A dissertation on the true age of the world : $b in which is determined the chronology of the period from creation to the Christian eraWallace, R. (Robert)
Religion
A dissertation on the true age of the world : $b in which is determined the chronology of the period from creation to the Christian era
Wallace, R. (Robert)
Bible; Chronology; Chronology, Historical
Having thus shown that Josephus originally held the true chronology of
this period, we may select some other instances of the manner in which
it has been misstated either by himself or others in the present text of
his works, the error being in general a period of about 20 years, either
above or below the truth. In the Antiquities vii. 3, 2, he says “But all
the time from Joshua being commander of the expedition against the
Canaanites, until David expelled them from Jerusalem, was 515
years.”[94] Now adding to this number the 40 years in the Wilderness,
the 33 years which David reigned in Jerusalem (2 Sam. v. 5, 6, 7), and
the 3 years of Solomon, we have 591 years as before, a period which is
deficient by about 20 years. Again, in viii. 3, 1, he says, “But Solomon
began the building of the Temple in the 4th year of his reign, 592 years
after the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt;” but according to
_Tostatus_, cited by Hudson, the number found in some copies was 612
years.[95] Next, in ix. 14, 1, he says, “Therefore the Ten Tribes of
Israel migrated from Judea 947 years after the time when their
forefathers, having left Egypt, possessed the land; but after the time
when, having rebelled against Rehoboam, the grandson of David, they
transferred the kingdom to Jeroboam, 240 years, 7 months, 7 days;”[96]
now, if we reckon the captivity of the Ten Tribes from the Foundation of
the Temple, by allowing, according to Josephus, viii. 7, 8, for the
reign of Solomon 80 years, taking off 3 years, and adding the remaining
77 years to the latter interval above mentioned, neglecting the months
and days, we have 317 years for the amount; and if we subtract this
amount from the former interval, we have 630 years for the remainder,
which is evidently the period here reckoned between the Exodus and the
Foundation of the Temple, and it errs in excess by 18 years. Lastly, in
x. 8, 5, he says, “But the temple was burned 470 years, 6 months, and 10
days after it was founded; and 1062 years, 6 months, and 10 days after
the Exodus of the people from Egypt;[97] hence it follows, that the
period from the Exodus to the Foundation of the Temple is here reckoned
592 years, which is deficient as above by 20 years. The object of the
author, or of his corrupters, appears to have been to make the
chronology square as much as possible with the extended reign of
Solomon, and to throw back upon this period a moiety of the surplus
years which he has thought fit to add to the length of this reign; but
we shall see more evidence on this point in the next section.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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