5. Table VI. Containing the statements of the chronographers

relating to the _Fifth age_ of the world—The errors of Josephus

peculiar—His elongation of the reign of Solomon—Disagreement of

his titulary periods with the summation of the reigns in Books

Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth—Proof that the former is nearly

correct—Table VII. _Monarchal Periods_ of Josephus—Comparison

with the True Chronology—Evidence that these periods have been

manufactured—The true Chronology of this age detected in his

works—Table VIII. _True Flavian Periods_, showing the

Scriptural extent as originally held by Josephus—Proof that he

knew the true epoch of the Captivity—The errors of Theophilus

in this age few—He is also mistaken as to the epoch of the

Captivity—Africanus diminishes the true extent of this age—He

is misrepresented by Syncellus—The statements of Eusebius taken

from the Hieronymian and Armenian versions of his Canon—Those

of the author of the Paschal Chronicle from that work

itself—Their errors pointed out—The difference between their

Extent of this age and the true Extent only 3 years.

The following Table which exhibits the statements of the Chronographers

regarding the _Fifth age_ of the World, should be compared with Table

XII. in our _First Part_; as it contains the _Monarchal Eras_ and

_Intervals_ according to each chronographer.

TABLE VI.

MONARCHAL ERAS. JOSEPHUS. THEOPHILUS. AFRICANUS. EUSEBIUS. PASCH.

CHRON.

Intervals. Intervals. Intervals. Intervals. Intervals.

Foundation of

Solomon’s *77 37 37 *33

Temple

Rehoboam 17 17 17 17

Abijah 3 *7 3 3

Asa 41 41 41 *44

Jehoshaphat 25 25 25 25

Jehoram *8 *8 *8 *10

Ahaziah 1 1 1 1

Athaliah 6 6 *7 6

Jehoash 40 40 40 40

Amaziah 29 *39 29 29

Interregnum *0 *0 *0 *0

Uzziah 52 52 52 52

Jotham 16 16 16 16

Ahaz 16 *17 16 16

Hezekiah 29 29 29 29

Manasseh 55 55 55 55

Amon 2 2 *12 *12

Josiah 31 31 31 31

Jehoahaz 0¼ 0¼ 0¼ 0¼

Jehoiakim 11 11 *12 *12

Jehoiachin 0¼ 0¼ 0¼ 0¼

Zedekiah *11 *11 420 *11 *11

———— ———— ———— ———— ————

FIFTH AGE 470 445 420 442 442

The principal errors of Josephus in this age, are his addition of 40

years to the reign of Solomon, and his omission of the interregnum

between Amaziah and Uzziah. The former error appears to have been

peculiarly his own; the latter he seems to share in common with most, if

not all, the ancient chronographers. In his Antiquities, Book x. 8, 5,

he says, “the temple was burned 470 years 6 months and 10 days after its

foundation;”[111] and this period is clearly made out from the summation

of the years of the reigns of the kings of Judah as laid down by him, in

Books Eighth, Ninth and Tenth. Moreover, these books contain the history

of the Jews from the accession of Solomon to the end of the Babylonish

captivity; but we find, by the summation of the titulary periods

prefixed to them, that the whole amount of this period is only 502½

years; and, deducting from this amount, the first 3 years of Solomon’s

reign and the 70 years of the Captivity, we have 429½ years for a

remainder, which is a totally different result. In order to arrive at

the proper explanation of the difference between this number and the

former, we shall exhibit the comparison of the summation of his periods

and his reigns in these Books with the true chronology in the form of a

table; premising, that the history of the VIIIth Book extends from the

accession of Solomon to the death of Ahab, in the 19th year of

_Jehoshaphat’s_ reign; of the IXth Book, from the same year to the

Captivity of the Ten Tribes of Israel, in the 6th year of _Hezekiah’s_

reign; and of the Xth Book, from this same year to the end of the

Babylonish _Captivity_. In the following Table, the first column

exhibits the _periods_ announced in the titles of the different books,

the second the amount of the years of the different reigns they contain,

and the third the amount of the same years according to the _true_

chronology:

TABLE VII.

MONARCHAL PERIODS. │ JOSEPHUS. │ TRUE

│ │CHRONOLOGY.

│ Periods. Reigns. │

The VIIIth Book comprehends │ 163 160│ 119

The IXth Book „ │ 157 180│ 190

The Xth Book „ │ 182½ 203½│ 185

│ ———— ————│ ————

Total, including Captivity │ 502½ 543½│ 494

Deduct the three years of Solomon │ 3 3│ 3

│ ———— ————│ ————

│ 499½ 540½│ 491

Deduct the years of the Captivity │ 70 70│ 52

│ ———— ————│ ————

Extent of the Fifth age │ 429½ 470½│ 439

Here the discrepancy between the amount of the _Periods_ and the amount

of the _Reigns_ is manifest; and the cause of the discrepancy is plainly

the 40 years surreptitiously added to Solomon’s reign; for if this

number be subtracted from 470½ years, the result of the _reigns_, the

remainder is 430½ years, which agrees with the result of the _periods_

to a single year, and this year may have been added for the 1st of

Cyrus. The latter amount, however, still differs from the true period by

10 years; and this difference evidently arises from the omission of the

interregnum of 12 years, and the addition of 2 years to the reign of

Jehoram. The extraordinary want of agreement between the different

_periods_ and the corresponding amount of the _reigns_, shows that the

former must have been manufactured to serve some particular purpose, the

most probable being the concealment of the error of 40 additional years

in the reign of Solomon. This is so far ingeniously done, and might

deceive a cursory reader; for the first period of 163 years is his exact

interval from the _Foundation_ of the Temple to the end of

_Jehoshaphat’s_ reign; the second period of 157 years is exactly 40

years less than his interval from the end of _Jehoshaphat’s_ reign to

the end of _Hezekiah’s_ reign; and the third period of 182½ years is

only 2 years more than his interval from the end of _Hezekiah’s_ reign

to the end of the _captivity_.

That this tortuous chronologer and historian must have originally

reckoned his periods in this age according to the true system of

chronology, is manifest from the following passage in Book x. 4, 4;

where, speaking of the fulfilment of the prophecy concerning the

idolatrous altar at Bethel (1 Kings xiii. 1), he says, “and he [Josiah]

burned the bones of the false prophets upon the altar which Jeroboam

first built,” and “these things were fulfilled after a period of 361

years.”[112] Now, according to the testimony of Scripture (2 Chronicles

xxxiv. 3), cited by Josephus (x. 4, 1),[113] we find that this

fulfilment took place in the 12th year of the reign of Josiah; and from

the 1st year of Jeroboam, when the altar was built, to the epoch in

question, the interval, according to the chronology of Josephus in the

preceding Table, is only 351 years; but, according to the true

Chronology, it is exactly 361 years. It is plain, therefore, that

Josephus in this passage, must have reckoned an interregnum of 10 years

between Amaziah and Uzziah: and, if we reckon the reign of Jehoram only

6 years as in the true chronology, instead of 8 years as in that of our

author, and add the surplus of 2 years to these 10 years, we shall have

the correct Interregnum of 12 years, as stated at p. 74, under the head

of the Septuagint; see 2 Kings xv. 1.[114] It is true that the 10 years

which we have thus detected in the Antiquities, might have been added by

Josephus, as by Theophilus and Clemens, to the reign of Amaziah, but

this would not alter the _total amount_. Some chronologers, as

Polyhistor cited by Eusebius,[115] have added 10 years to the reign of

Amon instead of to that of Amaziah; but in either case the effect is

still the same,—to make the _whole period_ more consistent with the true

chronology. Thus we have expiscated the truth concerning this period

even from the unwilling pages of Josephus; for the rest of the

computation concerning the _Fifth age_ will be clearly seen from the

following Table, which harmonizes with the previous result:

TABLE VIII.

TRUE FLAVIAN PERIODS.

Years.

From the 1st of Jeroboam to the 12th of Josiah 361

The rest of Josiah’s reign 19

The remaining Jewish reigns 22

————

From the 1st of Jeroboam to the 10th of Zedekiah 402

The previous years of the Reign of Solomon 37

————

Extent of the _Fifth Age_ 439

Although Josephus in his “Antiquities” has generally reckoned the 70

years of the Captivity from the Destruction of the Temple to the 1st

year of Cyrus, which is contrary to the true chronology and to the Canon

of Ptolemy, yet we have evidence in his “Jewish War” that he was

perfectly acquainted with the correct period of 52 years, which we have

shown in our _first Part_, at pp. 80, 81, to be the true interval. Thus,

in Book vi. 4, 8, of the latter work, when speaking of the Destruction

of the Temple, he says, “and from the _first_ foundation which King

Solomon laid, till the present destruction, which happened in the 2d

year of the Emperor Vespasian, are reckoned 1130 years 7 months and 15

days; but from the _second_, which Haggai effected in the 2d year of

Cyrus the king, till the destruction under Vespasian, 639 years and 45

days.”[116] Not to dwell on the glaring anachronism of referring the

_foundation_ of the temple in the 2nd year of Cyrus (Ezra iii. 8), to

the _renewal_ of the work of building it in the 2nd year of Darius (Ezra

iv. 24, and v. 1), it is plain that the difference between the two

periods mentioned in this passage, viz. 491½ years, is the true interval

from the destruction of Solomon’s temple to the foundation of the second

Temple in the 2nd year of Cyrus; for omitting the half-year, as the 2nd

year had just commenced at the latter epoch (Ezra iii. 8), and

subtracting the 52 years above mentioned, from 491 years, we have the

remainder 439 years, for the true Extent of the _Fifth age_ as before.

The proof, however, that he was acquainted with the true interval, at

least within a year or two, is manifest from a passage which occurs in

his 1st Book _against Apion_, sect. 21; where he says, “For it is

written in them [the Hebrew Scriptures] that Nebuchadnezzar destroyed

our temple in the 18th year [the 19th year, 2 Kings xxv. 8] of his

reign, and it was in ruins for 50 years; but in the 2nd year of the

reign of Cyrus, the foundations were laid, and in the 2nd again of the

reign of Darius they were finished.”[117] The difference of 2 years is

easily accounted for by supposing that he took the reign of Cyrus in

Babylon at 9 years, according to some copies of the Canon of Ptolemy,

instead of 7 years, according to Scripture, that is, by supposing his

reign to have begun 2 years earlier than the true period. He appears,

however, to have tacked these two years to the true interval in

question, in another chapter of the same book, viz. “Jewish War,” vi.

