Bibchron PDF

"
Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

A year-by-year analysis
of all the principal events
recorded in the Hebrew Scriptures
" -'

" "
INTRODUCTORY NOTES
THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES document approximately the first three and one-half thousand years of the
Hebrew nations history, from the origins of our earliest ancestors up to a point a little after the return
from the Babylonian exile. About two-thirds of this period is covered by the first of the twenty-four
Books of the Scriptures, called in Hebrew after its opening wordB'rshit ("At the start of...")but
which the rest of the World knows as "Genesis".
A total of 3,338 years elapsed from the creation of the "Adam" to the destruction of the First Temple by
the Babylonians in the summer of 586BCE; the "Adam" was therefore "created" in 3924BCE (or possibly
in the last months of 3925BCE). These 3,338 years are made up as follows:
From the creation of the Adam to the birth of No'ah........... 1,056 years (B'rshit 5:3-29)
From the birth of No'ah to the Flood................................... 600 years (B'rshit 7:6, 7:11)
From the Flood to the birth of Avram (Avraham) ............... 292 years (B'rshit 11:10-27)
From the birth of Avram to the birth of Yitz'hak ................. 100 years (B'rshit 21:5)
From the birth of Yitz'hak to the Exodus............................. 400 years (B'rshit 15:13, see below)
From the Exodus to the building of the First Temple ......... 480 years (M'lachim Alef 6:1)
From the building of the First Temple to its destruction..... 410 years (see below)
3,338 years
Two items in the above list require explanationthe figures of 400 years "from the birth of Yitz'hak to
the Exodus" and 410 years "from the building of the First Temple to its destruction". The first of these is
derived from the verse cited above (B'rshit 15:13), which reads:
then He said to Avram, "Know with certainty that your zera will be strangers in lands that will not be their
own for 400 years, and they will serve them and they will persecute them".
On a literal reading of this verse, it appears that God was warning Avram that his zera ("seed") were
going to be enslaved in Egypt for 400 years. But it can't really mean that, because when Ya'akov first
migrated to Egypt to join Yosef, Lvis son K'hat was one of his grandchildren who went with him
(B'rshit 46:11). Now, K'hat lived for 133 years (Sh'mot 6:18), his son Amram (who was Moshehs
father) lived to be 137 years old (Sh'mot 6:20), and Mosheh was 80 years of age at the time of the
Exodus (Sh'mot 7:7); so the combined lifetimes of K'hat and Amram, and the 80 years Mosheh lived
before the Exodus, together only amount to 350 yearsand the years that K'hat lived before Ya'akovs
migration to Egypt and after Amram was born, and those that Amram lived after Mosheh was born, all
have to be deducted from these 350 years to find the total time that the Hebrews actually lived in Egypt;
and moreover, the enslavement of the Hebrews didn't begin until after Yosef and all his brothers had died
(see Sh'mot 1:6-11). What the verse actually says is that the Hebrews were going to "live as strangers in
lands that were not their own" for 400 years (and there is no specific mention of Egypt at all), and that
during that time (but not necessarily for all of it) they would be enslaved and persecuted.
B'rshit 15:13 does not specify when the "400 years" of "living as strangers" were to begin; but it is
reasonable to assume that they would start as soon as Avram actually had any zera. God made references
to Avrams "zera" many times both before and after this incidentB'rshit 13:16, 15:5, 15:13, 17:7,
17:10, 22:17-18and B'rshit 21:12 specifies exactly what He meant by this word: "[your
descendants] through Yitz'hak will be considered your zera". Moreover, Scripture repeatedly speaks
ii
of Avraham and all his family "living as strangers" (KJV "sojourning") starting from the moment
Yitz'hak was bornfor example
(i) immediately after Yitz'haks birth, it says: "Avraham lived as a stranger [or 'sojourned']
for many years in the land of the P'lishtians" (B'rshit 21:34);
(ii) Yitz'hak was told: "Live as a stranger [or 'Sojourn'] in this land" (B'rshit 26:3);
(iii) T'hillim 105:23 says poetically: "Ya'akov lived as a stranger [or 'sojourned'] in the
land of Ham"Egypt is identified with Ham because Mitzrayim was one of the sons of
No'ahs youngest son, Ham (B'rshit 10:6) and Mitzrayim is also the Hebrew name for
Egypt;
(iv) On their arrival in Egypt, Ya'akovs sons told the Pharaoh "We have come to live as
strangers [or 'to sojourn'] in your land" (B'rshit 47:4); and
(v) when the Pharaoh asked Ya'akov how old he was, the patriarch described the whole of
his life as m'gurailiterally, "my living as a stranger" [or "my soujourn"] (B'rshit
47:8-9).
The inference drawn from this is that there were to be 400 years from the birth of Yitz'hak to the Exodus,
and note the way I have translated B'rshit 15:13 above, which is subtly different from the way it is
usually rendered.
The other item that requires explanation is the figure of 410 years "from the building of the First Temple
to its destruction". This is recorded in the Talmud (Treatise Yoma, folio 9a), and can also be derived
from the Scriptures by a detailed analysis of the Books of M'lachim and Divrei Hayamim (with
occasional references to various other Biblical Books); I shall demonstrate this in the coming pages, but
I begin with an examination of the earlier periods.
B'RSHIT opens with a description of Gods "Creation" of the Heavens and the Earth, which is said to
have been accomplished in six "Ages" (Hebrew yamim) of unspecified duration. The "Creation"
culminates in the appearance of the first human beings, and the first ten generations of one specific
individual, who is called "Adam" in B'rshit 5:1-3, are listed in B'rshit 5:3-32 (not that the Hebrew verb
vayoled is virtually impossible to render precisely in English and so I have translated it as "[he] gave
birth to...", despite that being logically absurd in English):
Adam lived 130 years and then gave birth to Shet; and Adam lived 800 years after he gave birth to Shet
making a total of 930 years, and then he died.
Shet lived 105 years and then gave birth to Enosh; and Shet lived 807 years after he gave birth to Enosh
Enosh lived 90 years and then gave birth to Keinan; and Enosh lived 815 years after he gave birth to Keinan
Keinan lived 70 years and then gave birth to Mahalal'el; and Keinan lived 840 years after he gave birth to
Mahalal'el making a total of 910 years, and then he died.
Mahalal'el lived 65 years and then gave birth to Yered; and Mahalal'el lived 830 years after he gave birth to
Yered making a total of 895 years, and then he died.
Yered lived 162 years and then gave birth to Hanoch; and Yered lived 800 years after he gave birth to
Hanoch making a total of 962 years, and then he died.
Hanoch lived 65 years and then gave birth to M'tushelah; and Hanoch "walked with God" for 300 years after
iii
he gave birth to M'tushelah making a total of 365 years, and then "he was no more, because God had
taken him".
M'tushelah lived 187 years and then gave birth to Lemech; and M'tushelah lived 782 years after he gave birth
to Lemech making a total of 969 years, and then he died.
Lemech lived 182 years and then gave birth to No'ah; and Lemech lived 595 years after he gave birth to
No'ah making a total of 777 years, and then he died.
No'ah lived 500 years, and then he gave birth to Shem, and Ham, and Yefet (B'rshit 5:3-32)
Reckoning from the "Creation of Adam" in Year Zero, it is now a simple matter to calculate that
Adam died in the year 930;
Shet was born in 130 and died in 1042;
Enosh was born in 235 and died in 1140;
Keinan was born in 325 and died in 1235;
Mahalal'el was born in 395 and died in 1290;
Yered was born in 460 and died in 1422
Hanoch was born in 622 and then "was no more because God had taken him" in 987;
M'tushelah was born in 687 and died in 1656;
Lemech was born in 874 and died in 1651;
No'ah was born in 1056;
and the oldest of No'ahs three sons was born in 1556.
But which of the three was the oldest? Certainly not Ham, who is referred to explicitly as being No'ahs
"youngest" son in B'rshit 9:24. This leaves Shem and Yefet (and also forces the conclusion that the sons
are not being named in age-order in B'rshit 5:32 and 6:10, or in Divrei Hayamim Alef 1:4). So was
Shem the oldest of the three brothers, or was it Yefet? B'rshit 10:21 says
[Children] were also born to Shem[he was] the ancestor of all vers children
but unfortunately the final phrase of the verse (ahi yefet hagadol) is ambiguousit could mean EITHER
"Yefet the Elders brother" OR "Yefets older brother". The ambiguity is resolved by B'rshit 11:10,
which tells us that
Shem was 100 years old when he gave birth to Arpach'shad, two years after the Flood.
This means that Shem was born 98 years before the Flood (in 1558), and hence two years after Yefet,
who was therefore the first son to be born, in 1556, and was thus the oldest of the three brothers.
The Flood itself began on "the 17th day of the 2nd month in the 600th year of No'ahs life" (B'rshit
7:11) and ended on "the 27th day of the 2nd month" (B'rshit 8:14) "in his 601st year" (B'rshit 8:13)
i.e. in 1656 and 1657, respectively. The total duration of the whole event, based on these dates, was
therefore a complete "calendar" year, plus an additional eleven days. That may not seem very significant
at first sight, but it should be remembered that a "calendar" year in Biblical terms means 12 lunar
months, or 354 days (because the average length of a lunar month is roughly 29 days). Thus the total
duration of the whole Flood event, based on the dates given in B'rshit 7:11 and 8:13-14, amounted to
365 daysthe precise length of a solar year.
No'ah lived 350 years after [the beginning of] the Flood (B'rshit 9:28), and died at the age of 950
(B'rshit 9:29)in the year 2006.
iv
The next ten generations of Adams descendants are listed in B'rshit 11:10-32:
Shem was 100 years old when he gave birth to Arpach'shad, two years after the Flood; and Shem lived 500
years after he gave birth to Arpach'shad
Arpach'shad lived 35 years and then gave birth to Shelah; and Arpach'shad lived 403 years after he gave birth
to Shelah
Shelah lived 30 years and then gave birth to ver; and Shelah lived 403 years after he gave birth to ver
ver lived 34 years and then gave birth to Peleg; and ver lived 430 years after he gave birth to Peleg
Peleg lived 30 years and then gave birth to R'u; and Peleg lived 209 years after he gave birth to R'u
R'u lived 32 years and then gave birth to S'rug; and R'u lived 207 years after he gave birth to S'rug
S'rug lived 30 years and then gave birth to Nahor; and S'rug lived 200 years after he gave birth to Nahor
Nahor lived 29 years and then gave birth to Terah; and Nahor lived 119 years after he gave birth to Terah
Terah lived 70 years and then gave birth to Avram, Nahor and Haran
Now these are Terahs descendants: Terah gave birth to Avram, and Nahor, and Haran; and Haran gave birth
to Lotbut Haran died during his father Terahs lifetime in the land of his birth, in Ur of the Chaldans. Then
Avram and Nahor both married: Avrams wife was called Sarai and Nahors wife was called Milkah daughter
of Haran[he was] the father of both Milkah and Yiskah
Terah took his son Avram, his grandson Lot (son of his son Haran) and his daughter-in-law Saraihis son
Avrams wifeand he set out with them from Ur of the Chaldans [intending] to go to the land of K'na'an;
but they [only] got as far as Haran, and settled there. Terah lived for a total of 205 yearsTerah died in
Haran.
A little more simple arithmetic reveals that

No'ah died in the year 2006;
Shem was born in 1558 and died in 2158;
Arpach'shad was born in 1658 and died in 2096;
Shelah was born in 1693 and died in 2126;
ver was born in 1723 and died in 2187;
Peleg was born in 1757 and died in 1996;
R'u was born in 1787 and died in 2026;
S'rug was born in 1819 and died in 2049;
Nahor was born in 1849 and died in 1997;
Terah was born in 1878 and died in 2083;
and Avram was born in 1948.
Note that "ver" (Shems great-grandson and Avrams great-great-great-great-grandfather) was the true
ancestor of the "Hebrew" nation; the Hebrew word ivri (a "Hebrew") actually means "descendant of
ver". In fact, "Eberite" would be a more appropriate translation, but the translators of the earliest extant
christian Greek version, made in the early-4th century CE, rendered this word (evraios) and
Jerome (who translated the Greek version into Latinthe "Vulgatus"at the end of the 4th century CE)
used the Latin letter B to transliterate the Greek letter (beta) irrespective of pronunciation (the Greek
letter beta, like the Hebrew letter bet, can be pronounced either like B or like V, depending on the
grammatical context). It was Jerome who coined the pseudo-Latin word Hebraeus, from which the
English word "Hebrew" is derived.
A quick word about Sarai, Avrams wife: B'rshit 11:29 reads
Avram and Nahor both got married: Avrams wife was called Sarai and Nahors wife was called Milkah
daughter of Haran[he was] the father of both Milkah and Yiskah.
But who on Earth was "Yiskah"? This name is not found anywhere else in the Scriptures; and there
seems to be no reason to mention her here; unless Sarai was also known by this name, in which case the
verse is simply saying "Haran was the father of both Milkah and Sarai".
Yitz'hak was born in 2048, when Avraham was 100 years old (B'rshit 21:5). Chapters 22-23 of B'rshit
form a continuous narrative dealing with with three events, which all occurred at about the same time:
(i) God testing Avrahams faith by asking him to sacrifice Yitz'hak; (ii) the birth of Rivkah (who was
destined to be Yitz'haks wife); and (iii) Sarahs death. Now, Sarah was 10 years younger than Avraham
(B'rshit 17:17), so she was born in 1958; and she died at the age of 127 (B'rshit 23:1), therefore, these
three events all took place in 2085. Consequently, Yitz'hak was 37 years old when Avraham was told to
sacrifice him and, as he was 40 when he married Rivkah (B'rshit 25:20)in 2088it follows that she
was a 3-year-old child-bride! Clearly, though, he did not begin to sleep with her until she reached
maturity (which in Hebrew law is at the age of 12 for a girl), i.e. in 2097, because it was not until 2107,
when ten years had passed from then without her becoming pregnant, that he deemed her infertile and
resorted to prayer on that account (B'rshit 25:21); Rivkah then became pregnant and gave birth to the
twins Ya'akov and sav the following year (2108), when Yitz'hak was aged 60 (B'rshit 25:26). There is
a parallel with this in B'rshit 16:3, where it is recorded that Sarai only considered herself "infertile"
after she and Avram had been settled in Canaan for ten years and she had still not become pregnant, and
she persuaded Avram to use her Egyptian maid Hagar as a surrogate.
The first incident in the lives of Ya'akov and sav that is recorded in B'rshit occurs at the end of ch.25,
where Ya'akov is cooking lentil soup and sav agrees to "sell" his firstborns rights to him in return for
some of the soup. This incident is traditionally associated with Avrahams death (2123), when the two
boys were 15 years oldthe connection is the lentils, which even today still form part of the traditional
"meal of condolence" that is served to mourners on their return from a close relatives funeral.
After this, we hear nothing of Ya'akov until chapter 27 where Yitz'hak, now old and blind, sends sav
out to hunt and prepare his favourite delicacy, venison (compare B'rshit 25:28) "so that I can bless you
from my heart before I die" (B'rshit 27:4). The language of ch.27 seems to suggest that Ya'akov and
sav were still very young when this was taking placefor example, savs plaintive cry of "Bless me
too, Daddy!" in v.34, when Yitz'hak told him that he had already given savs blessing to his brother,
and confirmed what he had done by declaring "And he really shall be blessed!" (v.33). And yet, Ya'akov
and sav must logically have been much older, because Yitz'hak had only been 60 when they were born,
and this chapter opens by saying that he was "old" and blind.
A clue is to be found at the end of the chapter. Learning that sav is biding his time until Yitz'hak dies,
meaning to kill Ya'akov when then happens, Rivkah warns Ya'akov about his twin-brothers intentions
and advises him to flee to Haran and take refuge with his Uncle Lavan, "just for a few days" (or
possibly, 'years'), "until your brothers anger cools down and he forgets what you did to him", promising
that "then, I will send and bring you back from there" (B'rshit 27:41-45). She tells Yitz'hak that she is
worried that Jacob may marry a native K'na'anit [Hittite] girl (B'rshit 27:46) as sav had already done,
to his parents' great distress (B'rshit 26:34-35): Yitz'hak takes the hint and, instructing Ya'akov not to
marry any K'na'anit girl, he sends him off to B'tuel, his maternal grandfather, in Paddan-Aram, to find
himself a wife among the daughters of his mothers brother, Lavan (B'rshit 28:1-2). Then, a few verses
later (B'rshit 28:6-9), we read
vi
when sav saw that Ya'akov had confirmed his blessing to Ya'akov and had sent him [away] to PaddanAram to find himself a wife there; and that, when he had blessed him, he had told him not to marry any of the
K'na'anit girlsand that Ya'akov had listened to his father and mother and had gone off to Paddan-Aram
then sav realised how much his father Yitz'hak disapproved of K'na'anit girls; so sav went to Yishma'el, and
married Avrahams son Yishma'els daughter MahalatN'vayots sisterin addition to his wives [that he
already had].
The Talmud (Treatise Megillah, folio 17a) wonders

