. )
When Josephus connects with the schism the names of Sanballat and of Jaddua he is correct
and thus corroborates the Bible account. Though he omits to speak of the relations of Sanballat
with Nehemiah, no one doubts that the Bible is correct in representing that the two were con
temporary. Therefore Josephus is mistaken when he assigns to Sanballat a date two or three
generations after the death of Nehemiah.
According to Nehemiah the high priesthood of Johanan seems to have begun in the reign of
Darius Nothus, and extended on into the reign of Artaxerxes Mnemon.
The sources used by Josephus corroborate this when they represent that John (Jonathan,
that is, Johanan) was high priest in the reign of "another Artaxerxes," and that Sanballat had
been made satrap by Darius the "last king" before that Artaxerxes (Ant. XI, vii); though
Josephus himself is badly mixed in his ideas of the Persian kings, and perhaps thought that this
Darius was Codomannus. The attempt to identify Bagoses, the general of this other Artaxerxes,
with the Egyptian eunuch Bagoas of the time of Artaxerxes Ochus is not successful.
These events connected with the Samaritan schism are the latest mentioned in the con
nected narrative of the Old Testament, and the latest clearly identifiable events of any character
except in predictive passages. No position can be more inconsistent than that of a man who,
against Josephus, dates the Samaritan schism about B. C. 400 or earlier, and yet speaks of the
mention of Jaddua and of other like items as indicating a date in the Greek period.

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FOURTH TABLE

FROM THE CLOSE OF OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY

Introduction.
The subject of this volume is Old Testament Chronology. With the times
later than the Old Testament it has nothing to do except for their bearings on
Old Testament questions. At some points, for example the Maccabaean times,
these bearings are important.
There is no attempt to include all the postbiblical Jewish dated events. The
records are too full for that. Relatively a few events are included in the table,
and preference is given to those that bear on the chronological problems.
The various histories of the times between the close of the Old Testament
and the Christian era give dates in terms of the reigns of kings and leaders; but
they also make use of various eras, those for example of the olympiads or of the
founding of Rome, or of the Roman consulates. As the books of the Maccabees
and Josephus give the dates in the terms of the Seleucid era, up to the close of
the Maccabaean period, that era, up to that time, is included in the table. From
that point the table follows the sources in giving the dates in terms of the years
of the Jewish high priests and rulers.
Heretofore in this volume we have dealt almost exclusively with the Jewish
and Babylonian vernal year, the year that begins with a new moon in March.
Now, however, we come into contact with years of various kinds. The Roman
year was vernal, but began differently from the Jewish. The Olympian year
began at a varying point early in July. The Seleucid year is said to have begun
in September. Other variations may supposably enter into the problem.
These variations have been worked up by scholars with great industry and
painstaking. Especial acuteness has been shown in bringing in variations of
years in the attempts to solve the numerical problems presented in the book of
Daniel. Into matters of this kind the present treatment does not enter. For
purposes of ordinary historical chronology, most of these intricacies may safely
be neglected. It is obvious that the sources from which Josephus draws, and Josephus
himself, following his sources, use their numerals mainly as the Old Testament
writers do.
They have the same habit of treating years as units, rather than as measures
of time, and so of counting the difference between two numbers inclusively (see
19 in the Introduction to this volume). For example, Josephus says that Pompey
took Jerusalem on the fast day in the third month, B. C. 63, and that Herod
took it the same day of the same month in B. C. 37, just 27 years later (see ref-

180 DATED EVENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
erences in the table). He counts the terminal years inclusively, making the
difference 27 instead of 26.
They have the same habit of counting a terminal fraction of a year as a whole
year, and so sometimes of counting it to both the outgoing and the incoming king.
See instances in the table at B. C. 66 and 40. It might be possible to transfer
the overlaps there set down to the termination of some other reigns, but they
necessarily come in somewhere.
These authors are in the habit of using Jewish vernal years for the ordinary
events which they narrate. Josephus himself does this freely, in spite of his
giving us the information that the vernal is the sacred year, and that the autumnal
year is the proper one for secular events. They use the Jewish vernal year even
when they are counting in the Seleucid era. The dates which Josephus gives in
olympiads for the sieges of Jerusalem by Pompey and Herod show that the capture
in the third month was earlier than July, that is, that he was thinking of a vernal
year. The same thing appears when we notice that Herod came out of winter
quarters to the siege, and that it lasted five months (Wars I, xvii, 8 and xviii, 2;
Ant. XIV, xv, 14).
The temple was restored the ninth month, Chislev, the 148th year of the
Seleucid era (1 Mac. 4:52). Jonathan became high priest the seventh month,
at the feast of Tabernacles in the 160th year (1 Mac. 10: 21). The death of Simon
was in Shebat the eleventh month, the 177th year (1 Mac. 16: 14). Other in
stances are numerous when we interpret them by these.
For some purposes the Jew of those times thought of the year as beginning
in March. If he described it in terms of the Greek era, that did not change his
idea of the thing itself. What he had in mind was not the year that began in
September, but the year that began the preceding March. If he described it by
the numerals of an olympiad he may still have meant not the year that began in
July, but the one that began the preceding March.
This use of language certainly prevails among these writers. Our table is
based on the idea that this was the prevailing usage. They are correct, unless in
some particular instances some author has resorted to a different use of terms.
If any one thinks that to be the case, he must work out the exceptional instances
by themselves.

THE TABLES

181

Foreign Dated Events.

P5

S3O a
w
. a
l-t FM
CO« fH
B «
Ph <

Israelitish Dated Events.

375

30

374

31

373

32

372
33
371
34
370
35
369
36
368
37
367
38
366
39
365
40
364
41
363
42
362
43
361
44
360
45
Artaxerxes Mnemon succeeded by
Ochus.
359
46
First year of Artaxerxes Ochus.
358
1
357
2
Birth of Alexander the Great.
356
3
355
4
354
5
353
6
Orations of Demosthenes B. C. 352-
J 352
7
33°-
351
8
Not many years earlier or later than
this Johanan succeeded by Jaddua,
who was high priest 20 years.
Not many years earlier or later than
this, Jaddua succeeded by Onias I,
who was high priest 19 years.
I 82

THE TABLES

Foreign Dated Events.

cj

pm
¦ o
hi o
COOJ U
W «
Ph <U

« ¦<
W W
n e<
z O
<

Israelitish Dated Events.

Aristotle B. C. 384-322.
Olynthian war B. C. 349-347.

Philip captures Phocis, and is
admitted to Amphyctionic council.

Philip invades Thrace.

Battle of Cheronea. Greece sub
jugated to Philip. Death of Artax.
Ochus. Rome conquers Eatium B C. 337-335.
Dissensions in Persia, noted in Canon
as the two years of Arogus.
Alexander succeeds Philip.
First year of Darius Codomannus.
Alexander defeats the Persians
on the Granicus, May 22d.
Alexander defeats Darius at Is-
sus, October.
Alexander marches through Pal
estine, besieges Tyre, founds Alex
andria in Egypt.
First year of Alexander as suc
cessor of Darius.

Alexander in India, B. C. 327-
325-

350
349348
347346345344343
342341340
339 338
337
336335
334333332
331
330329328
327326

9
1011
1213
141516
17
1819
20
21 1
2 1
23
4

1
23
4 56

Note. — The Talmuds say that Simon
I was high priest in the time of
Alexander, and held the office
40 years, that is, about B. C. 335-
295. Josephus (Ant. XII, ii, 5
and iv, 1) agrees with the other
traditions in saying that this
Simon (not Simon II, son of
Onias II) is the distinguished
Simon the Just.
The Men of the Great Syna
gogue are mentioned in the tradi
tions as a succession of men (not
as an official body) including
Daniel and his associates and in-
ferentially Ezekiel, together with
all the later prophets and great
men of the Old Testament, and
terminating with Simon the Just,
Ezra, however, being the great
representative name. The tradi
tions attribute the completing of
the Old Testament to the prophets
who were of this succession.
Not many years earlier or later
than this, Onias I succeeded by
Simon I, who was high priest
40 years.