10; where, speaking of the destruction of Jerusalem, he says “David,

King of the Jews, having expelled the people of the Canaanites, made his

own inhabit it; and 477 years 6 months afterwards, it was destroyed by

the Babylonians.”[118] Now as David reigned 33 years in Jerusalem, and

the temple was founded in the 4th year of Solomon, if we subtract 36

years from the preceding number, we obtain 441½ years for the period

from the foundation of the temple to its destruction, which is only 2½

years more than the true period, a surplus which appears to have arisen

from his unwarrantable addition to the true period of the 10th Book of

the Antiquities. The last passage which we shall adduce from this

extraordinary historical production, so full of chronological errors, is

from the 20th Book, where speaking of the High Priests, he says,

Nebuchadnezzar “took Josedek the High Priest captive; and the time of

their hierarchy was 466 years, 6 months, and 10 days, during the reigns

of the Jewish kings.” Now Josedek was taken captive, not when the temple

and city were burned, as Josephus erroneously says in the context, but

when the “king of Babylon took Jehoiachin in _the 8th year of his

reign_,” and “carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all

the mighty men of valour, 10,000 captives, and all the craftsmen, and

all the smiths; none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of

the land;” 2 Kings xxiv. 11–16, and 1 Chronicles vi. 15. But as

Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem _in the 19th year of his reign_ (2

Kings xxv. 8), the difference of time between the _first_, or

Jehoiachin’s captivity, and the _second_, or Zedekiah’s captivity, is

evidently 11 years, which being added to the preceding period, makes a

total of 477½ years as before. In these two passages, therefore,

Josephus is consistent with himself, and he differs from the true

chronology in this period only by the small interval of about 2 years; a

difference which, as we before remarked, may be due to his mistake in

reference to the Scriptural commencement of the reign of Cyrus, King of

Babylon. For a more extensive inquiry into this period of the Chronology

of Josephus, we refer to Mr. Cuninghame’s “Fulness of the Times,” pp.

27–60, to which we have been indebted for some suggestions in the

preceding discussion.

The errors of Theophilus in the intervals of the _Fourth age_ are few,

and chiefly of a compensating nature; and his error in its extent

amounts only to about 6 years. He states the reign of Abijah at 7 years

instead of 3; of Jehoram at 8 years instead of 6; and of Amaziah at 39

years instead of 29; but the two latter errors make up for his omission

of the interregnum of 12 years. He next reckons the reigns of Ahaz and

Zedekiah, each a year too much, which, with the error in the reign of

Abijah, makes the whole period erroneous in excess by about 6 years, its

_Extent_ being 445 years, according to the Table. This Extent is

confirmed by the following statement in his general summary: “from the

death of David, till the [end of the] sojourning of the people in the

land of Babylon, were 518 years, 6 months, 10 days.”[119] Now, if from

this period, we subtract the first 3 years of Solomon, and the 70 years

of the captivity, we shall have for the remainder 445 years, the period

from the foundation to the destruction of the Temple, according to

Theophilus. Again, he says, all the time, from the beginning of the

world till the end “of the sojourning in the land of Babylon, is 4954

years, 6 months, 10 days.”[120] Now, if we add together his different

ages up to this epoch, including the 70 years of the captivity, we shall

have this precise amount; thus, 2242 + 1011 + 645 + 541 + 445 + 70 =

4954 years. This confirmatory statement, therefore, shows the accuracy

of our estimate of the chronology of Theophilus; and thus we see that

like other chronographers, he has, contrary to Scripture, reckoned the

period of the 70 years’ captivity from the destruction of Jerusalem to

the 1st year of the reign of Cyrus. The errors of Africanus in the

_intervals_ of the _Fourth age_ cannot be detected, owing to the loss of

this part of his Chronicon; we can only decide upon the inaccuracy of

his statement regarding its _Extent_ from the extract already cited at

p. 265, where he assigns 490 years as the whole period of the Jewish

Kings. We have seen at p. 266, that 70 years of this period belong to

the former age, according to Africanus; it follows, therefore, that 420

years must be his _Extent_ of the _Monarchal age_, which we have

accordingly inserted in the Table. We have scarcely any means of

confirming the correctness of this result, until we show, from his

remaining fragments concerning the succeeding age, that it is quite

consistent with his great Mundane period from Adam to Christ. It is

necessary, however, to make one remark on this subject, namely, that

Syncellus has committed an error in stating that “Africanus reckoned the

70 years of the captivity from the 1st year of Zedekiah,”[121] as we

shall see in the sequel.

The statements of Eusebius, in the preceding Table, are taken from the

Hieronymian[122] and Armenian[123] versions of his Canon; those of the

author of the Paschal Chronicle from that work itself.[124] The former

places the foundation of the temple in the 4th year of Solomon; the

latter erroneously in his 8th year. Both authors in several places of

their works, state the extent of the _Fifth age_ at 442 years, and in

order to preserve this number entire they appear to have manufactured

two or three of the reigns. Thus, Eusebius reckons the reign of Jehoram

at 8 complete years instead of 6, that of Athaliah at 7 instead of 6,

and that of Amon at 12 instead of 2. In the Armenian version the reign

of Jehoiakim is reckoned at 12 years instead of 11, which seems

necessary to make up the total 442 years. In the Paschal Chronicle, the

reign of Asa is reckoned at 44 years instead of 41, that of Jehoram at

10 instead of 6, that of Jehoiakim at 12 instead of 11, and that of Amon

at 12 instead of 2. Abating the errors thus pointed out, and admitting

the interregnum, both authors testify to the true length of this period,

which, notwithstanding the former, they have only overrated by 3 years.

6. Table IX. _Ethnocratic Eras_ and _Intervals_ according to

Ptolemy’s Canon and the ancient Chronographers—Accuracy of

the Canon—Josephus erroneous but consistent in the _Sixth

age_—His remarkable coincidence with the true Chronology in

the Mundane period—Theophilus follows the Roman Chronology in

this age—Africanus the prophetic—Both erroneous—Errors of

Eusebius, and accuracy of his Extent of this age—Errors of

the Paschal Chronicle considerable and unaccountable—Table X.

Summation of the _Six ages_ of the world according to the

Septuagint and the ancient chronographers—Table XI. Summation

of the Periods of the Christian Chronographers, adopted by

themselves—_Chronological Table_ of the Principal Epochs and

Events from the Creation to the Advent of Christ.

The following Table exhibits the errors of the chronographers in regard

to the _Sixth age_ of the world. In our _first Part_, we have

denominated the _Eras_ of this age _Hierarchal_, Table XIV. p. 80, to

indicate the internal form of Government which prevailed among the Jews

during the period from their return to their own land to the Advent of

the Messiah; here we style them _Ethnocratic_, to indicate the _Iron

rule_ which the _Heathen Kings_ exercised over the remnant of the

ancient people of God, till “_in the days of these kings_ the God of

Heaven set up a kingdom which should never be destroyed,” but “should

break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and _stand for ever_.”

In this table, we have introduced an additional column, showing the

periods of the _Four Great Monarchies_ or _Empires_ foretold in the book

of Daniel, in as far as they relate to the _Sixth age_, according to the

Canon of Ptolemy, which is accounted by chronologers as one of the most

valuable and precious relics of Antiquity.

TABLE IX.

ETHNOCRATIC PTOLEMY. JOSEPHUS. THEOPHILUS. AFRICANUS. EUSEBIUS. PASCH.

ERAS.

Intervals. Intervals. Intervals. Intervals. Intervals. Intervals.

From

Solomon’s

Temple.

THE ASSYRIAN 52

EMPIRE.

Jewish 70 70 70 70 70

Captivity.

Roman 54

Regifugium

PERSIAN 205 230 190 206

EMPIRE

Jewish 414

Hierarchy

The

Asamonean 125

Dynasty.

GRECIAN 302 298 301 296

EMPIRE

Roman 453

Republic

TO THE ROMAN

EMPIRE. 28 33 46 30 27 29

Birth of

Christ

———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ————

THE SIXTH 587 642 623 628 588 601

AGE

In this Table the extent of the _Ethnocratic age_ is 587 years according

to the Canon of Ptolemy;[125] this is 2 years more than we assigned at

p. 80, owing to the reign of Cyrus being estimated at 9 years instead of

7, which brings the _Sixth age_ up to the vulgar era of the Birth of our

Saviour. The Canon assigns 43 years respectively to the reigns of

Nebuchadnezzar and Augustus Cæsar; hence the former reigned 25 years

after the taking of Jerusalem,[126] and the latter 28 before the

Christian era;[127] thus the extreme intervals of the first column of

the table were obtained. The intervals of Josephus were determined from

the following passages:—Book XI. 1, 1, “In the first year of the reign

of Cyrus, and this was the 70th from the day that it befell our people

to remove from home to Babylon;”—Book XX. 10, 1, “After the period of

the 70 years’ captivity, &c. Joshua the Son of Josedek, took the office

of High Priest; and his posterity, in all 15, held the democratic form

of government for 414 years, till the reign of Antiochus Eupator;”—Book

XIV. 16, 4, “Thus ceased the government of the Asamonean [race] after

126 years;”—Book XVII. 6, 3, “for 125 years during which they [the

Asamoneans] reigned;”—and, Book XVII. 8, 1, “Having reigned, after he

[Herod] caused the death of Antigonus, 34 years, and after he was

appointed by the Romans, 37 years.”[128] Now, taking the period of the

Asamonean dynasty at 125 years, and the years of the reign of Herod

before Christ was born, at 33, we have, from the preceding extracts, the

intervals in the Table, and the extent of the whole period 642 years,

according to Josephus. This result receives a striking confirmation from

the summation of the periods contained in the Titles of the different

Books of the Antiquities which relate the History from the 1st year of

Cyrus to the death of Herod. Thus,

Years.

The Captivity continued 70

The XIth Book comprehends 253

The XIIth Book „ 170

The XIIIth Book „ 82

The XIVth Book „ 32

The XVth Book „ 18

The XVIth Book „ 12

The XVIIth Book to the year before the death of Herod, 5[129]

comprehends

————

Total 642

Thus it appears that Josephus, or his corrupter, conscious that by the

omission of the Second Cainan, he had curtailed the length of the true

age of the world, has compensated for this generation, by enlarging the

Postdiluvian _biennial period_, the Antepaidogonian age of Nahor, the

reign of Solomon, and the extent of the Hierarchal age; for, we shall

see that by the summation of the different ages as we have now

determined them from the Antiquities, we obtain the true period from the

Creation to the Christian Era, viz. 5478 years!

The extent of the _Sixth age_ according to Theophilus, is obtained from

the following extracts: “The 70 years being finished, Cyrus king of the

Persians, in the 2d year of his reign,” proclaimed the return of the

Jews; “then, Cyrus having reigned 29 years died,” U. C. 220; “at which

time Tarquin surnamed Superbus began to reign” at Rome, “who reigned 25

years. After whom, the Consuls and Tribunes reigned 453 years.” To

these, succeeded the Emperors, “First Caius Julius, 3 years, 4 months, 6

days; then Augustus, 56 years, 4 months, 1 day.”[130] From these

extracts, it is evident that Theophilus reckoned 54 years from the end

of the Jewish captivity to the Regifugium at Rome; and 46 years from the

beginning of the Roman Empire to the Christian Era.[131] Thus, according

to Theophilus, the whole extent of this period is 623 years; and

consequently, the period from Creation to the Christian era, 5507 years.

