Bible Chronology, Dates and Calendars: Kings of Israel and Judah:2 Kings 1:17 says that Jehoram of Israel commenced in the 2nd year of Jehoram of Judah - Jehoshaphat and his son reigned together from Jehoshaphat's 17th year because in that year Ahaziah of Israel commenced to reign. 2 Kings 8:16 says that In 5th year of Jehoram of Israel - Jehoram of Judah commenced to reign. This would have been Jehoram of Judah's ascension year, the 22nd and final year of Jehoshaphat. The King's Calendar demonstrates that Bible years are artificial periods of 336 days. When Bible Chronology is treated in this manner, all the data synchronises, both internally between the Northern and Southern Kingdoms of Israel for the period of the Divided Kingdom, and externally with the Assyrian / Babylonian kings as well.
Converting the King's Calendar Data into Real Solar Years
This File does not appear in the Download Version of "The King's Calendar: The Secret of Qumran".
In Solar Years, How Long Did the Kings of Israel and Judah Reign?
If you are new to this website, then you should not read this file without first discovering what it is that you are reading.
The King's Calendar demonstrates that Biblical Chronological Data is artificial. This is to say that in the Books of Kings and Chronicles in particular, whenever the word 'year' is used, it is an artificial period of 336 days. When Bible Chronology is treated in this manner, all the data synchronises, both internally between the Northern and Southern Kingdoms of Israel for the period of the Divided Kingdom, and externally with the Assyrian / Babylonian kings as well.
In This file, that artificial data, which was presented in Appendix 5, is here, re-transcribed back into the original Solar Format from which the artificial calendar derived. (What is the King's Calendar?)[/quote]
Introduction:
Whereas Appendix 5 presents the Biblical Chronology in the Form of the King's Calendar Artificial Calendar, this File reconverts the Artificial Data presented in the King's Calendar findings, back into a Solar Calendar Perspective.
What is meant by this is that while Appendix 5 lists each and every artificial year to present the King's Calendar determinations for the Reigns of the various Kings of Judah and Israel in the Divided Kingdom, the Calendar presented in this file, only records the data in true Solar years.
This means that While the Bible for instance says that King Rehoboam of Judah reigned 17 years (and this is demonstrated year by year in Appendix Five in artificial years), in this File, the actual number of solar years that transpire over those 17 artificial years, is 15 solar years. As we progress we will see revealed, the original material from which the redactors worked in compiling their artificial chronological history of Ancient Israel.
What is interesting about this file (which is presented as a series of photographs of the calendar), is that whereas currently some Biblical and Extra-Biblical Chronological References are considered to be erroneous, in this file, they are seen to reflect the original and correct Solar year data.
1. The Lunar New Year changes from year to year, and there is not at present any work that presents the exact time of the various 'New Years' covered in this work. The New Year can fall in both March and April. On this calendar, New Year is signified by the word Nisan. Whenever a King's reign has been determined to commence in April of any given year, 'April' is substituted for Nisan.
2. The Biblical record does not provide exact lengths of reigns. It only refers to 'Years'. It is generally assumed here that the redactors did know reasonably well the period of time to elapse between a kings ascension and death, and that the artificial calendar in a general way indicates when a king ascended. However, there is no knowing at exactly what point in his final year, that a King Died and his successor ascended the throne. There must therefore be allowed some latitude for at least that amount of time that transpires between the extreme parameters of possible Nisan Dates (March and April) over a 19 year lunar cycle.
3. The date determined in the artificial calendar to be a king's first year, (unless falling in March/April) is generally accepted to be the commencement point in the accession year, and that the king's first regnal year will not commence until the next Nisan.
RehoboamReigned 15 years : From Nisan 935 BCE to and including Nisan 921 BCE
While 1 Kings 14:21 indicates that Rehoboam reigned 17 years, (as Demonstrated in Appendix 5), here we see it recorded as 15 years. Although ascending the throne in June of 936 BCE, his first regnal year does not commence until Nisan of 935 BCE. He is succeeded by Abijah in the 18th year of Jeroboam, but as indicated on the calendar, both Rehoboam and Jeroboam are in their 15th year.