The text tells us that she was Yishma'els daughter, so isn't it obvious that she was N'vayots sister?
(since we have already been told in 25:13 that N'vayot was Yishma'els firstborn son) and then proceeds
to explain
but what happened was that Yishma'el had died right after he had betrothed her [to sav], and it was left to
her brother N'vayot to arrange the completion of the marriage.
Ah, but we know when Yishma'el was born and when he died: Avraham was 86 years old when Hagar
gave birth to him (B'rshit 17:16) and he lived for 137 years (B'rshit 25:17); so Yishma'el was born in
2034 and died in 2171. Tying all these details together, it emerges that Ya'akov and sav (who were
born in 2108) were 63 years old when Ya'akov "stole" savs blessing and then fled to Paddan-Aram.
But Ya'akov did not proceed directly to Paddan-Aram when he left his parents' home. How so?well,
Yosef was born at the end of the second period of seven years that Ya'akov worked for Lavan in return
for his cousin Rahels hand in marriage (B'rshit 30:25-26), and he was 30 years old when he was made
Viceroy of Egypt (B'rshit 41:46); and it was a further 9 years after thatwhen the "seven years of
abundant harvests" and the first two of the "seven years of famine" had passedthat Yosef sent for his
father Ya'akov to come and join him in Egypt (B'rshit 45:6). Thus, 14+30+9 = 53 years elapsed
between Ya'akovs arrival at Paddan-Aram and his migration to Egypt to join Yosef: and, as he was 130
years old when he went to Egypt (B'rshit 47:9), it follows that he had been 77 years old when he
arrived on his uncle Lavans doorstep. Fourteen years of Ya'akovs life are therefore unaccounted for
and, according to Hebrew tradition, he is supposed to have spent them studying Theology with his
ancestor veryes, he was still alive: ver died in 2187, when Ya'akov was 79 years old, i.e. 2 years
after he arrived in Paddan-Aram.
Moving on to chapter 29, we are told how Ya'akov arrives in Paddan-Aram, falls in love with his pretty
cousin Rahel, and offers to work for his uncle Lavan for 7 years in return for her hand in marriage
"and he loved her so much that they seemed like just a few days to him." (B'rshit 29:20)
As we have already seen, that was in 2185. So, in 2192, when the seven years are over, Ya'akov asks for
his wife (B'rshit 29:21) but Lavan tricks him, and the morning after the wedding he finds that he has
in fact married her older sister, L'ah (v.23-25). Lavan protests that "it is not customary around here to
marry off the younger daughter before the older one" (v.26)why didn't he mention this before?and
suggests a compromise: if Ya'akov will accept the situation and complete the week of celebrations for
his marriage to L'ah, he can then marry his beloved Rahel also. But theres a catch: he must agree to
work for Lavan for a further seven years (v.27). Ya'akov agrees, and a week later he marries Rahel too
(v.28-30).
The births of all Ya'akovs children (with the exception of Binyamin, who was born several years later)
vii
are described in B'rshit 29:31-30:24. The full passage reads as follows:

29. 31When Adonai saw that L'ah was disliked, He made her fertile, while Rahel was childless 32so L'ah
fell pregnant and gave birth to a son, she named him R'uven
33
and she fell pregnant again and gave birth to another son she named him Shim'on
34
and she fell pregnant again and gave birth to another son [God] named him Lvi
35
and she fell pregnant again and gave birth to another son she named him Y'hudahthen she stopped
having children.
30. 1When Rahel [had] realised that she was not having any children by Ya'akov, she grew jealous of her sister
and said to Ya'akov, "Give me children, or I might as well be dead!" 2This made Ya'akov angry with her, and he
said "Do you think I am in Gods place? He is the One who has prevented you from having children!" 3Rahel
answered, "Here is my maid Bilhah, sleep with her and let her be a surrogate for methat way I, too, can have
children, through her!" 4So she gave him her maid Bilhah to marry. Ya'akov slept with Bilhah 5and she fell
pregnant and gave birth to a son; 6[Rahel] named him Dan.
7
Rahels maid Bilhah fell pregnant again and gave birth to a second son by Ya'akov; 7[Rahel] named him
Naftali.
9
When L'ah realised she had stopped having children, she took her maid Zilpah and gave her to Ya'akov to
marry; 10L'ahs maid Zilpah then gave birth to a son by Ya'akov; 11[L'ah] named him Gad.
12
L'ahs maid Zilpah then gave birth to a second son by Ya'akov; 13[L'ah] named him Asher.
14
In wheat-harvest time, R'uven went into the countryside and found some dudai'im, which he took and gave to
his mother L'ah. Rahel said to L'ah, "Please give me some of your sons dudai'im". 15[L'ah] answered,
"Aren't you satisfied with taking my husbanddo you even have to take away my sons dudai'im?" So Rahel
said, "Okay, he can sleep with you tonight in return for your sons dudai'im!" 16That evening, when Ya'akov
was coming home from the countryside, L'ah went out to meet him; she said to him, "You're going to sleep
with me tonight, because I have hired you with my sons dudai'im!"so he slept with her that night. 17God
heard L'ah[s prayers], and she fell pregnant and gave birth to a fifth son by Ya'akov 18L'ah named him
Yissachar.
19
Then L'ah fell pregnant again and gave birth to a sixth son by Ya'akov; 20L'ah named him Z'vulun.
21
And after that, she gave birth to a daughter; she named her Dinah.
22
Then God remembered Rahel; God heard her [prayers] and restored her fertility. 23She fell pregnant and gave
birth to a son 24she named him Yosef
25
and when Rahel had given birth to Yosef, Ya'akov said to Lavan: "Let me go, so I can return to my home,
my own country; 26give me my wives and my children, for whom I have workedyou know how hard I have
worked for you!"
It may appear from a cursory reading of this narrative that there were twelve consecutive pregnancies,
one after the other, all in the space of seven yearswhich does seem rather unlikely! I therefore suggest
that this is what actually happened: We have already seen that Ya'akov arrived in Paddan-Aram in 2185
and agreed to work for Lavan for 7 years in return for being allowed to marry his cousin Rahel. His
marriages to L'ah and Rahel thus took place in 2192. I suggest that R'uven, Shim'on, Lvi and Y'hudah
were then born in 2193, 2194, 2195 and 2196 respectively, and that Rahels jealousy of L'ah which led
her to persuade Ya'akov to use Bilhah as a surrogate occurred in 2194, soon after L'ah had given birth
to Shim'on: this is entirely consistent with the text, requiring only that the verb vatr (she saw) at the
beginning of 30:1 be translated as a pluperfect ("she had seen"). Dan would then have been born in 2195
and Naftali in 2196, making them the same age as Lvi and Y'hudah, respectively. I further suggest that
the statement at the end of 29:35 that L'ah "stopped having children" simply means that she failed to
become pregnant again immediately after giving birth to Y'hudah (as she had after R'uven, Shim'on and
Lvi were born) and that she therefore assumed she was not going to have any more children, and that
the events of 30:9 ("When L'ah realised she had stopped having children, she took her maid Zilpah and
gave her to Ya'akov") followed soon after Y'hudahs birth (in 2196), so that Gad would have been
born in 2197 and Asher in 2198. The duda'im indident must have happened at about the same time as
Ya'akovs marriage to Zilpah, also in 2196 (making R'uven 3 years old at the time), and Yissachar would
viii
then have been born in 2197 and Z'vulun in 2198 (making them the same age as Gad and Asher,
respectively), with Dinah following in 2199. Finally, Yosef was also born in 2199, just as the fourteen
years that Ya'akov had agreed to work for Lavan were coming to an end.
Ya'akovs 12th son, Binyamin, was born about 8 years later, on the northern outskirts of Beit-Lehem,
when Ya'akov was returning home from Paddan-Aram: Rahel died giving birth to him (in consequence
of the curse Ya'akov unintentionally pronounced against her in B'rshit 31:32)he buried her there and
erected a mausoleum over her grave: the location of her lonely tomb is marked by a small shrine to this
very day (B'rshit 35:18-20, 48:7).
Rachels Tomb
"on the road toBeit-Lehem" (B'rshit 35:19, 48:7)
Ya'akov spent a total of 7+7+6 = 20 years with Lavan (B'rshit 31:41) and the Talmud deduces (in
Treatise Megillah, folios 16b-17a) from B'rshit 33:17 that he spent 18 months (a winter, a summer, and
the following winter) at Sukkot, since he needed to build "a house for himself" (for the winter) and
"shelters for his cattle" (for the summer: plural "shelters", implying twice) and a further 6 months at
Beit-El. He was finally reunited with his father (B'rshit 35:27) in 2207, after a total absence of 36 years.
Furthermore, in his emendation to B'rshit 28:9 and 37:34, Rashi notes that Ya'akov suffered for 22
years, believing Yosef to be dead, from the time when Yosef was sold at the age of 17 (B'rshit 37:2)
until he disclosed his real identity to his brothers and sent then back to K'na'an to bring their father
Ya'akov back to Egypt, at which time he was 39 years old (see below)as punishment for leaving his
fathers house for 22 years and failing in his duty to care for him in his old agebut he received no
punishment for the first 14 years of his absence, because Torah-study takes precedence even over the
commandment of honouring parents.
Ya'akov was reunited with his father Yitz'hak in 2207 (at which time Yosef was 8 years old). It was 9
years later, in 2216 (when Yosef was 17 years oldB'rshit 37:2), that Yosef was sold by his brothers,
convincing their father that he had been killed by a wild animal (B'rshit 37:31-33); Ya'akov was
heartbroken at the loss of his favourite son "then Ya'akov ripped his clothes and put sacking on his
body: he mourned for his son for many years; all his sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he
was inconsolable he declared 'I will go to my grave still mourning for my son'... his father wept for
ix
him..." (B'rshit 37:34-35)that is to say, Ya'akovs father wept for his sons grief: Yitz'hak was still
alive at this time; he died in 2228 at the age of 180 (B'rshit 35:28), 12 years after Yosef was sold and
just one year before he was made Viceroy of Egyptsee below.
After his brothers sold him, Yosef was taken to Egypt and (eventually) sold to Potifar (B'rshit 37:36,
39:1), a junior minister in the Egyptian government (the text calls him sar hatabahim, the Justice
Minister: this official had responsibility for the prison service, among other thingssee B'rshit 40:3-4
and 41:10-12; it is interesting, though, that this same term is used for N'vuzar'adan, one of
Nebuchadnezzars generals, in M'lachim Beit 25 and Yirm'yahu 39-41, 43 and 52). It was not long
before Potifars wife took a fancy to the good-looking young Hebrew and tried to seduce himand,
when he repeatedly spurned her advances, she spitefully accused himfalsely, of courseof attempting
to rape her (B'rshit 39:6-18). It seems to me that Potifar possibly did not entirely believe his wifes
allegations, or the unfortunate Yosef would most likely have been summarily executed there and then;
but for the sake of appearances Potifar had to take some action, and so it was that Yosef found himself in
an Egyptian prison (B'rshit 39:20).
Ten long years passed and, in 2226, the Pharaohs Chief Cupbearer and Chief Baker, having somehow
offended their royal master (the B'rshit narrative does not record the precise nature of their offences),
were committed to the very same prison where Yosef was incarcerated, and the Head Gaoler appointed
the young Hebrew to attend to their personal needs. A year went by, and then each of the two former
royal servants had a very strange dream, both on the same night. The following morning Yosef, found
them looking glum and confused and, when he asked them what the matter was, they told him about
their dreams (B'rshit 40:1-8). Yosef asked them to tell him about the dreams and first the Cupbearer
described his, whereupon Yosef told him that the Pharaoh was going to pardon him three days later and
restore him to his former position (B'rshit 40:9-13), adding a plea that the Cupbearer should tell the
Pharaoh about Yosefs own predicament, in the hope that he, too, might be released from prison (B'rshit
40:14-15). Then the Baker, encouraged by the Cupbearers favourable prognosis, eagerly recounted his
own dream: but his fate was not to be as happy as his colleague'sYosef told him that he would be
hanged three days later "and birds will peck the flesh from your corpse" (B'rshit 40:16-19). And sure
enough three days later, on the Pharaohs birthday (or more likely the anniversary of his accession), the
Cupbearer was pardoned and the Baker was hanged, exactly as Joseph had predicted; but the Cupbearer
conveniently "forgot" all about Yosef, and did not speak to the Pharaoh about him (B'rshit 40:20-23).
So Yosef languished in prison for another 2 years, until 2229 when, one night, the Pharaoh himself had a
very strange dream, woke up and realised it had been just a dream, fell asleep again and, after having a
second very strange dream, woke up again, realising that it had been just another dream. In the morning,
the Pharaoh sent for his magicians and astrologers, but none of them could explain the strange dreams.
Suddenly, the Cupbearer remembered the young Hebrew he had met in prison two years before who had
been so good at interpreting dreams. Its hard to imagine how Yosef must have felt when, after 13 years
in prison, he was suddenly freed, given just a few minutes to shave and make himself look presentable,
and was then rushed to the royal palace and presented to the Pharaoh, who demanded that he interpret
his dreams (B'rshit 41:1-15)! Nevertheless, interpret them he did, predicting that there were going to be
abundant harvests in Egypt for the next seven years, to be immediately followed by seven consecutive
years of terrible famine (B'rshit 41:25-32).
Yosef went on to recommend suitable administrative measures that the Pharaoh should introduce to cope
with the situation: the king readily agreed, and decided that Yosef himself was the very man to
implement them, making him Viceroy of all Egypt, second in authority only to the Pharaoh himself
(B'rshit 41:33-44)! The Pharaoh also gave Yosef an Egyptian name, Tzofnat-Pa'an'ah (B'rshit 41:45;
Family Tree of the Partiarchs