We obtain the extent of the _Sixth age_ according to Africanus, from the

following fragments of his work:—“For after the 70th year of the

captivity, Cyrus having sent” the Jews to rebuild the temple, “we find

the kingdom of the Persians extending to 230 years, and that of the

Macedonians to 300 years; and thence to the 16th year of Tiberius Cæsar,

60 years.” Again, “the whole time of the Macedonian empire, was 300

years wanting 2,” from its commencement till its termination with

Cleopatra, the last of the Ptolemies, in the 14th year of the Roman

monarchy;—“all the years from Adam being 5472.”[132] Here, Africanus

appears to have forgotten himself, and after saying that the period of

the Grecian Empire was 298 years, he still reckons it 300, and thus

obtains the number of 5472 years from the Creation. Taking 298 years for

the correct period of that Empire, and 30 years as the true interval

from its termination to the Christian era, we have 628 years for the

extent of the _Sixth age_, according to this chronographer; and

consequently, the whole period from the Creation to the Christian era,

5500 years.

The extent and intervals of the _Sixth age_ according to Eusebius in his

Chronicon, were obtained from the same sources as before, see p. 286. He

dates the proclamation of Cyrus in the 30th year of the Captivity, and

his death in the 60th year. He next dates the 70th year of the Captivity

in the 2nd of Darius Hystaspes, and thus annihilates 40 years of the

Persian Empire before that epoch; consequently, only 190 years remained

after it, as he reckons the whole period 230 years. He next reckons 6

years of the reign of Alexander the Great, independently of the Grecian

Empire, which he estimates at 295 years under the Ptolemies; thus making

the whole period of the Macedo-Grecian empire 301 years. Lastly, he

dates the Birth of Christ in the 42d year of Augustus Cæsar, his 15th

year being reckoned coincident with the 22d of Cleopatra, the last of

the Ptolemies; hence, the period from the end of the Grecian Empire to

the Christian era, is 27 years, and the extent of the whole period under

discussion, 588 years. Thus Eusebius, by an admixture of the Hebrew and

Septuagint Chronologies in his Canon, makes the period from Creation to

the Christian era, 5199 years. The intervals and extent of the _Sixth

age_, according to the author of the Paschal Chronicle, were obtained

from his work, see p. 286. He follows Eusebius in his epochs of the 1st

of Cyrus and the end of the Captivity; but he reckons the whole period

of the Persian Empire at 246 years, and thus makes the remainder 206

years after the Captivity. He estimates the period of the Grecian Empire

at 296 years, including Alexander; and the reign of Augustus Cæsar as

sole Emperor, at 44 years; thus making the period from the end of the

Grecian empire to the birth of Christ 29 years, and the extent of the

whole period in question, 601 years. According to this author,

therefore, by the summation of his periods the number of years from the

Creation to the Christian era, is 5512; but he states it himself at 5507

years. He seems to have obtained this period, by annihilating 2 years in

the extent of the 4th age and 3 years in that of the 5th age, in order

to make it coincide with that of Theophilus.

The following table exhibits the summation of the _Six ages_ of the

world, according to their extent, as determined in the preceding pages,

from the works of the ancient chronographers; including those of the

Septuagint, with the _Sixth age_ as determined by the Canon of Ptolemy.

TABLE X.

MUNDANE SEPTUAGINT. JOSEPHUS. THEOPHILUS. AFRICANUS. EUSEBIUS. PASCH.

AGES. CHRON.

Years. Years. Years. Years. Years. Years.

First 2262 2256 2242 2262 2242 2262

Second 1147 1068 1011 1015 1017 1145

Third 431 430 645 430 430 430

Fourth 612 612 541 745 480 632

Fifth 439 470 445 420 442 442

Sixth 587 642 623 628 588 601

———— ———— ———— ———— ———— ————

Total 5478 5478 5507 5500 5199 5512

The following table exhibits the summation of the different periods into

which the four Christian chronographers subdivide the Great Mundane

period, from Creation to the Era of Redemption.

TABLE XI.

1. _Eras and Intervals according to Theophilus._[133]

Years.

From Creation to the Flood 2242

From the Flood to Abraham 1036

From Abraham to Moses 660

From Moses to David 498

From David to the Captivity 518

From the Captivity to Aurelius 744

————

From Creation to Aurelius 5698

From the Christian Era to Aurelius 191

————

From Creation to the Christian Era 5507

2. _Eras and Intervals according to Africanus._[134]

Years.

From Adam to the Flood 2262

From the Flood to Abraham 1015

From Abraham to Joseph 286

From Joseph to Eli 729

From Eli to the Captivity of the Ten Tribes 458

From the Captivity to the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ 781

————

5531

From the Birth to the Resurrection and

Ascension of Christ 31

————

From Adam to the Christian Era 5500

3. _Eras and Intervals according to Eusebius._[135]

Years.

From Adam to the Flood 2242

From the Flood to Abraham and Ninus 942

From Ninus to Moses and Cecrops 505

From Cecrops to the Fall of Troy 329

From the Fall of Troy to the 1st Olympiad 406

From the 1st Olympiad to Darius 256

From Darius to the 15th of Tiberius 548

————

From Adam to the 15th of Tiberius 5228

From the Nativity to the 15th of Tiberius 29

————

From Adam to the Christian Era 5199

4. _Eras and Intervals according to the Paschal Chronicle._[136]

Years.

From Adam to the Flood 2262

From the Flood to the Exodus 1575

From the Exodus to the Temple 614

From the Temple to Cyrus 480

From Cyrus to Alexander 249

From Alexander to the 15th of Tiberius 356

————

From Adam to the 15th of Tiberius 5536

From the Nativity to the 15th of Tiberius 29

————

From Adam to the Christian Era 5507

We shall now conclude this work, with a Chronological Table of the

principal epochs and events from the Creation of the World to the Advent

of our Saviour. The epochs of Sacred History determined according to the

true Chronology, are printed in Roman letters, and the epochs of Profane

History in _Italics_. In the former, Cuninghame is our best authority;

in the latter, Clinton, with occasional reference to Russell, or Hales.

Some dates that seem to be well founded, are taken from Julius

Africanus. The epochs marked with a Star are either traditional or

conjectural. The Critarchates, Reigns, Missions, Commissions, &c., are

all dated at their respective commencements; and the extent of each of

the two former may be determined from the table, by taking the

difference of the dates of any two consecutive Critarchates or Reigns.

CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE.

FIRST AGE OF THE WORLD.

A.M. B.C.

−21 _Traditional Epoch of the Creation_ 5500

−21 *_Higher Astronomical Epoch of the Brahmins_ 5500

1 True Epoch of the Creation 5478

100 *Death of Abel 5379

230 Birth of Seth 5249

435 Birth of Enos 5044

625 Birth of Cainan I. 4854

765 _Chronological Epoch of the Julian Period_ 4714

795 Birth of Mahalaleel 4684

931 Death of Adam 4548

960 Birth of Jared 4519

1070 *Apostacy of the Sons of God 4409

1086 _Samaritan Epoch of the Creation_ 4393

1122 Birth of Enoch 4357

1142 Death of Seth 4337

1179 _Lower Astronomical Epoch of the Brahmins_ 4300

1286 *Astronomical Revelations of Uriel 4193

1287 Birth of Methuseleh 4192

1340 Death of Enos 4139

1406 _Astronomical Epoch of Laplace_ 4073

1474 Birth of Lamech 4005

1475 _Hebrew-Usher Epoch of Creation_ 4004

1487 Translation of Enoch 3992

1535 Death of Cainan I. 3944

1662 Birth of Noah 3817

1690 Death of Mahalaleel 3789

1719 _Modern Jewish Epoch of Creation_ 3760

1922 Death of Jared 3557

2142 Prediction of the Flood 3337

2162 Birth of Japhet or _Iapetus_ 3317

2164 Birth of Shem 3315

2165 Birth of Ham 3314

2227 Death of Lamech 3252

2256 Death of Methuselah 3223

2256 _Flavian Epoch of the Flood_ 3223

2262 True Epoch of the Flood 3217

SECOND AGE OF THE WORLD.

2263 Descent of Noah from the Ark 3216

2263 First appearance of the Rainbow 3216

2264 Birth of Arphaxad 3215

2377 _Hindoo Epoch of the Calyougham_ 3102

2399 Birth of Cainan II. 3080

2401 First Jubilee of Jubilees from Creation 3078

2526 _Chinese Epoch of Fohi_ 2953

2529 Birth of Salah 2950

2579 _Foundation of Egypt by Mizraim_ 2900

2612 Death of Noah 2867

2659 Birth of Eber 2820

2764 Death of Shem 2715

2793 Birth of Peleg or Phalec 2686

2802 Death of Arphaxad 2677

2859 Death of Cainan II. 2620

2923 Birth of Reu or Ragau 2556

2962 Death of Salah 2517

3018 _Chinese Epoch of Tchouen-Hiu_ 2461

3055 Birth of Serug 2424

3063 Death of Eber 2416

3079 *Foundation of Babel 2400

3081 *Confusion of Tongues 2398

3081 *Division of the Earth 2398

3122 _Chinese Epoch of Yao_ 2357

3132 Death of Peleg 2347

3152 _Foundation of Memphis by Menes_ 2327

3185 Birth of Nahor 2294

3249 *Birth of Job 2236

3246 _Babylon taken by the Medes_ 2233

3246 _Chaldean Astronomical Epoch_ 2233

3262 Death of Reu 2217

3264 Birth of Terah 2215

3297 _Foundation of the Assyrian Monarchy_ 2182

3334 Birth of Abraham 2145

3343 *Trial of Job 2136

3385 Death of Serug 2094

3406 *Abraham arrives in Haran 2073

3409 Death of Terah 2070

3409 True Epoch of the Call of Abraham 2070

THIRD AGE OF THE WORLD.

3410 Descent of Abraham to Egypt 2069

3418 Canaan promised to Abraham 2061

3420 Birth of Ishmael 2059

3433 Covenant of Circumcision 2046

3433 Destruction of Sodom 2046

3434 Birth of Isaac 2045

3471 Death of Sarah 2008

3474 Marriage of Isaac 2005

3483 *Death of Job 1996

3494 Birth of Jacob and Esau 1985

3509 Death of Abraham 1970

3522 _Foundation of Sicyon_ 1957

3534 Marriage of Esau 1935

3557 Death of Ishmael 1922

3571 Jacob goes to Padan-aram 1908

3571 Marriage of Jacob 1908

3572 Birth of Reuben 1907

3574 Birth of Simeon 1905

3575 Birth of Levi 1904

3576 Birth of Judah 1903

3587 _Foundation of the Assyrian Empire_ 1892

3591 Jacob returns to Canaan 1888

3598 Birth of Benjamin 1881

3602 Joseph carried into Egypt 1877

3614 Death of Isaac 1865

3615 Joseph made Regent of Egypt 1864

3616 First Year of Plenty 1863

3622 Birth of Kohath 1857

3624 Eisodus of Jacob into Egypt 1855

3641 Death of Jacob 1838

3684 Birth of Amram 1795

3695 Death of Joseph 1784

3712 Death of Levi 1767

3726 _Descent of Phoroneus_ 1753

3755 Death of Kohath 1724

3756 Birth of Aaron 1723

3759 Birth of Moses 1720

3787 _Foundation of Argos_ 1692

3799 Moses flies to Midian 1680

3837 _Flood of Ogyges_ 1642

3840 True Epoch of the Exodus 1639

FOURTH AGE OF THE WORLD.