AbijahReigned 2 years : From Nisan 920 BCE to and including Nisan 919 BCE
Ascending in February 920 BCE First Regnal year in Nisan 920 BCE Second Regnal year in Nisan of 919 BCE. Whilst Appendix 5 demonstrates he reigned the 3 Biblical years, these are artificial years. In reality he had only 2 regnal years.
****Israel****
JeroboamReigned 19 years : From Nisan 935 BCE to and including Nisan 917 BCE
Until his 15th year, his reign coincides with that of Rehoboam of Judah. His 16th True Regnal year corresponds to the First Regnal year of Abijah.
918 BCE - 895 BCE
****Judah****
AsaReigned 39 years : From Nisan of 918 BCE to and including Nisan of 880 BCE
In the appendix 5 artificial calendar chart, Asa ascends in artificial year commencing in December of 919 BCE during Jeroboam's 20th artificial year (1 Kings 15:19) and commences his first artificial regnal year in November of 918 BCE. In this Solar calendar, we see that 919 BCE was Jeroboam's 17th true regnal year. Asa commences his first true regnal year in Nisan of 918 BCE.
In Asa's 2nd year Nedab succeeds Jeroboam during Jeroboam's 19th and final year, only to be replaced himself the next year in Asa's 3rd year, by Baasha (1 Kings 15:25)
****Israel****
JeroboamReigned 19 years : From Nisan 935 BCE to and including Nisan 917 BCE
Until his 15th year, his reign coincides with that of Rehoboam of Judah. He dies during the 2nd year of Asa 917 BCE and is replaced by Nedab.
NedabReigned 1 Regnal Year: From Nisan 916 BCE.
He ascends the throne of Israel sometime during 917 BCE, and before Nisan of 915 is replaced by Baasha. He celebrates his first Regnal year at Nisan of 916 BCE, but does not complete one whole regnal year.
BaashaReigned 21 years : From Nisan 915 BCE to and including Nisan 895 BCE.
895 BCE - 876 BCE
****Judah****
AsaReigned 39 years : From Nisan of 918 BCE to and including Nisan of 880 BCE
During Asa's 26th Artificial year (Appendix Five) 895 BCE, Elah succeeds Baasha only to be killed the following year (Asa's 27th) post-Nisan 894 BCE. Around November of 894 BCE Omri commenced to Reign in Israel, later died, and was succeeded by his son Ahab. Asa, after surviving 5 kings of Israel, dies during Ahab's reign, and is succeeded by his son Jehoshaphat.
JehoshaphatReigned 22 years : From Nisan 879 BCE to and including Nisan 858 BCE
Jehoshaphat commenced his first regnal year during Ahab's 4th year (irrespective of using Artificial or Solar Measurements).
****Israel****
Elah Reigned 1 year : Nisan of 894 BCE Succeeded Baasha, in Asa's 26th artificial year which commenced in December of 895 BCE and was killed during Asa's 27th artificial year which commenced in November 894 BCE.
OmriReigned 11 years : From Nisan 893 BCE to and including Nisan 883 BCE Omri commences in the artificial year commencing November 894 BCE. Reference to Asa's 31st year synchronizing it with a 6 year reign of Omri, appears on this chart to be an original solar year reference. (In the Appendix 5 Chart the 6 solar years don't quite fit the artificial calendar scenario.)
AhabReigned 20 years : From Nisan 882 BCE to and including Nisan of 863 BCE (Died prior to Battle of Qarqar)
876 BCE - 858 BCE
****Judah****
JehoshaphatReigned 22 years : From Nisan 879 BCE to and including Nisan 858 BCE
Jehoshaphat commenced his first regnal year during Ahab's 4th year.