ADAM = HAVVAH
d. 930
Kayin
Hevel
Shet
b. 130, d. 1042
Enosh
b. 235, d. 1140
Keinan
b. 325, d. 1235
Mahalal'el
b. 395, d. 1290
Yered
b. 460, d. 1422
Hanoch
b. 622, d. 987
M'tushelah
b. 687, d. 1656
Lemech
b. 874, d. 1651
NO'AH
b. 1056, d. 2006
Yefet
b. 1556
SHEM
b. 1558, d. 2158
Arpach'shad
b. 1668, d. 2096
Shelah
b. 1693, d. 2126
ver
b. 1723, d. 2187
Peleg
b. 1757, d. 1996
R'u
b. 1787, d. 2026
S'rug
b. 1819, d. 2049
Nahor
b. 1849, d. 1997
Ham
xi
Family Tree of the Partiarchs (continued)
TERAH
b. 1878, d. 2083
Haran
(2)
Hagar =
m. 2033
(1)
=
AVRAM
(AVRAHAM)
b. 1948
d. 2123
SARAI
(SARAH)
b. 1958
d. 2085
Lot
Milkah
Mo'av
(1)
=
Tevah
Ammon
Utz
(2)
=
NAHOR
Buz
K'mu'el
Hazo
Kesed
R'umah
Gaham
Pildash
Tahash
Ma'achah
Yidlaf
Aram
B'tu'el
YITZ'HAK
b. 2048
d. 2228
Yishma'el
b. 2034
d. 2171
Mahalat
N'vayot
RIVKAH
b. 2085
m. 2088
(1)
YA'AKOV
b. 2108
d. 2255
= sav
b. 2108
R'uven
b. 2193
Shim'on
b. 2194
LVI
b. 2195
d. 2332
Gershon
K'hat
M'rari
Y'HUDAH
b. 2196
Peretz
(2)
= L'AH
m. 2192
Yissachar Z'vulun Dinah

b. 2197 b. 2198 b. 2199
(3)
RAHEL
m. 2192
d. 2207
YOSEF
b. 2199
d. 2309
M'nasheh
Efrayim
B'riyah
Refah
Yocheved
Ram
Telah
MIRIYAM
MOSHEH
b. 2368
Tahan
d. 2488
Amminadav
AHARON
b. 2365
d. 2487
Elisheva
La'adan
Nah'shon
Ammihud
Elishama
Salmah
Nun (Non)
Iv'tzan (Bo'az)
Nadav
Avihu
EL'AZAR
Itamar
Oved
Yishai
DAVID
(4)
= Bilhah
m. 2194
= Zilpah
m. 2196
Binyamin
Dan Naftali Gad Asher
b. 2207 b. 2195 b. 2196 b. 2197 b. 2198
Zerah
Hetz'ron
AMRAM
Lavan
HOSH'A (Y'HOSHUA)
b. 2406/07, d. 2515/16
xii
probably a Hebrew transliteration of an Egyptian namein Hebrew, tzofnat pa'an'ah means "the
revealer of hidden things"), and also an Egyptian bride: Osnat daughter of Poti-Fera, a variant spelling
of Potifarin other words, the daughter of his master from 13 years earlierwho by this time had been
promoted to the much more senior post of Minister for the Armed Forces (Hebrew: kohen onB'rshit
41:45, 41:50which is translated in christian versions as "Priest of On" in the mistaken belief that
"On"is a place name: the Hebrew word on actually means force or power). Yosef was 30 years old when
he was made Viceroy of Egypt (B'rshit 41:46), which provides the date 2229.
When the "seven years of abundant harvests" (2229-2235) had passed, the "seven years of famine"
began (in 2236); and the famine was not limited to Egypt, but also affected all the surrounding countries
(including neighbouring K'na'anB'rshit 42:5) in Egypt, however, there was an abundance of food,
so people started coming to Egypt from all over the whole region to buy grain (B'rshit 41:53-57). Soon,
word reached the aging Ya'akov (now 128 years old) that "that there was food in Egypt" and so he sent
his ten oldest sons there to buy some (B'rshit 42:1-2). Yosef had taken charge of food-distribution
himself during the emergency and was dealing with sales of grain personally, so in due course his ten
older brothers appeared before him (B'rshit 42:6). He recognised them at once, but they had no idea
who he was (B'rshit 42:7-8); after all, it would have been the very last thing they could have expected
for the Viceroy of Egypt to be none other than the long-lost brother they had sold as a slave 20 years
earlier when he had been a boy of only 17 years oldespecially as he spoke to them through an
interpreter (B'rshit 42:23) although, of course, he didn't actually need one.
Yosef then embarked upon an elaborate subterfuge, to find out whether his brothers were still the cruel,
cold-hearted men who had ignored his pleas when he had begged for his life 20 years earlier (B'rshit
42:21); being forced to treat them this way broke his heart and he had to withdraw to a private room to
give vent to his emotions (B'rshit 42:24), but he needed to be sure that their feelings towards him had
changed. The subterfuge continued when the brothers returned on a second food-purchasing expedition,
bringing their youngest brother with them at Yosefs insistence (B'rshit 43:15). Setting eyes on
Binyamin, his only full-blood brother, for the first time in more than 20 years, Yosef was again overcome
by emotion; the description in B'rshit is most poignant: "Then Yosef raised his eyes and looked saw his
brother Binyamin, his mothers son and he had to rush away, because he was overcome by emotion
for his brother and couldn't stop himself weeping; so he withdrew into a private room and wept there:
then he washed his face before emerging and, controlling himself, he ordered: 'Serve up the food!'..."
(B'rshit 43:29-31).
Only when he was totally convinced of his brothers' change of heart did Yosef disclose to them his true
identity. The brothers were dumbfounded by the revelation (B'rshit 45:1-4) but Yosef, in an act of
almost unbelievable generosity, assured them that he bore them no ill-will for having sold him 20 years
earlier: "it was God who sent me ahead of you to provide relief there have already been two years of
famine in the land and there are still another five years to come in which there will be no sowing or
harvesting" (B'rshit 45:5-6). "Hurry," Yosef told his brothers, "go back to my father and tell him,
'Your son Yosef says: God has made me the ruler of all Egyptcome and join me, don't delay"
(B'rshit 45:9). Ya'akov literally could not believe it when they told him, but he realised it must be true
when he saw the vast quantities of provisions and the magnificent royal cavalcade of horses and wagons
that Yosef, acting on the personal orders of the Pharaoh, had provided to transport and to escort him
(B'rshit 45:17-27). So it was that Ya'akov and the entire clan of the Hebrews (70 persons in all,
enumerated individually in B'rshit 46:8-27) migrated from K'na'an to Egypt, settling in an area of the
fertile Nile Delta known as Goshen. It was 2238, and Ya'akov was 130 years old (B'rshit 47:9).
Aside: in fact only 69 individuals are actually listed in B'rshit 46:8-27, because Lvis daughter
Yochevedmother of Miryam, Aharon and Moshehwho was "born" but not conceived in Egypt
xiii
(B'midbar 26:59) is included in the count, but not listed by name... she was born just as the clan of
Hebrews was crossing the frontier into Egypt.
Ya'akov lived for 17 years after his migration to Egypt, and died there in 2255 at the age of 147 (B'rshit
47:28). His last wish was not to be buried in Egypt, but to be taken back to K'na'an and buried in the
family tomb in the cave at the Machplah field in Hevron with his wife L'ah, his parents Yitz'hak and
Rivkah, his grandparents Avraham and Sarah (B'rshit 49:30): Yosef promised to attend to this
personally (B'rshit 47:29-31) and, when the time came, he kept his word (B'rshit 50:4-14).
Machplah, Hevron
Today a huge mosque stands on the site of the burial-place of Avraham & Sarah,
Yitz'hak & Rivkah, and Ya'akov & L'ah.
Yosef lived for 80 years after he was made Viceroy of Egypt (although B'rshit does not record how long
he held that position)long enough to see the births of his older son Manassehs grandchildren and his
younger son Ephraims great-grandchildrenthat is, his own great-grandchildren and great-greatgrandchildren, respectively (B'rshit 50:23); he died in 2309 at the age of 110 (B'rshit 50:22, 50:26).
On his deathbed, he promised his brothers that, one day
"God will certainly remember you (pakod yifkod et'chem) and will bring you up out of this land [and restore
you] to the land that He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob about" (B'rshit 50:24).
This was the "sign" of the redemption, the "code-word", that the Hebrews were still waiting for 139
years later when, at the "Burning Bush", God told Mosheh
"Go and gather Yisraels leaders together, and tell them: Adonai, your ancestors' GodAvrahams God,
Yitz'haks God and Ya'akovs Godappeared to me and said 'I have certainly remembered you (pakod yifkad'ti
et'chem)'" (Sh'mot 3:16)
xiv
The years passed and, one by one, Yosefs eleven brothers diedaccording to the Midrash Sh'mot
Rabba, Lvi outlived all his brothers, and he died in 2332, at the age of 137 (Sh'mot 6:16). Meanwhile,
the clan of foreigners settled in Goshen had bred prolifically and increased dramatically in numbers.
Then, in about 1550BCE (ca.2375) according to conventional Egyptology, but actually up to 10 years
earlier, Pharaoh Neb-pehty-ra Ah-Mosheh I (Neb-pehty-ra was his "throne-name" and Ah-Mosheh was
his "birth-name"), the founder of Egypts 18th Dynasty, came to power and established what
Egyptologists now call the New Kingdom. This new king conveniently chose to "forget" the great
service Yosef had been to Egypt, and saw in the rapidly multiplying Hebrews a threat to the stability and
security of his country:
Then Yosef, all his brothers, and the whole of that generation died; and the Yisraelites were fertile and bred in
swarms and became numerous and powerfulvery, very muchso that the land had become full of them.
Then a new king, who knew nothing about Yosef, came to power in Egypt: he said to his people, "Seethe
nation of Yisraelites is more numerous and more powerful than we are! Come on, lets be smart about this: if
they increase [any more] and war breaks out, they may ally themselves with our enemies and fight against us
we could even be driven from our own land!" (Sh'mot 1:6-10)
So Pharaoh Ah-Mosheh implemented a radical "solution to the Hebrew problem": he imposed a regime
of forced labour on the unfortunate Hebrews, reducing them to the status of slaves, and set them to work
building fortified storage facilities at locations that Shmot names as Pit'om and Ra'amses (Sh'mot 1:11).
Note: the use of the name "Ra'amses" in Sh'mot 1:11 has led to much confusion and encouraged the
popular misconception that the "Pharaoh" of the narrative was one of those who bore the name Ramses
(or Ramesses), particularly Ramesses II, also known as "Ramesses the Great". In fact, there were ten
Pharaohs with this name two of them (Ramesses I & Ramesses II) in the 19th Dynasty, and another
eight (Ramesses III to Ramesses X) in the 20th Dynastybut even the earliest of these didn't come to
power until about 1295BCE, some 300 years after the enslavement of the Hebrews began.
But Ah-Moshehs plan didn't work in fact, it seemed to have the opposite effect to what he wanted:
the more they persecuted them, the more they multiplied and the more they flourished, until [the Egyptians]
despaired because of the Yisraelites (Sh'mot 1:12)
The Pharaoh was therefore forced to take even more drastic measures
so the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives (the main one was called Shifrah and her deputy was
called Pu'ah); he said to them, "Whenever you are attending Hebrew women, look at what happens on the
delivery-seatif the child is a boy, you are to kill him; but if its a girl, you may let her live" (Sh'mot 1:15-16)
But the Hebrew midwives "feared God" and were unwilling to commit wholesale infanticidethey
ignored the Pharaohs orders (Sh'mot 1:17) and the Pharaoh was therefore forced to come up with a
"Final Solution to the Hebrew problem":
the Pharaoh gave orders to all his people: "You shall throw every [Hebrew] boy that is born into the Nile,
but all the girls may live" (Sh'mot 1:22).
Not long after this, in 2368 (1557/56BCE), a baby son was born to a Lvi coupleAmram ben K'hat ben
Lvi, and his wife Yocheved daughter of Lviyes, Amram had married his own aunt, as Scripture
records explicitly (Sh'mot 6:20). Yocheved managed to hide her baby for 3 months, but then, when she
could not keep his existence a secret any longer, she constructed a waterproofed basket, put the baby in
it, and hid it among the reeds that grew by the banks of the Nile, with his older sister Miriyam keeping
watch over him from a safe distance (Sh'mot 2:1-4). Amram and Yocheved also had another son, Aharon,
xv
who was three years older than his newly-born brother (Sh'mot 7:7), but he was apparently considered
too young for the responsibility of this task.
Yet again, the guiding finger of Providence is evident in the Scriptural narrativefor who should arrive
to bathe in the river at that very moment but the princess Bit'yah, Pharaoh Ah-Moshehs daughter! [The
princesss name does not appear anywhere in Sh'mot, where she is referred to only as bat par'oh, "the
Pharaohs daughter"; but it is recorded in Divrei Hayamim Alef 4:18, from which it appears that she
converted to Judaism, married a Y'hudi by the name of Mereda pseudonym for Kalev, who was so
called because he "rebelled" (Hebrew marad) against the other "spies"and joined the escaping
Hebrews when they left Egypt... this may account for there being no mention of her in any Egyptian
records]. Spotting the basket hidden among the reeds, the princess sent one of her handmaids to retrieve
it, and she realised at once that the crying little boy, who obviously would have been circumcised, was a
Hebrew baby. His sister Miryam then approached and offered to call a Hebrew woman to suckle the
child and the princess, taking pity on him, readily accepted this suggestion in flagrant violation of her
own fathers edict. Of course, the young Miriyam brought Yochevedthe babys own mother, and the
princess even paid her to wet-nurse her own baby (Sh'mot 2:1-9)! When the infant no longer needed to
be suckled, Yocheved handed him over to the princess, who adopted him as her own son and named him
Moshehaccording to the narrative, Bit'yah chose this name to reflect the way she found him: ki min
hamayim m'shitihu "because I pulled him out of the water" (Sh'mot 2:10), but it does seem somewhat
implausible for an Egyptian princess to have chosen a name for her adopted son based on a Hebrew
remark (or even for her to have spoken Hebrew at all); it is far more likely that she gave him an
Egyptian royal name similar to that of her own father, the reigning Pharaoh, whose birth-name was AhMosheh (indeed, many of the Pharaohs had birth-names that contained the word mosheh, which means
"born of" in ancient Egyptian) and actually made the remark ki min hamayim m'shitihu "because I pulled
him out of the water" years later after becoming a Hebrew herself.
Eighty years passed. The account in Sh'mot says only
Many years passed and the king of Egypt died; the Yisraelites groaned and cried out [to God] because of the
forced labour. Their cries because of the forced labour rose to God and, when He heard their groaning, God
remembered His covenant with Avraham, Yitz'hak and Ya'akov. Then God looked upon the Yisraelites and
became aware of them (Sh'mot 2:23-25)
but this is a rather abridged version of Egyptian history, because in fact several pharaohs came and went
during those 80 years. Ah-Mosheh died in ca.1525BCE and had been succeeded by his son, Djeser-ka-ra,
who reigned as Amun-hotep I until ca.1504BCE and was then succeeded by his brother-in-law, Aakheper-ka-ra who reigned as Thoth-Mosheh I until ca.1492BCE. His son, Aa-kheper-en-ra, reigned as
Thoth-Mosheh II until ca.1479BCE but, when he died, his only son, Men-kheper-ra, was still too young
to reign and so his mother, Ma'at-ka-ra (Thoth-Mosheh IIs half-sister and also his principal wife), was
appointed regent. She reigned jointly (as Queen Hat-shepsut) with her son (Thoth-Mosheh III) until
ca.1473BCE when she declared herself Pharaoh and reigned alone for about another 15 years, but she
suddenly vanishes from Egyptian history in ca.1458BCE and Thoth-Mosheh III reigned alone from then
onwards. It is not clear whether there was a coup and she was deposed, or whether she simply died.
So who was the "Pharaoh" of the Exodus? The Yisraelites left Egypt in 2448, or 1476BCE; but it must be
borne in mind that the dates of all the pharaohs of this period are uncertain by as much as ten years
either way, so that when, for example, Egyptologists give Pharaoh Thoth-Mosheh Is dates as "ca. 15041492BCE", his 12-year reign could actually have ended as late as 1482BCE. This rules him out, but
Pharaoh Thoth-Mosheh IIs reign (given conventionally as 1492-1479BCE) could have ended as late as
1469, and Queen Hat-shepsuts (conventionally 1479-1458BCE) could have begun as early as 1489BCE,
xvi
so they are both possible contenders. It is known that Hat-shepsut behaved like a man and dressed in
male attire (she is even depicted as bearded in her shrines and statues), so it is by no means impossible
that the "Pharaoh" of the Exodus was actually a woman! This possibility adds a whole new dimension to
one of Gods early threats to the "Pharaoh":
Adonai said to Mosheh, "Go to the Pharaoh and tell him: 'This is what Adonai saysRelease My people, so
it can serve Me! And if you persist in refusing to let it go, I will infest the whole of your country with frogs
the Nile will swarm with frogsthey will emerge [from the river], enter your house and come into your
bedroom they will even come onto your bed!'" (Sh'mot 7:26-28)
Now, the prospect of frogs hopping around on his bed, while not exactly pleasant, is unlikely to have
been seriously disturbing to a male pharaoh; but few women would be able to tolerate frogs on their
beds without dissolving into hysterics!
The Exodus
The Yisrael nation left Ra'amses in Goshen "the morning after the Pesah", i.e. in the morning of 15th
Nisan 2448 (approximately 27th March 1476BCE) and travelled to Sukkot (Sh'mot 12:37, B'midbar 33:35), where they camped overnight before travelling onward the following day to Eitam "which was at the
edge of the desert" (Sh'mot 13:20, B'midbar 33:6). There, God instructed Mosheh
"Now tell the Yisraelites to turn back and camp at Pi-Hahiroth between the Tower (Hebrew "migdol") and the
sea, in front of the Ba'al-Tz'fon [the "Northern Ba'al"]make them camp by the sea opposite it. Then the
Pharaoh will say of the Yisraelites, 'They have got lost in the land; the desert has closed in on them!'"
When the king of Egypt was told that the people had escaped, he and his advisers changed their minds; "What
have we done," they said, " releasing Yisrael from our service?" So he hitched up his chariot and, taking his
army with him, he chased after the Yisraelites (Sh'mot 14:2-3)
The French medival Hebrew commentator Rashi, quoting Midrash M'chilta, explains:
[The Pharaoh] sent agents with them and, when they reached the three days' [distance] that it had been agreed
for the Yisr'elim to go and then come back, and it became obvious that they had no intention of returning to
Egypt, the agents came back on the 4th day and reported to the Pharaoh; he chased after them throughout the
5th and 6th days [and overtook them on the 6th day in the evening]; they crossed the sea during the night
before the 7th day and sang the "Song" [Sh'mot 15:1-18] the following morningwhich was the 7th day of
Pesah and this is why we read the "Song" [as the ceremonial Torah-reading] on the 7th day [of the
Festival].
The account of the Yisraelites' travels in B'midbar continues