Alexander favors both the Jews
and the Samaritans, both in
Palestine and as citizens of Alex
andria.

THE TABLES

183

Foreign Dated Events.

0

H
a <
w w
p «
S50M w
3*
<

<
ft
w g0»
W uM

325

7

I324

8

P23

1

1322

2

y 321
3
I320
4
H319
5
1 318
6
P17
7
I316
8
y 315
9
I314
10
P13
11
1312
12
I
pil
13
2
1 310
14
3
H309
15
4
1 308
16
5
P07
17
6
1306
18
7
P05
19
8
I304
20
9
P303
21
10
J302
22
II
poi
23
12
Israelitish Dated Events.
Death of Alexander. First year of
Ptolemy Lagus in Egypt as counted in
the Canon, though in fact the history
was more complicated than this would
suggest. Lagus is also called Soter.
The Romans surrender to
Samnites.
the
Berosus the Babylonian historian
contemporary with Alexander and
Ptolemy Lagus.
First 3'ear of Seleucus Nicator as
king in Syria. Seleucus and Ptol
emy defeat Demetrius at Gaza.
Epicurus B. C. 342-270.
Battle of Ipsus. Final division
of Alexander's dominions.
Ptolemy, early in his teign, subju
gated Palestine, and treated the
Jews with mingled cruelty and
favor.
"Year of the kingdom of the
Greeks" (1 Mac. 1 : 10, etc.).
This era is important in biblical
chronology because in it the
books of Maccabees and Josephus
date the events of the Maccabaean
times. Properly, it is said, the Seleucid
year begins in the autumn. But
the years intended by the Jewish
writers are, in some cases, at
least, vernal years, the years be
ginning in the preceding March
(e. g. I Mac. 4:52, 10:21, 16:14).
The table is made on the basis of
this usage. In a few instances
the difference between the au
tumnal and the vernal years may
require a correction in a date,
but that is doubtful.
1 84

THE TABLES

Foreign Dated Events.

Antioch in Syria founded.

? Beginnings of Alexandrian Li
brary. Demetrius Phalereus, after a
famous career at Athens, was for
many years a favorite of Ptolemy
Lagus, and active in founding the
Library.

Ptolemy Philadelphus associated
with Lagus on the throne.

Death of Lagus. Exit Demetrius
Phalereus.

Deathof Seleucus Nicator. Acces
sion of Antiochus Soter. Invasion
of Italy by Pyrrhus.
The Gauls invade Greece.

CJ

3 S3
M O
ri <
fHM
Ph

300

24

299

25

298

26

297

27

296

28

295

29

294

30

293

31

292

32

291

33

290

34

289

35

288

36

287

37

286

38

285

39 1

284

40 2

283

41 3

282

4

281

5

280

6

279

7

278

8

277

9

276

10

W

o &
wi4
W
CO

Israelitish Dated Events.

13141516171819
2021222324
25
2627 28
293031323334
353637

Religious controversies in Egypt
between Jews and Samaritans.
Partial translations of Old Testa
ment into Greek (Jos. Ant. XII,
i and ii).

? Eleazar succeeds Simon I as high
priest.
? Ecclesiasticus written. It was
translated into Greek by the
grandson of the author about
" the 38th year upon Euergetes,"
that is, either B. C. 234 or B. C.
133 (see table). It celebrates
(Ecclus. 50: 1-21) Simon the son
of Onias, who died about B. C.
295 or 199 (see table). The
earlier dates are the true ones,
though many prefer the later.

The Septuagint begun, in a plan
of Demetrius Phalereus for plac
ing the Old Testament books in
the Alexandrian Library (Jos.
Ant. XII, ii).

Josephus says that in these times
the Jews were in favor not only
in Alexandria but in Antioch,
and in the many other Greek
cities that were founded in the
Orient (Ant. XII, iii).

THE TABLES

185

Foreign Dated Events.

un

w
> o
*h\W H
Ph

et
W OMo p
w hi
w
CO

Israelitish Dated Events.

Pyrrhus driven from Italy.
Alexandria busy for generations
with the Greek classics.

First year of Ptolemy Euergetes I
as coregnant with Philadelphus
(Mahaffy Ptol. Dyn. p. 99).
? Theocritus in Alexandria.

Rome supreme over Italy.
The Punic wars begin.
Close of the Parian Chronicle.

Death of Antiochus Soter. Ac
cession of Antiochus Theos.

The coregnancy of Euergetes
with Philadelphus ceases (see at
B. C. 271).

Archimedes B. C. 287-212.

275
274273 272 271 270269 268267 266 265 264263 262261260 259258 257 256255254253 252251

11 121314 15 16 171819
2021 2223 24 2526 27 2829 30 3132 333435

38 3940 41 4243 44 4546 4748 49 50 51 5253 54 5556 5758 59606162

? Eleazar succeeded by Manasseh
as high priest.
Great favors to the Jews in these
years from Antiochus Theos (Jos.
Ant. XII, iii, 3).

1 86

THE TABLES

Foreign Dated Events.

o

w
> 9
° Ph
Ph

0MoD
WW
CO

Israelitish Dated Events.

Arsaces, king in Parthia, circa.
About this time Manetho in
Egypt.

Death of Philadelphus. Acces
sion of Euergetes I as sole king.
Ptolemy captures Antioch (Ma-
haffy Plot. Dyn. p. 105ft.). Death
of Antiochus Theos and accession
of Seleucus Callinicus.

End of first Punic war.
Plays of Livius Andronicus at
Rome.

The Canopus inscription (Ma-
haffy Ptol. Dyn. p. mff.).

The gate of Janus shut.

Death of Seleucus Callinicus. Ac
cession of Seleucus Keraunos.

250

36

63

249

37

64

248

38

65

247

39

66

246

1

67

245

2

68

244

3

69

243

4

70

242

5

71

241

6

72

240

7

73

239

8

74

238

9

75

237

10

76 [

236

11

77 1

235

12

78

234

13

79 1

233

14

80 [j

232

15

81 1

231

16

82 f|

230

17

83 1

229

18

84 \

228

19

85 1

227

20

86 i

226

21

87

Some scholars hold that the books
of Chronicles were not written
till about this date.

38th year of Euergetes, counting
from the 15th year of Philadel
phus, which see. ? Translation
of Eccelesiasticus (see at B. C.
300-276).
? Manasseh succeeded by Onias
II as high priest.
About this date begins the career
of more than 22 years of Joseph
the son of Tobias"(Jos. Ant. XII,
iv).

THE TABLES

187

Foreign Dated Events.

cJ

hi mMH W
tx 0
§ ft
W W
?J »
gW
Ph

w RuSW
hi
w
CO

225

22

88

1224

23

89 1

M223

24

90 y

1 222

25

91 I

y 221

1

92 P

1220

2

931

P219

3

94 P

¦ 218

4

95 I

n 217

5

96 y

1 216

6

97 1

H 215

7

98 tt

|214

8

99 1

P13

9

100 y

1 212

10

¦oil

y 211

11

102 y

I210

12

103 1

H209

13

104 y

1208

14

105 1

M207

15

106 y

I2O6

16

107 1

P05

17

108 1

1204

1

109 1

N203

2

1 10 y

1202

3

Mil

II 201

4

II2|

Israelitish Dated Events.