3840 The Law proclaimed at Sinai 1639

3879 Death of Aaron and Moses 1600

3880 Passage of the Jordan 1599

3886 Division of Canaan by Lot 1593

3896 Death of Joshua 1583

3894 _Foundation of Athens_ 1585

3907 First Servitude of Israel 1572

3915 Critarchate of Othniel 1564

3955 Second Servitude 1524

3973 Critarchate of Ehud 1506

3988 _Indian Astronomical Epoch_ 1491

4013 _Descent of Danaus and Pelasgus_ 1466

4043 _Flood of Deucalion_ 1436

4043 Third Servitude 1426

4073 Critarchate of Deborah and Barak 1406

4096 _Reign of Dardanus and Erectheus_ 1383

4113 Fourth Servitude 1366

4119 _The Sphere of Chiron or Musæus_ 1360

4120 Critarchate of Gideon 1359

4146 _Azan, Aphidas and Elatus, in Arcadia_ 1333

4160 Critarchate of Abimelech 1319

4163 Critarchate of Tolah 1316

4166 _Descent of Cadmus_ 1313

4186 Critarchate of Jair 1293

4196 _Descent of Pelops_ 1283

4208 Fifth Servitude 1271

4218 _Birth of Hercules_ 1261

4226 Critarchate of Jephthah 1253

4232 Critarchate of Ibzan 1247

4239 Critarchate of Elon 1240

4249 Critarchate of Abdon 1230

4254 _Argonautic Expedition_ 1225

4257 Sixth Servitude 1222

4266 _First Theban War_ 1213

4292 _Destruction of Troy_ 1184

4297 Critarchate of Eli 1182

4303 _Reign of Orestes at Argos_ 1176

4337 Seventh Servitude 1142

4355 _Æolic Migration_ 1124

4357 Critarchate of Samuel 1122

4369 Reign of Saul 1110

4375 _Return of the Heraclidæ_ 1104

2227 Death of Lamech 3252

4379 Birth of David 1100

4405 _Reign of Aletes at Corinth_ 1074

4409 Reign of David 1070

4417 Capture of Jerusalem 1062

4435 _Ionic Migration_ 1044

4449 Reign of Solomon 1030

4452 Foundation of Solomon’s Temple 1027

FIFTH AGE OF THE WORLD.

4459 Completion of Solomon’s Temple 1020

4464 _Foundation of Smyrna_ 1015

4489 Revolt of the Ten Tribes of Israel 990

4489 Reign of Jeroboam and Rehoboam 990

4492 Lapse of the Twelve Tribes into Idolatry 987

4494 Invasion of Shishak 985

4506 Reign of Abijah 973

4509 Reign of Asa 970

4511 Reign of Nadab 968

4512 Reign of Baasha 967

4517 _Acme of Homer_ 962

4520 Asa defeats the Ethiopians 959

4535 Reign of Ela 944

4536 Reigns of Zimri and Omri 943

4537 _Acme of Hesiod_ 942

4540 Foundation of Samaria 939

4546 Reign of Ahab 933

4550 Reign of Jehoshaphat 929

4553 Jehoshaphat appoints Judges 926

4555 Mission of Elijah 924

4558 Destruction of the Prophets of Baal 921

4568 Reign of Ahaziah 911

4569 Translation of Elijah 910

4569 Mission of Elisha 910

4570 Reign of Joram 909

4575 Reign of Jehoram 904

4581 Reign of Ahaziah 898

4582 Reigns of Athaliah and Jehu 897

4588 Reign of Jehoash 891

4595 _Olympiad of Iphitus_ 884

4604 Mission of Jonah 875

4610 Reign of Jehoahaz 869

4627 Death of Elisha 852

4627 Reign of Joash 852

4628 Reign of Amaziah 851

4633 Reign of Jeroboam II. 836

4657 Interregnum in Judah 822

4669 Reign of Uzziah 810

4684 Interregnum in Israel 795

4684 Missions of Hosea and Amos 795

4703 _Era of the Olympiads_ 776

4706 Reigns of Zechariah and Shallum 773

4708 Invasion of Pul 771

4718 Reign of Pekahiah 761

4719 Mission of Isaiah 760

4720 Reign of Pekah 759

4721 Reign of Jotham 758

4726 _Foundation of Rome_ 753

4729 Mission of Micah 750

4732 _Era of Nabonassar_ 747

4737 Reign of Ahaz 742

4739 Captivity of the Transjordanic Tribes 740

4740 Interregnum in Israel 739

4745 _Foundation of Syracuse_ 734

4750 Reign of Hoshea 729

4752 Mission of Nahum 727

4753 Reign of Hezekiah 726

4758 Captivity of the Ten Tribes 721

4766 Invasion of Sennacherib 713

4767 Destruction of the Assyrian Army 712

4768 _Revolt of the Medes_ 711

4782 Reign of Manasseh 697

4792 _Foundation of the Median Empire_ 687

4796 _Creon First Annual Archon at Athens_ 683

4802 Captivity of Manasseh 677

4802 Second Jubilee of Jubilees from Creation 677

4802 Captivity of the Remnant of Israel 677

4822 _Foundation of Byzantium_ 657

4837 Reign of Amon 642

4839 Reign of Josiah 640

4840 _Birth of Thales_ 639

4850 Josiah reforms the Land 629

4851 Mission of Jeremiah 628

4856 The Book of the Law found 623

4856 Mission of Zephaniah 623

4858 _Legislation of Draco_ 621

4859 Missions of Joel and Habakkuk 620

4863 Reign of Pharaoh Necho 616

4867 Destruction of Nineveh 612

4868 _The acme of Sappho_ 611

4869 Reign of Jehoahaz 610

4869 _Birth of Anaximander_ 610

4870 Reign of Jehoiakim 609

4873 Reign of Nebuchadnezzar 606

4873 Era of the Babylonish Captivity 606

4874 First Vision of Nebuchadnezzar 605

4876 Rebellion of Jehoiakim 603

4876 _Epoch of the Eclipse of Thales_ 603

4880 Reign of Jehoiachin 599

4881 1st year of Jehoiachin’s Captivity 598

4881 Reign of Zedekiah 598

4884 _Birth of Crœsus_ 595

4885 Mission of Ezekiel 594

4885 _Legislation of Solon_ 594

4889 Siege of Jerusalem 590

4891 Destruction of Solomon’s Temple 588

SIXTH AGE OF THE WORLD.

