Topical Study tool for Students: Bible Dates: Bible Calendar: Hezekiah: Jotham: Ahaz: Manasseh:Israel: Judah.
The King's Calendar' is a computer generated mathematical 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.
Who was Hezekiah's Father?
Jotham or Ahaz?
Just about everything to do with King Hezekiah of Judah is interesting and perplexing, because Bible chronology for that period of time (745BCE to 701 BCE) is, to put it into the vernacular, 'completely screwed up'. Every man and his dog has tried to figure out the chronology of events for this period of time, and everyone comes up with different results. At the end of this article there are some articles listed that will help put some of these issues into perspective.
Important Notice:
The King's Calendar operates on two fundamental premises.
1. The chronological records contained in the Bible are Artificial.
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'.
Who was Hezekiah's Father?
According to 2 Kings 15:33 Jotham was 25 years of age when he commenced to reign and reigned 16 years. A total age of 41 years.
2 Kings 16:2 states that Ahaz was 20 years old when he commenced to reign, and reigned 16 years, a total of 36 years,
According to 2 Kings 18:2, Hezekiah was 25 years old when he commenced to reign, reigning 29 years to the age of 54 years.
Since Hezekiah's first year commences in 714 BCE, [justified in the abovementioned articles], backdating the personal data from 714 BCE, reveals an interesting situation.
By the standard of the 'King's Calendar',
Hezekiah was born in 737/36 BCE
During Jotham's 7th/8th regnal year,
At which time, Ahaz was only Eleven/twelve years of age,
And Jotham was thirty/thirty-one years of age.
Therefore, Ahaz was not Hezekiah's father
1. Ahaz was either Jotham's son or brother.
2. For the Isaianic prophecy (Isaiah 7:10-16) to relate to Judean oppression at the hands of Rezin and Pekah, the prophecy was given to Jotham, not Ahaz,
3. The Prophecy must be dated prior to 737 BCE. for it to relate to Hezekiah's birth
Note that this is before the current date set for The Syro-Ephraimitic War. See Nebuchadrezzar (Nebuchadnezzar) : King Hezekiah Of Judah : The Syro-Ephraimitic War.
Also Note That at the time Hezekiah was born Jotham was 32 years of age, but only if the reference to his age is calculated from his sole and independent reign
Many would argue that he was 25 when he commenced his co-regency
Isaiah 7:10-16 The Prophecy
Verse 1 - And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Aram, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to war against it; but could not prevail against it.Biblically and historically incorrect
Verse 10 - And the LORD spoke again unto Ahaz, saying
Verse 14 - Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: behold, the young woman shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel
The Redactorial Error
The contention of the King's Calendar is that the redactors confused the Hebrew names of Jotham (Jehoahaz ie. JHHZ), Ahaz (Ahaziah ie. HZH) and Hezekiah (ie. HZKH).
Whilst only speculation, the significance of the prophecy announcing Hezekiah's birth, may be tied up with 2 Chronicles 28:7, in which it is specifically stated that Pekah of Israel killed Ahaz' (read Jotham's) son Maaseiah. If Ahaz was Jotham's brother, and Jotham's son had been killed, then he had no heir other than Ahaz. So the prophecy was reassurance that an heir would be provided.
Isaiah's prophecy concerning the 'child born of a young woman of marriageable age, was given very shortly after Pekah and Rezin teamed up. Verse one appears to be a summary introducing the story. Verse two links Isaiah's prophecy to the initial discovery of the conspiracy; "When the house of David was told, 'Syria is in league with Ephraim'.
Verse fourteen provides the promise of a child, 'A young woman shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel', and verse sixteen indicates the time span before the downfall of the two kings, 'For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted'.
Certainly by 732 BCE when Hezekiah was five years old, Damascus was in ruins, and by the age of sixteen years, so too was Samaria (722 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.
