The King's Calendar' is a synchronous chronological presentation of the history of Ancient Israel, as principally recorded in the Biblical books of Kings and Chronicles, and sets forth Apologetics for and the results of R.P.BenDedek's discovery of an "artificial chronological scheme" running through the Books of the Bible, Josephus,the Damascus Documents of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and Seder Olam Rabbah.
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Short Discussion on Josephus' Chronological Errors
In this article we are going to briefly look at one correct and unique chronological reference, in order that we might understand some other erroneous chronological references to the Building of Solomon's Temple.
Note Every reference to a date or Line Number, can be verified by comparing the charts with Appendix 5 (Divided Kingdom synchronism) and Appendix 13 (All the Scriptural References for those synchronisms).
1. 1468.5 years from the founding of Jerusalem to 586 BCE
From King's Calendar Chapter 20 - Part 1 - Example (iv) - From the Founding of Jerusalem to its destruction in 586 BCE 1468 .5 years elapse - The Jewish War Book Six Chapter X.I. (437) Cornfeld, 1982, pp.451/452
The study of this chronological reference determined that it is a genuine (although uncorroborated) extra-biblical chronological reference indicating that Jerusalem was founded 995 years prior to the reign of King David.
The 995 year figure (Foundation of Jerusalem to David) was calculated by splitting 1468.5 years into two components, and deducting a variety of erroneous dates provided by Josephus for the Monarchal Period.
To Verify these results see the 1800 line calendar in Appendix 12 which is available until March 2006.
The 1468.5 years was demonstrated to be correct, but had to be reduced by the 13.5 years of overlapping reigns
The resultant date is found on Line 1454 at appendix 12 as the year 1928 BCE
This is 995 years prior to the Reign of David.
With this in mind, we will now look at some other chronological figures quoted by Josephus, that are derived from either the 995 or 1468 years.
2. Antiquities Book 8 Chapter 3:1 Five (5) Chronological References
Antiquities 8:3:1. SOLOMON began to build the temple in the fourth year of his reign, on the second month, which the Macedonians call Artemisius, and the Hebrews Jur, five hundred and ninety-two years after the Exodus out of Egypt; but one thousand and twenty years from Abraham's coming out of Mesopotamia into Canaan, and after the deluge one thousand four hundred and forty years; and from Adam, the first man who was created, until Solomon built the temple, there had passed in all three thousand one hundred and two years. Now that year on which the temple began to be built was already the eleventh year of the reign of Hiram; but from the building of Tyre to the building of the temple, there had passed two hundred and forty years.
a). After the Exodus out of Egypt: 592 years
The first thing we note is that Josephus is not talking about the Mosaic Exodus
According to 1 King 6:1, the Mosaic Exodus occurred 480 years earlier than Solomon's 4th year.
When you check the Date for the Hyksos Exodus [From the Departure from Egypt to Fall of Jerusalem in 586 BCE] 1062.5 years [less 13.5 overlapping years] elapse.
The Hyksos Exodus is on Line 1048 for the year 1554 BCE [right in the middle of where every academic puts it]
It is the 589th year from King David's 1st year.
If you Add his 1st, 2nd and 3rd years to that figure, you arrive at 592 years as being the time between the Hyksos Exodus and the End of David's 3rd year.
One Again: Josephus confuses David's Reign with Solomon's
b)After Abraham came from Mesopotamia 1020 years
As per Point 1. - and Refer to Appendix 12 Chart Solomon's 1st year is 973 BCE found on Line 419. Add 1020 years and you arrive at Abraham's Birth on Line 1439 at 1915 BCE.
This reference is not to Abraham leaving Haran but to his birth.
Once Again Josephus confuses the 1st year, 4th year, 7th Year, and 11th year, in relation to David and Solomon.
c).After Noah's Flood 1440 years
Theoretically, this figure should be comprised of the 1020 reference as above, the 75 years back to Abraham's birth + the 292 years that transpire between the flood and his birth
These figures amount to slightly less than 1400 years, depending on when you have Abraham leaving Mesopotamia.
Therefore this 1440 figure was calculated in some other way.
Interestingly enough, if you subtract these 1440 years from the reference to the 3102 years between Adam and Solomon's 4th year, you get exactly the same figure that the Seder Olam Rabbah provides for the Period from Adam to the Flood (1662), which is 6 years excessive of the Biblical Chronological Details (1656)
d). 3102 years from Adam to Solomon's 4th year
Giving the Result first rather than the process, the following is how Josephus calculated the Figure.