1 kings 22:51 says that Ahab's son Ahaziah commenced to reign in the 17th year of Jehoshaphat but had an accident and died. 2 Kings 3:1 informs us that Ahaziah's brother Jehoram of Israel commenced to reign in Jehoshaphat's 18th year and reigned 12 years.
In Solar year reckoning, Jehoshaphat's 17th year was the year that King Ahab died, and his 18th year was the year that Jehoram became king in Israel. But from the 18th year of Jehoshaphat to Jehu slaying the kings of Israel and Judah, 14 solar years elapse. It is concluded therefore that the redactors whilst getting the chronological synchronisms correct for Ahaziah and Jehoram of Israel, erred in assuming that Ahaziah reigned 2 independent years. That error resulted in Jehoram being assigned only 12 years of reign instead of the full 14 years to transpire until the reign of Jehu.
Jehoram son of JehoshaphatReigned 8 years: From Nisan of 857 BCE to and including Nisan of 850 BCE
****Israel****
Ahab Died in 863 BCE 10 years before the Battle of Qarqar. During his reign Mesha king of Moab was his servant. After Ahab's death, Mesha rebelled. 2 Kings 3:5-9
Ahaziah Could not have been crowned. He ascended the throne during his father's last year, and was replaced by his brother during Jehoshaphat's 18th year. The King's Calendar artificial date for the year commencing in 862 BCE is April, and so Ahaziah is not given a regnal year commencing in Nisan. It is possible however, that Nisan fell in March, so that Ahaziah gets one Regnal year from March 862 BCE and Jehoram reigns 13 solar years.
Jehoram of Israel
Because there are two synchronisations of the reigns of the two Jehoram's, it would appear that Jehoram of Israel should commence his first regnal year in 862 BCE and be synchronised with Jehoshaphat's 18th year.
2 Kings 1:17 says that Jehoram of Israel commenced in the 2nd year of Jehoram of Judah. This would indicate that Jehoshaphat and his son reigned together from Jehoshaphat's 17th year, possibly because in that year, Ahaziah of Israel commenced to reign.
2 Kings 8:16 says that In 5th year of Jehoram of Israel - Jehoram of Judah commenced to reign. This would have been Jehoram of Judah's ascension year, the 22nd and final year of Jehoshaphat.
857 BCE - 843 BCE
****Judah****
Jehoram of JudahReigned 8 years: From Nisan of 857 BCE to and including Nisan of 850 BCE
He commenced his co-regency during Jehoshaphat's 17th year to coincide with the Reign of Ahaziah of Israel who shortly thereafter died. He ascended the throne on the death of Jehoshaphat during the 5th year of Jehoram of Israel. He commenced his reign proper, in Nisan of 857 BCE, and died during his 8th regnal year which commenced in Nisan of 850 BCE.
Ahaziah of JudahReigned one Regnal year commencing Nisan of 849 BCE
During that year both he and Jehoram of Israel were killed by Jehu.
AthaliaReigned 6 years : From Nisan 848 BCE to and including Nisan 843 BCE
****Israel****
JehuReigned 26 years : From Nisan 848 BCE to and including Nisan 823 BCE
842 BCE - 823 BCE
****Judah****
JoashReigned 37 years : From Nisan 842 BCE to and including Nisan 806 BCE
In this Solar year presentation 2 Kings 12:1 is correct when it says that Joash commences to reign in the 7th year of Jehu
It is not correct in Solar years when 2 Kings 13:1 says that in Joash's 23rd year Jehoahaz of Israel commences. The True Solar year would be his 20th or 21st year depending upon whether the reference is to the ascension or regnal year. However it is correct in artificial calendar years.