Then they departed from Eitam and turned back towards Pi-Hahiroth which is in front of the Ba'al-Tz'fon,
where they camped in front of the Tower (Hebrew "migdol"); then they left Pi-Hahiroth and passed through
the middle of the sea into the desert: they travelled through the Eitam Desert for three days, and camped at
Marah (B'midbar 33:7-8)
while the Sh'mot narrative says

Mosheh led Yisrael onwards from the Suf Sea and they emerged into the Shur Desert. They travelled through
the desert for three days without finding water and then they arrived at Marah, but they couldn't drink the
water at Marah because it was bitter: thats why they called it 'Marah' [Hebrew for 'bitter']... (Sh'mot 15:23).
xvii
Thus Yisrael crossed the Suf Sea on 21st Nisan 2448 and reached Marah on 24th Nisan. They then
travelled to the oasis at lim "where there were 12 fountains and 70 palm trees" (Sh'mot 15:27, B'midbar
33:9). From there, according to the account in B'midbar,
...they left lim and camped by the Suf Sea; then they left the Suf Sea and camped in the Sin Desert; then they
left the Sin Desert and camped at Dofkah; then they left Dofkah and camped at Alush; then they left Alush and
camped at R'fidim then they left R'fidim and camped in the Sinai Desert. (B'midbar 33:10-15)
The Sh'mot narrative omits several stages of the journey, but it does give the date of their arrival in the
Sin Desert ("which is between Elim and Sinai")15th Iyyar (Sh'mot 16:1), a month after the Exodus; it
then describes the provision of "manna" (Hebrew 'man'), which "the Yisraelites ate for 40 years, until
they reached habitable landuntil they arrived at the edge of the land of K'na'an" (Sh'mot 16:4-35).
Sh'mot 17:1 omits the stops at Dofkah and Alush, but hints at a cross-reference to the B'midbar
passage
Then the whole congregation of the Yisraelites travelled away from the Sin Desert on their journeys [dictated]
by Adonais Decree (l'mas'eihem al pi adonai), and they camped at R'fidim (Sh'mot 17:1)
because the opening words of the account in B'midbar include exactly the same phrase,
Mosheh wrote down their departures on their journeys [dictated] by Adonais Decree (l'mas'eihem al pi
adonai) (B'midbar 33:2)
Leaving R'fidim after the battle with Amalek (Sh'mot 17:8-13), who launched an unprovoked and
cowardly attack on them targeting the old and the weak who were travelling at the rear (D'varim 25:18),
Yisrael moved on into the Sinai Desert, where they arrived on 1st Sivan
On [the first day of] the third month, reckoned from the Yisrael's departure from Egypton that exact day
they arrived in the Sinai Desert. They had left R'fidim and entered the Sinai Desert where they camped in the
desert: Yisrael camped there opposite the Mountain. Then Mosheh climbed up to God (Sh'mot 19:1-3)
On his first ascent of the Mountain, Mosheh was given preliminary instructions to pass on to the people
about the "covenant" that God was going to make with them. He descended the next day (the 2nd of the
month) and did this (Sh'mot 19:4-7), and climbed the mountain again on the 3rd of the month to report
back to God their response
"We will do everything that Adonai says" (Sh'mot 19:8)
On the 4th of the month, God sent Mosheh back yet again with a warning they had that day and the next
day to prepare themselves for the Divine Revelation that was going to take place "on the 3rd day"
(Sh'mot 19:10-11), i.e. on the 6th of the month.
The sequence of events was thus
1st SivanMoshehs first ascent of the Mountain;
2nd SivanMosheh returns to give the people their preliminary instructions: they reply "We
will do everything that Adonai says";
3rd SivanMoshehs second ascent of the Mountain, to report the peoples reply back to
God;
4th SivanMosheh returns again to warn the people they have that day and the following
day to prepare themselves for the Divine Revelation;
5th Sivansecond day of preparation;
6th Sivanthe Divine Revelation takes place.
xviii
What happened on Shavu'ot, the 6th Sivan 2448 (about 15th May 1476BCE) at Horevalso known as
Har Sinaiwas, and remains, without precedent in the history of the World. The Midrash Sh'mot Rabba
(ch.29, para. 9) describes it like this:
Heralded by an awesome display of thunder, lightning, fire, smoke and a fanfare of horns, the Holy Presence
descended onto Mount Horev. The scene was set for the most awe-inspiring moment in the history of the
World. No insect chirped, no bird flew, no creature made a sound, even the Ministering Angels surrounding
the Divine Throne interrupted their continuous chant of kadosh, kadosh, kadosh (Holy, Holy, Holy). The seas
froze, the winds were stilled, the whole of the vast Universe fell silent. Only then did the Divine Voice issue
forth from Heaven, proclaiming to the assembled Yisraelites: "I AM ADONAI, YOUR GOD"
The day after the Revelation (the 7th of the month), Mosheh was again summoned to the top of the
Mountain:
Adonais Presence had settled on the Mountain and the Cloud had covered it for 6 days (Adonais Presence
seemed to the Yisraelites like a devouring fire at the top of the Mountain). Then He called to Mosheh on the
7th day [of the month], so Mosheh entered the cloud and ascended the Mountain; Mosheh remained on the
Mountain for 40 days and 40 nights. (Sh'mot 24:16-18)
The Mishnah (Treatise Ta'anit, ch.4, para. 6) records that

Five calamities befell our ancestors on 17th Tammuz and five more on 9th Av on 17th Tammuz, the tablets
were broken
and the Talmud (folio 28b) explains

On 17th Tammuz, the tablets were brokenwhat is the source for this? It was taught: the Ten Words were
given to Yisrael on the 6th of Sivan and on the 7th Mosheh ascended the Mountain as it is written, " He
called to Mosheh on the seventh day" (Sh'mot 24:16) and immediately after that it is written "so Mosheh
entered the cloud and ascended the Mountain; Mosheh remained on the Mountain for 40 days and 40 nights"
(Sh'mot 24:18).
Reckon [the last] 24 days of Sivan and [the first] 16 days of Tammuzthose forty days were completed on
17th Tammuz; he then descended and came [to the camp] and smashed the tablets as it is written, "as he
was approaching the camp, he saw the calf and he threw the tablets from his hands, smashing them at the
foot of the Mountain" (Sh'mot 32:19).
This computation is based on a literal reading of the phrase "40 days and 40 nights", i.e. each day
together with its following night. It is also assumed that the months of that year followed the pattern of
months in a regular lunar year, that is to say: Nisan30 days, Iyyar29 days, Sivan30 days, etc.
Thus, if the first of the "40 days" was 7th Sivan, then 30th Sivan would have been the 24th day, and the
first 16 days of Tammuz would have made up the 40 days; but forty days and forty nights would not
have been completed until the morning of 17th Tammuz.
After smashing the tablets, Mosheh immediately set about dealing with the calf-idol and those who had
been worshipping it (Sh'mot 32:26-29). The narrative then continues
The following day, Mosheh said to the people, "You have committed a grievous sin; now I shall go [back] up
to Adonaimaybe I will be able to make atonement for your sin". So Mosheh returned to Adonai and said:
"Oh, please this people has committed a grievous sin, making golden idols for themselves; but even now, if
only You will tolerate their sin" (Sh'mot 32:20-23)
Mosheh made this second ascent of the Mountain on 18th Tammuz (the day after his return from his first
ascent) and he remained there for a second period of 40 days and 40 nights:
xix
"Then I threw myself down before Adonai just as I had done the first time[for] 40 days and 40 nights
because of all your sins that you had committed, doing what is evil in Adonais sight and provoking His Rage"
(D'varim 9:18)
Applying the same computation as before, the second period of 40 days is found to comprise the last 12
days of Tammuz (from the 18th to the 29th inclusive) and the first 28 days of Av, so that they would
have been completed in the morning of 29th Av; on that day, God became partially reconciled with
Yisrael and sent Mosheh down from the Mountain with instructions to carve a second pair of tablets,
"just like the first ones that you smashed" (Sh'mot 34:1, D'varim 10:1). This he did, returning to the top
of the Mountain the next morning (Sh'mot 34:4, D'varim 10:3); Mosheh spent a third period of 40 days
and 40 nights there (D'varim 10:10)30th Av, the whole month of Elul (29 days), and the first 9 days of
Tishri 2449; it was thus in the morning of 10th TishriYom Kippur, the eternal "Day of Forgiveness"
that God was fully reconciled with Yisrael, forgave them completely, and handed to Mosheh the second
pair of tablets.
The construction of the Portable Templevariously referred to as the "Tabernacle", the "Appointed
Tent" or the "Tent of Meeting" (Hebrew: ohel mo'd or mishkan), together with all its furniture and
ancillary equipment, occupied Mosheh and the people for the following 6 months. It was completed and
erected on 1st Nisan of the second year (Sh'mot 40:17) and its dedication was marked by 12 daily
offerings presented by the 12 tribal chieftains (B'midbar 7:1-88), from 1st until 12th Nisan, after which
the people celebrated the first Pesah festival after the Exodus at Horev (B'midbar 9:1-5), starting on
15th Nisan. The first census was held on 1st Iyyar (B'midbar 1:1). They left Horev on 20th Iyyar and
travelled for three days (B'midbar 10:33), reaching Kivrot-Hata'avah in the Para'n Desert on 23rd Iyyar
(B'midbar 10:11-12, 33:16).
There, the "mixed rabble" that had left Egypt with Yisrael (see Sh'mot 12:38) began complaining that
they were sick of eating nothing but man and wanted meat to eat (B'midbar 11:4-6) even though they
actually had plenty of livestock (see Sh'mot 12:38). This made God so angry that He said He would give
them meat, but
"you won't eat it for just one day, or for two, or for five, or for ten, or even for just twenty daysbut for a
whole month, until it comes out of your noses and the very sight of it makes you sick" (B'midbar 11:19-20).
A "whole [calendar] month" from 23rd Iyyar brings us up to 22nd Sivan, after which the people moved
on to Hatzerot:
then they left Kivrot-Hata'avah and camped at Hatzerot (B'midbar 33:18)
From Kivrot-Hata'avah, the people travelled to Hatzerot. While they were at Hatzerot, Miriyam and Aharon
began to gossip about Mosheh (B'midbar 11:35-12:1)
The entire nation remained at Hatzerot for the 7 days (22nd to 28th Sivan) that Miriyam was excluded
from the camp (B'midbar 12:15) out of respect for her because she was Moshehs sister, after which they
left Hatzerot and camped at Ritmah, also in the Para'n Desert (B'midbar 33:18, 12:16). Ritmah is more
usually called Kadesh-Barn'a (and should not be confused with the other Kadesh, which was in the
Tzin Desert about 10km further north-east). It was from Kadesh-Barn'a that, on 29th Sivan 2449,
Mosheh sent twelve spies (really "explorers") to explore (Hebrew la-tur, literally "to tour") the land of
K'na'an (B'midbar 13:3; see also 13:26, 32:8, Y'hoshua 14:7 et al.). They returned from their mission "at
the end of 40 days" (B'midbar 13:25) and the people, disheartened and demoralised by their report of the
land, "wept all that night" (B'midbar 14:1). The 4th century CE Talmud scholar Abbay states (Treatise
xx
Ta'anit, folio 29a) that unusually there were 30 days in Tammuz that year (Tammuz normally has only 29
days) and consequently the "spies" returned on 8th Av and God decreed that the Eve of 9th Av, when the
people "wept needlessly", would become a night of weeping for ever.
Furthermore, it was the following morningthat of 9th Av itselfthat it was decreed that none of the
generation which had left Egypt, apart from Kalev and Y'hoshua, would enter the land of K'na'an, but
that the nation was to wander in the desert for 40 yearsone year for each day the "spies" had spent on
their missionuntil the whole of that generation had died out (B'midbar 14:21-24, 14:28-30, 14:34). It
was 38 years from then until they reached and crossed the Zered Brook on the borders of K'na'an
(D'varim 2:14; see also B'midbar 21:12), because the decree of 40 years in the desert included the first
two years after their departure from Egypt. They spent half of those 38 years (i.e. 19 years) at KadeshBarn'a
"You stayed at Kadesh for many yearsas [many as] the years that you stayed [at all the other places]"
(D'varim 1:46)
The Book of B'midbar resumes the narrative in the fortieth year with Yisrael's arrival at Kadesh in the
Tzin Desert
Yisraelthe entire congregationarrived in the Tzin Desert in the first month; Miriyam died while the people
were at Kadesh, and she was buried there. (B'midbar 20:1)
It was also at Kadesh that Mosheh and Aharon were instructed to speak to a rock and make it produce
water for the people and their livestock to drink (B'midbar 20:7-8); but instead Mosheh struck the rock
with his walking-stick (B'midbar 20:11), in the same way as he had been told to do at R'fidim (Sh'mot
17:5-6). Mosheh and Aharon were both punished severely for this single error of judgement: God
decreed that neither of them was to play any part in leading Yisrael into the land of K'na'an (B'midbar
20:12) and, as a result of this, Aharon died at Mt. Hor on 1st Av 2447 (B'midbar 33:38) and Mosheh
died seven months later at Mt. N'vo (D'varim 34:1-5) on 7th Adar 2448 (see D'varim 34:8, Y'hoshua
1:11 and Y'hoshua 4:19), after handing the mantle of leadership on to his successor, Y'hoshua (B'midbar
27:18-23; see also D'varim 3:28, 34:9).
Y'hoshua
Y'hoshua was originally named Hosh'a but Mosheh changed his name to Y'hoshua (B'midbar 13:16).
He had been Moshehs personal aide since his youth (B'midbar 11:28). Y'hoshua was from the tribe of
Efrayim: his ancestry is given in Divrei Hayamim Alef 7:23-27 as "ben Nun [Non], ben Elishama, ben
Ammihud, ben La'adan, ben Tahan, ben Telah, ben Refah, ben B'ryiah, ben Efrayim [ben Yosef]". He
was the tribe of Efrayims representative among the twelve "spies" (B'midbar 13:8) and his grandfather,
Elishama ben Ammihud, was Efrayims tribal chieftain (B'midbar 2:18) who had contributed the tribes
offering at the dedication of the Portable Temple (B'midbar 7:49-53); he (Elishama, not Y'hoshua) had
also represented his tribe at the first census (B'midbar 1:10) and had led his tribe when the nation was
marching (B'midbar 10:22).
Y'hoshua ruled Yisrael for 28 yearsi.e. from Ex41 until Ex68although this is not recorded anywhere
in Scripturein his note to Shoftim 11:26, Rashi remarks
We learn in Sder Olam [ch.12] that "Y'hoshua ruled Yisrael for 28 years", but I have no Scriptural source to
derive this from
xxi
Mosheh had ruled Yisrael throughout the 40 years they spent wandering in the desertthat is from
2448/49 until 2487/88, the first 40 years of the "Exodus Era" (Ex1 through Ex40). He died on 7th Adar
2488 and the 30 days of mourning that the Yisraelites observed in his honour (D'varim 34:8) ended on
7th Nisan 2488 (at the beginning of Ex41). On that day, Y'hoshua assumed the leadership and, as his
first act as leader,
Y'hoshua gave orders to the officers of the people, "Pass through the camp and tell the people: 'Prepare
provisions for yourselves, because in three days' time you are going to cross this [River] Yarden to enter and
take possession of the land that Adonai your God is giving you to possess'." (Y'hoshua 1:10-11).
The nations entry into K'na'an three days later is recorded in chapter 4:
The people came up out of the [River] Yarden on the 10th day of the 1st month and camped at Gilgal on the
eastern edge of Y'riho (Y'hoshua 4:19).
The first seven years of Y'hoshuas leadership were taken up by the Wars of Conquest by which Yisrael
took possession of the land and are described in the Book of Y'hoshuas first twelve chapters. The
duration of the Wars is derived in the Talmud (Treatise Z'vahim, folio 118b and Treatise 'Arachin, folio
13a) as follows: when the Wars were over, Kalev approached Y'hoshua to claim the inheritance that he
had been promised by God (B'midbar 14:24, D'varim 1:36). The passage reads
Then the sons of Y'hudah approached Y'hoshua at Gilgal and Kalev ben Y'funneh the K'nizi said to him, "You
know what Adonai said to Mosheh, the Man of God, about me and about you at Kadesh-Barn'a. I was 40
years old when Mosheh, Adonais servant, sent me from Kadesh-Barn'a to explore the land, and I followed
my heart when I reported back to himmy brothers who went with me demoralised the people, but I remained
wholehearted in following Adonai my God. That day, Mosheh swore an oath: 'What ever happens, the land that
your foot trod on will belong to you and your children as your inheritance for ever, because you followed
Adonai my God wholeheartedly'. And now, see: just as He said He would, Adonai has kept me alive for these
45 years since the time that Adonai said that to Moshehthe whole time that Yisrael walked through the
desertand I am now 85 years old" (Y'hoshua 14:6-10)
Now, as the "spies" were sent during the second year of Yisraels departure from Egypt, it follows that
they spent 38 years in the desert after that, so that Kalev would have been 78 years old when they
entered the landand if he was 85 years old when the Wars of Conquest ended, they must have lasted 7
yearsthat is, from Ex41 until Ex47 inclusive.
The Wars of Conquest were followed by a second period during which the newly-conquered land was
allocated among the 9 tribes who were to occupy it: the other 2 tribesR'uven, Gad and half of
M'nashehhad elected to settle east of the Jordan (B'midbar 32:1-42). The land was allocated randomly
by lottery, as God had stipulated while they were still camped on the edge of Mo'av on the east bank of
the Yarden:
Adonai spoke to Mosheh in the Mo'avite Plain, by the Yarden [opposite] Y'riho, as follows: "Speak to the
Yisraelites and tell them, 'You are about to cross the Yarden into the land of K'na'an. You will dispossess all of
the indigenous population, and you are to demolish all their places of worship, tear down all the statues of their
idols, and destroy all their shrines; you will then occupy the land and settle in it, because I am giving this land
to you as your possession. You are to allocate the land among your clans by lotterythose that are numerous
will receive greater allocations and those who are few in number will receive smaller allocationseach will
receive his share as determined by the lottery: you are to allocate the land in this way among your paternal
clans'" (B'midbar 33:50-54)
The implementation of these commands is described in detail in chs.13-21 of Y'hoshua. Precisely how
long the allocation of the land actually took cannot be determined from the Scriptures; the Talmud
xxii
(Treatise Z'vahim, folio 118b) states that the Gilgal Sanctuary (where Y'hoshua erected the Portable
Temple after the people first crossed the Jordan and entered the land) existed for 14 years: "seven years
of conquest and seven years of allocation", and it was transferred from Gilgal to Shiloh at the end of the
period of allocation (Y'hoshua 18:1). The Talmuds explanation for these "seven years of allocation" is
not particularly satisfying:
"7 years of allocation"what is the source for this? If you want, you can say: just as the conquest took 7 years,
so the allocation must similarly have taken 7 years; or, alternatively, you could say: it must have been so or
else you will not find [that a Yovel year occurred] "in the 14th year after the City was destroyed" (Y'hezkel
40:1).
I shall be returning to Y'hezkels "14th year after the City was estroyed" in a few moments.
Y'hoshua died at the age of 110 (Y'hoshua 24:29; Shoftim 2:8) in Ex68, which corresponds to the second
half of 2515 and the first half of 2516, so this places his birth in 2406/07.
Shiloh remained the national Sanctuary until that area was overrun by the P'lishtians at the end of the
Chief Kohen lis life (i.e. at the time that the P'lishtians captured the "Aron"see Sh'muel Alef 4:318); a new national shrine was then built at Nov, first mentioned in Sh'muel Alef 21:2. This was
demolished by King Sha'ul after Sh'muel died (Sh'muel Alef 22:19) and the Kohanim then congregated
around the "little hill" (Hebrew giv'ah) at Kir'yat Y'arim where the Aron had been kept since the
P'lishtians had returned it some ten years earlier (Sh'muel Alef 7:1); the new ad-hoc shrine became
known as Giv'onthis name is first mentioned in M'lachim Alef 3:4.
The Talmud (Treatise Z'vahim, folio 118b-119a) notes that the 20 years the Aron remained at Kir'yat
Y'arim (Sh'muel Alef 7:2), during which time "the whole house of Yisrael was drawn after Adonai", were
the ten years that Sh'muel was Yisraels ruler (traditional), the one year that Sh'muel and Sha'ul ruled
jointly and the two years that Sha'ul reigned alone after Sh'muels death (see Sh'muel Alef 13:1), together
with the first seven years of Davids reign, after which he captured Y'rushalayim, made it his new
capital, and brought the Aron there (10+1+2+7 = 20). It is then deduced that the national Sanctuary was
at Gilgal for 14 years (Ex41-54), at Shiloh for 369 years (Ex55-423), at Nov throughout the ten years of
Sh'muels judgeship (Ex424-433), and at Giv'on for 47 years (Ex434-480), after which Shlomohs
Temple became the permanent national shrine.
The Yovel Calendar