4891 The BABYLONIAN or ASSYRIAN EMPIRE 588

4893 _Celebration of the Pythian games_ 586

4893 _Era of the Seven Sages of Greece_ 586

4907 _Acme of Esop_ 572

4918 Reign of Evil Merodach 561

4937 Release of Jehoiachin 562

4920 _Reign of Neriglissar_ 559

4920 _Reign of Cyrus in Persia_ 559

4924 Reign of Nabonadius or Belshazzar 555

4924 The First Vision of Daniel 555

4924 The Second Vision of Daniel 557

4931 _Anaximenes flourished_ 548

4931 Cyrus takes Sardis 548

4939 _Pythagoras flourished_ 540

4941 Cyrus takes Babylon 538

4941 _Xenophanes flourished_ 538

4941 Reign of Darius the Mede 538

4941 The Third Vision of Daniel 538

4943 MEDO-PERSIAN EMPIRE 536

4943 1st year of Cyrus the Persian 536

4943 Commission of Zerubbabel and Joshua 536

4944 Foundation of the Second Temple 535

4945 The Fourth Vision of Daniel 534

4948 _Anacreon flourished_ 531

4950 Reign of Cambyses or Ahasuerus 529

4954 _Cambyses conquers Egypt_ 525

4954 _Birth of Æschylus_ 525

4957 _Usurpation of the Persian Throne_ 522

4958 Reign of Darius Hystaspes 521

4959 Missions of Haggai and Zechariah 520

4959 The Second Temple re-founded 520

4961 _Birth of Pindar_ 518

4963 The Destruction of Babylon 516

4963 The Second Temple completed 516

4970 _The Roman Regifugium_ 509

4971 _Expulsion of the Pisistratidæ_ 510

4979 _Birth of Anaxagoras_ 508

4984 _Birth of Sophocles_ 495

4989 _The Battle of Marathon_ 490

4994 Reign of Xerxes the Great 485

4995 _Birth of Herodotus_ 484

4996 _Ostracism of Aristides_ 483

4999 _Battle of Salamis_ 480

4999 _Birth of Euripides_ 480

5008 _Birth of Thucydides_ 471

5011 _Birth of Socrates_ 468

5015 Reign of Artaxerxes Longimanus 464

5015 _Zeno flourished_ 464

5019 _Births of Democritus and Hippocrates_ 460

5021 The Commission of Ezra 458

5021 The 1st Week of Daniel begins 458

5024 _Empedocles flourished_ 455

5028 _The Roman Decemviri_ 451

5030 _Restoration of the Consuls_ 449

5034 The Commission of Nehemiah 445

5035 _Military Tribunes at Rome_ 444

5046 Nehemiah returns to Artaxerxes 433

5047 _Meton flourished_ 432

5048 _The Peloponnessian War_ 431

5049 Mission of Malachi 430

5050 _Birth of Plato_ 429

5051 _Aristophanes flourished_ 428

5055 Close of the Old Testament Canon 424

5056 Reign of Darius Nothus 423

5070 The 7th Week of Daniel ends 409

5075 Reign of Artaxerxes Mnemon 404

5075 _Lysander takes Athens_ 404

5078 _The Anabasis of Xenophon_ 401

5081 _Ctesias flourished_ 398

5089 _Rome burnt by the Gauls_ 390

5095 _Birth of Aristotle_ 384

5108 _Battle of Leuctra_ 371

5111 _Eudoxus flourished_ 368

5113 _Consuls restored at Rome_ 366

5119 The 14th Week of Daniel ends 360

5120 _The accession of Philip_ 359

5121 Reign of Ochus 358

5123 _Birth of Alexander the Great_ 356

5138 _Birth of Epicurus_ 341

5139 _Demosthenes flourished_ 340

5141 _Battle of Chæronea_ 338

5142 Reign of Arses 337

5143 _Reign of Alexander in Macedon_ 336

5144 Reign of Darius Codomannus 335

5145 _Alexander crosses the Hellespont_ 334

5147 Tyre taken by Alexander 332

5147 _Alexandria founded_ 332

5148 _Battle of Arbela_ 331

5150 MACEDO-GRECIAN EMPIRE 329

5156 Death of Alexander 323

5159 Ptolemy takes Jerusalem 320

5168 The 21st Week of Daniel ends 311

5167 Era of the Seleucidæ or Contracts 312

5174 _Reign of Ptolemy Lagus_ 305

5180 _Arcesilaus flourished_ 299

5194 _Reign of Ptolemy Philadelphus_ 285

5199 Reign of Antiochus Soter 280

5200 _Irruption of the Gauls into Greece_ 279

5202 Epoch of the Septuagint Version 277

5215 _First Punic War_ 264

5217 The 28th Week of Daniel ends 262

5218 Reign of Antiochus Theus 261

5232 _Reign of Ptolemy Evergetes_ 247

5233 Reign of Seleucus Callinicius 246

5238 _Sicily ceded to Rome_ 241

5254 Reign of Seleucus Ceraunus 225

5256 Reign of Antiochus the Great 223

5257 _Reign of Ptolemy Philopator_ 222

5261 _Second Punic War_ 218

5263 _Battle of Cannæ_ 216

5266 The 35th Week of Daniel ends 213

5274 _Reign of Ptolemy Epiphanes_ 205

5289 _The Romans cross the Hellespont_ 190

5292 Reign of Seleucus Philopator 187

5298 _Reign of Ptolemy Philometor_ 181

5304 Reign of Antiochus Epiphanes 175

5304 Antiochus persecutes the Jews 10 years 175

5304 End of the Jewish Hierarchy 175

5309 Antiochus sacks Jerusalem 170

5311 _Macedon subdued by the Romans_ 168

5312 Martyrdom of the Maccabees 167

5313 The Asamonean Dynasty 166

5313 Reign of Judas Maccabeus 166

5315 Reign of Antiochus Eupator 164

5315 The 42d Week of Daniel ends 164

5317 Reign of Demetrius Soter 162

5318 The Jews allied with the Romans 161

5329 Reign of Alexander Balas 150

5330 _Third Punic War_ 149

5333 Reign of Demetrius Nicator 146

5333 _Reign of Ptolemy Physcon_ 146

5333 _Destruction of Carthage_ 146

5336 Reign of Antiochus VI. Epiphanes 143

5337 Reign of Trypho 142

5341 Reign of Antiochus Sidetes 138

5351 2d Reign of Demetrius Nicator 128

5354 Reign of Alexander Zebina 125

5356 Reign of Antiochus Grypus 123

5362 _Reign of Ptolemy Soter_ 117

5364 The 49th Week of Daniel ends 115

5374 _Africa made a Roman Province_ 105

5384 Reign of Seleucus Nicator 95

5387 Reign of Philip 92

5389 _Cicero flourished_ 90

5396 Reign of Tigranes 83

5397 _Sylla made Perpetual Dictator_ 82

5398 _Reign of Ptolemy Auletes_ 81

5410 _Birth of Virgil_ 69

5410 Reign of Antiochus Asiaticus 69

5413 The 56th Week of Daniel ends 66

5414 _Birth of Horace_ 65

5414 Syria made a Roman Province 65

5416 Jerusalem taken by Pompey 63

5419 _First Roman Triumvirate_ 60

5421 _Birth of Livy_ 58

5421 _Julius Cæsar invades Gaul_ 58

5425 _Julius Cæsar reduces Britain_ 54

5428 _Reign of Cleopatra_ 51

5431 _Battle of Pharsalia_ 48

5434 The 59th Week of Daniel ends 45

5434 _The Julian Era_ 45

5435 _Death of Julius Cæsar_ 44

5436 _Second Roman Triumvirate_ 43

5437 _The Battle of Philippi_ 42

5441 The 60th Week of Daniel ends 38

5441 _The Spanish Era_ 38

5442 Reign of Herod 37

5442 End of the Asamoneans 37

5448 The 61st Week of Daniel ends 31

5448 _The Battle of Actium_ 31

5449 _Egypt made a Roman Province_ 33

5449 THE ROMAN EMPIRE 30

5449 Reign of Augustus Cæsar 30

5452 _The Augustan Era_ 27

5455 The 62d Week of Daniel ends 24

5455 THE TEMPLE OF JANUS SHUT 24

5462 The 63d Week of Daniel ends 17

5462 The Temple at Jerusalem rebuilt by Herod 17

5476 The 65th Week of Daniel ends 3

5476 BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST 3

5478 Reign of Archelaus 1

A.D.

5478 VULGAR ERA OF CHRISTIANITY 1

5486 Judea made a Roman Province 8

5492 Reign of Tiberius Cesar 14

5504 The 69th Week of Daniel ends 26

5505 Pontius Pilate procurator of Judea 27

5506 BAPTISM OF CHRIST 28

5511 The 70th Week of Daniel ends 33

5511 THE CRUCIFIXION AND ASCENSION 33

5511 THE FIFTH EMPIRE 33

-----

Footnote 1:

‘Ο πᾶs χρόνος καὶ τὰ ἔτη δείκνυται, τοντοῖς βονλομένοῖς πείθεσθαι τῇ

ἄληθείᾳ.—Theoph. ad Autol. Lib. III. p. 273, Oxon. 1684.

Footnote 2:

See his “Syntagma de Septuaginta,” p. 13, Lond. 1655, and his

“Chronologia Sacra,” p. 46, Oxon. 1660. In our subsequent citations,

these editions are followed; the latter is denominated “Opus Posthumum

hucusque ἀνέκδοτον.”

Footnote 3:

This translation, which is from the Septuagint, may be considered as

too free by some; but we conceive that it expresses the true meaning

of the passage, which is not conveyed in our common version; for the

earth abideth _not_ for ever!

Footnote 4:

The reader will find an explanation of Mr. Cuninghame’s argument in

the second part of this Dissertation.

Footnote 5:

Revelation xiii. 17.

Footnote 6:

Ibid. xxii. 19.

Footnote 7:

Dr. Hales says, “The Targum of Jonathan Ben Uzziel, of the highest

authority among the Jews, thus paraphrases Gen. iv. 25: ‘And Adam knew

his wife when 130 years were completed after Abel was killed.’ And the

same account is furnished by the Bereshith Rabba, More Nevochim,

Midrash Tanchuma, Solomon Jarchi, Elias, and others of their principal

writers.”—See his “Analysis of Chronology,” vol. i. p. 80. Indeed, the

whole of the second article of the second section of his Introduction,

is well worth perusal, being full of very curious and interesting

matter, all tending powerfully to prove that the longer computation of

the Septuagint was the true and original computation of the Hebrew

text. His comparison of the Masorete and Samaritan texts in regard to

Genesis xi. 10–32, is very valuable; see p. 82.

Footnote 8:

“Syntagma,” cap. iv. p. 34.

Footnote 9:

We refer here to the date of the division of the earth as determined

by Mr. Cuninghame; see the Preface to his “Synopsis of Chronology,”

pp. 18–22, and his “Fulness of the Times,” p. 44. In these works, he

makes out that the division commenced in A. M. 3081 or B. C. 2398;

that it continued during a jubilean period, or forty-nine years; and,

of course, that it terminated in A. M. 3130, or B. C. 2349. We confess

that we do not see the necessity of allowing so long a period for the

division of the earth; and we think it more likely to have been

finished than to have been begun at the former date.

Footnote 10:

This name is marked in this and the two following Tables, on account

of its omission in the Hebrew and Samaritan texts.

Footnote 11:

Usher’s “Chronologia Sacra,” cap. vi. p. 87.

Footnote 12:

The citations from Dr. Hales’ work are referred to the 4to. edition,

Lond. 1800–1812.

Footnote 13:

Collatio Codicis Cottoniani Gen seos, &c. Lond. 1778, p. xiii.

Footnote 14:

“Analysis of Chronology,” vol. i. p. 84.

Footnote 15:

“Chronologia Sacra,” cap. vii. p. 120.

Footnote 16:

It is remarkable that both Hales and Russell, notwithstanding their

acknowledged veneration for the Holy Scriptures, have chosen to follow

the testimony of Josephus, in regard to the extent of the first two

ages of the world; but “their witness agrees not together;” for the

former makes it 3333 years, and the latter 3403 years!

Footnote 17:

See the Prefaces to the “Synopsis of Chronology;” the “Chronology of

Israel;” the “Hebrew and Septuagint Chronologies Tried;” the

“Scientific Chronology of the year 1839,” and its Supplement; and the

“Season of the End.”

Footnote 18:

“History of the World,” pp. 228, 277.

Footnote 19:

The Eulerian ratio here referred to, is that the numbers of mankind

are doubled every 12⅘ years. Now, in 90 years, the doubling would

occur about 7 times, which would occasion the original number to be

increased 128 times; because the 7th power of 2 is 128. Hence, 50,000

multiplied by 128, gives 6,400,000, which is nearly 6½ millions. If

the calculation be performed with the greatest mathematical nicety,

the result will only be 6,540,256, which is rather more than 6½

millions.

Footnote 20:

The pretensions of any nation to a remote antiquity could only arise

from ignorance of the sacred records, and of the true traditions of

its ancestors, or from a bold disbelief of both. The Jews cannot be

charged with either of these, their character being remarkably the

reverse until Christ came. Hence we cannot suppose that the Seventy

Interpreters would wilfully shut their eyes to the glaring facts, that

the true age of the world was well known to their countrymen, that

many of them were then living in the hope of the fulfilment of the

prophecies concerning the Messiah, and that they were then accustomed

“to calculate the times.” Any attempt on their part, therefore, to

increase that age by 1500 years, would have been looked upon with

abhorrence; nor could they hope to escape detection and severe

reprobation; unless, indeed, we can suppose that they had assembled

all the Jews “from every nation under heaven,” and made them privy to

the transaction! Before the advent, therefore, such an alteration in

the sacred text was impossible; but after that event it was not only

possible, but actually took place, not in the _Greek_ but in the

_Hebrew_, the former being read all over the world, but the latter

being confined to the Jewish synagogue.

Footnote 21:

Chronologia Sacra, pp. 162 and 171.

Footnote 22:

Although the extent of the _third_ age is clearly established by the

reference of Paul to the period of 430 years, from the confirmation of

the covenant to Abraham to the promulgation of the law from Mount

Sinai, yet it will be satisfactory to observe, that the passage cited

from the book of Exodus originally stood as follows:—“And the

sojourning of the children of Israel, _which they and their fathers_

sojourned in the land of Egypt _and in the land of Canaan_, was 430

years. And it came to pass, after the 430 years, that all the host of

the Lord went out of the land of Egypt _by night_;” see the

Septuagint, Alexandrine edition, and the Samaritan Pentateuch, Exod.

xii. 40, 41. The words in Italics in this passage are omitted in the

Hebrew text, and the words “_even the self-same day_,” are

interpolated. That this is an interpolation is quite evident, for even

in the Hebrew, in the very next verse, we are _twice_ told that “It is

a _night_ much to be observed unto the Lord,” for this great

deliverance. Thus, by the testimony of _three_ witnesses against

_one_, the true reading is established. Nevertheless, Archbishop Usher

calls the passage just cited from the Septuagint a _paraphrastic

explanation_ of the words of Moses; and he says that the corresponding

passage in the Samaritan text is _interpolated_ from the Greek

version!—“Chronologia Sacra,” cap. viii. p. 127. Biblical critics and

commentators, in general, _now_ admit that these texts have preserved

the _true reading_; see the note on this passage, by the editor of the

Religious Tract Society’s Commentary on the Bible, from Henry and

Scott. Mr. Clinton also very properly defends the right

_interpretation_ of the passage; for he says, “some modern writers

have very unreasonably doubted this portion of the Hebrew chronology;”

see “Fasti Hellenici,” vol. i. page 299.