1. Adam - Flood 1662 (not 1656)
2. Flood to Abraham 292
3. Abraham to Covenant 75
4. Covenant to Exodus 430
5. Exodus to Solomon's 4th year 480
6. Solomon's 1st year to Death of Ahab = 163 years [Antiquities Introduction to Book Eight: 163 years from the Death of David to the Death of Ahab.]
=3102 years
As already noted Josephus often failed to see the carelessness of his figures. In this particular case, he was working from a third party reference that indicated that between Adam and the Fall of the house of Omri at the death of Jehoram, 3102 artificial years expired.
3102 years less 1656 years Adam to Flood takes us to Line 1731 on the King's Calendar or 2184 BCE [appendix 17],
The balance is 1446 years from the Flood to Solomon's 4th year.
The flood is on Line 1731 [2184 BCE]
Deduct 1446 years from Line 1731 and you arrive at Line 285 or 849 BCE at the death of Jehoram Appendix 5 synchronisms confirm this date(left side tool bar)
Josephus applied the 3102 years to Solomon's 4th year and the building of the Temple, instead of applying it to the end of the house of Omri.
If you follow the Biblical Chronological Details, the years elapsing between Adam and Solomon's 4th year should be:
1656 years from Adam to Flood
292 years from Flood to Abraham
75 years from Abraham to the covenant
430 years of Covenant to Exodus
480 years Exodus to Solomon's 4th year
= 2933 years
Leaving as a balance the same infamous 169 years that are a puzzle in the Seder Olam Rabbah.
However The King's Calendar demonstrates that the 480 [artificial] years from Exodus to Solomon's 4th year [1 Kings 6:1], actually applies from Entrance to Canaan, and so another 40 artificial years must be provided. These 520 artificial years, are in fact 480 solar years, which demonstrates that 1 Kings 6:1 originally extended from Exodus to Solomon's 1st year. Refer to Seder Olam Rabbah Short Topical Excerpts
Topic 13: Apportioning the 63 years left for Samuel & Saul
Topic 14: Seder Olam Rabbah : How many days in a Biblical year?
The King's Calendar reconstruction is
1656 years Adam to the Flood
291 years (1 overlap) Flood to Abraham's birth
75 years Abraham's birth to the time of the covenant
429 years of the covenant (1 overlap) to the Exodus
516 years to Solomon's 4th year (480 entrance to Solomon's 4th year + 40 years in the wilderness + 4 years of Solomon's reign)
= 2977 years
2977 plus 40 Solomon, 17 Rehoboam, 3 Abijah, 41 Asa, 25 Jehoshaphat, 8 Jehoram of Judah, 1 Ahaziah of Judah who was slain by Jehu at the same time as Jehoram of Israel, son of Ahab
= 3102 years.
Once Again Josephus was careless.
e). Hyram of Tyre commenced 11 years earlier than Solomon's 4th year
Josephus frequently provided figures with parameters indicating a particular person or event, but which upon deconstruction, were discovered to have been calculated from another person or event. Therefore, to calculate the 11 years that Hyram had been king, all possibilities must be considered. Feel free to pick any one of the following
From David's First year Line 459 / 1010 BCE = Line 470 / 1020 BCE (2 Samuel 5:11)
From David's 7th year Line 453 / 1004 BCE = Line 464 / 1015 BCE (2 Samuel 5:11)
From Solomon's First year Line 419 / 973 BCE = Line 430 / 983 BCE
From Solomon's Fourth year Line 416 / 970 BCE = Line 427 / 980 BCE
From Solomon's 11th year Line 409 / 964 BCE = Line 420 / 974 BCE
If it is the same Hiram who knew David then one of the first two options seems more logical.
f). Tyre built 240 years earlier than Solomon's 4th year
Based on the above dates in order of appearance, Tyre will have been built in
Line 459 + 240 = Line 699 = 1231 BCE
Line 453 + 240 = Line 693 = 1226 BCE
Line 419 + 240 = Line 659 = 1195 BCE
Line 416 + 240 = Line 656 = 1192 BCE
Line 409 + 240 = Line 649 = 1185 BCE
I hope you enjoyed this little excursion.
To see how effective the King's Calendar method of synchronising the Biblical data is, SEE : Appendix 5: Diagrammatic Reconstruction of Israelite History from 936 to 586 BCE
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.