Up to this point, I have been using two Biblical calendars to date events recorded in the Scriptural
narrative: one that counts years "from the creation of Adam", and one counting years "of the Exodus"
(the former is not found in the Scriptures, but there are numerous examples of the latters use). The
introduction of "Sabbatical" (or "Fallow") years (Hebrew: shmittah) and "Jubilee" (Hebrew: yovel) years
(see Vayikra 25:3-13) provided a third calendar, because years are conveniently grouped into 50-year
periods by the the Yovel legislation, so that a year can be described as, for example, "the 3rd year of the
12th Yovel" (or J3/12). The Talmud (Treatise Arachin folios 12b and 13a) records that
the Yisraelites reckoned 17 Yovel cycles from the time they arrived in their land until the time they were
exiled; but you cannot say that they began to do so immediately upon their arrival, or you cannot account for
Y'hezkels "14th year after the City was destroyed" (40:1)
xxiii
The verse in Y'hezkel, which I have now mentioned twice, reads

"In the 25th year of our Exile, on Rosh Hashanahthe tenth day of the monthin the 14th year after the City
was destroyed"
which immediately raises the obvious question: since when does Rosh HashanahNew Years Day
fall on the tenth day of the month? Everyone knows that Rosh Hashanah is the first day of Tishri (the
seventh month)! Well, this is true, most of the time: but
you are to count off seven "weeks of years"seven times seven yearsso that the seven "weeks of years"
amount to 49 years: and then, in the fiftieth year, you will cause horns to be sounded on the tenth day of the
[seventh] monthyou shall cause horns to be sounded throughout your land on Yom Kippur. You are to
inaugurate the fiftieth year in this manner and proclaim liberty throughout the land for all its inhabitants: this is
yovelevery person is to be restored his [ancestral] inheritance, and every [bonded servant] is to return to his
family (Vayikra 25:8-10).
So the Yovel year is an exception to the usual rule: "New Years Day" (Rosh Hashanah) in a Yovel year
occurs on the tenth of Tishri, which is normally called Yom Kippur. This provides a most important
piece of information: Y'hezkel 40:1 tells us indirectly that the 25th year of the Exile was a Yovel year.
This also, incidentally, helps us to understand the obscure dating in the opening verse of Y'hezkels
book:
"It was in the year 30, on the fifth day of the fourth month, when I was among the exiles [living] by the River
K'var, that the heavens opened and I saw visions of God " (Y'hezkel 1:1).
"The year 30" doesn't tell us much unless we know what calendar the author is using, and he doesn't say!
But he does add in verse 2 that it was also "the fifth year of King Y'hoyachins exile" and, as we now
know that the 25th year of the exile was a Yovel year, i.e. the last year of a 50-year Yovel period, it
follows that the fifth year of the exile, 20 years earlier, must have been the 30th year of the same Yovel
period. Thus, Y'hezkel was using the Jubilee Calendar in his opening verse; and the fact that he didn't
find it necessary to say so explicitly suggests that this was the common way of giving a date at that time,
just as today it is normal for us to give the date of this present year as "2008", for example, without
bothering to specify "CE", or even just "08" (omitting the thousands and hundreds).
The Period of the Shoftim ("Judges") & the three Kings of All Yisrael
The time of Y'hoshua was a golden age for Judaism, during which Yisrael had remained completely
faithful to God and had observed the Torah scrupulously (Y'hoshua 24:31; Shoftim 2:7). Sadly, though,
it didn't last: "after Y'hoshua and his generation had all passed away, a new generation arose who had
not known Adonai and everything He had done for Yisrael" (Shoftim 2:8-10). Yisrael then began to
abandon the worship of God and observance of the Torah (verses 11-13). Throughout the next several
centuries, they repeatedly lapsed into idolatry, only returning to God and crying out for His help when
He sent enemies to conquer and oppress them. Each time they did so, God relented and "raised Shoftim
('Judges') for them who 'saved' them from their enemies", but their faithfulness to Him was short-lived
and after the Shofet ('Judge') died they would once again lapse into idolatry (Shoftim 2:18-19). The book
of Judges chronicles that Yisrael
was dominated for 8 years by Kushan-Rish'atayim, the king of Aram-Naharayim (Shoftim 3:8);
was liberated by Ot'niyel benK'naz (Shoftim 3:10) who ruled for 40 years until he died (Shoftim 3:11);
xxiv
was dominated for 18 years by Eglon, the Mo'avite king, who was allied with the Ammonites and the
Amalekites (Shoftim 3:12-14);
was liberated by hud benGra, of Binyamin (Shoftim 3:16-29), who ruled for 80 years (Shoftim 3:30);
was ruled briefly by Shamgar ben Anat (Shoftim 3:31);
was dominated for 20 years by Yavin, the K'na'anite king (Shoftim 4:1-3);
was liberated by Barak ben Avino'am under the inspiration of the prophetess D'vorah (Shoftim 4:4-24), who
ruled for 40 years (Shoftim 5:31);
was dominated by the Midiyanites for 7 years (Shoftim 6:1);
was liberated by Gid'on (Shoftim 7), who then ruled for 40 years (8:28);
was ruled for 3 years (Shoftim 9:22) by Gid'ons son Avimelech, who had been proclaimed "king" by one
small faction (Shoftim 9:6);
was ruled for 23 years by Tola ben Pu'ah, of Yissachar (Shoftim 10:1-2);
was ruled for 22 years for Ya'ir of Gil'ad (Shoftim 10:3); and
was dominated for 18 years by the P'lishtians and Ammonites, starting "that same year" (Shoftim 10:7-8)
But wait: something is wrong. Why?because, including the 28 years that Y'hoshua was Yisraels ruler,
we have just accounted for 346 years since Y'hoshua led them into K'na'an; and yet Yiftah states
explicitly in his diplomatic overtures to the Ammonite king after the 18 years of domination by the
P'lishtians and Ammonites had ended (Shoftim 11:12-27) that Yisrael had been setled in K'na'an for only
300 years (verse 26). The discrepancy is 46 years, which is precisely the total of the three periods during
which they were dominated by Kushan (8 years), Eglon (18 years) and Yavin (20 years). Let us
therefore re-examine the text: the historian-author of Shoftim uses the same formula "the land was quiet
for forty/eighty years" to close his accounts of Ot'niyel, hud, D'vorah and Gid'on with one subtle
difference:
The land was quiet for 40 years; and then Ot'niyel ben K'naz died (Shoftim 3:11);
That day, Mo'av was subdued by Yisraels power; and the land was quiet for 80 years (Shoftim 3:30);
The land was quiet for 40 years (Shoftim 5:31); BUT.....
So Midian was subdued by the Yisraelites and did not continue to raise their heads: and the land was quiet
for 40 years in Gid'ons time" (Shoftim 8:28).
In Gid'ons case, the historian emphasises that the land "was quiet" for 40 years in Gid'ons time; he
does not say that about Ot'niyel, hud, or D'vorah. This suggests that the periods of 40, 80 and 40 years
with which he credits those three leaders included the preceding years of foreign domination, whereas
Gid'on ruled for his full 40 years after the 7 years during which Yisrael was dominated by the Midianites
before he came to power. So here is a revised summary of the period of the Shoftim (or "Judges"),
continued to include all the later Shoftim from Yiftah onwards and also the reigns of Sha'ul, David and
Shlomoh. (Since when were li the Chief Kohen and Sh'muel of Ramah the Prophet also "Judges"?see
Sh'muel Alef 4:18 and 7:6, 7:15):
Ex69-108
Ex109-188
Ex189-228
Ex229-235
Ex236-275
Ex276-278
Ex279-301
Ex302-323
Ex323-340
Ex340-345
Ex345-351
Ex351-360
Ex360-367
Ex367-386
Ex386-425
Ot'niyel (dominated by Kushan-Rish'atayim, king of Aram-Naharayim, for the first 8 years)

hud (dominated by Eglon, king of Mo'av, for the first 18 years)
Shamgar (briefly) and then D'vorah (dominated by Yavin, king of K'na'an, for the first 20 years)
Midianite domination
Gid'on
Avimelech ben Gid'on
Tola
Ya'ir
Philistine-Ammonite domination
Yiftah of Gil'adruled for 6 years (Shoftim 12:7)
Iv'tzan of Beit Lehemruled for 7 years (Shoftim 12:8-10) called Bo'az in the Book of Rut
lon of Z'vulunruled for 10 years (Shoftim 12:11-12)
Avdon ben Hillelruled for 8 years (Shoftim 12:13-15)
Shimshon ben Mano'ahruled for 20 years (Shoftim 15:20, 16:31)
li, Chief Kohen of the Shiloh Sanctuaryruled for 40 years (Sh'muel Alef 4:18)

Ex425-435
Ex435-437
Ex437-476
Ex477-516
xxv
Sh'muel of Ramah, the Prophetruled for 11 years, the 11th year (Ex435) jointly with Sha'ul (Talmud,
Treatise Z'vahim, folio 118bsee above)
King Sha'ulreigned for 3 years: 1 year (Ex435) jointly with Sh'muel and 2 years (Ex436-437)
alone after Sh'muel died (Sh'muel Alef 13:1)
King David40 years (Sh'muel Beit 5:4-5; M'lachim Alef 2:11; Divrei Hayamim Alef 3:4 & 29:27)
King Shlomoh40 years (M'lachim Alef 11:42)
The book of M'lachim confirms the accuracy of this computation, because if Ex477 (i.e. the 477th year
counting from the Exodus) was Shlomohs 1st year, his 4th would have been the 480th year from the
Exodus and this was indeed the case
"In the 480th year, reckoned from the Yisraelites' departure from Egypt, in the month Zivthe second month
of the fourth year of Shlomohs reign over Yisrael, he built Adonais Temple" (M'lachim Alef 6:1)
"he began to build [it] on the second day of the second month in the fourth year of his reign" (Divrei
Hayamim Beit 3:2).
The divided kingdom