Death of Seleucus Keraunos. Ac
cession of Antiochus the great.
Death of Ptolemy Euergetes I.
Accession of Ptolemy Philopator.

In these years wars between
Ptolemy and Antiochus, in which
Palestine was ravaged.

First Macedonian war with Rome
B. C. 211-205.
Attalus, king of Pergamos B. C.
241-197.

Death of Ptolemy Philopator.
Accession of Ptolemy Epiphanes
at 5 years of age.
In the earlier part of his reign
Ptolemy successful against Anti
ochus.

End of second Punic war.

? Birth of Hyrcanus, son of Joseph
(Jos. Ant. XII, iv).
? Onias II succeeded as high priest
by Simon II, sometimes wrongly
identified with Simon the Just,
and with the Simon of Ecclesias-
ticus 50.
Note. — The books of reference say
that the first Cleopatra of Egypt
was the wife whom Ptolemy
Epiphanes married after B. C. 198.
This contradicts Josephus. He
represents Hyrcanus as dealing
with a Cleopatra, wife of a Ptol
emy, before the death of the
high priest Simon, and Joseph
as fioing the same many years
earlier.

? Hyrcanus at court of Ptolemy at
13 years of age (Ant. XII, iv, 6).

THE TABLES

Foreign Dated Events.
Second Macedonian war, B. C.
200-197.

Antiochus the great defeats Ptol
emy Epiphanes in a decisive battle
at Banias, and at some later date
marries his daughter Cleopatra to
him, giving him an interest in
Palestine as dowry.
Cato, the elder, consul.

War between the Romans and
Antiochus the great.

Death of Antiochus. Accession
of Seleucus Philopator.

Death of Ptolemy Epiphanes.
Accession of Ptolemy Philometer.

O Ph"

200 199
198
197196195194
193 192
191190
189188
187
186185184183
182
181180179
178
177 176

mW
S5
w fc
g«
Ph

5 6
7
89
10
1112
131415
16
1718
19
20
2122
2324 1
2 3
45

w

o
ww
CO

Israelitish Dated Events.

113114
115
116
117118119
120121
122123124
125
126
127128129
130131
132
133134135136
137

? Deathof Joseph. His sons quarrel.
Simon takes sides against Hyr
canus.
? Simon II succeeded by Onias III.
The Jews eagerly accept Anti
ochus, and are received by him
with great favor.
The writing of Ecclesiasticus is
by some dated about this time.
See at B. C. 300-276.

Hyrcanus reigns beyond the Jor/<
dan the last seven years of Seleu
cus Philopator (Jos. Ant. XII,
iv, 11).

In the reign of Seleucus the inci
dent of Onias and Heliodorus
(2 Mac. 3-4).
Notice of a translation of Esther
"fourth year of the reign of
Ptolemy and Cleopatra" (Apoc
ryphal Esther 1 1 : 1 ) .

THE TABLES

189

Foreign Dated Events.

Seleucus Philopator succeeded
by Antiochus Epiphanes. [Accord
ing to I Maccabees 1 : 10 " the 137th
year of the Kingdom of the Greeks' '
B. C. 176.]
Third Macedonian war B. C. 172-
168.

First year of Ptolemy Euergetes
II (Physkon) as coregnant with
Philometer.

First comedy of Terence at Rome.

Death of Antiochus Epiphanes.
Accession of Antiochus Eupator.

Death of Antiochus Eupator. Ac
cession of Demetrius Soter.

Alexander Bala (Epiphanes)]
succeeds Demetrius Soter. '
Marriage of Alexander with
Cleopatra of Egypt i62d year (1
Mac. 10:57).

O P5

ftW W
>%« o
£ a
0 P*

175 174 173 172 171 170169 168 167 166165 164 163 162 161160 159158 157 156 155 154 153 152 151

7 89
10 11 12 1314 15 16 17 18 19
20 2122 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

<
w auP
W
hX
W
CO

Israelitish Dated Events.

138
I 39 I Onias III deposed in favor of Jason
(Jesus). Antiochus splendidly
I 40 1 1 entertained in Jerusalem.

141
1421

145 146 147148 149150 15152 153154 155156 157 158 159 160 161 162

Jason superseded by Menelaus
(Onias) " after 3 years." See at
B. C. 163. Onias III murdered (2
Mac. 4 :23ft. ).

1 43 I Antiochus captures Jerusalem.
Horrible details. " 143d year "
[44 || (1 Mac. 1 : 20)

Horrors "after 2 full years." Abomina
tion on the altar, "15th day of Chislev,
145th year" (1 Mac. 1 :54).
Judas Maccabseus leader 146th
year (1 Mac. 2 : 70).

Temple restored 25th day of 9th month,
Chislev, 148th year ( 1 Mac. 4:52).
Ant. Epiph. died 149th year ( 1 Mac. 6 : 16) .
After B. C. 164 letter to Aristobulus (2
Mac. 1 :i8 and 14).
Judas besieges citadel 150th year (1 Mac.
6:20). Menelaus slain, high priest 10
years (Jos. XII, ix, 7). Alcimus (Jaci-
mus) high priest.
Judas defeats Demetrius 13th day of Adar,
151st year (1 Mac. 7 : 1, 49; 2 Mac. 14:4)-
Makes treaty with Rome (1 Mac, 8).
Judas slain 1st month of i52d year. Jona
than succeeds (1 Mac. 9 :3).
Alcimus dies 153d year, 2d month (1 Mac.
9 : 54"56) . 7 vears without a high priest
(Jos. Ant. XX, x, 1).

Rest 2 years (1 Mac. 9 : 57).
After Alcimus became high priest,
B. C. 163, and before the death
of Ptolemy Philometer, B. C. 146,
Onias, son of high priest Onias
III, built a Jewish temple at
Leontopolis in Egypt ( Jos. Ant.
XII, v, 1 and ix, 7 ; XIII, iii).

Demetrius and Alexander Epipha
nes seek alliance with Jonathan,
160th year. Jonathan becomes
high priest at feast of Tabernacles
7th month of 160th year (1 Mac.
10 : 21).

IQO

THE TABLES

Foreign Dated Events.

d
Pi'

a
•A
H W
Iri
ht a
°Ph
Ph

«;ft
W ahi
o p
w hi
W
CO

1 150

31

163 1

J 149

32

i64 y

1148

33

165 1

1147

34

i66 n

146

35

167 1

145

1

168 y

144

2

1691

143

3

170 n

142

4

171 I

141

5

172 n

140

6

1731

139

7

174 y

138

8

1751

137

9

176 fl

136

10

1771

135

11

1 I

134

12

2 1

133

13

3

132

14

4 1

131

15

5 i

130

16

6 1

1129

17

7

128

18

8

127

19

9

[ 126

20

10 I

Israelitish Dated Events

Invasion by Demetrius Nicator,
165th year (1 Mac. 10:67). Ptol
emy Philometer takes Cleopatra
from Alexander Bala, and gives
her to Demetrius.
Ptolemy and Demetrius defeat
Alexander, 167th year ( 1 Mac.
11 : 19). Ptolemy becomes king
in Antioch, but dies soon after.
Demetrius king in Antioch.
Ptolemy Euergetes II sole king
in Egypt. Carthage destroyed.
Tryphon fighting against Demet

Demetrius Nicator captured by
Arsaces, I72d year (1 Mac. 14 : 1).

Antiochus Sidetes, son of Demet
rius, attempts to recover power.

Laws of Gracchus at Rome.

Antiochus defeated by Arsaces.
Demetrius Nicator, second reign.
Succeeded by Alexander Zebina.

