Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 89:353 (Jan 1932)
Article: Old Testament Chronology
Author: Melvin Grove Kyle

BSac 89:353 (Jan 1932) p. 56

Old Testament Chronology

Melvin Grove Kyle, D.D., LL.D.

I. Elements

Old Testament chronology presents many puzzling peculiarities, but none which, when properly understood, imperil the historicity and trustworthiness of the Scriptures. Yet these peculiarities cause many misgivings in the minds of those who believe the Bible and furnish convenient missiles for the unbelieving to hurl—those who indeed are only too ready to cavil. About fifteen years ago I presented a full discussion of this subject through the columns of the Sunday School Times which aroused much interest and brought out a most enthusiastic commendation from Sir William Ramsay after his forty years of work in Bible Lands. But the question still abides, the caviling continues and the perplexity remains in the minds of many, while the old difficulties are still quoted by critics of all schools. The meaning of one of the stumbling blocks over which believers and unbelievers fall, the genealogical lists in the book of Genesis, was fully, and it seems to me finally, elucidated by the veteran Hebrew scholar, Dr. William Henry Green, in the pages of Bibliotheca Sacra, April, 1890. Writings even fifteen years old drop out of sight of most people, so that it may be helpful to present in three issues of Bibliotheca Sacra a new full statement of the chronological difficulties and of their solution.

It can hardly be said that any new materials have appeared or been made available, but fifteen years have been added to a previous quarter of a century of my familiarity with Bible Lands and work there, and I have found nothing to discredit the views formerly presented and so heartily approved by Sir William Ramsay. Perhaps this may be sufficient warrant for a rewriting of the whole subject, with grateful acknowledgments to the Sunday School Times, to Dr. Greene and to Sir William.

BSac 89:353 (Jan 1932) p. 57

1. Peculiarities

The best introduction to this intricate subject is a consideration, a comparative consideration indeed, of some of the most striking peculiarities of Oriental chronology both ancient and modern set side by side with Occidental chronological habits familiar to all of us. Ancient chronological methods were not artificial, but simply common sense methods, and such may often be found duplicated among ourselves under circumstances in which artificial methods are not so practicable.

About forty years ago, when arranging for a camel caravan through the desert to Mount Sinai, I called in the services of a German missionary to the Towari Bedouin of that region to advise in the making of a contract with a dragoman for the journey. In the course of our conversation I suggested that a clause should b...