|
727 Shalmaneser IV.* |
In favor of Rawlinson is the fact that Pul is not mentioned in any inscription yet found or in the canon, and that Oppert is obliged to assume that the succession of eponymous magistrates was interrupted during his reign, and that, as he was a Chaldean, the account was kept, after the Chaldean fashion, by the years of his reign. In favor of Oppert’s scheme is (a) the fact that it makes a chronology which is in accord with the biblical chronology, while Rawlinson would shorten the period of the Israelitish monarchy (see note 5 on the Chronological Table); (b) the fact that there was certainly a break in the succession at Tiglath Pileser’s accession (Rawlinson says that he was a usurper); (c) the fact that the Era of Nabonassar of Babylon begins at 747, which is in excellent harmony with the hypothesis that, at the death of Pul, Chaldea was unable to maintain dominion over Assyria, but found itself separate and independent, so that a new era was founded. It had not been independent for centuries before this, and it was resubjugated by Sargon in 709. (d) This combination is supported by the words: “Pul, king of Assyria,” 2Ki_15:19. (e) It is supported by the Greek story of Sardanapalus.—It is evident that we have here a clue which promises ultimately to unravel the intricacies and contradictions of the biblical chronology.
Opposite the reign of Pekah will be found marked that solution of the contradiction in the data concerning his reign which Oppert claims to have obtained from the inscriptions. See above, p. 162 of Part II. of the Comm.
5. The other important series of synchronisms is that with Egyptian history. Here also scholars have given the most diligent labor to the scientific investigation of the evidence which bears on the biblical chronology. A fundamental question here meets us, whether the dynasties of Manetho are all consecutive, or whether some of them were parallel and contemporaneous with others. If reckoned as successive, the period which they cover reaches back to more than 5,000 years before Christ. Very many scholars, appalled at the magnitude of this period, have inferred that the dynasties must, many of them, have been contemporaneous. Lepsius adopts this view, and in his Königsbuch der Alten Aegypter he has reconstructed with admirable skill and diligence the entire list of Manetho’s dynasties. Prof. Rawlinson adopts the same view, avowedly following the English Egyptologers. He carries it further than Lepsius, and, in fact, the weakness of the theory is that it may be carried as far as any one finds necessary in order to reduce the period of Egyptian history to what he considers a reasonable length. It is especially suspicious that the shortening is accomplished by putting many of the most ancient dynasties contemporaneous with one another, that is, the dynasties which fall at the time of which we know least. In Rawlinson’s scheme (Manual, p. 77) six of Manetho’s dynasties are put as contemporaneous in the period from 2100 to 2000. In the more modern period of the history, where we know that there were many rulers in different parts of Egypt at the same time, we find that Manetho only recognized one. The especial importance of this for us, at present, is that the synchronisms fall in such a way as to require a shortening of the period of the Israelitish monarchy. Lepsius carries out the calculation of the Israelitish chronology in consistency with his scheme for that of Egypt, and fixes the chief dates as follows (Königsbuch, ss. 102, 3, and 4): Division of the kingdom, 953; Accession of Athaliah and Jehu, 861; Fall of Samaria, 693; Destruction of Jerusalem, 586.
6. It will be seen from this and from what was said about Rawlinson’s dates for Assyrian history that the chronologers may be divided into two classes or schools, the defenders of the “long period” for the Israelitish monarchy (chiefly those who rely on such a scheme as they are able to form from the biblical data), and the defenders of the “short period” (Assyrian and Egyptian scholars, who rely on the data furnished by the monuments).
7. The “short period” has always been strong from the fact that both the Assyrian and Egyptian chronologies seemed to demand it, but it will be noticed that, whatever date we may assign to the great eclipse, the Assyrian authorities fix the Fall of Samaria certainly in 721, and set aside Lepsius’ date as impossible. All the shortening therefore must come before that date, but the synchronism with Tirhaka is one of the most important in the Egyptian scheme. Therefore the Assyrian and Egyptian chronologies are not in accord in the shortening which they require.