Alexander succeeded by Antio
chus Gryphus.

Josephus says that about B. C. 150, in the
high priesthood of Jonathan, the three
Jewish sects, the Pharisees, the Sad
ducees and the Essenes, were in exist
ence (Ant. XIII, v, 9).
Jonathan takes part with Demet
rius.

? Jonathan renews treaties with
Rome and Sparta (1 Mac. 12).
Jonathan was honored by Demet
rius, and afterward treated
treacherously by both him and
Tryphon.
? Death of Jonathan.
First year of Simon, 170th year ( 1
Mac. 13:41). Judaea independent.
Simon captures the citadel, 171st year, 2d
month, 23d day (1 Mac. 13 :5i).
Third year of Simon his authority
made perpetual, I72d year, 18th
of Elul (1 Mac. I4:27ff).
Antiochus wars against Tryphon,
174th year (1 Mac. 15 : 10).
The Romans recognize the Jews as
allies.
Simon high priest 8 years (Jos. Ant.
XIII, vii, 4 and XX, x).
Death of Simon, 177th year, nth month,
Shebat ( 1 Mac. 16 : 14). John Hyrcanus
succeeds him.
First year of Hyrcanus. War against
him by Antiochus Sidetes (Jos. Ant.
XIII, viii).
Treaty with Antiochus soon after
feast of Tabernacles.
38th year of Euergetes II (see at
B. C. 170). Translation of Eccle
siasticus? See at B. C. 300-276.
Note.— From B. C. 135 the Jewish
sources cease to give the dates in
terms of the Greek era. The
years in the table are those of
the rule of John Hyrcanus. The
reigns in Egypt no longer im
portant in Jewish dates.
Hyrcanus conquersand circumcises
the Idumaeans.
Renews friendship with the Ro
mans.

THE TABLES

191

Foreign Dated Events.

in PS3«!u «
15 X
Kffio

Israelitish Dated Events.

First year of Antiochus Gryphus.

Marius B. C. 155-S6.

Death of Ptolemy Euergetes II.
Succeeded jointly by his wife Cleopatra
and their son Lathyrus, otherwise
known as Soter aud Philometer.

Cimbri and Teutones invade Gaul.

Jugurthine war B. C. 111-106.

Roman victories begin over Cimbri
and Teutones.

Expelled from Egypt by Cleopatra,
in favor of Ptolemy Alexander, Ptol
emy Lathyrus still reigns in Cyprus.
Sulla B. C. 138-78.

End of Cimbrian-Teutonic war.

125124123 122121 120119 118117116115114
113 112
111110109108
107106105
104103
102
101

11 12 1314 151617 1819
20
2122232425262728293031
32
33 11

John Hyrcanus high priest and leader
from B. C. 135.

? Hyrcanus destroys SamariaQos. Ant.
XIII, x).

Josephus says that Chelkias and An
anias, sons of Onias (see at B. C. 157)
were generals and trusted counselors
of Cleopatra (Ant. XIII, x).

At some date Hyrcanus is opposed by
the Pharisees, and becomes a Sad-
ducee (Ant. XIII, x, 5-7).
Note. — John Hyrcanus 30 years, 31
years, 33 entire years (Jos. Ant.
XX, x ; XIII, x, 7 ; Wars I, ii, 8).
As the table shows, the larger num
ber is needed to fill out the interval
between the two fixed dates : the
first year of Hyrcanus, B. C. 135, and
the taking of Jerusalem b}' Pompey,
B. C. 63.
Josephus' long number for the Asa-
moneans, 126 or 125 (Ant. XIV,
xvi, 4 and XVII, vi, 3), appears to
have been obtained by adding the
reigns from Jonathan, the first Asa-
monean high priest, and neglecting
overlaps. Jonathan 18 years plus
Simon 8 plus John Hyrcanus 33 plus
Judas Aristobulus 1 plus Alexander
Janneas 27 plus Hyrcanus 9 plus
Aristobulus 3 plus Hyrcanus 24 plus
Antigonus 3 equal 126.

Judas Aristobulus high priest and king.
Alexander Janneas high priest and
king (Jos. Ant. XIII, xii, 1).

192

THE TABLES

Foreign Dated Events.

cj

a .
W <n
Q ,1
Z w
< 5
* 5
W <!
i-t1— >

Israelitish Dated Events.

Birth of Julius Caesar.

Death of Antiochus Gryphus. Ac
cession of Seleucus Gryphus.

Social war in Italy begins.
Death of Cleopatra. Return of Ptol
emy Lathyrus to Egypt.
Wars of Marius and Sulla begin.

Death of Ptolemy Lathyrus.
Accession of Ptolemy Auletes.

100 99
989796959493 9291 9089888786
85
8483828180 79787776

2
3
4 5 6 78
9
1011 12
131415161718
19
20212223 2425
26

Alexander Janneas, third son of John
Hvrcauus, high priest and king
B." C. 101-75 (Jos. Ant. XIII, xii ;
Wars I, iv).

? Invasion by Ptolemy Lathyrus from
Cyprus, followed by alliance of
Jews with Cleopatra.

The reign of Janneas was characterized
by wars, both civil and foreign.

Alexander was at variance with the
Pharisees, but at his death advised
Alexandra to be friends with them.

THE TABLES

193

Foreign Dated Events.

cj pq

ft .
w «
0 ,1
3 §

Israelitish Dated Events.

Spartacus in Italy.

Spartacus defeated by Crassus.
Pompey and Crassus consuls.
Cicero B. C. 106-43.
Quintus Metellus Creticus consul.
Cato the younger B. C. 95-46.

Pompey ends the Parthian war.
Lucretius B. C. 96-55.
Pompey makes Syria a province of
Rome. Cicero, consul, suppresses Cataline's
rebellion.

First triumvirate: Pompey, Caesar,
Crassus.

Gallic war begins.

Caesar invades Britain B. C. 55-54-
Crassus defeated and slain by the
Parthians. Sallust B. C. 86-34.
Gaul completely subjugated.

75
7473 72 717069 6867
666564
63
6261605958
57
56
5554
535251

27 1
2 3
4 5 678 9 1
23 1
23
4 5 678
9
10111213

Janneas 27 years (Ant. XX, x ; Wars
I, iv, 8).
Alexandra queen, Hyrcanus high
priest, the Pharisees sovereign ( Wars
I, v; Ant. XIII, xvi).
Josephus (Ant. XIV, i, 2) wrongly
dates the accession of Hyrcanus the
3d year of the 177th olympiad,
Metellus consul, that is, between
April and July B. C. 69.

Alexandra and Hyrcanus 9 years
( Wars I, v, 4 ; Ant XIII, xvi, 6
and XX, x). Then Aristobulus
high priest and king for 3 years and
a fraction (Ant. XIV, vi, 1 and
XX, x). Here count the overlap
of one year.
Antipater, father of Herod, becomes
manager for Hyrcanus.

Hyrcanus restored by Pompey (Ant.
XX, x), who took Jerusalem the 3d
month of the vernal year, when
Cicero was consul, the 179th olym
piad (Ant. XIV, iv, 3 and xvi, 4),
that is, before July B. C. 63.

In these years Hyrcanus is often called
king, but he was forbidden the in
signia of royalty, and lacked its
authority.

Going against the Parthians, Crassus
visited Judasa, robbed the temple,
etc.

