Chronikon Hebraikon - The World's Age Scriptually Demonstrated
Fifth Period - From the Establishment of Samuel as Prophet,
to the Foundation of the Temple of Solomon
Embraces 84 Years
| A.M. | Names and Events | Reference | B.C. |
| 2983 3010 3023 3030 3063 3067 |
Establishment of Samuel as prophet in Shiloh in 13th of Eli The Ark of the Covenant captured by the Philistines in the fourtieth of Eli's judgeship, and twenty-seventh of Samuel's officiate Saul falls upon his sword on Mount Gilboa Solution of the saying, "God gave them Saul - by the space of 40 years" David begins to reign in Hebron seven years and six months before he removes the Ark to Zion,being thirty years old; he was therefore born ten years after Samuel's installation, and seventeen before the Ark's capture. Zion captured by David; upon which he removes the capital of his kingdom thither, and calls it "The City of David," having previously reigned in Hebron seven years and six months. He removes the Ark to Zion twenty years and ten months after its capture. He reigns there thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah. David dies, aged seventy years Solomon succeeds him, and begins to build the Temple in the fourth year of his reign. |
1 Sam. 3:21 1 Sam. 31:4 Acts 13:21 2 Sam. 2:11 2 Sam. 5:7 1 Sam. 6:1; 7:2; . . . 2 Sam. 6:11,12 2 Sam. 5:4 1 Kings 6:1 |
1106 1079 1066 1059 1026 1022 |
NOTES ON THE FIFTH PERIOD.
1. This fifth period of 84 years is the third of 1 Kings 6:1, whose terminus is indicated by "the fourth year of Solomon." It begins at the end of the 480, and ends at the year of the foundation of the temple.
1.-A Reign of Forty Years Impossible for Saul.
2. All the chronologies extant, as far as I am informed, assign 40 years to Saul's reign. They are led into this egregious mistake by a misinterpretation of Acts 13:21, "The Deity gave to them Saul the Son of Kis forty years." But it was utterly impossible that Saul could have reigned forty years; neither is Paul to be understood as so saying. We learn from 1 Sam. 7:6, that Samuel was the judge of Israel after the death of Eli, and after the return of the captured Ark from the Philistines' land. Down to this time, and "all the days of Samuel" after (ver. 13), the name of Saul does not appear on the record. Samuel's judgeship continued years after the return of the Ark, as is manifest from verses 13-17; even till he had become an old man, and had associated his sons with him in the administration of public affairs (ch. 8:1-5). It was the evil course of these sons that caused the elders of Israel to say, "Make us a king to judge us like all the nations." The Deity commanded Samuel to comply with this demand; to anoint Saul over them, and to frame a constitution for the kingdom (1 Sam. 10: 25; 11:14, 15). When Saul had reigned two years, he committed a transgression which caused him the loss of the kingdom (1 Sam. 13:14). David was then anointed, and subsequently persecuted by Saul, who dies in battle not long after - at the end of 40 years from the 13th of Eli.
Now, on Saul's death, David immediately began to reign over Judah in Hebron, being thirty years old. He reigned there seven years and six months; at the end of this time he captured Zion from the Jebusites, which he called "the city of David," and made it his capital and abode. Having removed thither, he determined also to transfer the Ark from Kirjath-jearim to the same place. Now, let the reader mark well, that it is expressly stated that the Ark, when captured, was seven months with the Philistines; after its return, 20 years at Kirjath-jearim; and, at the end of that "long time," three months at Obed-edom's - in all 20 years 10 months. This is the whole number of years from the death of Eli, or capture of the Ark, to the eighth year of David's reign, which was seven years and six months after Saul's death; leaving only 13 years and 4 months from the death of Eli to that of Saul. How, then, could it be possible for Saul to have reigned 40 years? The probability is that he did not reign seven. With such errors as I have pointed out, no wonder that chronologists have so signally failed in presenting the world with a correct computation of its age at the Nativity of its Deliverer.
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