8. Others, however, discard the notion of contemporaneous dynasties, and reckon the dynasties as successive. This is carried out in Lenormant’s Manual, and it brings the synchronisms into accord with the “long period” which he adopts for the Israelitish monarchy, and also with the Assyrian chronology, which he borrows chiefly from Oppert, and which has been described above.—Evidently we may hope that from this quarter also confirmatory evidence will come, and that all will converge to a reliable result. Our task here has been to give a succinct account of the present state of the question.—W. G. S.
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
of the
Period From The Division Of The Kingdom To The Compilation Of The Book Of Kings
Dates adopted in this Comm. |
Kings of Judah. |
Age at Accession. |
Year of Contemp. |
Duration of Reign. |
Kings of Israel. |
Age at Accession. |
Year of Contemp. |
Duration of Reign. |
Synchronisms, &c. |
975 |
Rehoboam |
41 |
1 |
17 |
Jeroboam |
|
1 |
32 |
Jehovah-calf-worship in Israel. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fifth of Rehoboam. Shishak, king of Egypt, invades Judah. (Sheshonk I., 1st king XXIII. Dyn.) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hostility between Judah and Israel. |
957 |
Abijam |
|
18 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
955 |
Asa |
|
20 |
41 |
|
|
|
|
War between Judah and Israel. |
953 |
|
|
|
Nadab |
|
2 |
2 |
|
|
952 |
|
|
|
|
Baasha |
|
3 |
24 |
Tirzah capital of Northern kingdom. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fifteen of Asa. He defeated Zerah, “the Ethiopian,” at Zephathah. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supremacy of Jehovah-religion in Judah. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Baasha attacks Asa.—Later forms alliance with Benhadad I., king of Syria. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Heathen idolatry in Israel. |
930 |
|
|
|
|
Elah |
|
26 |
2 |
|
929 |
|
|
|
|
Zimri [omri, Tibni]. |
|
27 |
7 d’ys |
Civil war in Israel for your years. |
925 |
|
|
|
|
Omri |
|
31 |
12 |
923 Omri founded Samaria and made it is capital. War between Israel and Syria. |
920–19 |
|
|
|
|
Ahab |
|
38 |
22 |
|
917–16 |
Jehoshathat. |
35 |
4 |
25 |
|
|
|
|
Political and religious reforms in Judah. Peace and prosperity. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ethbaal in Tyre. Elijah. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Phœnician idolatry (sensual and materialistic nature-worship) introduces into Israel by Jezebel. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
902 and 901. War between Israel and Syria. Success of Israel and alliance with Syria. Benhadad II. |
898–7 |
|
|
|
|
Ahaziah |
|
17 |
2 |
898. Renewed war between Israel and Syria. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revolt of Moab against Israel. |
896–5 |
|
|
|
|
Joram |
2 Jehoram. 18 Jahosh. |
|
12 |
Elisha. Slight and temporary reaction against Phœnician worship in Israel. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Judah, Israel, and Edom is alliance against Mesha, king of Moab. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Moab, Ammon, and the Edomites of Mt. Seir invade Judah, but quarrel and kill each other near Engedi. |
|
892–1 |
Jehoram |
32 |
5 |
8 |
|
|
|
|
Jehoram introduces Phœnician idolatry into Judah; murders his six brothers and others. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Edomites revolt successfully against Judah. The priest-city Libnah revolts. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Arabs and Philistines invade Judah. Siege of Samaria by Benhadad and miraculous deliverance. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hazael in Syria. |
|
885–4 |
Ahaziah |
22 |
12 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
Progress of Phœnician idolatry in Judah. Israel at war with Syria (siege of Ramoth). |
|
884 |
Athaliah |
|
|
6 |
Jehu |
|
|
28 |
Revolution in Israel. Massacre of Ahab’s family. Religious reformation. Phœnician idolatry abolished. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Massacre of Ahaziah’s family, and supremacy of Phœnician idolatry in Judah. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hazael conquers territory of Israel east of the Jordan. Shalmaneser takes tribute of Jehu, 883. |
|
877 |
Joash |
7 |
7 |
40 |
|
|
|
|
Restoration of the line of David and religious reformation. Phœnician idolatry abolished in Judah. |
|
856 |
|
|
|
|
Jehoahaz |
|
23 |
17 |