194

THE TABLES

5-f' m
_ w
S3* 3
p £
S3< w

u 0
CJ
« M
Foreign Dated Events.
P3
X
Israelitish Dated Events.
50
14
Caesar enters Rome as master.
49
15 1
Battle of Pharsalia. Later, death of
Pompey.
48
16
' Caesar makes Antipater governor,
and confirms Hyrcanus as high
. priest (Ant. XIV, viii).
Caesar in Egypt, at war.
1 47
17
Antipater sets Herod over Galilee.
Trial of Herod. Sameas and Pollio
46
18
(^4«/.XlV, ix,4l cf. XV, i, 1 and
Year I of Julian Era.
Year 4669 of Julian Period.
45
19
. x, 4).
Death of Caesar, Mar. 15.
44
20
Second triumvirate : Octavius, An
43
21
Death of Antipater. Cassius makes
tony, Lepidus. !
Herod governor of all Syria (Jos.
Battle cfPhilippi. Death of Cassius.
42
22
Wars I, xi and xii).
The Parthians carry off Hyrcanus
Cleopatra meets Antony at Tarsus.
41
23
and make Antigonus high priest
and leader. Herod flees to Rome.
Vergil B. C. 70-19. j
40
24 1
Herod made king by Roman senate
at Antony's wish, 184th olympiad,
39
2
Pollio consul, B. C. 40 before July
(Jos. Ant. XIV, xiv, 5).
38
3 I
37
1
Herod and Sossius capture Jerusalem
185th olympiad, Marcus Agrippa
consul, the 3d month of the vernal
Exit Lepidus. J
36
2
year, May or June of B. C. 37 (Jos.
Ant. XIV, xvi, 4). Antigonus was
35
3
soon after put to death by Antony.
In dating events by the reign of
34
4
Herod, Josephus oftenest counts
B. C. 37, not B. C. 40, as Herod's
33
5
first year.
War between Antony and Octavius.
32
6
'The 7th vear of Herod, 187th olym
Antony overthrown at Actium, Sept.
piad (Jos. Ant. XV, v; Wars I,
2d. Octavius sole ruler of Roman em- 1
31
7
¦
xix). After Actium, Herod ob
tained favor from Octavius, having
pire. 1
Deaths of Antony and Cleopatra.
30
8
slain Hyrcanus ( Wars I, xx ; Ant.
XV. vi).
Livy B. C. 59 to A.D. 17.
The gate of Janus shut.
29
9
Hillel president of Sanhedrin B. C. 30
to A. D. 9.
Shammai colleague of Hillel.
28
10
Note. — Josephus expressly says that
Herod reigned 37 years from his
27
11
being made king by the Roman
senate, and 34 years from his suc
26
12 |
ceeding Antigonus (Ant. XVII,
viii, 1 ; Wars I, xxxiii, 8).
THE TABLES

195

Foreign Dated Events.

cj Ph'

a0ft
w
a

Israelitish Dated Events.

The gate of Janus shut. '

25

1 o 1 13th of Herod (Ant. XV, ix, 1 ; cf . XV,
11 viii). He establishes quinquennial

24

14

games, and fortifies Samaria.

'? Herod makes Simon Boethus high
23
15
priest, and marries his daughter
(Ant. XV, ix). Herod begins re
22
16 [
building temple, 15th year ( Wars
I, xxi, 1), or 18th (Ant. XV, xi).
21
17 1 He beginsto build CaesareaB. C. 22(?),
1. eitherthe i2thorthe 10th year (Ant.
T „ XV, ix, 6 or XVI, v, 1) before its
? Philo of Alexandria born.
20
1° || completion in his 28th year.
19
19 I]
18
20 |
Agrippa governor of Syria. 1
17
21 1
16
22 |
Victories of Drusus over the Rhaeti.
15
23
14
24
Temple completed 9>2 years (Jos. Ant.
J XV, xi, 5 and 6).
Tiberius consul.
13
25
Death of Agrippa.
12
26
Drusus invades Germany.
Campaigns of Tiberius B. C. 11-9.
1 ll
27
Tiberius marries the widow of
Agrippa.
10
28
Celebration of the completing of Cae-
Ovid B. C. 43 to A. D. 18.
J sarea. Quinquennial games. 28th
Death of Drusus, brother of Tibe
j 9
29
year of Herod, in I92d olympiad
rius.
(Jos. Ant. XVI, v, 1 ; Wars I, xxi,
Tiberius military " imperator" and
J 8
30
! 8)-
consul.
7
31
Tiberius tribune, and thus associated
1 6
32
with Augustus.
1 5
33
Birth of Jesus.
J 4
34
Death of Herod * few weeks after the
eclipse of the moon, March 13, B. C. 4.
j
(Ant. XVII, vi, 4 and viii, 1;
1 3
1
Wars I, xxxiii, 8). Archelaus suc
ceeds.
1 2
2
| 1
3
1
APPENDIX
This volume has been an unusually long time in going through the press, and
some interesting data have become available since the copy for it was written. See,
for example, the "Chronicles Concerning Early Babylonian Kings," by Dr. King of
the British Museum, or the work done by Professors Hilprecht and Clay, in volumes
XX, XIV, XV, of the "Babylonian Expedition" of the University of Pennsylvania.
Certain items from these sources have been widely circulated in an article by Professor
R. W. Rogers, published August 22, 1907, in the Christian Advocate. It happens
that some of these new data gratifyingly confirm some of the positions which I have
taken in this volume.
On page 25 I have expressed my acceptance of Professor Hommel' s view, pub
lished several years since, to the effect that the so-called second dynasty in Babylon,
extending over 368 years, was contemporary with other dynasties, so that, for the
times before the Babylonian Kassite dynasty, we must subtract this 368 years from the
long numbers given by the Assyrian chronologers. When I wrote the section, this
view was a mere opinion, held by a small minority. At the present time its correct
ness has been proved, and it takes its place among ascertained facts. And with its
acceptance all doubt vanishes as to the identification of Hammurabi with the Amraphel
of Genesis. On the basis of these data Professor Hilprecht now places the long reign of Ham
murabi between B. C. 2,000 and B. C. 1830, and most of the dates which other
scholars have proposed can be reduced within those limits.
The settling of the question concerning the Babylonian second dynasty throws
light on the methods of the Assyrian chronologers and their Babylonian successors.
The documents prove that they did not insert that 368 years by reason of any lack of
means of information. If for the glory of Sennacherib and Asshurbanipal and Nabo
nidus they could add that dynasty to their sum of chronological time, they may also,
from similar motives, have omitted a discreditable block of fifty-one years from the
time following Ramman-nirari III. This is a slight but appreciable confirmation of
the view I have presented on page 19.
On pages 20 ff. I have presented arguments against the theory of Egyptian chro
nology which dates the accession of Thutmose III in B. C. 1501, and therefore that
of Amenophis IV, the contemporary of Burna-buriash of Babylon, about B. C. 1375.
My contention is confirmed by the dated documents published by Professor Clay.
These give the following minimum numbers for the years of certain Babylonian
kings : Burna-buriash, 25 ; Kuri-galzu, 23 ; Nazi-maruttash, 24 ; Kadashman-turgu,
16 ; Kadashman-bel II, 6 ; Kudur-bel, 9. These kings, and others not here named,
reigned in the intarval between Burna-buriash and Shagashalti-shuriash, who reigned
about 800 years before Nabonidus (p. 24). Counting from accession to accession,
this gives about B. C. 1355 for Shagashalti-shuriash, and about B. C. 1458 as a mini-