Shlomohs death and the succession of his son R'hav'am led to a major political upheaval in Yisrael. The
young R'hav'am was as foolish as his father had been wise and, by his foolishness, he precipitated a rift
that resulted in the secession of the ten northern tribes under Yarov'am I, leaving only "those Yisraelites
who lived in the cities of Y'hudah" under R'hav'ams control (M'lachim Alef 12:17). So great was
Yarov'ams hostility to the southern kingdom (which became known as Y'hudah, or "Juda") that he was
determined to distance his new kingdom of "Yisrael" (which had its capital at Tir'tzah, first mentioned in
M'lachim Alef 15:21) as far as possible from Judan culture and practices. To this end, he introduced
into his kingdom a new, idolatrous religion with twin temples at Dan in the extreme north and Beit-El in
the south (M'lachim Alef 12:28-29) and a new festival in the 8th month, mimicking the Judan festival
of Sukkot, celebrated in the 7th month (ibid., verses 32-33). He also abolished the use of the Exodus
calendar for recokoning his own regnal years, adopting in its place the pre-Mosaic calendar with years
beginning in the autumn, and also abandoned the practice of accession-year reckoning which the Judan
kings used.
How do we know he did this? Well, consider the data: the reigns of R'hav'am and Yarov'am both began
at the same time, and yet we read that
R'hav'am died after reigning for seventeen years (M'lachim Alef 14:21, Divrei Hayamim Beit 12:13) and was
succeeded by his son Aviyyam (called "Aviyyah" in Divrei Hayamim) in Yarov'ams eighteenth year
(M'lachim Alef 15:1, Divrei Hayamim Beit 13:1);
Aviyyam died after reigning for three years (M'lachim Alef 15:2, Divrei Hayamim Beit 13:2) and was
succeeded by his son Asa in in Yarov'ams twentieth year (M'lachim Alef 15:9);
but.....
Yarov'am died after reigning for twenty-two years (M'lachim Alef 14:20) and was succeeded by his son Nadav
in Asas second year (M'lachim Alef 15:25); and
Nadav reigned for two years (M'lachim Alef 15:25) and in Asas third year was assassinated by Ba'asha ben
Ahiyyah, who took his place (M'lachim Alef 15:28).
xxvi
Now, as we have seen, when Shlomoh died in Ex516 (2963/64), his son R'hav'am succeeded him.
Following the traditional Judan practice, R'hav'am had then counted the remainder of Ex516 as his
own "accession-year" and started to number the years of his reign when the next Exodus calendar year
(Ex517) began on 1st Nisan 2964. Then, when he died in his "17th year" (Ex533, or 2980/81), his son
Aviyyam did the same: he counted the remainder of Ex533 as his "accession-year" and started to number
the years of his reign when the next Exodus calendar year (Ex534) began on 1st Nisan 2981and three
years later, when he died in his "3rd year" (Ex536, or 2983/84), his son Asa counted the remainder of
Ex536 as his "accession-year" and started to number the years of his reign when the next Exodus
calendar year (Ex537) began on 1st Nisan 2984
The northern kings, however, cannot have been counting the years of their reigns in the same way
because, if they had, Asas reign would have started in Yarov'ams 21st rather than in his 20th (as both
M'lachim and Divrei Hayamim record); furthermore, it is necessary for Yarov'am to have introduced
both changes to the way the northern kings reckoned the years of their reigns, because if he had retained
the Exodus calendar but abandoned accession-year reckoning in favour of the alternative system that
counts the year in which one king is succeeded by another as the last year of one king and the first year
of the other, Asas reign would have begun in Yarov'ams 21st, whereas if Yarov'am had only abandoned
the Exodus calendar but had retained accession-year reckoning, Asas reign would have begun in
Yarov'ams 21st/22nd and Nadavs reign would have begun in Asas 2nd/3rd, but now we find that
Ba'ashas reign would have begun in Asas 4th/5th and not in his 3rd, as stated in M'lachim Alef 15:28
and 15:33. In fact, a rational chronology that is consistent with all the Biblical data can only be
constructed if it is assumed that the southern kings continued to use the Exodus calendar together with
accession-year reckoning, while the northern kings abandoned the Exodus calendar in favour of the
secular Creation calendar, and also abandoned accession-year reckoning in favour of shared-year
reckoning. We are now ready to trace the chronology of the two parallel kingdoms as recorded in
M'lachim and Divrei Hayamim.
Kings of Yisrael (the northern kingdom)

Yarov'am I (ben N'vat), 2964-2985
Yarov'am I reigned over Yisrael for 22 years (M'lachim Alef 14:20); he was succeeded by his son Nadav.
Nadav, 2985-2986
Nadav came to the throne in Asa of Y'hudahs 2nd year (M'lachim Alef 15:25) and reigned for 2 years
(M'lachim Alef 15:25). He was assassinated by Ba'asha ben A iyyah.
Ba'asha, 2986-3009
Ba'asha assassinated Nadav and claimed the throne in Asa of Y'hudahs 3rd year (M'lachim Alef 15:28
& 15:33) and reigned for 24 years (M'lachim Alef 15:33). He was succeeded by his son lah.
lah, 3009-3010
lah came to the throne in Asa of Y'hudahs 26th year (M'lachim Alef 16:8) and reigned for 2 years
(ibid.). He was assassinated by Zimri, "the commander of half of his chariots" (verse 9).
Zimri, 3010
Zimri reigned over Yisrael for only seven days, during Asa of Y'hudahs 27th year (M'lachim Alef
16:15). He was attacked in his palace by Omri, who had already been proclaimed king on the battle-field
xxvii
(verses 16-17)Zimri committed suicide by setting fire to his own palace (verse 18) to avoid capture,
which would certainly have resulted in his execution.
The Civil War, 3010-3015
Omris support was not universal, however, and many of the people favoured a rival, Tivni ben Ginat.
Civil war broke out, lasting for six years until Omris supporters defeated Tivni's, Tivni himself was
killed, and Omri began to reign unopposed, in Asas 31st year (M'lachim Alef 16:21-23).
Omri, 3010-3021
Omri reigned for a total of 12 years (M'lachim Alef 16:23), including the duration of the six years of
Civil War. After the Civil War was over,
"...he bought the hill at Shomron from Shemer for two kikkars (6,000 sh'kalim, or about 4.2kg) of silver; he
then built up the hill and named the city that he had built after Shemer, the [original] owner of the Shomron
hill" (M'lachim Alef 16:24)
and this great, fortified city then became his new capital. He was succeeded by his son Ah'av.
Ah'av, 3021-3042
Ah'av came to the throne in Asa of Y'hudahs 38th year (M'lachim Alef 16:29) and reigned for 22 years
(ibid.). He was a wicked man by nature and, being of weak character, was greatly influenced by his
pagan wife Izevel, who was a royal princess in her own rightshe was the daughter of the Tzidonian
king Etba'al (verse 31). Ah'av was sensible enough, though, to realise that the constant feuding and
bickering with the southern kingdom, that had been going on ever since Yarov'am Is secession some
half a century earlier, was not benefitting either kingdom, and he responded positively to Y'hoshafats
peace-overtures (M'lachim Alef 22:45), sealing an alliance with Y'hudah in the time-honoured fashion by
marrying his daughter Atalyah to Y'hoshafats son Y'horam (see M'lachim Beit 8:18, and also Divrei
Hayamim Beit 18:1 & 21:6). The two men actually seem to have become quite friendly, because in
M'lachim Alef 22:2 we read about Y'hoshafat paying what appears to have been a social visit to Shomron
(the northern kingdoms new capital) and, in verse 4, he readily agrees to Ah'avs suggestion that they
join forces to mount a campaign to reclaim the Gil'ad Heights from the Syrians whose king, ben-Hadad,
had promised (M'lachim Alef 20:34) to return all the lands the Syrians he had previously taken from
Yisrael, but the Gil'ad Heights had apparently been overlooked. Ah'av was killed in the ensuing battle,
and was succeeded by his son Ahazyah (M'lachim Alef 22:34-40); which places the battle in the year
3042, Ah'avs 22nd, corresponding to Y'hoshafats 17th/18th and, indeed, the text states explicitly that
Ah'avs death and the succession of his son Ahazyah took place during Y'hoshafats 17th year (M'lachim
Alef 22:52).
Ahazyah, 3042-3043
Ahazyah came to the throne Y'hoshafats 17th year and reigned for 2 years (M'lachim Alef 22:52). He
died from injuries sustained when he accidentally fell from the balcony of his bedroom in the palace at
Shomron and, having no heir, was succeeded by his brother Y'horam, another of Ah'avs sons, whose
reign is said to have begun in Y'horam of Y'hudahs 2nd year (M'lachim Beit 1:2, 1:17), and also in
Y'hoshafat of Y'hudahs 18th year (M'lachim Beit 3:1).
But waithow can that be? Y'hoshafats reign began in 3025/26, so his 18th year was 3042/43. He
didn't die until 3050/51 and his son Y'horams reign didn't begin until 3051/52, and yet the text seems to
xxviii
be saying that Ah'avs son Ahazyahwho came to the throne in 3042began to reign both in
Y'hoshafats 18th (M'lachim Beit 3:1), and also in the 2nd year of Y'hoshafats son Y'horam (M'lachim
Beit 1:17)!!!
What are we to make of these apparently contradictory statements? Well, we have already seen that the
first battle of the Gil'ad Heights, in which Ah'av died, took place in 3042, corresponding to Y'hoshafats
17th and 18th years; so is it carrying speculation too far to suggest that he left his son reigning in his
absence while he was away fighting? This was a common enough practice in ancient times. The
accession of Ah'avs son Ahazyah would then have occurred during Y'horams 2nd year as regent, and
also in Y'hoshafats 18th year, just as the text states.
Y'horam, 3043-3054
Y'horam reigned over Yisrael for 12 years (M'lachim Beit 3:1). Just as his father had done, he joined
forces with the Judan king (Y'horams son Ahazyah) in a further attempt to recapture the Gil'ad
Heights (M'lachim Beit 8:28-29). The text does not say how successful this campaign was, but it does
record that Y'horam was wounded. Soon after, the Judan king went to visit his northern counterpart,
who was recuperating from his injuries at Yizr'el, and it was there that they encountered Yhu, who
assassinated both of them (M'lachim Beit 9:24-27).
Yhu, 3055-3082
Yhu reigned for 28 years (M'lachim Beit 10:36) and was succeeded by his son Y'hoahaz.
Y'hoahaz, 3082-3098
Y'hoahaz came to the throne in Yo'ash of Yh'udahs 23rd year and reigned for 17 years (M'lachim Beit
13:1); he seems to have crowned his son Y'hoash regent in 3096/97, which was Yo'ash of Y'hudahs 37th
year (M'lachim Beit 13:10); but Y'hoash did not actually become king until 3099 when Y'hoahaz died.
Y'hoash, 3099-3114
Y'hoash came to the throne on his fathers death and reigned for 16 years (M'lachim Beit 13:10); like his
father had done to him, he seems to have crowned his son Yarov'am II regent while he was still alive and
reigned jointly with him for 3 years (see below).
Yarov'am II, 3112-3152
Yarov'am II reigned over Yisrael for 41 years (M'lachim Beit 14:23); his 1st, 2nd and 3rd years
coincided with Y'hoashs 14th, 15th and 16th yearsthis must be so, or Yarov'am IIs 41st year, when
he died and was succeeded by his son Z'charyah, couldn't have coincided with Azaryah/Uzziyahus 38th
(see below). Note however, that 3141 (the year in which Azaryah/Uzziyahu of Y'hudah was stricken with
tzara'atlevitical leprosyand in which the Earthquake occurred), was Yarov'ams "27th year"
(M'lachim Beit 15:1) as sole monarch: it was actually his 30th year as king, including the three years he
reigned jointly with his father. He was succeeded by his son Z'charyah.
The photograph below shows a seal made of jasper (a variety of quartz), found at M'giddo in 1903. The
inscription, in ancient Hebrew script, reads , or "[belonging] to Shma, Yarov'ams
servant". The seal is believed to date from the reign of King Yarov'am II (812-772 BCE)it is not
known who "Shma" was.
xxix
Z'charyah, 3152-3153
Z'charyah came to the throne in Azaryah/Uzziyahus 38th year (M'lachim Beit 15:8) and reigned for 6
months (M'lachim Beit 15:8); he was assassinated by Shallum ben Yavesh his 6-month reign must
therefore have run over the New Year into 3153.
Shallum, 3153
Shallum assassinated Z'charyah and claimed the northern kingdoms throne in Azaryah/Uzziyahus 39th
year, and reigned for just one month (M'lachim Beit 15:13); he was assassinated by M'nahem ben Gadi.
M'nahem, 3154-3163
M'nahem assassinated Shallum and claimed the throne in Azaryah/Uzziyahus 39th year, and reigned for
10 years (M'lachim Beit 15:17). He was succeeded by his son P'kahyah.
P'kahyah, 3164-3165
P'kahyah came to the throne in Azaryah/Uzziyahus 50th year and reigned for 2 years (M'lachim Beit
15:23). He was assassinated by Pekah ben R'malyahu.
Pekah, 3166-3185
Pekah assassinated P'kahyah and claimed the northern kingdoms throne in Azaryah/Uzziyahus 52nd
year, and reigned for 20 years (M'lachim Beit 15:27). At the beginning of Ahaz of Y'hudahs reign
(ca.3182/83), he formed an alliance with the Syrian king, R'tzin, and together they launched an abortive
attack on Y'rushalayim (M'lachim Beit 15:37; Y'shayahu 7:1). The prophet Y'shayahu prophesied their
deaths (7:14-16), which occurred in Ex738 (3185/86). Pekah was assassinated by Hosh'a ben lah.
xxx
Hosh'a, 3186-3203
Hosh'a ben lah was the last king to occupy the throne of the northern kingdom, which he acquired by
assassinating Pekah in the 20th year of Yotams reign (M'lachim Beit 15:30) or rather what would
have been Yotams 20th year if he had still been alive: in fact, Yotam only reigned for 16 years, and then
died and was succeeded by his son Ahaz (M'lachim Beit 15:33, 15:38), so that year was actually Ahazs
4th. Pekah reigned for 20 years (M'lachim Beit 15:27)from 3166 until 3185, inclusivewhich
confirms the year of Pekahs assassination.
Now the Scriptural account becomes confusing, because M'lachim Beit 17:1 says that Hosh'a began to
reign in Ahazs twelfth year! Reading on in M'lachim Beit 17, we find that Hosh'a was attacked and
subjugated by the Assyrian king, Shalman-Esar V, who in 727BCE succeeded his father Tiglat-Pileser III
(the same Assyrian king that had attacked Pekah not long before as recorded in M'lachim Beit 15:29,
just before Hosh'a assassinated him, and whose aid Ahaz had bought to discourage the Aramean king
R'tzin from attacking him again, as recorded in M'lachim Beit 16:5-9; see also Y'shayahu 7:1-2).
Hosh'a seems to have accepted the situation and paid tribute to the Assyrian king at first (M'lachim Beit
17:3)although the text doesn't say for how longbut "then the Assyrian king discovered that Hosh'a
had betrayed him and corresponding with the Egyptian king So, and was not paying his annual tribute
as he had in previous years; the Assyrian king therefore arrested him and threw him into prison,
invaded the whole country and laid siege to Shomron for three years" (M'lachim Beit 18:4-5). The
"Egyptian king So" was Pharaoh Osorkon IV, an obscure king of Egypts 23rd Dynasty who reigned
ca.735-712 BCE. The siege lasted from Hiz'kiyyahus 4th and Hosh'as 7th (Ex754, 3201) until
Hiz'kiyyahus 6th and Hosh'as 9th (Ex756, or 3203), when Shomron was captured and the northern
kingdom came to an end (M'lachim Beit 18:9-11).
Just to make matters even more confusing, M'lachim Beit 18:1 places the beginning of Hiz'kiyyahus
reign in Hosh'as third year, which is absurd because, as we have seen, Hosh'a took the throne from
Pekah in the 4th year of Hiz'kiyyahus father Ahaz, and Ahaz had reigned a further twelve years after
thatwhich means that Hiz'kiyyahus reign should have begun in about Hosh'as 12th. So what is
going on?
Recall that, at first, Hosh'a had been subjugated by the Assyrian king and had accepted this situation
and paid tribute for an unspecified number of years before he had asserted his independence and refused
to pay up any longer. Now we can fill up the blank: Hosh'a was dominated by the Assyrian king
Shalman-Eser for 8 years, from 3186 until 3193, and then, in the 9th year (3194), corresponding to
Ahazs 12th, he rebelled against Assyrian domination and re-asserted his independence, counting the
years of his independent reign starting in 3195. Then, Ahaz died and was succeeded by his son
Hiz'kiyyahu (in 3197), which was the 3rd year of Hosh'as independent reign the siege of Shomron
began in 3201, which was the 7th year of Hosh'as independent reign (corresponding to Hiz'kiyyahus
4th) and Shomron fell in 2103, which was the 9th year of Hosh'as independent reign
(corresponding to Hiz'kiyyahus 6th)exactly as the M'lachim historian recorded.
The prophet Amos, writing "two years before the Earthquake" (Amos 1:1)only a prophet could have
dated his writings like that!i.e. in the year 3139, predicted the downfall of the northern kingdom
twice
xxxi
"Yarov'am [the second] will perish by the sword and Yisrael will be exiled from its land" (Amos 7:11)
"Your wife will behave immorally in the city, your sons and daughters will fall by the sword, and you yourself
will die on contaminated [i.e. foreign] soil Yisrael will be exiled from its land" (Amos 7:17)
Amos did not, however, say when this was going to happen; that was left to another prophet
Y'shayahuwho, at the beginning of Ahazs reign, declared
"after 65 years, Efrayim will be crushed and will no longer be an independent country" (Y'shayahu 7:8)
("Efrayim" was a common metaphor for the northern kingdom frequently used by the prophets, because
its founder, Yarov'am I, had been from that tribesee M'lachim Alef 11:26). But from the date of
Y'shayahus declaration to the fall of Shomron was nothing like 65 years; it was 22 years at the most,
because Ahaz reigned for a total of 16 years (M'lachim Beit 16:2) and Shomron fell in his son
Hiz'kiyyahus 6th year (M'lachim Beit 18:10). So did Y'shayahu get it wrong? Noit was Amoss
prophecy, not his, and he was saying how long after Amos had originally foretold the overthrow of the
northern kingdom it was going to occur. And he was spot-on, too: following the usual Hebrew
convention of counting years "of" an event (as opposed to years "after" it), the 65th year "of" Amoss
prophecythat is, the 64th year after itwas 3203, precisely the year that Shomron was captured and
destroyed.
Kings of Y'hudah (the southern kingdom)