But 2 Kings 13:10 is correct when it says that in 37th (Solar) year of Joash of Judah, Joash of Israel commences, although the 16 years that he reigns are artificial years. [See also Josephus Antiq. 9:8:6]
****Israel****
JehuReigned 26 years : From Nisan 848 BCE to and including Nisan 823 BCE
822 BCE - 793 BCE
****Judah****
JoashReigned 37 years : From Nisan 842 BCE to and including Nisan 806 BCE
In this Solar year presentation 2 Kings 12:1 is correct when it says that Joash commences to reign in the 7th year of Jehu. 2 Kings 13:1 (Joash's 23rd year Jehoahaz of Israel commences) is only correct in artificial years. The True Solar year would be his 20th or 21st year depending upon whether the reference is to the ascension or regnal year.
However, 2 Kings 13:10 is correct when it says that in 37th year of Joash of Judah, Joash of Israel commences for 16 years [See also Josephus Antiq. 9:8:6]
AmaziahReigned 26 years : From Nisan 805 BCE to and including Nisan 780 BCE
His reign effectively ends in 792 BCE when he flees Judah. This is delineated in Appendix 5, with the apologetics found in Chapter 10 of the King's Calendar. (Note that The Aggadah records that Amaziah did not rule for the last 15 years of his life. [Judaica, 1972, Vol 2. p.799])
****Israel****
Jehoash son of JehoahazReigned 14 years : From Nisan 6 BCE to and including Nisan 793 BCE
2 Kings 13:10 and Josephus Antiquities 9:8:6 state that he came to the throne in Joash's 37th year.
792 BCE - 758 BCE
****Judah****
Amaziah / Uzziah Co-regency
There has always been a lot of speculation about this matter, but the King's Calendar artificial calendar demonstrates that the 52 year reign ascribed to Uzziah, commenced at the same time as Joash of Israel died. 2 Kings 14:8 says that there was war between Joash of Israel and Amaziah of Judah, and that Joash of Israel captured Amaziah 2 Kings 14:13
2 Chronicles 25:28 / 2 Kings 14:19 then tell us that Amaziah fled a conspiracy by going to Lachish where he was Murdered. If the 52 year reign of Uzziah is to be accepted, then the King's Calendar demonstrates that Uzziah and Jeroboam both came to their respective thrones at roughly the same time, ascending their thrones during Amaziah's 13th Regnal year.
Josephus' Antiquities 9:10:3 tells us that Uzziah's 1st year corresponded to the 14th year of Jeroboam. On this Solar chart, you see that Jeroboam's 14th Solar year is the 1st Solar year reign of Uzziah After the death of Amaziah.
*****Re: See Footnote on First line in Left Column (Yellow Background)
As will be seen after the next presentation, this yellow background set of numbers counts out the 52 years of Uzziah's reign in Solar Years. However there is an error somewhere, because it is not an exact fit. When you follow the numbers as shown in this set, it falls out of synchronization at Uzziah's 38th year. If you synchronize the 38th year, then it falls out of synchronization at the 50th and 52nd years.
The next photo will show how these 52 years synchronize with the Ascension of Pekah 2 Kings 15:27. An alternative photo chart will then Synchronize Uzziah's 38th/39th years of reign with the reigns of Zechariah, Shallum, and Menehem. It is an important issue because it demonstrates that the 52 years are artificial. Refer to Appendix 5
****Israel****
JeroboamReigns 37 years : From Nisan 792 BCE to and including Nisan 756 BCE He was succeeded by Zechariah who reigned but a few months.
757 BCE - 741 BCE
****Judah****
Uzziah
This Solar year chart follows on from the one before and places Uzziah's 52nd year at Nisan of 743 BCE and aligns it with the ascension year of Pekah. The artificial calendar (Appendix 5) alignment puts Pekah on the throne as from May 743 BCE, and so he commences his first regnal year in Nisan of 742 BCE. (2 Ki 15:27)
This Solar year Chart also aligns the 50th year of Uzziah, with the 10th year of Menehem, which is the ascension year of Pekahiah. (2 Ki 15:23)
However, you may note that the 38th year of Uzziah, in which Zechariah succeeded Jeroboam, does not align with the final year of Jeroboam. Consequently, the Reigns of Shallum and Menehem are also out of alignment by one year.