198 APPENDIX
mum for Burna-buriash. If we suppose that these kings reigned on an average three
or four years each after the latest dated contract, made in his reign, which modern
discoverers have happened to find and read, that will place the accession of Burna-
buriash well back towaid B. C. 1500 Assyrian ; that is, about B. C. 1550 in my tables.
Add the omitted reigns, and the date becomes much earlier.
The greatest difficulty in the way of the view which I have presented is the fact
that at certain points the Assyrian kings of whom we have knowledge are not numerous
enough to fill out the time called for by the chronological numbers (see pages 18, 24 ff. ,
and the tables). For example, my table dates Asshur-uballit about B. C. 1650
(B. C. 1600 Assyrian), and Tukulti-ninip about B. C. 1340 (B. C. 1290 Assyrian),
with only six known Assyrian kings to cover the interval (pp. 25, 26). There is a
similar blank about B. C. n 20-1000 (B. C. 1070-950 Assyrian), following the reign of
Asshur-bel-kala, and another seeming gap, of fifty-one years, between the reign of
Ramman-nirari III and B. C. 773 (pp. 18 ff., 108 ff., 136 ff).
Some contributions have been made toward the filling of these gaps, and there
fore toward the accrediting of my position. Professor King's discovery of a Tiglath-
pilezer hitherto unknown is a contribution of this sort. Indirectly bearing in the same
direction is the fact that the recent discoveries supply the materials for filling certain
gaps in the chronology before the time of Abraham. It is highly probable that pro
cesses of this kind will continue. When we recover the knowledge of a few more
Assyrian and Babylonian kings, that may positively settle the chronology.
These things confirm me in my judgment as to a certain principle that has
governed my treatment alike of the biblical and of the Assyrio-Babylonian numbers.
That principle is, to use the numbers as they stand, except when thete is evidence by
which to correct them, leaving open the question as to how they are to be reconciled.
Most treatments of the subject adopt the different principle of making conjectural cor
rections at various points. It is easier to form the best judgment you can on the basis
of the evidence now at hand, than it is to suspend judgment and wait for sufficient
evidence. I do not find fault with those who take this course. All sorts of hypotheses
should be tried in our attempts to reach the truth. But it seems to me that there are
especial advantages in a treatment which avoids merely conjectural corrections, and I
have tried to present such a treatment.
My tables follow Nabonidus in placing Shagashalti-buriash (or -shuriash) about
B. C. 1400 (B. C. 1350 Assyrian), and they follow the Babylonian lists of kings in
giving the first year of a king of the same or similar name as B. C. 1297 (B. C. 1246
Assyrian). Are these two different kings? or two mentions of the same king? Manv
scholars take it for granted that they are the same ; but this is one of the questions
that must wait for evidence.

TOPICAL INDEX

Aaron, 63.
Abcion, 105.
Abijam, 127.
Abimelech of Gerar, 37, 39, 44.
Abimelech, captain of Israel, 97.
Abraham, 37 ff.
Abraham's sons, 38, 42.
Absalom, 8o, 81, 119.
Adonijah, 83, 120.
Adu-me-ur, 108.
Aeschines, 175.
Aeschylus, 165.
Aesop, 159.
Africanus, Julius, 8.
Agu-kak-rimi, 108.
Ahab, 131.
Ahaziah of Israel, 133.
Ahaziah of Judah, 131 ff.
Ahasuerus, 165.
Ahaz, 145.
Ahijah, 126.
Alcibiades, 171.
Alcimus, 189.
Alexander Bala, 189.
Alexander the Great, 181.
Alexander Janneas, 191,
Alexandra, 192, 193.
Alexandria founded, 182.
Alexandrian library, 184.
Amalek and Saul, 114, 115.
Amarna letters, 57, 59.
Amaziah, 137.
Amenhotep II, 53.
Amenhotep III, 57.
Amenhotep IV, 20, 59, 60.
A. Mig., 36.
Ammon, 39, 41.
Ammonite oppression, 102, 103.
Amon, 153,
Amos, 141.
Amram, 59, 69.
Amraphel (see Hammurabi).
Anabasis, the, 173.
Anacreon, 163.
Anarchy eighteen years, 87, 102.
Anaxagoras, 167.
Anno Discidii (A.Di.), 126 ff.
Antioch and the Jews, 184.
Antiochus Epiphanes, 189.
Antiochus Eupator, 189.
Antiochus the Great, 187.
Antiochus Grypus, 190.
Antiochus Sidetes, 190.
Antiochus Soter, 184.
Antiochus Theos, 185.
Antipater, 193,
Antony, 194.
Archelaus, 195.
Archimedes, 185.
Archonship at Athens, 149.
Aristides, 165.
Aristobulus, 193.
Aristobulus, Judas, 191.
Aristophanes, 171.
Aristotle, 175, 182.

Ark brought to Jerusalem, 81, 117.
Artaxerxes Longimanus, 167.
Artaxerxes Mnemon, 173.
Artaxerxes Ochus, 175, 181.
Asa, 126 ff.
Asamoneans 126 years, 191.
Asshurbanipal, 151.
Asshur-bel-kala, 109 ff.
Asshur-daan I, 103.
Asshur-daan II, 127.
Asshur-daan III, 136.
Asshur-nadin-shuma, 149.
Asshur-natsir-pal, 95, 129 ff.
Asshur-nirari I, 101.
Asshur-uballit, 20, 59, 61, 94, 108.
Assyrian canon, 8.
Astronomical data, 10.
Athaliah, 131 ff.
A. T. J., 84 ff.
Attalus, king of Pergamos, 187.
Augustus, 195.
Azariah (see Uzziah).
Azariah the son of Oded, 128.
Baasha, 126 ff.
Babylon and Palestine, 41.
Babylon under Tiglath-pilezer, 147.
Babylon sacked by Sennacherib,
149.
Babylon taken by Cyrus, 161.
Babylonian dynasties, 24 ff.
Bagoses, 173, 174.
Barak, 93.
Bardes, 163.
Baruch, 157.
Bau-ahh-iddina, 135.
Bekneranef, 139.
Bel-ibni, 149.
Bel-kudur-utsur, 99.
Bel-nirari, 60, 108.
Belshazzar, 161.
Bel-shum-iddina I, 99.
Bel-shum-iddina II, 105.
Benhadad, 130 ff.
Benhadad, son of Hazael, 137.
Benjamin, civil war, 89.
Berosus, 7, 8, 183.
Bibe of Babylon, 97.
Bible chronology not superseded,
32.
Boaz, 107.
Bochim, Angel at, 87.
Breasted on Egyptian chronology,
20 ff.
Budu-ilu, 60, 94, 108.
Burna-buriash, 20, 59 ff., 108.
Byzantium founded, 151.
Caleb, 73, 75,
Cambyses, 163.
Canaanites, their extermination, 86.
Canopus inscription, 186.
Captivity, the, 156.
Carchemish, battle of, 157.
Cato the elder, 188.

Census numbers, 62, 70.
Cheronea, 182.
Chronicles, Books of, 173, 186.
Chronicon, 8.
Chronographia, 8.
Chronology : Assyrian, 8, 9, 17, 18,
134 ft".; Babylonian, 9, 17 ff.,
23 ff., 145 ff . ; Biblical, data
of, 5, 7; Biblical, 1st period,
35; Biblical, 2d period, jj ;
Biblical, 3d period, 125 ; Bibli
cal, 4th period, 177; Biblical,
value of, 16 ff . ; Comparative,
16, 19, 23, 26, 30 ff . ; Com
pendiums of, 7; Connecting
links, 10; Egyptian, 19 ff., 26,
30 ff. ; Septuagint, 7.
Cicero, 193.
Cleopatra, 187.
Cleopatra, wife of Euergetes II,
191.
Compromise chronologies, 16.
Conquest east of Jordan, 72.
Conquest by Joshua, 85.
Convocation, the great, 169.
Counting units of time, 14.
Covenant of circumcision, 37.
Covenant of the parts, 37.
Crassus, 193.
Crossing the Jordan, 72.
Ctesias, 173.
Cunaxa, battle of, 173.
Cushan-rishathaim, 75, 84, 85.
Cyrus, 161.
Cyrus the younger, 173.
Daniel, 157.
Darius Codomannus, 182.
Darius, Hystaspis, 163.
Darius the Mede, 160.
Darius Nothus, 171.
Data as given in nature of events,
5.6.
Data in time words, 5.
Dates of accessions, how counted,
29.
David, 80 ff., 112 ff., 117 ff.
Deborah, 93.
Demetrius Nicator, 190.
Demetrius Phalereus, 184.
Demetrius Soter, 189.
Demosthenes, 181.
Deportations by Tiglath-pilezer,
145-
Deuteronomy, 72.
Dionysius of Syracuse, 173.
Divisions of the history and the
chronology, 28.
Draco at Athens, 155.
Earthquake of Uzziah, 140 ff.
Ecclesiasticus, 184, 186, 188, 190.
Eclipse of Asshur-daan, 143.
Eglon, 89.

