Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 45:179 (Jul 1888)
Article: A Newly Discovered Key To Biblical Chronology
Author: J. Schwartz

BSac 45:179 (July 1888) p. 437

A Newly Discovered Key To Biblical Chronology

J. Schwartz

Second Paper

1. In the January number of the Bibliotheca Sacra an attempt was made to show that the chronology of the Bible, from Solomon to Jehoiakim, agrees exactly with the Assyrian Eponym Canon, and with Ptolemy’s Canon, if we assume that in the royal line of Judah, with one exception, the heir to the throne was chosen from the children born when the preceding king was twenty-one years old. The present paper will begin by showing that the harmony between the two chronologies—Assyrian and biblical—can be proved without reference to the theory advanced in the first paper. References to that paper will be made thus: “Key,” with the number of the section added.

2. The Bible synchronizes the accession of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, with the fourth year of Jehoiakim, king of Judah (“Key” § 4). According to Ptolemy’s Canon the first official year of Nebuchadnezzar was in b. c. 604, which proves that his accession was in b.c. 605 (“Key” § 15). The Bible places the accession of Jotham, king of Judah, 150 years before this date, that is in b. c. 755 (“Key” § 11), the details being as follows: —

BSac 45:179 (July 1888) p. 438