Whilst Uzziah's 52 year reign can fit quite well in the Artificial calendar, in the Solar Calendar it does not.
Whilst the Next Chart appears to perfectly fit, it in fact does not.
Note that the 4th column from the left with pink numbers, refers to the governorship of Jotham during Uzziah's illness.
As mentioned in the previous section, Antiquities 9:10:3 equates the 14th year of Jeroboam with the 1st year of Uzziah, but 2 Kings 15:1 aligns it with the 27th year of Jeroboam, which in the Artificial Calendar is amended to read 17th year, and only fits if it includes a 2 year co-regency with Jeroboam's father.
The 50th and 52nd year synchronisms of Uzziah's reign fit a solar calendar, as does the Antiquities reference to Jeroboam's 14th year. References to Zechariah, Shallum and Menehem are out by a year.
The next chart shows what happens when you align the the 38th and 39th years.
757 BCE - 741 BCE ALTERNATIVE CHART
****Judah****
In this Alternative Chart, Uzziah's 38th, 39th, 50th, and 52nd, exactly correspond to the various Biblical synchronisms aligning those years with the reigns of Zechariah, Shallum, Menehem, Pekahiah and Pekah.
It looks like a perfect fit. And in reality that may well be the case.
However Notice that Jotham's 1st Regnal year from Nisan of 742 BCE is identical to Uzziah's 52nd year. This does not fit well within a redactorial concept of presenting consecutive reigns, nor of aligning Jotham's reign with the 2nd year of Pekah. It is admitted however that the 2 Kings 15:32 reference can equally apply to Ascension year and Regnal year, and so the true picture would have both Jotham and Pekah ascending in the 52nd year of Uzziah. I prefer to believe that the reigns were meant to be presented consecutively and therefore the alignments of the 38th and 39th years, are incorrect calculations.
JothamReigned 15 years : From Nisan of 742 BCE to and including Nisan of 728 BCE.
****Israel****
JeroboamReigns 37 years : From Nisan 792 BCE to and including Nisan 756 BCE he was succeeded by Zechariah who reigned but a few months.
ZechariahNone or One Regnal Years. May have commenced at Nisan 755 BCE. Reigned total of 6 months.
ShallumNone or One Regnal Years. May have commenced at Nisan 755 BCE. Ascends in the 39th year of Uzziah and dies same year. Reigned a total of One Month.
MenehemReigned 10 years : From Nisan of 754 BCE to and including Nisan of 745 BCE.
PekahiahReigns 2 years : From Nisan of 744 BCE to and including Nisan of 743 BCE
PekahReigns 12 years : From Nisan of 742 BCE to and including Nisan of 731 BCE.
2 Kings 15:30 SAYS: And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah. This is often considered an erroneous reference meant to refer to Pekah. However in this Chart and in Appendix 5 it can be seen to actually refer to Jotham as dated from his governorship (not co-regency) during Uzziah's illness. Jotham was the king who appealed to Tiglath-Pileser III during the Syro-Ephraimitic War.
743 BCE - 715 BCE
****Judah****
JothamReigned 15 years : From Nisan 742 BCE to and including Nisan 728 BCE
The Chart shows the actual regnal years for Jotham. Jotham is recorded as having been governor (2 Chronicles 26:21), for Uzziah during the latter's illness, and 2 Kings 15:30 refers to the 20th year of Jotham. Academics insist that this is an error and refers to Pekah's 20th year, but the 'King's Calendar' accepts 2 Kings 15:30 as a genuine chronological reference in relation to Jotham. The reference is backdated to the commencement of Jotham's governorship.
Identifying Jotham as King of Judah at this time period however, (734-732 BCE / Syro-Ephraimitic War) conflicts with the current interpretation of historical events, which derives from erroneous identification of Judaean kings in the Biblical Narratives.