Footnote 23:

The following is the passage as written by Origen, in his commentary

on the Gospel of St. John:—γέγραπται γὰρ έν τῃ τρίτῃ τῶν βασιλειων, ὡς

ἡτοίμασαν τοὺς λίθους, καὶ τὰ ξύλα τρισὶν ἔτεσιν· ἐν δὲ τῳ τεταρτῳ

ετει, μηνι δευτέρῳ, βασιλεύοντος τοῦ βασιλέως Σολομὼντος ἐπὶ Ισραήλ,

ἐνετείλατο ὁ βασιλέυς, κ.τ.λ.; which reads thus:—_It is written in the

third [book] of Kings, so they prepared stones and timber for three

years; and in the fourth year, in the second month, of the reign of

King Solomon over Israel, the king commanded, &c._ 1 Kings v. 18; and

vi. 1.

Footnote 24:

Mr. Cuninghame’s remarks on Usher’s system, in his “Synopsis of

Chronology,” pp. 18–20, are very appropriate. We are forced to abridge

them as follows:—“I have in my former works, shown that the learned

prelate’s Chronology of this period is _manufactured_; and in this

conclusion I have the support of the most eminent writers, including

the names of Hales, Kennicott, Dr. Russell, Mr. Clinton, added to the

whole of the ancient chronographers. The latest attempt made to prop

up or patch his system as a whole, is that of the author of the

Chapter on Chronology, in the last edition of Mr. Bickersteth’s _Guide

to the Prophecies_. But while this learned chronographer thus sets his

seal to the almost _exact truth_ of Usher’s _sum total_ of years, he

no less sets his seal to the fact that Usher has _filled up_ the

period by a _false chronology_. According to this learned writer, it

is therefore undeniable that Usher’s chronology of the period from the

Exodus to the first of Solomon is, as to its _particulars_,

manufactured and erroneous. Now it is quite a fair question to Mr.

Bickersteth and his friend, to ask them by what arithmetical process

they have found out that the scheme which they thus bear testimony to

be _false_ as to its _particulars_, is yet _true_ as to its _sum

total_. Is it a newly discovered principle that many falsehoods make

one truth? As to the scheme of particulars substituted for that of

Usher in these tables, it is like that of the learned prelate himself,

utterly opposed to the narrative and testimony of the book of Judges.

There is one part of the scheme, however, which merits even more

severe animadversion. The author of the Table makes the period in Acts

xiii. 20, expire at the return of the ark from Kirjathjearim. Are we

then to conclude that he has clipped down St. Paul’s 450 to 350? I can

see no other mode of explaining his calculation.”

Footnote 25:

This is the Hebrew title of the most famous Jewish work on chronology,

and signifies “The Great Chronicle of the World.” Dr. Hales says,

“This was the first curtailed system of Jewish chronology, fabricated

by Rabbi _Josi_, under the auspices of Rabbi _Akiba_, the abettor of

the rebel-impostor _Barchochab_, A.D. 130, in the reign of

Adrian.”—See his “Analysis,” p. 13.

Footnote 26:

“I have endeavoured to shew,” says Mr. Cuninghame, in the former of

the places cited, “that the periods of 390 and 40 mystic _days_,

during which Ezekiel was commanded to lie on his sides, bearing the

iniquity of Judah and Israel, are a period of 430 _years_, computed

from the finishing of the Temple, B.C. 1020, to the beginning of the

siege of Jerusalem, B.C. 590. But it now appears to me that the 430

years may with equal probability be computed from the first Passover

in the Temple. The dedication was in the month Tisri of B.C. 1019,

which is exactly 91 jubilees from the creation; the first Passover was

therefore in Nisan B.C. 1018, whence to the taking of the city in Ab

B.C. 588, are 430 years and three months; and computing back from B.C.

588, the second period of 40 years, it brings us to B.C. 628, the 13th

of Josiah, and the very year, according to Prideaux, of the commission

of Jeremiah. * * * Whether, therefore, we compute the period of 430

years from the finishing of the Temple B.C. 1020, to the _beginning of

the siege_ B.C. 590, or as above, from the first Passover to the

_taking of the city_, it comes out with equal exactness.”

Footnote 27:

See a full account of this Canon, in Dr. Hales’ “Analysis,” vol. i.

pp. 275–288; and a short account of it, in the “Breviarium

Chronologicum” of Strauchius, translated by Sault, pp. 262–264, 3rd

edition, Lond. 1745.

Footnote 28:

See his “Chart of Sacred Chronology.”

Footnote 29:

See his “Apology, &c.,” translated by the Rev. T. Chevallier, B.D., p.

221, Cambridge, 1833.

Footnote 30:

Mr. Cuninghame says that “Mr. Gresswell produces a mass of quotations

from the Fathers, scarcely two of whom entirely agree, to prove that

they nearly all held that our Lord’s death was in one of the years 29

or 30, [A. M. 5507 or 5508], or some of them in 31, [A. M. 5509]; yet

with respect to some of his witnesses, he is obliged to exclaim, ‘_So

little solicitous do these writers seem to be about verifying their

dates, before they allowed them to remain on record_.’ If he were to

give us 100 volumes of such passages to wade through, which is merely

wading through a mass of contradictions, they can avail nothing

against the unequivocal testimony of St. Luke, that in the 15th of

Tiberius our Lord was 30 years of age, and was therefore born in B. C.

3, [A. M. 5476]; and the other fact, founded on the unerring

principles of Astronomy, that from the year 28 to 33, [A. M. 5506 to

5511], no Passover could possibly have fallen on a Friday; and,

therefore, the death of our Lord is pinned down to A. D. 33, [A. M.

5511].” “Season of the End,” p. 85.

Footnote 31:

Jerome even went further than this, and adopted the curtailed system

of the Jews in some of his writings, if not in all.

Footnote 32:

The Birth of Christ took place according to

_The Septuagint._

In the 5476th year from Creation; the 3215th from the Deluge; the

2143d from the birth of Abraham; the 1637th from the Exodus; and the

1068th from the accession of David; the 65th prophetic week of Daniel;

the 193d Olympiad; the 751st year of Rome; and the 42d of Augustus.

_The Hebrew Text._

In the 4000th year from the Creation; the 2344th from the Deluge; the

1992d from the birth of Abraham; the 1487th from the Exodus; and the

1051st from the accession of David; the 65th prophetic week of Daniel;

the 193d Olympiad; the 749th year of Rome; and the 40th of Augustus.

Footnote 33:

Rabbi _Salomon Jarchi_, qui nous a donné l’explication de cette

tradition, dit que les deux mille ans de _Tohu_, ou d’_Inanité_, ont

duré depuis la création du monde jusque vers la cinquante ou

soixantième année d’Abraham, et que les deux milles ans de Loi ont

commencé vers ce tems-la, lorsque Dieu le fit sortir de Chaldeé, et

lui donna des lois pour lui et pour toute sa posterité, principalement

celle de la circoncision; et qu’ils ont fini vers la destruction de

Jérusalem par Titus. Il ajoute enfin ces paroles: _Mais nos péchés

sont la cause que le Messie n’est point venu au bout des quatre mille

ans_. p. 1527.

Footnote 34:

The rules for the determination of the approximating ratios of any two

numbers by the method of _Continued Fractions_, are very clearly

explained, on _Algebraical_ principles in _Hind’s Algebra_, 5th

edition, pp. 273–292; and, on _Arithmetical_ principles in _Thomson’s

Arithmetic_, 16th edition, pp. 241–246. We subjoin the operation, as

much abridged as possible, by which the preceding series of fractions

was obtained. Reducing the above lengths of the year and the month

into seconds, we have the numbers 31556929·7 and 2551442·87; hence,

2 255144287 3155692970 12

187923052 3061731444

————————— —————————

2 67221235 93961526 1

53480582 67221235

————————— —————————

1 13740653 26740291 1

12999638 13740653

————————— —————————

1 741015 12999638 17

402383 12597255

————————— —————————

338632 402383 1

&c.

Quotients, 12, 2, 1, 2, 1, 1, 17, 1, 1, &c.

Ratios, ¹⁄₁₂, ²⁄₂₅, ³⁄₃₇, ⁸⁄₉₉, ¹¹⁄₁₃₆, ¹⁹⁄₂₃₅, ³³⁴⁄₄₁₃₁, ³⁵³⁄₄₃₆₆, ⁶⁸⁷⁄₈₄₉₇, &c.

Unmathematical readers will find a much more simple, but of course, a

more lengthened explanation, of these ratios in Mr. Cuninghame’s

“Synopsis of Chronology,” pp. 6–10, and 54–60.

Footnote 35:

We have much satisfaction in giving the following abridgement of the

remarks of Mr. Birks, on this interesting subject; pp. 371, 372. Thus,

he says, “A fresh light is thrown upon the words of the Psalmist, _He

appointed the moon for seasons_. A divine ladder of time is set before

us, and, as we rise successively from step to step, days are replaced

by years, and years by millenia; and these, perhaps, hereafter, in

their turn, by some higher unit, from which the soul of man may

measure out cycles still more vast, and obtain a wider view of the

immeasurable grandeur of eternity. Human science has strained its

utmost efforts in calculating the actual motions of the Moon and the

Earth; but the determining causes which fixed at first the proportion

of their monthly and yearly revolutions have altogether eluded its

research. Yet these elements of the natural universe are linked in, by

these sacred times and celestial cycles, with the deepest wonders of

Providence, and the whole range of Divine prophecy. How glorious,

then, must be the inner shrine, lit up with the Shechinah of the

Divine Presence, when the approaches themselves reveal such a secret

and hidden wisdom!”

Footnote 36:

See his work “On the Jubilean Chronology of the Seventh Trumpet of the

Apocalypse,” pp. 1–3, and 19–26.

Footnote 37:

Dr. Hales, in his “Analysis,” vol. ii. p. 1354, gives the following

explanation of the “_enigmatical_ number of the name of the second

_Beast_, in its second stage, after the _image_ was made,” from

_Fuardentius_, an early Romish writer, followed by _Walmsley_. The

number 666 is the numeral amount of [Mahomet] the _False Prophet’s_

name, written Μοαμετις or Μαομετις, by the Greek Historians _Zonaras_

and _Cedrenus_:—

Μ, Α, Ο, Μ, Ε, Τ, Ι, Σ.

40 + 1 + 70 + 40 + 5 + 300 + 10 + 200 = 666.

This is very curious, and indicates the strong likeness between

_Popery_ and _Islamism_, in some grand point, namely, _the Spirit of

Persecution_!! John xiii. 35. The following explanation of the number

of the Beast, is taken from Mr. Cuninghame’s “Supplement to the

Scientific Chronology of the year 1839,” pp. 28, 29. “In my

Dissertation on the Seals, I have adopted the usual Protestant

Solution and application of this number, as being found [first by

Irenæus] in the name of LATINUS, the founder of the LATIN KINGDOM,

written with the epsilon, Λατείνος, according to the ancient Greek

orthography; or, if it be written without the ε, according to the

later usage, then we owe to Mr. Clarke the important discovery, that

is found in the name of the LATIN KINGDOM,—Ἡ Λατίνη Βασίλεία.