200

TOPICAL INDEX

Egypt: shepherd kings, 41; i8lh
dynasty, 41 ; 20th dynasty, 73 ;
21st dynasty, 109 ff. See
Chronology, Egyptian.
Ehud, 91.
Elah, 129.
Elam in Palestine, 41.
Eleazar the highpriest, 184.
Eli, 98, 107 ff.
Eliashib, 167.
Eliezer son of Dodavah, 132.
Elijah, 130 ff.
Elisha, 130 ff.
Elon, 105.
Epaminondas, 175.
Ephes dammim, 115.
Epicurus, 183.
Eponym canon, 8, 134 ff.
Eras, 7, 179.
Esarhaddon, 151.
Esau, 43 ff.
Essenes, 190.
Esther, 167.
Esther, translation of, 188.
Euripides, 169.
Evil-merodach, 159.
Exodus, 71.
Explorations, 8.
Extermination of Canaanites, 86.
Ezekiel, 137.
Ezra, 167.
Famine, years of, 53,
Father, tribal, 42.
Foreign wives, 167.
Forty-year periods, 79, 86.
Gad the prophet, 118.
Gibeon, battle of, 72.
Gideon, 95 ff.
Gods of Babylon, fugitive, 148 ff.
Gomates, 163.
Goshen, land of, 56.
Granicus, battle of, 182.
Great Synagogue, 182.
Greek invasion, Rameses III, 8o,
85-
Greek and Roman sources, 7.
Habakkuk, 157.
Hadad, 121.
Hadrach, 142 ff.
Haggai, 163.
Hammurabi, 24, 37.
Hanani, 128.
Haremsaf, 127.
Harmhab, 61.
Hazael, 133 ff.
Heliodorus and Onias, 188.
Herod, 194.
Herodotus, 169.
Hero judges, 85, 96.
Hexateuch completed, 89.
Hezekiah, 147.
Hillel, 194.
Hippocrates, 171.
Hommel, Professor Fritz, 25.
Hosea, 141.
Hoshea, 145 ff.
Huldah, 155.
Hyrcanus, John, 190.

Hyrcanus, son of Janneas, 193.
Hyrcanus, son of Joseph, 187 ff.
IBZAN, 105.
Iddo, 126.
Ikhn-aton, 58.
Ilulaeus, 147.
Interregna, 139, 141, 145.
Interregna, Babylonian, 148.
Introduction, 5.
Introduction to 2d table, 79.
Introduction to 4th table, 179.
Isaac, 39 ff., 46.
Is-amme . . . ti, 97.
Ishbosheth, 82, 116 ff.
Ishmael, 37 ff., 42, 47, 51.
Isaiah, 143 ff.
Isiniladanus, 153.
Isocrates, 173.
Israelites in Egypt, 57 ; their num
bers, 62.
Issachar, 49.
lssus, battle of, 182.
Jabin, 91.
Jacimus, 189.
Jacob, 43 ff , 52 ff.
Jaddua, highpriest, 175, 181.
jadon, 126, 154.
jahaziel, 132.
Jair, 99.
Janneas, Alexander, 191.
Janus, gate of, 186, 194, 195.
Jason, highpriest, 189.
Jedo (see Jadon).
Jehoahaz, 135.
Jehoahaz of Judah, 155.
Jehoash of Israel, 137.
Jehoiachin, 155 ff.
Jehoiada, 135.
Jehoiakim, 157.
Jehoram of Judah, 131 ff.
Jehoshaphat, 128 ff., 131 ff.
Jehu, 133 ff.
Jehu, son of Hanani, 128.
Jephthah, 102 ff.
Jeremiah, 155.
feroboam, 121 ff.
Jeroboam II, 137 ff.
Jerusalem destroyed by Nebuchad
nezzar, 157.
Jeshua, highpriest, 161.
Jesus, birth of, 195.
Jethro, 66.
Jezebel, 129 ff.
Joab, 83.
Joash of Judah, 133.
Johanan, highpriest, 173, 181.
Joiada, highpriest, 171.
Joiakim, highpriest, 165.
Jonah, 139.
Jonathan, 112 ff.
Jonathan Maccabaeus, 189,
Joram of Israel, 133.
Jordan, crossing of, 72.
Joseph, 51 ff.
Joseph, son of Tobias, 186.
Josephus, 7, 64, 74, 80, 84, etc.
Joshua, 73 ff., 85.
Joshua: his times, 79.
Josiah, 153.

Jotham, 145.
Judas Aristobulus, 191.
Judas Maccabaeus, 189.
Jugurthine war, 19-1.
Julian era, 194.
Julian period, 194.
Julius Caesar, 193 ff.
Kadashman-buriash, 97.
Kadashman-hharbe, 99.
Kadashman-turgu, 6o, 108.
Kadesh, 71.
Kallimmasin, 57, 108.
Kara-hhardash, 108.
Kara-indash, 108.
Kassite dynasty, 47 ff., 63 ff., 108.
Kenite and Midianite, 66.
Keturah, 41 ff.
Kudur-bel, 108.
Kuri-galzu the second, 61, 108.
Laban, 41, 47.
Latest Old Testament events, 172.
Leah, 46 ff., 53.
Lepsius : his chronology, 20.
Livius Andronicus, 186.
Livy, 194.
Long numbers, 5, 18, 24 ff., 136,
191.
Macedonian war, 187 ff.
Mahler: his chronology, 20.
Malachi, 171.
Manasseh the king, 149.
Manasseh the Samaritan, 173.
Manasseh the highpriest, 185,
Manda, the, 154, 161.
Manetho, 7 ff., 23, 186.
Marathon, 165.
Marduk-baladhsu-ikbi, 135.
Marduk-bel-usati, 133.
Marduk-nadin-ahhi, 24, 109.
Marduk-pal-iddina, 103.
Marduk-shapik-zer-mati, 109.
Mariha of Damascus, 137.
Marius, 191.
Mas, 86, 87.
Melchizedek, 37,
Meli-shihu, 101.
Menahem, 143.
Menelaus, highpriest, 189.
Mephibosheth, 82.
Merneptah, 20, 71.
Merodach-baladan, 146 ff.
Merom, waters of, 72.
Messenian war, 149.
Mesha, 132 ff.
Meyer, Edouard : his chronology,
20.
Micah the prophet, 145.
Micah (Micaiah), son of Imlah, 132.
Midian, 43, 67.
Midianite oppression, 95.
Miltiades, 165.
Moab, 39, 41 ; conquered by Omri,
Moabite oppression, 89.
Moabite stone, 130 ff.
Moses, 65 ff,, 72.
Mushezib-marduk, 149.
Mutakkil-nusku, 105.