R'hav'am, Ex517-533 (2964/65-2980/81)
R'hav'am reigned in Y'hudah for 17 years (M'lachim Alef 15:1, Divrei Hayamim Beit 13:1). He was
succeeded by his son Aviyyam (who is called Aviyyah in Divrei Hayamim).
In the 5th year of his reign (Ex521, or 2968/69i.e. ca.956 BCE), R'hav'am was attacked by "the
Egyptian king Shishak" (M'lachim Alef 14:25, Divrei Hayamim Beit 12:2). This was probably Pharaoh
Hedj-kheper-ra Sheshonq I (22nd Dynasty), who reigned ca.945-924 BCE according to Egyptologists;
but it seems from this verse that he was already in power at least 10 years earlier, and Yarov'am (ben
N'vat) is also said to have sought refuge with him even earlier still, during the reign of Shlomoh
(M'lachim Alef 11:40). It is possible that he acted as regent before becoming Pharaoh; or perhaps the
Biblical authors, writing long after the event, just called him "king" because he had later been king.
Aviyyam, Ex534-536 (2981/82-2983/84)
Aviyyam came to the throne in Yarov'am Is 18th year (M'lachim Alef 15:1) and reigned for 3 years
(M'lachim Alef 15:2, Divrei Hayamim Beit 13:2). He was succeeded by his son Asa (he is called Aviyyah
in Divrei Hayamim).
Asa, Ex537-577 (2984/85-3024/25)
Asa came to the throne in Yarov'am Is 20th year (M'lachim Alef 15:9) and reigned for 41 years
(M'lachim Alef 15:10, Divrei Hayamim Beit 16:3). He was succeeded by his son Y'hoshafat.
Y'hoshafat, Ex578-602 (3025/26-3049/50)
Y'hoshafat came to the throne in Ah'avs 4th year (M'lachim Alef 22:41) and reigned for 25 years
xxxii
(M'lachim Alef 25:42); as explained above, he appointed his son Y'horam regent to reign in his absence
while he was away with Ah'av fighting at the first battle of the Gil'ad Heights, in his 17th year (Ex594,
or 3041/42); he also seems to have crowned Y'horam as his successor during his own lifetime (see
below).
Y'horam, Ex600 (3047/48) - 3054
Y'hoshafat crowned his son Y'horam as his successor in Joram of Yisraels 5th year, "while Y'hoshafat
was [still] alive" (M'lachim Alef 8:16). Y'horam reigned for 8 years (M'lachim Beit 8:17), thus his 1st,
2nd and 3rd years coincided with his father Y'hoshafats 23rd, 24th and 25th. Y'horam was a thoroughly
wicked man, who followed the ways of the kings of Yisrael, [doing all the things] that Ah'avs House
had donefor Ah'avs daughter had become his wife (M'lachim Beit 8:18; see also Divrei Hayamim Beit
21:6). He had a most unpleasant and ignominious end, which was was foretold to him in a letter that the
prophet liyyahu sent him: his death from a prolapsed bowel is recorded in graphic detail in Divrei
Hayamim:
he received a letter from the prophet liyyahu, which said: "Adonai, your ancestor Davids God, has decreed
this you will suffer recurrent attacks of an intentinal complaint, until your bowel protrudes because of the
illnessfor a year and then another year" after this, Adonai inflicted an incurable bowel disease on him: he
suffered from it for a full year and then it became progressively more severe until, when the two-year deadline
arrived, his bowel protruded and he died in agony he had reigned for 8 years. When he departed, he was
not mourned; they buried him in Davids city but not in the Royal Tombs. The people of Y'rushalayim had
already made his youngest son Ahazyah king, because all his older sons had been killed thus Y'horams son
Ahazyah became king of Y'hudah (Divrei Hayamim Beit 21:12-22:2).
Y'hoshafat had crowned Y'horam as his successor in the 5th year of Ah'avs son Yoram
Y'hoshafats son Y'horam, king of Y'hudah, began to reign in the 5th year of Ah'avs son Yoram, king of Yisrael
and [while] Y'hoshafat was [still] king of Y'hudah (M'lachim Beit 8:16)
that is to say, Y'hoshafat and Y'horam reigned together as co-regents for the last three years of
Y'hoshafats reign (Ex600, 601 and 602). After Y'hoshafat died, Y'horam, following the ways of the
kings of Yisrael [and doing all the things] that Ah'avs House had done, seems to to have gone so far
as to abandon the traditional Judan method of reckoning the years of a kings reign in favour of the
northern method, counting the second half of Ex602 as his "4th year" and reckoning the years of his
reign in civil (Creation) calendar years, starting in Tishri, from his 5th year onwards. He died and was
succeeded by his son Ahazyah in Yoram ben Ah'avs 12th year (3054)although Ahazyah had already
been reigning as regent since the previous year (3053, Yoram ben Ah'avs 11th) when Y'horam had
become too ill to reign (see below).
Ahazyah, 3055
Y'horams son Ahazyah only reigned for a few months after succeeding to the throne, although M'lachim
Beit 8:26 credits him with a reign of a full [regnal] year. Like his grandfather Y'hoshafat had done before
him, he joined forces with the northern king (Ah'avs younger son, Yoram) to try to win back the Gil'ad
Heights from the occupying Syrians; it is difficult to gauge from the Scriptural narrative just how
successful this campaign was, but we do know that Yoram was wounded in the battle (M'lachim
M'lachim Beit 8:28-29). Not long afterwards, Ahazyah went to visit him at Yizr'el, where he was
recuperating from his battle-injuries, and it was there that they encountered Yhu, who killed them both
xxxiii
(M'lachim Beit 9:21-28). Note that, even though M'lachim Beit 8:25 states that Ahazyah came to the
throne during Yoram ben Ah'avs 12th year, Scripture adds a final comment to this passage (in 9:29)
recording that "he had [also] reigned during Y'horam ben Ah'avs 11th year"that is to say, when his
father Y'horam of Y'hudah had become too ill to reign.
Queen Atalyah, 3055-3060
Atalyah usurped the Judan throne and made herself queen regnant at the same time as Yhu claimed
the northern throne; she reigned for six years. She was was Ah'avs and Iezevels daughter whom
Y'hoshafats son Y'horam had married, and also Ahazyahs mother. The events that followed Yhus
assassination of Ahazyah are recorded in the book of M'lachim
When Ahazyahus mother, Atalyah, learned that her son was dead, she arose and exterminated all the royal
offspring but King Y'horams daughter, Y'hoshevaAhazyahus sistertook Ahazyahus son Yo'ash and
smuggled him away from the kings [other] sons who were being slaughtered she hid him from Atalyah,
together with his nurse, in a dormitory, so he wasn't killed he remained hidden with her in Adonais Temple
for 6 years, while Atalyah reigned over the land and then, in the 7th year, Y'hoyada assembled the officers
who commanded the warriors and the foot-soldiers, and summoned them to a conference with him in Adonais
Temple; he agreed an alliance with them and made them swear an Oath of loyalty in Adonais Templeand
then he produced to them the kings son (M'lachim Beit 11:1-4)
which is a little confusng because it begs the question Who was this Y'hoyada?a question answered
by the parallel account in the Divrei Hayamim:
When Ahazyahus mother, Atalyah, learned that her son was dead, she rose up and exterminated all the royal
offspring of the House of Y'hudah but Y'hoshav'at, the kings daughter, took Ahazyahus son Yo'ash and
smuggled him away from the kings [other] sons who were being slaughteredshe put him in a dormitory,
together with his nurse: king Y'horams daughter Y'hoshav'at, the Chief Kohen Y'hoyadas wife, hid him from
Atalyah because she was Ahazyahus sister, so he was not killed he remained hidden with them in Gods
Temple for 6 years, while Atalyah reigned over the land and then, in the 7th year, Y'hoyada mustered his
courage and took the military commandersAzaryah ben Y'roham, Yishma'el ben Y'hohanan, Azaryah ben
Oved, Ma'aseiyyah ben Adaiyah and Elishafat ben Zichriinto his confidence. They circulated throughout
Y'hudah and assembled the L'viyim from all the cities of Y'hudah, and the heads of all the Yisraelite clans
and came to Y'rushalayim; all this assembly entered into an alliance with the king there, in Gods Temple; for
[Y'hoyada] had said to them "The kings son should be reigning, as Adonai commanded about Davids
descendants" (Divrei Hayamim Beit 22:10-23:3)
The usurper was then arrested and executed, and the rightful king was restored to the throne amid
general celebrations and rejoicing.
Yo'ash, Ex613-652 (3061-3099/3100)
Yo'ash was crowned in 3061, Yhus 7th year (M'lachim Beit 12:2); he was generally a good king,
having been tutored by the Chief Kohen, Y'hoyada (who, together with his wife Y'hosheva, had saved
him from being murdered by Atalyah), although he seems to have rather gone off the rails in the latter
part of his reign. He reverted to the traditional Judan method of reckoning the years of a kings reign,
counting Ex614 (3061/62) as his second year, and reigned for 40 years (M'lachim Beit 12:2). Yo'ash was
succeeded by his son Amatz'yahu.
Amatz'yahu, Ex653-681 (3100/01-3128/29)
xxxiv
Amatz'yahu came to the throne in Y'hoash of Yisraels 2nd year (M'lachim Beit 14:1) and reigned for 29
years (M'lachim Beit 14:2). After defeating the Edomites and capturing Petra (M'lachim Beit 14:7), he
challenged Yhus grandson Y'hoash, the northern king, to battle (M'lachim Beit 14:8, see also Divrei
Hayamim Beit 25:17). The Divrei Hayamim account elaborates on this: to augment his own forces for
the battle with the Edomites, Amatz'yahu had hired 100,000 mercenaries from the northern kingdom; but
had dismissed them after being warned by an unnamed prophet that he would be defeated if he allowed
them to fight alongside the Judans. Amatz'yahu had paid the mercenaries one hundred kikars (or
"talents")more than two metric tonnesof silver for their services and, in an amusing human note
(Divrei Hayamim Beit 25:9), he says to the unnamed prophet, "So what about my one hundred kikars of
silver?"to which he receives the terse response: "Adonai can give you much more than that!"
But when Amatz'yahu had summarily dismissed the mercenaries, they had been grossly insulted and, in
revenge, had embarked on a rampage of killing and plundering through the cities of Y'hudah (Divrei
Hayamim Beit 25:13). It was because Y'hoash had done nothing to prevent this, or even to punish those
responsible, that Amatz'yahu declared war on him. Y'hoash had no desire to fight his brothers in the
south, but Amatz'yahu persisted and marched his army towards Shomron; so Y'hoash was forced to
mobilise his own army and invade Y'hudah to confront the approaching Judan forces, and there was a
battle at Beit-Shemesh in northern Y'hudah. Amatz'yahus army was defeated and he himself was
captured, after which Y'hoash marched on Y'rushalayim and plundered the Temple and the Royal
Treasuries (M'lachim Beit 14:11-14, Divrei Hayamim Beit 25:20-24). Y'hoash died soon after that and
Amatz'yahu either escaped or was released; he outlived Y'hoash by 15 years (M'lachim Beit 14:17,
Divrei Hayamim Beit 25:25). But after his defeat and capture at Beit-Shemesh, Amatz'yahu seems to
have lost the confidence of his subjects. M'lachim Beit 14:17-21 records that
Amatz'yahu lived for a further 15 years after Y'hoashs death there was an uprising against him in
Y'rushalayim, but he escaped to Lachishso they sent after him to Lachish and assassinated him there. He was
brought in a procession of horses to be buried in Y'rushalayim, in his ancestors' tombs in Davids City;
meanwhile, all the people of Y'hudah had already taken his son Azaryah, who was just 16 years old, and
crowned him in his father Amatz'yahus place
and the version in Divrei Hayamim Beit 25:25-26:1 has a few extra words
Amatz'yahu lived a further 15 years after the death of Y'hoash from the time that Amatz'yahu turned away
from Adonai and there was an uprising against him in Y'rushalayim
suggesting that the uprising against Amatz'yahu, his flight to Lachish, and the popular crowning of his
son Azaryah (who is called Uzziyahu in Divrei Hayamim) in his place, all coincided with Y'hoashs
death (which occurred in Amatz'yahus 15th year), and that he spent the whole of the last 15 years of his
reign (from his 15th until his 29th inclusive) in hiding at Lachish while his son Azaryah/Uzziyahu ruled
by popular consent.
Azaryah/Uzziyahu, Ex667-718 (3114/15-3165/66)
Azaryah/Uzziyahu reigned in Y'hudah for 52 years (M'lachim Beit 15:2). The narrative of the book of
M'lachim glosses over his long reign in just a few short verses:
Azaryah ben Amatz'yahu, king of Y'hudah was [already] reigning in King Yarov'am [II] of Yisraels 27th
year (he had been 16 years old when he came to power, and he reigned in Y'rushalayim for 52 years)
when Adonai struck the king with the Plague: he remained a leper from then until the day he died, living in
an isolation-homethe kings son Yotam took over the Royal Household and governed the people of the
land When Azaryah passed away they buried him with his fathers in Davids City; his son Yotam
succeeded him (M'lachim Beit 15:1-7).
xxxv
Actually, most English translations of M'lachim Beit 15:1 say In the 27th year of Yarov'am, king of
Yisrael, Azaryah ben Amatz'yahu, king of Y'hudah, began to reign. But its abundantly clear from the
chronologies of the two parallel kingdoms that Azaryah/Uzziyahu must have come to power many, many
years before Yarov'am IIs 27th year. The M'lachim historians meaning appears to be that "King
Azaryah of Y'hudah was already reigning in Yarov'am IIs 27th year, when Adonai struck him with the
Plague". The parallel account in Divrei Hayamim describes the circumstances in which
Azaryah/Uzziyahu came to be "stricken with the Plague":
when he became strong, his arrogance was his downfall: he trespassed against Adonai his Godhe
entered Adonais Sanctuary [and attempted] to offer incense on the Incense Altar. The Chief Kohen,
Azaryah, backed up by eighty of Adonais worthy kohanim, followed him in there they confronted King
Uzziyahu and said to him, "Uzziyahu, it is not your place to offer incense before Adonai: only consecrated
kohanim, the descendants of Aharon, may do that! Leave the Sanctuaryyou have trespassed, and you will
not be honoured by Adonai God for this". But Uzziyahu became angryhe had the censer in his hand,
ready to perform the incense cermonyand when he lost his temper with the kohanim, a leprous [lesion]
flared up on his forehead, there in front of the kohanim, inside Adonais Temple, right by the Incense Altar.
The Chief Kohen, Azaryah, and all the other kohanim, examined him, and they declared him a m'tzora
(leper) because of [the lesion on] his forehead, so they rushed him away from therehe, too, was in a hurry
to leave, because Adonai had attacked him. King Uzziyahu remained a m'tzora until the day he died, living
in an isolation-home and banned from entering Adonais Temple because he was a m'tzora. His son Yotam
took charge of the Royal Household and governed the people of the land when Uzziyahu passed away,
they buried him with his fathers in the [private] cemetery that belonged to the kings, because they said "He
was a m'tzora"; his son Yotam succeeded him (Divrei Hayamim Beit 26:16-23).
Its a curious anomaly that this king is consistently called Azaryah in M'lachim, but Uzziyahu in Divrei
Hayamim. The two authors frequently use variant forms of many kings' names (for example, the
M'lachim historian calls R'hav'ams son and successor Aviyyam while the Chronicler calls him Aviyyah),
but here we have two completely different names. The most likely explanation is that his real name was
Azaryah, but he was commonly known as Uzziyahu to avoid confusion with the Chief Kohen who was
also called Azaryah (as we see from the Divrei Hayamim account of the incense incident).
The Earthquake of Uzziyahus time, Ex693 (3140/41)
The prophet Z'charyah, whose prophecies are dated "the 2nd year of Darius I" (Z'charyah 1:1), or 520
BCE, refers to "the earthquake [that occurred] in the time of King Uzziyahu of Y'hudah" (14:5) in a
context which suggests that the event was still well-known in his time (just like the San Francisco
earthquake of 1906 is still remembered as a catastrophic event even today, over a century later).
The Earthquake of Uzziyahus time is not recorded explicitly anywhere in the Scriptures, but it must
have been a pretty bad one if people were still talking about it more than 250 years later. There are,
however, two oblique references to the Earthquake in the Bible: one is in the opening verse of Amoss
writings, where he gives the date of his prophecies as "two years before the earthquake" (only a prophet
could have dated his writings in such a way!), and the other is a very obscure, oblique reference in
Y'shayahu, who remarks "the [Temple] doorposts had been shaken by the Voice of the One who was
crying out, because he was about to fill the Temple with smoke" (Y'shayahu 6:4).
But who "was about to fill the Temple with smoke"? Well, according to a well-established ancient
Hebrew tradition, Y'shayahu's Vision of the Divine Throne that he describes in his 6th chapter happened
at the same time that Uzziyahu was stricken with tzara'at (levitical leprosy): he hints at this when he
begins the chapter with the words "in the year that King Uzziyahu died" (Y'shayahu 6:1)the
"plague" of leprosy had long been thought of as a "living death" in Hebrew culture (compare B'midbar
12:12). For this reason, Y'shayahu 6:4 is understood as an oblique reference to Uzziyahus abortive
xxxvi
attempt to offer incense on the Incense Altar (see above); and, again according to ancient Hebrew
tradition, God Himself is supposed to have been so outraged by Uzziyahus sacrilege that He "cried out"
in protest and, as a result, the land was shaken by a tremendous earthquake which "shook the Temple
doorposts".
So when did this happen? Well, consider M'lachim Beit, chapter 15. The first verse appears to say that
Azaryah/Uzziyahu came to the throne in Yarov'am IIs 27th year; but see my comments at the start of the
notes about Azaryah/Uzziyahu. Now everything falls into place: Azaryah/Uzziyahus reign had actually
begun when the people crowned him in his fathers 15th year (Ex667), after Amatz'yahu had effectively
been deposed in a popular uprising, and the incense incident, which resulted in Azaryah/Uzziyahu being
stricked with tzara'at, occurred in Yarov'am IIs 27th year (3138), that is, in Azaryah/Uzziyahus 24th or
25th. Yotam then took over as regent and "governed" the people (M'lachim Beit 15:5, Divrei Hayamim
Beit 26:21), but did not take the title King until he ascended the throne after Azaryah/Uzziyahu died.
Yotam, Ex719-734 (3166/67-3181/82)
Yotam came to the throne in Pekahs 2nd year (M'lachim Beit 15:32) and reigned for 16 years (M'lachim
Beit 15:33). He was succeeded by his son Ahaz.
Ahaz, Ex735-750 (3182/83-3197/98)
Ahaz came to the throne in Pekahs 17th year (M'lachim Beit 16:1) and reigned for 16 years (M'lachim
Beit 16:2). He was one of the most wicked of all the kings of Y'hudahhe even sacrificed his own son
to the Molech idol, in whose shrine children were burned alive (see M'lachim Beit 16:3). He was young
(just 20 years old when he came to the throne) and inexperienced, and very stubborn. At the beginning
of his reign Pekah, the king of the northern kingdom, formed an alliance with the Syrian king, R'tzin,
and they jointly attacked Y'rushalayim; the attack failed, but Ahaz remained terrified that they would
return and attack him again:
At the beginning of [lit., "In"] the reign of Ahaz, ben Yotam, ben Uzziyahuking of Y'hudahR'tzin, king of
Syria, and Pekah ben R'malyahu, king of Yisrael, marched against Y'rushalayim to attack it, but they were not
able to defeat it. The Davidic king was told "Syria has formed an alliance with Efrayim" and his heart, and
his peoples' hearts, fluttered like the trees in a forest flutter in the wind (Y'shayahu 7:1-2).
Ahazs problem was that he didn't believe in God, and didn't trust Y'shayahu, whom he believed to be a
fraud and not a true prophet at all. So he is made a rare, possibly a unique, offer: he can challenge God
to prove Y'shayahus prophetic credentials and ask for any demonstration of his own choice. But Ahaz
refuses the offer (Y'shayahu 7:10-12). Y'shayahus response is very human: he loses his temper with the
stubborn young king (who was, incidentally, his first cousins grandson: the Talmud records in Treatise
M'gillah, folio 10b, and Treatise Sotah, folio 10b, a tradition that Y'shayahus father Amotz and King
Amatz'yahu were brothers)
"Now listen here," he yells at the stubborn young king: "Aren't you satisfied with frustrating medo you have
to frustrate my God too? You are going to have a 'sign', whether you want one or not, and if you won't choose
it for yourself, God will choose it for you! See that pregnant teenager? She is about to give birth to a son he
will grow up eating cream and honey, so he will learn [very quickly] to refuse poor [food] and insist on the
best; and even before he has learned that much, the land will be rid of the two kings you're so scared of!"
(Y'shayahu 7:13-16).
This passage will be very familiar to christians (apart from the last two verses), because the first part of
the prediction is dishonestly quoted by the author of "matthew" (at 1:23), who pretends it is a prophecy
xxxvii
of the christian idol-babys "virgin birth". It is, however, perfectly clear from both the language and the
context that the baby Y'shayahu was referring to was about to be born right then, when he was speaking;
and, in fact, the prophecy was fulfilled less than 4 years later: Pekah was assassinated by Hosh'a ben
lah in the 4th year of Ahazs reign (M'lachim Beit 15:30) and R'tzin was killed in battle soon after by
the Assyrian king Tiglat-Pileser III (M'lachim Beit 16:9): Y'shayahus only reason for mentioning the
baby was to provide a time-frame within which his prediction was going to come about.
Ahaz was succeeded by his son Hiz'kiyyahu.
Hiz'kiyyahu, Ex751-779 (3198/99-3226/27)
Hiz'kiyyahu came to the throne in the 3rd year of Hosh'as unilaterally-declared independence from the
Assyrians (M'lachim Beit 18:1)see notes on Hosh'as reign, above; Hiz'kiyyahu reigned in Y'hudah
for 29 years (M'lachim Beit 18:2). In his 14th year (Ex764, or ca.713 BCE), he was attacked by the
armies of the Assyrian king Sargon II (who reigned ca.721-705 BCE), commanded by the kings son
Sanhriv (SennacheribM'lachim Beit 18:13ff). The account in M'lachim doesn't mention Sargon,
but 18:17 does refer to a military commander named Tartan, who Y'shayahu tells us was Sargons
general (Y'shayahu 20:1). In fact, Sennacherib didn't become king of Assyria until his father died in
ca.704 BCE, nearly ten years after this campaign.
Rejecting the Assyrian commanders crude threat to maintain the siege of Y'rushalayim until the people
were reduced to "eating their own shit and drinking their own piss" (M'lachim Beit 18:27, Y'shayahu
36:12; literal translation), the pious Hiz'kiyyahu turned to God and appealed to the prophet Y'shayahu for
help (M'lachim Beit 19:1-2); God immediately intervened and 185,000 Assyrian soldiers miraculously
died in their sleep that very night (19:35). After that, Sennacherib returned to Nineveh in disgrace, never
to venture against Y'hudah again. He was assassinated by two of his own sons more than 30 years later,
and was succeeded by a third son, sar-Haddon (M'lachim Beit 19:36, and corroborated by surviving
Assyrian records), whose "first year", according to Ptolemys "Royal Canon" was 680 BCE (see
Appendix I).
After the Assyrian attack on Y'rushalayim, there was peace in Y'hudah for more than 100 years, until
Pharaoh Wehem-ib-ra Nekau IIs attack on Yoshiyyahu at M'giddo in 610 BCE (see below); the prophet
Y'shayahu was alluding to this when he told Ahaz:
a boy has been born for usa son has been given to usand one day he is destined to be king; God has
named him the "Peace-Prince" (Y'shayahu 9:5but verse 6 in christian "versions").
Note Y'shayahus use of the past tense: "has been born" and "has been given". Hiz'kiyyahu was already 9
years old when Ahaz came to the throne, because he was 25 years old when he came to the throne
himself (M'lachim Beit 18:2) after Ahazs 16-year reign (M'lachim Beit 16:2). This is another verse that
christians claim is a reference to their idol-man; and to bolster that impression, their translations change
the verb vayikra, "he [has] called [the childs name]" (which is identically the same word as the first
word of Vayikra 1:1 and occurs over 200 times throughout the Bible) from the active voice of the past
tense into the passive voice of the future tense, and render it as "it [the childs name] shall be called", so
that the list of Divine titles "Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Eternal Father" (which I have
translated above using the single word "God") cease to be the subject of the verbi.e., the one doing the
"calling"and become part of the childs "name". Wow, a child "whose name shall be called God"
its obviously a reference to the idol-man! Except that isn't what Y'#shayahu actually said.
xxxviii
Hiz'kiyyahu was succeeded by his son M'nasheh.