Λ = 30 Ἡ = 8 Β = 2

α = 1 α = 1

τ = 300 Λ = 30 σ = 200

ε = 5 α = 1 ι = 10

ι = 10 τ = 300 λ = 30

ν = 50 ι = 10 ε = 5

ο = 70 ν = 50 ι = 10

ς = 200 η = 8 α = 1

———— ———— ————

666 = 407 + 259

Now, without in the least departing from this interpretation, I

remark, that while it correctly ascertains the PERSON or POWER to whom

this number belongs, namely, THE LATIN EMPIRE, BOTH SECULAR AND

SPIRITUAL; yet it does not COUNT or COMPUTE the number itself, or

discover to us its ROOT in arithmetic. The expression, _Let him that

hath understanding_ COUNT, “Ψηφισατω”, _the number of the Beast_,

cannot mean to find the number itself, for this is given; nor does it

merely signify to find out the name which expresses that number; but

it also means that the root of the number must be found, and the

number computed from it; and further, it signifies, I apprehend, that

we must apply the number to the chronology of the Beast himself, in

connection with that of the World, in which he exercises his

dominion.”

Footnote 38:

See _Note A_. p. 130.

Footnote 39:

This abstract of his arguments was communicated to the author by Mr.

Cuninghame.

Footnote 40:

See _Note B_. p. 132.

Footnote 41:

In L’Estrange’s Translation of Josephus, p. 10, he says “God commanded

Eve to tread upon his [the Serpent’s] head, both as the fountain of

all our woes, and as the part where he most easily receives a mortal

wound.” Reland says “Quia interpres vetus hæc reddit, _ut mulier ejus

capiti plagas inferret_, &c. Nulla apud Josephum est mentio mulieris,

nec ullum hactenus codicem Josephi conspectum memini, in quo hoc loco

mulier commemoratur.”—Hudson’s Josephus, vol. i. page 8, note c.

Footnote 42:

For the accuracy of _this number_ we have the testimony of Josephus in

two different places of his works, which have escaped the alterations

made in the text of his Jewish Antiquities, by wicked and designing

persons. See the Proœmium to that work, paragraph γ; and the Prologue

to his first Book against Apion.

Footnote 43:

This eminent Prophet was favoured with a vision of God’s glory, which,

though preceded by storm, and earthquake, and fire, was accompanied

with a _still small voice_. This was the _voice_ of love and mercy,

whose sweetest notes were heard at Calvary without the gate; for the

Septuagint says, κακεῖ Κυριος, _and the Lord was there_; 1 Kings xix.

12.—See the Alexandrine edition.

Footnote 44:

A name of Apollo, or the Sun; hence, perhaps, Ορος, a _mountain_,

because the _morning sun_ first appears on the mountain-tops.

Footnote 45:

This inversion, or _Metathesis_, is not uncommon in Hebrew, see Joshua

xix. 50, and xxiv. 30, compared with Judges ii. 8, 9, where it occurs

in this very word in composition.

Footnote 46:

“The construction of this sentence in the original, indicates that

_Baal_ and the _Sun_ are to be considered as one and the same; for the

copulative ‏‘ו‎ _Vau_, is not put between them as it is between the

remaining words; thus, _and_ the Moon, _and_ the Planets (or, more

literally, _and_ Mazzaroth), &c.” The latter term, which occurs also

in Job xxxviii. 32, is understood by most critics, to signify the

_Twelve Signs of the Zodiac_; if this be its real meaning, the

doctrine of the _Celestial Sphere_ must have had a very early origin,

and long anterior to the famous sphere of Chiron or Eudoxus.

Footnote 47:

“Religious History of Man,” p. 248, second edition.

Footnote 48:

Russell’s “Connection,” vol. i. p. 401.

Footnote 49:

Dr. Russell gives the following curious extract from the _Canon

Chronicus_ of Sir John Marsham: “Plures in Oriente _Joves_ est

investigare, Græcis Romanisque longe recentioribus, nullus datur hîc

locus. Varro _trecentos Joves_ introducit: Nos originem quærimus, non

multitudinem. Sane omnis de Jove theologia ex Egypto derivata est; nec

Jovis solum, sed omnium etiam deorum numina inde petenda sunt.”—See

his “Connection,” pp. 389–406.

Footnote 50:

The inversion and amalgamation of the letters ‏ד‎ and ‏ש‎ producing Z.

Footnote 51:

ΘΕΟΣ δὲ λέγεται, δὶα τὸ ΤΕΘΕΙΚΕΝΑΙ τὰ πάντα ἑπὶ τᾔ[τᾕ?] ἑαυτοῦ

ἀσφαλείᾳ, καὶ διὰ τὸ ΘΕΕΙΝ· τὸ δὲ θέειν ἐστι τὸ τρέχειν, καὶ κινεῖν,

καὶ ἐνεργεῖν, καὶ τρέφειν, καὶ προνοεῖν, καὶ κυβερνᾷν, καὶ ζωοποιεῖν

τὰ πάντα. ΚΥΡΙΟΣ δὲ ἐστι, διὰ τὸ ΚΥΡΙΕΥΕΙΝ ἀυτὸν τῶν ὅλων,

κ.τ.λ.—Theoph. ad Autolycum, p. 10., Oxon. 1684.

Footnote 52:

The celebrated historian of Astronomy, Delambre, following the

opinions of Sir William Jones and Mr. Bentley in the “Asiatic

Researches,” sneers at the supposed antiquity of the Hindoo

Astronomical Tables contained in the _Surya Siddhanta_, and ridicules

Bailly and Playfair for maintaining such an opinion. But ridicule is

not a test of truth; and after all, his conclusion is only this, that

the question _seems_ to be settled! Without insisting on the antiquity

of the Tables, it may be urged on very satisfactory grounds, that some

of the observations to which they refer, were _real_ and not

_fictitious_. Delambre has brought no proof of his own to shew that

they _must_ be fictitious, but has merely copied the statements and

arguments of Mr. Bentley. For these, we refer to his work entitled, “A

Historical View of the Hindu Astronomy,” London, 1825.

Footnote 53:

Even the splendid creations of Milton’s genius, in his “Paradise Lost”

have been often substituted for the truths of Sacred Inspiration.

Footnote 54:

Πατὴρ τοῦ μελλόντος ἀιῶνος: Isaiah ix. 6; See the Alexandrine edition

of the Septuagint.

Footnote 55:

Ὁσαισ ... ἡμέραις έγένετο ὁ κόσμος, τοσαύταις χιλιοντάσι συντελεῖται.

καὶ διὰ τοῦτό φησιν ἡ γραφή· “καὶ συνετελέσθησαν ὁ ὀυρανὸς καὶ ἡ γῆ

καὶ πᾶς ὁ κόσμος αὐτών. καί συνετέλεσεν ὁ θεὸς ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ϛʹ τὰ

ἔργα ἀυτοῦ, ἁ ἐποίησε; καὶ κατέπαυσεν ὁ θεὸς ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ζʹ ἀπὸ

πάντων τῶν έργων ἀυτοῦ.” τοῦτο δ’ ἐστι τῶν προγεγονότων διήγησις, καὶ

τῶν ἐσομένων προφητεία. ἡ γὰρ ἡμέρα Κυριόυ ὡς ᾳ ἐτη· ἐν ἑξ οὖν

συντετελέσθαι τὰ γεγονότα· φανερόν οὖν, ὁτι ἡ συντελεια ἀυτῶν ϛʹ στ

ἐτος ἐστίν.—Irenæus contra omnes Hæreses; pp. 444, 445, Grabe’s

edition, Oxon. 1702.

Footnote 56:

Hæc Irenæi sententia de mundi permansione, tot tantosque habet

vindices et confirmatores, ac plausibiles persuasiones, modo divinæ

potestati nihil temerè præscribatur, ut in eam lubens descenderem.

Primò enim Ethnicorum omnium clarissimos et antiquissimos scriptores,

Hydaspen Medorum Regem; Mercurium Trismegistum, ac Sybillas hoc

præcinuisse et firmasse, testis Lactantius, lib. vii. cap. 14, 15 et

18. Hebræos idem sequi, testimonio est oraculum, quod Heliæ nomine

circumferunt Thalmudistæ, libro Sanhedrin, capite Helec: et lib.

Havoda Zara, cap. liphne-edehen: cujus verba recitantur, nec

refelluntur, a doctis et Catholicis Authoribus, Galatino libro iv.

cap. 20., Pico Mirandulano lib. vii., Heptapli cap. 4. et Francisco

Veneto lib. de Harmonia Mundi Cant. iii. Tono 7, cap. 7. Oraculum hoc

declarant, ac conjecturis multis et non spernendis confirmant insignes

Rabbini Selomo et Isaac. Ex Latinis Ecclesiasticis Patribus,

sententiam hanc amplectuntur et tuentur Lactantius lib. vii. cap. 14.,

Hilarius in cap. 17. Matth., Hieronymous Epist. ad Cyprianum, et

Comment in cap. iv. Micheæ, Gaudentius Brixianus Tract. x. de Lectione

Evangelica. Refert eandem et Augustinus lib. xx Civitat. Dei cap. 7,

ut verisimilem, licet alibi illam impugnaverit. Glossa etiam, quæ

Ordinaria vocatur constanter affirmat, in 5 cap. Genes. Inter Græcos

vero placuit hæc opinio Justino Martyri, seu cuivis alteri Authori

Quæstionum ad Orthod. Quæst. 71. Sex istis millibus quingentos annos

addere visum est Hippolyto, Cyrillo, et Chrysostomo, ut author est

Germanus Constantinopolitanus libro de theoria rerum Eccles.

Perspectum mihi, est hanc sententiam oppugnari ab Augustino Comment,

in Psal. 6 et 89. atque Epist. 89. insuper à Beda in Psal. 89. an vero

illam expugnent, viderint docti et acuti eorum Lectores. Hæc autem ni

fallor, aliquod emolumentum adferent ad eorum reprimendos clamores,

qui temere nullaque ratione B. Martyri hac de re vehementius

insultant, et lapsos, quos putant, Patrum aliquanto contumeliosiùs

insectantur. _Feuardentius._—Grabe’s Irenæus, pp. 444, 445.

Footnote 57:

Ἑπτα ἐν γενεῄ κατακαύσεται κόσμος ἀειδὴς.—Philebos, p. 157., cited by

Dr. Russell, p. 77 of his “Connection.”

Footnote 58:

Augustine de Civit. Dei, lib. xv. c. 11–13; cited by Russell, p. 81 of

his “Connection.”

Footnote 59:

Russell’s “Connection” pp. 80–84.