It was in the 12th year of Jotham that Hoshea of Samaria came to power. Jotham died during his 15th Regnal year (728 BCE / 3rd Regnal year of Hoshea), and so Ahaz commenced to reign from Nisan 727 BCE.
AhazReigned 13 years : From Nisan of 727 BCE to and including Nisan of 715 BCE.
Ahaz ascended the throne of Judah in the 3rd year of Hoshea. 2 Kings 18:1 incorrectly states that it was Hezekiah who came to power at this time. 2 Kings Chapter 18 having misidentified Hezekiah then synchronises the reigns of Hoshea and Hezekiah, stating that the 4th and 6th years of Hezekiah correspond with the 7th and 9th years of Hoshea. In fact these synchronizations occur between Ahaz and Hoshea. Refer: HEZEKIAH King of Judah
****Israel****
PekahReigned 12 years : From Nisan of 742 BCE to and including Nisan of 731 BCE.
There is not one academic who accepts the Biblical statement that Pekah reigned 20 years (2 Kings 15:25,27) and nor does the King's Calendar either in this Solar Calendar or in the Artificial Calendar in Appendix 5.
If Jotham commenced in the 2nd year of Pekah and reigned 16 years, (2 Chronicles 27:1 / 2 Kings 15:33) then it is natural to calculate that in the 17th year of Pekah (2 Kings 16:1) that Ahaz came to power in Judah. But Pekah did not reign 17 years.
It is always possible that 2 Kings 15:27 which relates that Pekah commenced in the 52nd year of Uzziah and reigned 20 years, actually was meant to refer to Jotham For Example:
"Jotham ascended to the throne of his father during the King's 52nd year. Jotham reigned over Judah a total of 20 years".
HosheaReigned 9 years : From Nisan of 730 BCE to and including Nisan of 722 BCE
We know that the Kingdom of Samaria (Israel) fell in 722 BCE, which was Hoshea's 9th year. (Note that it is possible for 724 BCE to have been his 9th year - Refer Research Proposal Appendix Two). We know that Pekah died or was killed by someone at sometime near to 732 BCE (No specific records exist), and so we have if not a definite date, we at least have an approximate date for the commencement of Hoshea's reign. As shall be seen in the following charts, when the chronological data for the kings of Judah are calculated backwards from Hezekiah's 14th year in 701 BCE, the picture of Hoshea's reign in the chart above, is legitimate.
714 BCE - 687 BCE
****Judah****
HezekiahReigned 28 years : From Nisan 714 BCE to and including Nisan 687 BCE.
The artificial calendar in Appendix 5 shows that Manasseh succeeded Hezekiah around September of 687 BCE.
Note that 701 BCE corresponds to Hezekiah's 14th Regnal year. This is both stated in the Bible and accepted by Academics to be a fact. In Appendix 5 you will note that the months from March to October 701 BCE, correspond to both the 14th Artificial year and 14th Solar Year of Hezekiah.
The primary text reading of the Biblical Narratives in relation to 701 BCE suggest that in that year (his 14th year) Hezekiah was besieged by Sennacherib, and that in the same year he fell seriously ill, was divinely healed, and received a fifteen year extension of life.
The difficulty is that the narrative also alleges that subsequent to his healing he received envoys from Merodach Baladan of Babylon. This fact makes it impossible for his illness and healing to have occurred in 701 BCE, since apart from a few months in 703 BCE, Merodach Baladan was out of Power circa 710 BCE.
Most scholars accept that the biblical narrative is confusing and that it appears to be a composite of two sieges. Bright (1981, p 286) believes that events listed between 2 Kings 18:17 and 19:37 are indicative of a second rebellion subsequent to 701 BCE. The 'King's Calendar' proposes that while the narratives are composites of two events, Sennacherib's siege is the second of the two, with the first being the Ashdod Campaign of 714/713 BCE. (Chapter 11 The King's Calendar : The Secret of Qumran)
Discrepancy between this Solar Chart and Appendix 5.
