Topical Study tool for Students: King David, King Solomon
Seder Olam Rabbah: Topic 15:
Chronologies of Samuel,Saul, David & Solomon
This article has been designed for students as a quick study tool, and is a Topic Excerpt from the full length article: Seder Olam Rabbah (No.7): Reviewing Chronological Totals from Adam to Solomon
This article completes the chronological study of Seder Olam Rabbah from the Time of Adam to the time of Solomon. There is nothing by way of discussion, since that took place in the previous 3 articles related to the data pertinent to Samuel.
Topic 13: Apportioning the 63 years left for Samuel & Saul
Topic 14: Seder Olam Rabbah : How many days in a Biblical year?
King's Calendar Chronological Determinations
in relation to Samuel, Saul, David & Solomon
Introduction
The Seder Olam Rabbah gives to both David and Solomon their 40 Biblically alloted years. The chronologies provided here for Samuel and Saul, derive from previous articles, and the computer generated mathematical synchronisms of the Biblical Chronological Data.
The Particular Significance of this Article is that in setting forth the chronologies for these four Biblical Characters, chronological references found in both the Bible and in Josephus are alluded to, in relation to time spans between various events.
A Comment on Seder Olam Rabbah in relation to Samuel
The variety of chronological statements made by Seder Olam Rabbah about Samuel, ultimately stem from its' need to reduce the excessive totals in the Book of Judges for the Period of the Judges. Lead astray by errors and lack of data in the Scriptures, Seder Olam Rabbah concluded that Samuel judged Israel for a total of 10 or 11 years.
Samuel
According to Josephus, Samuel reigned 12 years independently, and shared 18 further years with Saul.
The King's Calendar demonstrates that
Samuel's 1st year artificially commences June 1068 BCE [Line 522]
It is the 374th year of Entrance into Canaan
Samuel's 32nd and last year commenced in January 1039 BCE [Line 491]
This year is the 405th year of Entrance into Canaan
During his last year, Samuel made Saul Prince of Israel and can be measured as Year 1 of a 32 artificial year reign for Saul
Samuel appears to have been around 70 artificial or 66 Solar Years of age when he died.
Saul
According to Seder Olam Rabbah, Saul reigned 1 or 2 years with Samuel. Josephus records that he reigned 18 years together with Samuel, and 2 years independently.The King's Calendar records:
Saul was made Prince during Samuel's last year 1039 BCE [Line 491]
That year commenced 2 artificial years, Line 491 and Line 490
It marked the 405th and 406th artificial years of Entrance into Canaan
Saul's true first Artificial year counted as his 2nd commenced in December of 1039 BCE Line 490
On a Tishri measuring system, Saul probably did not succeed to the throne until Mid 1038 BCE commencing his first of 28 solar years in September of 1038 BCE
November 1038 BCE Line 489 marks the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd artificial year (depending on how you want to measure them) and is the 407th year of Entrance into Canaan
Saul Died between September 1011 BCE and August 1010 BCE in the 460th Year of Entrance into Canaan.
He reigned 28 Solar years, and his reign was counted as 32 artificial years
Saul was about 63 artificial or 58 solar years of age when he died.
Chronological Chart Samuel/Saul
David
The added details apply to the chronological references of Josephus – See footnotes
David [Line 459] commenced in the 437th year of entry into Canaan
He commenced in 1010 BCE
Which was the 981st year [995 – 13.5 overlapping years] from Aristobolus (104 BCE included)
It was the 40th year measuring 515 years from David's Last year to the Exodus
It was the 1st of 525 years [less 13.5 overlapping year] to elapse between David and Cyrus
His last year [Line 420] was 974 BCE
David was around 73 artificial or 67 solar years of age
It was the 476 th year of Entrance into Canaan
The 14th [Less 13.5 overlapping year] of 525 years Between David's 1st year and Cyrus
It was the 942nd [less overlapping years] of 995 years measured from Aristobolus [104 BCE] to David's 1st year.
It was the 1st of 515 years from the 1st year of the Exodus
1 Kings 6:1 says 480 years from Exodus to Solomon's 4th year
Solomon
Solomon commenced to reign in the middle of 973 BCE [Line 419]
It was the 477th year of Entrance into Canaan.
Solomon's 4th artificial year commenced April 970 BCE [Line 416]
970 BCE was the 480th year of Entrance into Canaan
In 970 BCE he commenced building the Temple
His 11th year commenced at the End of 964 BCE
In this year, the Temple was completed.
Series Conclusion
From Adam to Solomon, the only major chronological difficulty that the Seder Olam Rabbah presented was that in relation to Samuel and Saul. Beyond that, there is nothing especial in the Seder Olam Rabbah from a chronological perspective, with the exception that it does provide data in relation to Joseph and Levi not found elsewhere.
