Academic Articles Bible Dates and Archaeology: Ahab: Jehoshaphat: Battle Of Qarqar: Kurkh Stela: Mesha's Stele.
The Life and Death of King Ahab of Israel
King's Calendar Academic Newsletter - Archaeology and the Bible
No.16 Friday 21st May
King Ahab of Israel: Life and Death.
Last week we looked at Biblical contradictions in relation to Ahab's sons Ahaziah and Jehoram. These synchronous contradictions commenced during Ahab's final years. Today I want to expand on previous mentions of Ahab, and shed some insight into the problems that his life and reign cause secular reconstruction of Ancient Near Eastern History. Before I do that however, I would draw your attention to one 'TRUE Biblical Contradiction'.
Rehoboam of Judah (Son of Solomon) and Jeroboam of Israel (who took control of the 10 tribes upon Solomon's death), commenced in the same year, and as mentioned last week, Ahaziah of Judah and Jehoram of Israel, died in the same year (both being slain by Jehu)
*Side Note:*
Most academics kill off Ahaziah of Judah and Jehoram of Israel around 842/841 BCE. If you count back 95 or 98 years from there, you have Solomon dying around 940 - 936 BCE. This would be considered a 'little early', but would pass as a general reference to Solomon's death. Continuing back the other 80 years of David and Solomon's reigns however would put David on the throne around 1020BCE. This would not be acceptable to Academics. Interestingly enough when you calculate the chronologies from the deaths of Ahaziah and Jehoram in 842/841 BCE to the Fall of Samaria in 722 BCE, (9th year of Hoshea and 6th year of Hezekiah) a period of only 120 years elapse whereas the Bible records 165 years for the Southern Kingdom of Judah and 143 years for Israel. There is not only a 22 year discrepancy in the Biblical figures [that only the 'King's Calendar' can resolve], but an extra excess 23 years to be accounted for.
If you calculate the chronological details provided for the lengths of the reigns of the various kings in both kingsdoms, you find that the time lapse between the stated parameters for the southern Kingdom of Judah (95 years), is different to that recorded for the Northern Kingdom (98 years). The Chart in Appendix 5 makes it obvious why.
End of Days Sale: The king's Calendar: The Secret of Qumran, which has been available to academics at an academic price for 6 years now, has run its course. Before the Merchant Banking contract expires in November 2010, this book is being made available [From August 20th] to 'lay readers' at the all time low price of US$10. This offer only lasts until November 2010. 'PURCHASE NOW'.
AHAB & The Battle of QarQar
Biblical chronology is so unreliable in the eyes of secular and religious academics that were it not for the lack of other records, they would not rely on the Bible at all. From Solomon's death until 842/841 BCE, there are only Three 'Other' references to events in Israel. These are:
1. Pharaoh 'Shishak's' invasion shortly after Solomon's death; (not applicable to this discussion)
2. The battle of Qarqar in 853 BCE in Which one of two 'almost identical' archaeological records lists King Ahab as a member of the coalition against the Assyrians;
3. and thirdly, the Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser identifies Jehu as the King of Israel who paid tribute to him in 841 BCE.
From points 2 & 3 above, you can see how logical it is that if Jehu paid tribute to Shalmaneser just 12 years after the Battle of Qarqar, that Ahab must have died immediately after the battle, and the balance of FOURTEEN (14) Solar years that must pass in the kingdoms of Judah and Israel until the deaths of Ahaziah and Jehoram, take place within these TWELVE (12) years. {If you can't fit these 14 Solar years into the 12 years available, you can always count back from 841 BCE and have Ahab die in 856-855 BCE prior to the Battle of Qarqar, but that defeats the purpose, for as "EVERYONE KNOWS", Ahab was at the Battle of Qarqar in 853 BCE because the 'Kurkh Stela' names him specifically, even though his name is the only thing missing from the identical record on 'Throne Base Inscription'.}
In 'The King's Calendar' Chapter Seven: The Battle of Qarqar: 853 BCE - a long, detailed and polemical 'LEGAL' argument is undertaken to repudiate current Academic claims. The Issue of Ahab's death is the only issue for which the 'King's Calendar' has no substantive support and so must argue 'legal principles' involved in 'evidentiary testimony'.