Whereas previously the 29 artificial years of Hezekiah's reign has been interpreted as 27 Solar years (Appendix 5) in this Solar Chart, Hezekiah's Solar year reign is presented as 28 years.
Hezekiah's 29th Artificial year commences October 688 BCE, and his 27 Regnal Year would commence in Nisan of 688 BCE. In this Solar Chart, Hezekiah's 28th Regnal year commences in Nisan of 687 BCE in strict adherence to what Appendix 5 shows; that Manasseh should ascend in September of 687 BCE and commence his first year in 686 BCE. This was not the way the data was applied in the Artificial Calendar in Appendix 5.
The Difference in the two charts results from two different methods of calculating, and from making probability choices when choosing which synchronisms to follow. For Example:
Hezekiah is said to have had his life extended for 15 years. In Artificial years that extends to the regnal year commencing in Nisan of 688 BCE. But it could just as well have been 15 Solar years until 687 BCE. In Chapter 11, I posit that the extension of life as it pertains to Merodach-Baladan's visit, would have to have been 25 years. From the artificial perspective Hezekiah's extension of life would commence in 710 BCE and in Solar years, 711 BCE.
ManassehReigns 50/51 years : From Nisan 687 BCE or 686 BCE to and including Nisan 636 BCE
This chart commences Manasseh's First Regnal year in Nisan of 686 BCE giving him a 51 year reign. The Artificial Calendar calculates that he should ascend the throne in September of 687 BCE.
As pointed out in the last section however the chart in Appendix 5 commences his first Regnal year in Nisan of 687 BCE even though his ascension appears to be September 4th of 687 BCE, ie 5-6 months later.
The major reason for this is that the aggadah (folklore) says that his captivity occurred in his 22nd year. Within the artificial calendar as presented in Appendix 5, Manasseh's 22nd artificial year would fall between January and December of 667 BCE. His 22nd solar Regnal year, would commence in Nisan of 666 BCE.
Both of these dates align with the capture and release of Necho. Necho's release is significant, in that it corroborates the Biblical assertion that Manasseh, though taken prisoner, was released. One of the objections to the Biblical story was that Manasseh's release is unusual.
Hezekiah's Healing, and Manasseh's 22nd year captivity and release, being best synchronised by putting Manasseh on the Throne in 687 BCE rather than 685 BCE, the Appendix 5 presentation shortens Hezekiah's Solar years and lengthens Manasseh's.
Ultimately we cannot be absolutely certain. Therefore, as some latitude is allowed (Point 4 Limitations), one may choose which ever presentation seems the most appropriate. The only difference between this Solar Presentation and the Appendix 5 presentation, is the (-/+) 1 year difference, which, at this particular point in the history of Judah, has neither effect or external bearing.
In this Solar Chart, Manasseh's final year commenced in Nisan of 636 BCE, with Amon ascending the throne circa June of that year.
AmonReigned 1 Regnal Year commencing Nisan 635 BCE.
634 BCE - 606 BCE
****Judah****
JosiahReigned 29 years From Nisan of 634 BCE to and including Nisan of 606 BCE.
The Artificial Calendar in Appendix 5 shows that he commenced his reign April 17th 634 BCE, and so here 634 BCE is counted as his First regnal year. If Nisan fell early March that year, then perhaps Amon could have been given a second regnal year, and Josiah's 29 Regnal years could be reduced to 28 years.
Upon Josiah's death, Jehoahaz ascended the throne, and 2 Chronicles 36:1 and 2 Kings 23:31,32 indicate that there was a 16 year age difference between Josiah and Jehoahaz. After a brief 3 month reign, Jehoahaz was deposed by the Egyptians, and his older brother Jehoiakim was installed as king of Judah. But Jehoiakim was 2 years older than Jehoahaz, meaning that Jehoiakim was conceived when Josiah was only 13 years old.