Footnote 60:

Πανταχόθεν τοιγαροῦν τῆς τῶν ό ἑρμηνείας ἐκ παλαιας, ὡς ἐοικε, καὶ

ἀδιάστροφοῦ Ἑβραιῶν γραφῆς μεταβέβλησθαι συνιστάμενης, εἰκότως ταὺτῇ

καὶ ἡμεῖς κέκρημεθα κατὰ την παροῦσαν χρονογραθιαν, ὁτε μάλιστα καὶ ἡ

καθ’ όλης τῆς οἰκουμένης ἡπλωσμένη χριστοῦ ἐκκλησία ταυτῇ μονῇ

προσέχει τῶν τοῦ σωτῆρος ἡμῶν ἀπόστολων τὲ καὶ μαθήτων ἀρχῆθεν ταὺτῇ

χρῆσθαι παραδεδώκοτων.—Eusebius, cited by Syncellus, p. 89, Bonn,

1829.

Footnote 61:

We refer to Robinson’s edition of Hesiod’s works, quæ supersunt, cum

notis Variorum, Oxon. 1737.

Footnote 62:

“Connection,” vol. ii. p. 465.

Footnote 63:

Genesis xlix. 11, 12, 25, 26. The above passages are improved a little

by reference to the Septuagint, of which see a Translation according

to the Vatican edition, just published by Bagster and Sons, from the

pen of Sir L. C. L. Brenton, Bart.

Footnote 64:

The character of the present age, which is remarkable for vulgar

_Infidelity_, and the entire worship of _Mammon_, especially in the

metropolis, has made many of the people of God sigh and cry for the

abominations of the land, and fear that the Apocalyptic vials of wrath

are about to be poured out upon this devoted country; for to whom much

is given, of them much will be required. The crying sin, in our

estimation, is that which makes a _gain of godliness_, and which puts

men into the _priest’s office_ for a piece of bread; for by this

_craft they have their_ ἐυπορια, _wealth_, Acts xix. 25; or, as it

might be rendered, _respectability_. This age indeed makes vast

pretensions to _respectability_, but it is only that which arises from

_wealth_. Now it is very remarkable that the letters of the Greek word

ἐυπορια, which was used by the craftsmen who made silver shrines for

Diana, when they complained of the spread of the Gospel, and set

Ephesus in an uproar for _two hours_, added up according to their

value in the Greek system of notation, make the sum of 666, the

well-known number of the Beast! Thus:—

Ε Υ Π Ο Ρ Ι Α

5 + 400 + 80 + 70 + 100 + 10 + 1 = 666.

What does this indicate, but that the beast reigns triumphant in the

present age; for the whole world has gone a wondering after him, and

the image which he has set up? And what is this image but _wealth_ or

_respectability_, which all are so anxious to acquire and maintain?

Let Christians beware of falling into this snare, and let them attend

to the warning voice of the beloved Apostle; Rev. xviii. 4. For the

discovery of the above singular numerical coincidence, we are

indebted, through the publisher, Mr. Bagster, to the author of a work

just published, entitled “WEALTH, The Name and Number of the Beast,

&c.”

Footnote 65:

The similarity of this description to that of Hesiod, is in some

points, even more marked in the Septuagint.

Footnote 66:

Ἀρχη σοφιας which is the same as ‏‘ראשית‎ signifies literally the

_beginning_ or _summit of wisdom_, and consequently the _highest

wisdom_.

Footnote 67:

Here Virgil, by a Poetic licence, melts the _Iron age_ and the _Cumæan

age_ into one. This was natural for him to do, as a Roman; for no

doubt he was aware that the ascendancy of the _Roman Power_ had been

predicted in ancient prophecy under the figure of _Iron Rule_: and he

might hope that the _Fifth Monarchy_ would spring from the same

source.

Footnote 68:

This learned and illustrious poet, who had no doubt, borrowed his

“_priscæ vestigia fraudis_”[69] from the 2d Chapter of Genesis, might

have also anticipated the gross wickedness which should continue to

prevail, notwithstanding the advent of the Divine Instructor, until

death should put an end to mortal strife, and the spirits of the just

be made perfect. It is lamentable in the present _Age of

Respectability_, to behold so many of these _vestigia_ as the

newspapers exhibit, those daily records of crime and debauchery,

murder and suicide; to read the reports of the police, inquest, and

law courts, one would scarcely believe that he lived in a Christian

country, but rather that he dwelt in the midst of Pagan Rome. It is

our deliberate opinion that the publication of such reports is

injurious to the morals of the country, and that an immediate stop

should be put to it by legislative enactment. The reading of

newspapers is now so universal, and the taste for _The Horrible_ so

rabid, especially among the lower orders, that we are fully persuaded

that the perusal of the reports of trial for crime, under the

temptation of the Devil, and the pressure of similar circumstances,

too frequently leads to its commission. It would serve all the good

purposes that can possibly be gained by publicity, merely to record

the names and crimes of the offenders, without entering into all the

shocking details, so disgusting to the truly humane and Christian

portion of the community.

Footnote 69:

“_Traces of Man’s early sin._”

Footnote 70:

The works of these authors to which we shall chiefly refer, are, the

“Jewish Antiquities” of Josephus, the treatise “To Autolycus” of

Theophilus, the remains of the “Chronicon” of Africanus, the mutilated

“Chronicon” of Eusebius, and the “Chronicon Paschale.”

Footnote 71:

See Hudson’s Josephus, vol. i. pp. 13, 14; note _a_.

Footnote 72:

Lib. iii. ad Antolycum, p. 262, Oxon. 1684.

Footnote 73:

See Routh’s Reliquiæ Sacræ, vol. ii. pp. 126, 129.

Footnote 74:

Ibid, pp. 242, 243, 248, 250.

Footnote 75:

Hudson’s Josephus, vol. i. p. 26.

Footnote 76:

See Hudson’s Josephus, pp. 26, 27.

Footnote 77:

Lib. iii. ad Autolycum, p. 262.

Footnote 78:

Routh’s Reliquiæ Sacræ, vol. ii. p. 130.

Footnote 79:

On this point, see the “Cours Complet de Theologie,” tom. iii. p.

1538; and “Chronicon Paschale,” p. 340, Venet. 1729.

Footnote 80:

Routh’s Reliquiæ Sacræ, vol. ii. p. 131.

Footnote 81:

Hudson’s Josephus, vol. i. p. 111.

Footnote 82:

Lib. iii. ad Autolycum, p. 262.

Footnote 83:

Lib. iii. ad Autolycum, p. 265.

Footnote 84:

Routh’s Reliq. Sacr. vol. ii. p. 155.

Footnote 85:

Ibid, p. 136.

Footnote 86:

Μετὰ τοῦ ἀληθοὺς δια τοῦ Μωσέως πνεύματος διδαχθέντες, ἐκ τε τῶν

λοιπῶν Ἑβραϊκῶν ἱστοριῶν, ἀριθμὸν ἐτῶν πεντάκις χιλίων πεντακοσίων ἐις

τὴν ἐπιφάνειαν τοῦ Σωτηρίου Λόγου τὴν ἐπὶ τῆς μοναρχίας των Καισάρων

κηρυσσομένην παραδεδώκασιν. Routh’s Reliq. Sacr. vol. ii. p. 132.

Footnote 87:

The 20 years taken from the former period, and the 20 years of the

servitude omitted, being both added to the short period, will make it

exactly 72 years.

Footnote 88:

Hudson’s Josephus, vol. i. p. 979.

Footnote 89:

Ibid, p. 322.

Footnote 90:

Russell’s “Connection,” vol. i. p. 147.

Footnote 91:

Sulpicius Severus in Hist. Sacr. i. 44, 3; cited by Clinton.

Footnote 92:

See Russell’s “Connection,” p. 128; where he gives a very erroneous

view of the critarchate of Samuel and the reign of Saul. He is also

mistaken as to the critarchate of Samson.

Footnote 93:

Hudson’s Josephus, vol. ii. p. 470.

Footnote 94:

Hudson’s Josephus, p. 371.

Footnote 95:

Ibid, p. 422.

Footnote 96:

Ibid, p. 506.

Footnote 97:

Hudson’s Josephus, p. 528.

Footnote 98:

Probably intended for _Shamgar_; see Lib. iii. ad Autolycum, p. 266.

Footnote 99:

Clinton’s “Fasti Hellenici,” vol. i. p. 306, note _d_.

Footnote 100:

Lib. iii. ad Autolycum, p. 266.

Footnote 101:

Routh’s Reliq. Sacr. vol. ii. pp. 160, 161.

Footnote 102:

Clinton’s “Fasti Hellenici,” vol. i. p. 308, note q.

Footnote 103:

Routh’s Reliq. Sacr. vol. ii. pp. 167, 169.

Footnote 104:

Russell’s “Connection,” pp. 130, 131; and Clinton’s “Fasti Hellenici,”

vol. i. pp. 303—310.

Footnote 105:

See the vol. last cited, p. 310, note _x_.

Footnote 106:

We have observed the correct number in the series of the Judges

prefixed to the Armenian copy of the Chronicon of Eusebius.

Footnote 107:

Clinton’s Fast. Helle. p. 310, note _z_.

Footnote 108:

Ibid, p. 304.

Footnote 109:

Ibid, p. 305.

Footnote 110:

Ibid, p. 305, note _z_.

Footnote 111:

Hudson’s Josephus, vol. i. p. 528.

Footnote 112:

Hudson’s Josephus, vol. i. p. 518.

Footnote 113:

Ibid, p. 516.

Footnote 114:

On this point, see Clinton’s “Fasti Hellenici,” vol. i. p. 316; where

the author makes a wrong citation from the Septuagint, viz., 4 Reg.

xiii. 10.

Footnote 115:

Euseb. Chron. Canon. Book I. 5, 2, ex Haicano Codice, Mediolan. 1818.

Footnote 116:

Hudson’s Josephus, vol. ii. p. 387.

Footnote 117:

Hudson’s Josephus, vol. ii. p. 452.

Footnote 118:

Ibid, p. 400.

Footnote 119:

Lib. III. ad Autolycum, p. 281.

Footnote 120:

Lib. III. ad Autolycum, p. 269.

Footnote 121:

Routh’s Rel. Sac. vol. ii. p. 174.

Footnote 122:

Ven. 1483.

Footnote 123:

Mediolan. et Ven., 1818.

Footnote 124:

Ven. 1729.

Footnote 125:

See Hales’s “Analysis,” vol. i. pp. 276–278.

Footnote 126:

2 Kings xxv. 4.

Footnote 127:

Luke iii. 1, 23.

Footnote 128:

Hudson’s Josephus, vol. i. pp. 547–979.

Footnote 129:

See Dr. Hales’s “Analysis,” vol. ii. p. 652.

Footnote 130:

Lib. iii. ad Autolycum, pp. 268–277.

Footnote 131:

Luke iii. 1, 23; and p. 89, _Part I_.

Footnote 132:

Routh’s Rel. Sac. pp. 181, 186, 187.

Footnote 133:

Lib. iii. ad Autolycum, pp. 276–281.

Footnote 134:

Routh’s Reliquiæ Sacræ, vol. ii. pp. 129–193.

Footnote 135:

See the Hieronymian version of his “Chronicon,” Ven. 1483.

Footnote 136:

See “Chronicon Paschale,” p. 179, Ven. 1729.

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