TOPICAL INDEX

201

Naaman, 132 ff.
Nabonidus, 24, 161.
Nabopolassar, 155.
Nabu-aplu-iddina, 131.
Nabu-shum-ishkun, 127.
Nadab, 127.
Nadius, 147.
Nahum, 153.
Nathan, 118.
Nazi-bugash, 61, 108.
Nazi-murudash, 60, 108,
Nebo-dan, 101.
Nebuchadnezzar I, 104 ff.
Nebuchadnezzar, 157.
Neco of Egypt, 155.
Nehemiah, 169.
Nergal-ushezib, 149.
Neriglissar, 159.
Nineveh, downfall of, 157.
Ninip-pilezer, 99.
Obadiah, 137.
Octavius, 194.
Oded I, 128.
Oded II, 145.
Og, 72.
Old Testament completed, 173.
Olympiads, 179.
Olynthian war, 182.
Omri, 129 ff.
Onias I, 181.
Onias II, 186.
Onias III, 189.
Onias and Heliodorus, 188.
Onias of Egypt, 189.
Oppression in Egypt, 63.
Osorkon I, 127.
Osorkon II, 133.
Osorkon III, 139.
Othniel, 87.
Ovid, 195.
Parian Chronicle, 185.
Parthenon, 169.
Pashe, dynasty of, 105, ill.
Pedibast, 139.
Pekah, 145.
Pekahiah, 143.
Peloponnesian war, 171.
Pemou, 139.
Pericles, 169.
Pharaoh and Moses, 70.
Pharaoh of Joseph, 52.
Pharaoh's daughter, 119.
Pharisees, 190.
Phidias, 169.
Philip of Macedonia, 175.
Philistia, Assyrian invasions, 145.
Philistine oppressions, 93, 99.
Philistines, 37 ff., 44 ff., 71, 81 ff.,
93, 99, 107, 112 ff.
Philo, 19s.
Phinehas, 89.
Phocion, 175.
Pindar, 165.
Pisistratus, 159.
Plataea, 167.
Plato, 173.
Polycrates, 161.
Pompey, 193.
Porus, 147.

Pseudo-smerdis, 163.
Ptolemy, canon of, 8, 18, 23, 144 ff.
Ptolemy Epiphanes, 187.
Ptolemy Euergetes I, 185 ff.
Ptolemy Euergetes II, 189 ff.
Ptoiemy Lagus, 183.
Ptolemy Lathyrus, 191 ff.
Ptolemy Philadelphus, 184.
Ptolemy Philometer, 188.
Ptolemy Philopator, 187,
Pul, 142.
Punic wars, 185 ff.
Pyrrhus, 185.
Pythagoras, 161.
Pythian games, 157.
Rachel, 46, 51.
Rameses I, 63.
Rameses II, 20, 65.
Rameses III, 75, 79, 84 ff.
Ramman-aplu-iddina, 109.
Ramman-nadin-ahhi, 95, 108.
Ramman-nirari I, 60, 94, 108.
Ramman-nirari II, 113, 126 ff.
Ramman-nirari 111, 135.
Rammam-shum-iddina, 99.
Ramman-shum-utsur, 99.
Records of the Past, 32 and often.
Regillus, Lake, battle of, 165.
Rehoboam, 122 ff.
Rezin, 145.
Roman sources, 7.
Rome burnt by Gauls, 173.
Rome founded, 145.
Ruth, 107.
Sadducees, 190.
Salamis, 167.
Samaria founded, 131.
Samaria overthrown, 147.
Samaritans in Egypt, 184.
Samaritan schism, 172.
Samson, 99, 101.
Samuel, 106 ff., no, 114 ff.
Sanballat, 170.
Sarah : her death, 41.
Sargon, 147.
Saul, 112 ff.
Schrader, 32.
Scythian invasion, 155.
Second Samuel, order of events, 80.
Seder olam, 7.
Seleucid era, 179, 183.
Seleucus Kallinicus, 186.
Seleucus Keraunos, 186.
Seleucus Nicator, 183.
Seleucus Philopator, 188.
Sennacherib, 24, 94, 147.
Sennacherib and gods of Babylon,
108.
Septuagint, 184.
Seti I/63.
Shabaka of Egypt, 21, 139, 147.
Shagashalti-buriash, 89, 108.
Shagashalti-shuriash, 97.
Shalmanezer I, 91, 94, 108.
Shalmanezer II, 131 ff.
Shalmanezer III, 136.
Shalmanezer IV, 147.
Shallum, 143.
Shamash-mudammiq, 127.

Shamash-ramman, 133.
Shamash-shum-ukin, 151.
Shamgar, 93.
Shammai, 194.
Sheba, son of Bichri, 80, 120,
Sheba, Queen of, 121.
Shechem, convocation, 85.
Shemaiah, 127.
Shepherd kings, 37.
Sheshonk I (Shishak), 21 ff., 121 ff„
127.
Sheshonk III, 137, 139.
Sheshonk IV, 139.
Shiloh, 74 ff., 107.
Sicilian wars, 171.
Sihon, 72.
Simon the Just, 172, 182.
Simon II, highpriest, 187.
Simon Maccabaeus, 190.
Smith, George, 32.
Socrates, 171.
Solomon, 80 ff., 119 ff.
Solon at Athens, 157.
Sophocles, 167.
Sothic cycle, 19.
Stephen concerning Moses, 66.
Successive judges, 96.
Sulla, 191.
Synagogue, the great, 182.
Syncellus, 8.
Tables of dates, 35 ff., 77 ff.,125 ff.,
177 ff.
Tables, explanations of, 28.
Tabulation the true method, 15.
Takelot I, 129.
Takelot II, 133.
Tarquin of Rome, 163.
Taskwork, mas.. 86.
Temple built, 119.
Temple, David's preparations, 80 ff.
Temple, Herod's, 195.
Temple, Zerubbabel's, 161.
Tent of meeting, 71,85.
Terence, 189.
Territory, distribution of, 72 ff., 85.
Thebes, sack of, 151.
Themistocles, 165.
Theocritus, 185.
Thermopylae, 167.
Thespis and tragedy, 161.
Thucydides, 169.
Thutmose III, 20 ff., 51.
Thutmose IV, 55.
Tiberius, 195.
Tibni, 129.
Tiglath-pilezer I, 107 ff.
Tiglath-pilezer III, 142 ff.
Tirhakah, 21, 149.
Tola, 97.
Tribute, mas., 86.
Tukulti-ninip I, 25, 93, 108.
Tukulti-ninip II, 129.
Twenty years of waiting, 109 ff.
Tyre, siege of, 157.
UMMANIGAS of Elam, 147.
Uriah the Hittite, 80 ff., 116 ff.
Uriah the prophet, 157.
Ussher chronology, 16, 30 ff., 137ft.
Uzziah, 138, 141 ff.
Uzzi-u-mash, 108.

202

TOPICAL INDEX

Vashti, 165.
Vergil, 194.
" Wandering '
Ti-

in the wilderness,

Xenophon, 173.
Xerxes. See Ahasuerus.

YEAR : the ancient, 11 ; different
kinds of, 13 ; Egyptian, 19 ff.;
Jewish, n ; in Old Testament,
n; Olympian, 179; Roman,
179; Seleucid, 179, 183 ; Ver
nal, 11, 12.
Yukin-zer, 147.

Zama-shum-iddina, 103.
Zechariah, son of Iddo, 163.
Zechariah, son of Jehoiada, 137.
Zechariah, son of Jeroboam II, 143,
Zedekiah, 157.
Zephaniah, 153.
Zerah, 129.
Zimri, 129.