Limited revival of Phœnician idolatry in Israel. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hazael continues to attack Israel. Time of depression and weakness. Israel overrun by the Syrians. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Phœnician idolatry tolerated in Judah. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hazael takes Gath and threatens Jerusalem. |
|
840–39 |
|
|
|
|
Joash |
|
37 |
16 |
Benhadad III. in Syria. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Israel successful against the Syrians—recovery of lost cities. |
|
838 |
Amaziah |
25 |
2 |
29 |
|
|
|
|
Phœnician idolatry once more abolished in Judah. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amaziah made a successful expedition against the Edomites and took Sela (Petra). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
War between Israel and Judah. Amaziah prisoner of Joash. Israelites plunder the temple. |
|
824 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
823 |
|
|
|
|
Jeroboam II |
|
15 |
41 read 52 |
Time of strength and prosperity in Israel. Territory from Damascus to the Dead Sea recovered. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Luxury, folly, and vice in Israel. Amos. |
|
811–10 |
Azariah Or Uzziah. |
16 |
27 (?) |
52 |
|
|
|
|
Time of peace and prosperity in Judah. Supremacy of the Jehovah-religion. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[789. First destruction of Nineveh by the Medes and Chaldeans (?)] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Elath taken from the Edomites, Gath and Ashdod from the Philistines; Ammonites and Arabs of Gurbaal tributary. |
|
773 |
|
|
|
|
Zachariah |
|
38 |
6 mos |
|
|
772 |
|
|
|
|
Shallum |
|
39 |
1 mo. |
|
|
772 |
|
|
|
|
Menahem |
|
39 |
10 |
Pul takes tribute from Menahem. |
|
762 |
|
|
|
|
Pekaiah |
|
50 |
2 |
|
|
760 |
|
|
|
|
Pekah |
|
52 |
20 read 30 |
|
|
759–8 |
Jotham |
25 |
2 |
16 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[747. Era of Nabonassar of Babylon.] |
|
743 |
Ahaz |
20 |
17 |
16 |
|
|
|
|
[744. Tiglath Pileser II. in Assyria until 727.] [New rise of the Assyrian power.] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[74:2. Tig. Pil. in Syria; Rezin, Pekah, and Ashariah son of Tabeal, confederated against Ahaz.] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[742. Pekah dethroned. Menahem II. set up by Tig. Pil. and tributary to him.] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assyrio-Chaldean star-worship introduced into Israel and Judah. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[734. Rezin and Pekah unite and revolt. Pekah regained the throne.] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
732. Campaign of Rezin and Pekah against Ahaz of Judah. 732. Damascus taken. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
731. Forced migration of Syrians and Israelites. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[730. Tiglath Pileser took Gaza, Ashdod, Dumah in Arabia, and probably went to Jerusalem. At the end of the same year he held a court of his vassals at Damascus, at which Pekah and Ahaz were present.] |
|
730 |
|
|
|
|
Hoshea |
20 Jotham. 12 Ahaz. |
|
9 |
[730. Pekah in alliance with Methon of Tyre revolts against Assyria. On the approach of the Assyrians, Pekah is slain by Hoshea, who submits to pay tribute.] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Phœnician idolatry and Moloch-worship encouraged in Judah. Political and religious degradation in Israel. |
|
728 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Luxury and corruption in Judah. The temple of Jehovah closed. |
|
727 |
Hezekiah |
25 |
3 |
29 |
|
|
|
|
[Shalmaneser in Assyria, 727–722.] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[725. Sabacon I., the first king of the XXVth Ethiopian Dyn. in Egypt.] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reformation in Judah. Revival of the Jehovah-worship. Passover renewed. |
|
|
4 oF Hezekiah. |
====== |
|
|
6 of Hoshea. |
|
|
|
724. Hoshea, in reliance upon So, revolts against Assyria. Shalmaneser besieges Samaria. [722–704. Sargon in Assyria.] |
721 |