Whilst the 'Kurkh Stela' and 'the Throne Base Inscription' are "Direct Evidence" of the Battle of Qarqar, Academics acknowledge that they are Full of Lies (propaganda), and even then they failed to get their stories straight about Ahab's presence at the Battle.
They are not "Credible Witnesses". The content of the Bible on the other hand, whilst legally constituting Direct Documentary Evidence, has provided no record of the battle, and so cannot provide 'direct evidence of Ahab's participation or otherwise'. It can however, offer "Circumstantial Evidence" against it.
Since Academics put Ahab's death in 853/852 BCE, and Biblical Direct Evidence equates this with Ahab's 22nd year and Jehoshaphat's 19th year, there are 16 Biblical years in Judah and 14 Biblical Years in Israel, until Jehu takes power. The 'Biblical Direct documentary Evidence' provides circumstantial evidence that 853 BCE is not the year in which Ahab died. Of course in a court of law it would be argued that the Bible contradicts itself at this point and is therefore unreliable as a witness. The Court, declaring it to be an unreliable witness would 'require' that no future Biblical evidence be presented by archaeologists and historians in support of their claims. Take the Bible away from them and they quite often have Nothing to work with to substantiate their claims.
Of course, if the court accepted the overwhelming testimony of the 'King's Calendar', then the witness of the Biblical Narrative would be accepted as sufficient repudiation of the witness of the Kurkh Stele of Shalmaneser.
In the few years preceeding his Death, Ahab had proven himself superior to BenHadad of Syria, yet according to the Kurkh Stela, Benhadad was the leader of the coalition. The Biblical Evidence would indicate otherwise. The Bottom line is: Ahab was not at the Battle of Qarqar in 853 BCE. He had been dead for a decade. If anyone, it was Jehoram his son who joined the coalition in this Battle.
'King's Calendar' Chapter Six Review No. 1:
There is only one piece of 'direct evidence' connecting Ahab with the Battle of Qarqar.
Despite there being a second record of the battle, there is no corroboration of Ahab's participation in the battle.
The documentary direct evidence can be shown to be unreliable
Direct evidence is accepted to be susceptible of fabrication
There is no 'independent' testimony to 'corroborate' the claim of the Kurkh Stele in regard to its identification of Ahab.
There is no circumstantial evidence to indicate Ahab was a participant in the Battle
There is circumstantial evidence to indicate that details contained in the direct evidence are 'actively or passively' erroneous; i.e. they result from error or fabrication.
Ahab was not a leader of the coalition
The Last Years of Ahab
The 'King's Calendar' reconstruction of the events leading up to Ahab's death, relies upon the record of the Biblical Narrative, and the assumption that First Kings Chapter twenty-two is the chronological continuation of Chapter Twenty [ The Encyclopaedia Judaica:'Ahab' Vol 2, p.438 ]. That is to say, that the Three years of peace spoken of in 1 Kings 22:1, is the result of the pact with Ben-Hadad of Syria, in 1 Kings 20:34
The 'King's Calendar' requires that Ahab died between May 863 BCE and April 862 BCE., and given that Spring is the usual time for battles, we will assume that Ahab died in the Spring, i.e. between March/April and June/July of 863 BCE. We will also assume that the event at Ramoth Gilead, was organised between Ahab and Jehoshaphat sometime during or prior to winter (to provide sufficient time to organise the event), even up to a year in advance.
EVENTS LISTED IN REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER:
a) Ahab slain in Battle at Ramoth Gilead 863 BCE.
Ahab's twenty-second year commences in May 863 BCE. Since battles usually take place in the spring, he probably died within a few months of this date. 2 Chronicles 18 provides details of the pact between Jehoshaphat of Judah and Ahab of Israel to retake Ramoth-Gilead. During the battle, Ahab, although disguised, was struck by an arrow, and died later that day.
b) Ahab and Jehoshaphat meet (1 Kings 22:2) during 864 BCE.