In relation to King's Calendar chronological presentations, readers are invited to review Appendices 12 & 17 [Go to Chapter Precis Page - go to the appendices and click directly onto them]. These appendices contain Actual Calendars containing every individual year between Abraham and Aristobolus [104 BCE] and the associated Line Numbers assist with calculating various time periods.
I hope that this series has been of assistance to you.
The following is the conclusion to King's Calendar Chapter 20 on Josephus:
From this study of Josephus' data, it also seems reasonable to believe that he had access to at least Six (6) original, artificially correct, chronological pieces of datum, that are no longer available to us. These are:
That Jerusalem was founded 995 years prior to David's reign.
That 'an' Exodus (Hyksos expulsion from Egypt) occurred 589 years prior to David's reign.
That 525 years elapsed from the Exile to and including Cyrus' kingship in Babylon.
That 995 years elapsed from the commencement of David's reign to and including that of Aristobulus in 104 BCE.
That 423 years elapsed between Cyrus' accession as King of the Medes, and the death of Judas Maccabeus.
That 908.5 years elapsed between the Israelite entrance into Canaan under Joshua, and the Babylonian Exile.
Relevant Additional Footnote from Topic 12
1 King's 6:1 - The King's Calendar.
The 480 years of 1 King's 6:1 are Artificial years
They were originally recorded as Solar years extending from the Exodus to Solomon's 1st year – From 1449 BCE to 970 BCE
They were transcribed into an artificial Calendar that ought to have shown 480 years from Entry into Canaan to Solomon's 4th year, but the reference first parameter was left as at Exodus whilst the final parameter was changed to Solomon's 4th year.
1 King's 6:1 actually records 480 Artificial years from the Entrance into Canaan to Solomon's 4th year.
Therefore The Time frame for the Period of the Judges plus King Saul = 480 less 4 years for Solomon, and 40 years for David = 436 years.
Footnotes:
Definition: King's Calendar Chronological Research
The Premise: Between the 5th and 3rd centuries BCE (but continuing down to at least 104 BCE), Sectarian redactors transcribed the legitimate 'solar year' chronological records of Israel and Judah, into an artificial form, with listed years as each comprised of 12 months of 4 weeks of 7 days, or 336 days per year, thus creating a 13th artificial year where 12 solar years existed.
When the Synchronous Chronological Data provided in the Books of Kings and Chronicles for the Divided Kingdom Period are measured in years of 336 days, the synchronisms actually align. [Refer to Appendix Five to see how it synchronises the Divided Kingdom Period]
General formula for Biblical Data conversion:
The formula for constructing the artificial calendar was:
'X' times 364 equals 'Y' days
'Y' days divided by 336 equals 'Z' artificial years.
Values are:
'X' = any given number of 'real/solar' years
364 = perceived days in the sectarian calendar
'Y' = number of days calculated
336 = number of days in an artificial year
'Z' = artificial years = 1.083'X' and represents the original number of the converted years plus 8%.
To reverse the process by hand:
'Z' years times 336 equals 'Y' divided by 364 equals the Number of 'X' years converted.
To see how effective this method is, SEE:Appendix 5:Diagrammatic Reconstruction of Israelite History from 936 to 586 BCE:
The Principle of Linear Causality
The King's Calendar is a very simple approach to Biblical Chronology. It substitutes a value of 336 days for every year listed in Scripture. As far as the Divided Kingdom is concerned, when you use this 336 day year value, the synchronisms actually work. To see how effective this method is, SEE:Appendix 5: Diagrammatic Reconstruction of Israelite History from 936 to 586 BCE
Because it is a mathematical system, the King's Calendar must abide by certain mathematical rules, the most important of which, is that if you change any date for any day, month, or year every other day, month, or year is effected and must also change. It's like a 'domino effect'. Chronological references cannot be 'forced' to fit, and nor can they simply be ignored or 'compressed' as is the usual case with historians and archaeologists.
If any King's Calendar chronological determination disagrees with anything in the history books, it must argue the case as to why the history books are wrong, or why the evidence for an assertion is untrustworthy. If the King's Calendar successfully defends its' position, then the history books cannot be treated as definitive, and if the King's Calendar is 'proven' wrong, then every other chronological reference it provides is also wrong.
Because of this, the King's Calendar Chronological Reconstruction of Israel's history is unique, in that its' methodology can be scientifically (mathematically) tested and demonstrated to be either true or false. Its' chronological predictions are able to be 'proved' or 'disproved'.
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.