Given Josiah's unusually young age at the time of Jehoiakim's birth, and the fact that as the elder brother Jehoiakim ought to have been the first choice as king upon Josiah's death, there might be justification in considering that both Jehoiakim's age and identity have been incorrectly recorded. It may be that he was 35 years old not 25 years old, and that he was not Jehoahaz' brother, but Josiah's Brother. (It is even possible that Amon, Josiah and Jehoiakim were all sons of Manasseh.)
In the Chart below which used Appendix 5 to calculate birth dates (Using 35 not 25 years for Jehoiakim), We see that in 636 BCE, (Amon's First Regnal year / or Ascension Year as per solar chart), Jehoiakim would be 2 years old, Josiah would be 8 years old and Amon would be 22 years old. Whilst it is possible for Josiah to be Amon's son, given the age gap, it is also possible that Amon, Josiah and Jehoiakim were brothers.
At any rate, Jehoahaz appears to be Josiah's son, but his reign came to an abrupt end before he could even record his first official Regnal year.
Jehoiakim's Identity
605 BCE - 586 BCE
****Judah****
The reigns of Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin and Zedekiah are covered in Chapter 4 of 'The King's Calendar : The Secret of Qumran'. (Chap. 4 - T.O.C. Page)
Nisan New Year Dates for this period in History are known, but such are the details recorded in the Bible, that few academics trust what the bible says.
The relevant points to note in this chart, are that both Jehoiakim and Zedekiah each reigned only 10 Solar years, and that currently academics are still chasing their tails to make head and tails of Biblical Chronology at this point in history.
Article Conclusion:
This file merely set out to show how the Artificial Calendar Results can be presented in a Solar Format. Naturally there are some Christians who will find it blasphemous to change the Bible Text. The Issue of Biblical Infallibility is dealt with in separate articles. (See links at bottom of this page).
I hope that this file has been of assistance to some readers.
Copyright 2013 is held by the nominated authors on this article page.
The Download book does not contain a section on Seder Olam
About the KingsCalendar Publisher
R.P.BenDedek is the owner and Editor of KingsCalendar.com which was originally set up to publicize his research results into the Chronology of Ancient Israel. Those results were published under the title: 'The King's Calendar: The Secret of Qumran'.
Whilst there have been many attempts to solve the chronological riddle of the Bible's synchronisms of reigns of the kings of Israel and Judah and their synchronism with other Ancient Near Eastern Nations, no other research is based on a simple mathematical formula which could, if it is incorrect, be disproved easily. To date, no one has been able to dismiss the mathematical results of this research.
Free to air 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.
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R.P. BenDedek also writes social commentaries and photographic 'Stories from China' both at KingsCalendar, and as a contributing columnist at Magic City Morning Star News in Maine USA.
He currently (2013) teaches Conversational English in SuZhou City Jiangsu Province in China.
Topic 1. What is the Seder Olam Rabbah Topic 2. Seder Olam Chronological Chart : Adam to Abraham: Topic 3. Seder Olam & The 430 year Covenant with Abraham: Topic 4. Joseph in Seder Olam Rabbah: Topic 5. Seder Olam & The Pharaoh who knew not Joseph: Topic 6. Seder Olam & Israel Wandering in the Wilderness: Topic 7. 850 year/17 Jubilee Period, Joshua to Ezekiel's Vision in 14th year Exile: Topic 8. Comparative Chronologies:Seder Olam Rabbah, Josephus, Book of Judges: Topic 9. Ehud & 80 years of Peace - Judges 3:30 and Erroneous Biblical Chronology: Topic 10. Seder Olam:How Long was the Ark of the Covenant at Kiriath Jearim?: Topic 11. Seder Olam Rabbah's Confusing Chronology : Samuel, Saul and David: Topic 12: Seder Olam Chronological Discrepancies regarding Samuel, Saul & David. Topic 13: Apportioning the 63 years left for Samuel & Saul Topic 14: Seder Olam Rabbah : How many days in a Biblical year? Topic 15: Chronologies of Samuel,Saul, David & Solomon