It is unlikely that the decision for Ahab and Jehoshaphat to march together to retake Ramoth Gilead, was made too hastily.
1 Kings 22:2 says that these plans were concocted during the third year of peace with Syria. We might legitimately conclude that the plans that they made were intended to be effected during the fourth spring. Therefore we conclude that the battle took place in the fourth year, and that 864 BCE is the third year of peace.
c) The Three Year Peace with Syria. 1 Kings 22:1
It is difficult to determine the extent of a three year peace.
If the spring of the year following Ben-Hadad's defeat is considered the first year of peace, then the three years of peace (1 Kings 22:1) can be counted as those from and including the Spring of 866 BCE to 864 BCE. (Since the 3rd year is 864 BCE, the second will be 865 BCE, and the first will be 866 BCE)
d) Ben-Hadad's defeat at Aphek in the Spring of 867 BCE. (1 Kings 20:26)
Ben-Hadad was defeated by Ahab at Aphek, the result of which was a three year peace. Depending upon whether the three years commences as of the following spring, or whether it includes the 'spring' in which the battle occurred, this battle will have been fought in either Spring of 867 BCE or perhaps 866 BCE.
For our purposes here, we will conclude that the battle occurred in 867 BCE.
e) Ben-Hadad's siege of and defeat in Samaria in 868 BCE (1 Kings 20:20)
If we assume that the events of 1 King's 20:1 (Ben-Hadad's siege of Samaria) and 1 Kings 20:26 (Battle at Aphek) are consecutive annual events, then it can be assumed that the siege of Samaria in 1 Kings 20:1 occurs in 868 BCE.
A reconstruction of events then for this period of time would be:
Next week this general topic of disagreement with Academic theory will be continued through discussion of two separate issues:
1. Syria during the reign of Ahab
2. The Moabite Stone (Rejected by Academics - it doesn't support the Kurkh Stela).
Dates for Nabopolassar & Nebuchadrezzar Kings of Babylon - and - Josiah and Jehoiakim Kings of Judah as per (Wiseman.D.J. (1961) Chronicles of the Chaldaean Kings (626-556 BC) in the British Museum. Trustees of the British Museum. London) Using Babylonian Chronicles B.M. 22047 (p.65) and BM 21946 (p.67) But with a one (1) year adjustment for the Reigns of Nabopolassar and Nebuchadrezzar.
607 bce - Sep - Nabopolassar engaged at Bit-Hanunia / Urartu - 18th year - B.M. 22047 Line 1-4
607 bce - Dec - Josiah's 31st year commences
607 bce - Dec/Jan - Nabopolassar returns to Babylon - B.M. 22047 Line 1-4
606 bce - May/Jun - Campaigning to the north - 19th year - B.M. 22047 Lines 5-7
606 bce - Jun/Jul - Nabopolassar returns to Babylon - B.M. 22047 Line 8
606 bce - Jul/Aug - Necho heads North for Carchemish
606 bce - Aug/Sep - Nebuchadrezzar returns to Babylon - B.M. 22047 Line 12
606 bce - Aug/Sep - Josiah of Judah slain
606 bce - Aug/Sep - Jehoahaz becomes king of Judah
606 bce - Sep/Oct - Nabopolassar Heads to Kimuhu - B.M. 22047 Line 12
606 bce - Nov - Nabopolassar captures Kimuhu - B.M. 22047 Line 14
606 bce - Nov - Jehoahaz deposed by Pharaoh Necho - taken to Riblah
606 bce - Nov - Jehoiakim commences - 1st Artificial year commences.
R.P.BenDedek is from Brisbane Australia and is the author of 'The King's Calendar: The Secret of Qumran' at http://www.kingscalendar.com His academic articles set forth Apologetics for and results of his discovery of an "artificial chronological scheme" running through the Bible, Josephus, the Damascus Documents of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and Seder Olam Rabbah.
He writes photographic 'Stories from China' and social editorial commentaries, both at KingsCalendar, and as a contributing newspaper columnist. He currently teaches Conversational English in China and in addition to his English Lessons at KingsCalendar, he has created specific sites for Students of English.