6 Of Hezekiah = Fall Of Samaria = 9 Of Hoshea. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[719 or 718. Sargon’s campaign in Phœnicia. Battle of Raphia, in which he defeats the Egyptians.] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[718–14. Siege of Tyre by Sargon for five years without success.] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[715 (about). New revolt of Samaria, Damascus, and Hamath subdued by Sargon.] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[710 (about). Sargon’s campaign against Ashdod.] [710–704. Sargon occupied in building at Dur-Sharyukin.] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[709. Sargon defeats Merodach Baladan at Dur Yakin and reduces Chaldea to subjection.] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[704–681. Sennacherib in Assyria.] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[701. Sennacherib in Phœnicia.] [Wins battle of Eltekon against the Egyptians (Sabacon II.).] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
700. Sennacherib in Judah. Judah tributary to Assyria. Sennacherib’s army destroyed. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[699. Babylon in revolt against Assyria under Merodach Baladan.] Merodach Baladan sends messengers to seek an alliance with Hezekiah. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
698 |
Manasseh |
12 |
55 |
|
|
|
|
|
[697–682. Sennacherib in constant war with Babylon, which revolts again and again.] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supremacy of the heathen religions in Judah. Persecution of Jehovah-worshippers. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[681–667. Esarhaddon in Assyria.] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
c. 680. Manasseh captive in Babylon. [Manasseh tributary.] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[c. 675. Esarhaddon conquers Egypt.] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[667–647. Asshurbanipal in Assyria.] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[657. Phraortes establishes Median Empire.] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[647–625. Asshuredililani III. in Assyria.]33 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
643 |
Amon |
22 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
[Between 650 and 640 Psammetichus becomes independent king of Egypt.]33 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
641 |
Josiah |
8 |
31 |
|
|
|
|
|
[Cyaxares in Media.] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revival of Jehovah-worship. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[625–606. Saracus in Assyria.] [Nabopolassar in Babylon until 604.] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[625. First attack of Medes and Babylonians on Nineveh. Scythian invasion.] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
622. Repair of the Temple. Discovery of the Book of the Law. Great Reformation. Passover celebrated. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
615 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
610 |
Jehoahaz |
23 |
3 mos |
|
|
|
|
|
610. Battle of Megiddo. Josiah slain. 609. Jehoahaz taken captive to Egypt. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
610 |
Eliakim or Jehoiakim. |
25 |
11 |
|
|
|
|
|
Judah tributary to Egypt. Heathenism in the ascendant. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[607. Nebuchadnezzar associated with his father as king of Babylon.]34 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[606. Nineveh taken by the Medes and Babylonians.]34 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
605. Battle of Carchemish. Nebuchadnezzar defeats Necho. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[604. Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon until 561.] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
602. Nebuchadnezzar invades Judah. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
599 |
Jehoiachin. |
8(?) |
3 mos |
|
|
|
|
|
599. Nebuchadnezzar again in Judah. Beginning of the Captivity. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
599 |
Mattaniah or Zedekiah. |
21 |
11 |
|
|
|
|
|
595. Confederated plan of revolt with Phœnicia, Ammon, and Moab.34 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
594. Zedekiah’s visit to Babylon. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hophra (Uahprahet) in Egypt. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
590. Revolt of Judah. Babylonians besiege Jerusalem. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
588 |
Destruction of Jerusalem |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
587. Gedaliah killed by Ishmael. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[561. Evil Merodach in Babylon.] Jehioachin released from prison. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
c. 550 |
Compilation of the “Book of the Kings.” |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|