M'nasheh, Ex780-834 (3227/28-3281/82)
M'nashehs reign was the longest of any of the Judan kings55 years (M'lachim Beit 21:1). He was
succeeded by his son Amon.
Amon, Ex835-836 (3282/83-3283/84)
Amon reigned in Y'hudah for two years (M'lachim Beit 21:19); he was assassinated by his own servants,
but the conspirators were executed and his son Yoshiyyahu was crowned as his successor (M'lachim Beit
23-24).
Yoshiyyahu, Ex837-867 (3284/85-3314/15)
Yoshiyyahu reigned for 31 years (M'lachim Beit 22:1, also Divrei Hayamim Beit 34:1): he was very
young (only 8 years old) when he succeeded Amon. The M'lachim account reports that he did what was
right in Adonais sight, following all the ways of his ancestor David, not deviating either to the right or
to the left" (M'lachim Beit 22:2) and the Chronicler adds
in the 8th year of his reign, when he was still a boy [when he was 16 years old] he began to seek out his
ancestor Davids God, and in his 12th year [when he was 20] he began to purge Y'hudah and Y'rushalayim of
all the idolatrous shrines, the asherah-trees, the idols and the cast-statues: [his officials] tore down the Ba'al
altars in front of him and cut down the sun-images that were above them; he smashed and ground up the
asherah-trees, the idols and the cast-statues, and threw [the debris] over the graves of those who had sacrificed
to them. He burned the bones of the idolatrous priests on their own altarshe purified Y'hudah and
Y'rushalayim (Divrei Hayamim Beit 34:3-5).
Yoshiyyahus desecration of the idolatrous altars had been foretold 330 years earlier by an unnamed
prophet who had spoken out against Yarov'am I when he had first established his idolatrous twintemples at Dan and Beit-El:
Just then a man of God came from Y'hudah to Beit-El with Adonais Words. Yarov'am was standing by his
altar, about to offer incense; and [the Man of God] called out to the altar in Adonas Name, "O Altar! Altar!
this is what Adonai says: A boy will be born from Davids Househis name will be Yoshiyyahu! he will
sacrifice on you the priests of the idolatrous shrines who burn incense on you; human bones will be burned on
you!" (M'lachim Alef 13:1-2)
In his 18th year (Ex854, 3301/02), Yoshiyyahu suddenly decided to renovate and repair the Temple
In King Yoshiyyahus 18th year, the king sent Shafan ben Azalyah ben M'shullam the Scribe to Adonais
Temple with these instructions: "Go to Hilkiyahu, the Chief Kohen, and have him collect all the money that is
brought to Adonais Temple, that the doorkeepers collect from the peoplelet him give it to the workers who
have been appointed to maintain Adonais Temple: they shall give it to the Temple craftsmen to repair the
deterioration of the buildingthe carpenters, the builders and the masons, and for the purchase of wood and
quarried stone, [whatever is needed] for the repairs to the Temple'" (M'lachim Beit 22:3-6; see also Divrei
Hayamim Beit 34:8ff).
Now, the Temple buildings would certainly have been in need of some repair in Yoshiyyahus time, as
no major maintenance work had been carried out since the time of Yo'ash (see M'lachim Beit 12:7ff),
more than 200 years before. But what could have prompted Yoshiyyahu to do this specifically in his
18thwhat was special about that year? Well, it so happens that 3302 was the last year of the sixteenth
Yovel cycle, and a Yovel year was due to begin halfway through Yoshiyyahus 18th. Is it too far-fetched
to suggest that the pious Yoshiyyahu wanted to restore the national shrine to its proper glory in time for
xxxix
the Yovel celebrations later that year?

The end of Yoshiyyahus reign (and life) was rather unfortunate for such a righteous king. M'lachim tells
us:
In [Yoshiyyahu's] time, the Egyptian king Pharaoh N'cho was marching against the Assyrian king [who lived]
by the River Euphrates. King Yoshiyyahu went to confront him, but he killed him at M'giddo where he
confronted him [Yoshiyyahu's] servants drove him, dead, from M'giddo and brought him to Y'rushalayim
where they buried him in his tomb. The common people chose Y'hoahaz ben Yoshiyyahu, anointed him, and
proclaimed him king as his fathers successor (M'lachim Beit 23:29-30)
and the Chronicler elaborates:

After all this, when Yoshiyyahu had renovated the Temple, the Egyptian king N'cho was marching to make war
on Karch'mish by the Euphrates, and Yoshiyyahu went out to confront him. [The Egyptian king] sent
ambassadors to [Yoshiyyahu] bearing this message: "What quarrel is there between you and me, King of
Y'hudah? I am not attacking you but prosecuting my own war, and God has told me to hurry. Do not oppose
God, Who is with me, or you will be destroyed!" But Yoshiyyahu refused to back down, because he was
determined to fight, and he did not heed N'chos words, [which were] from God. The battle was joined in the
M'giddo Valley; and the archers shot at King Yoshiyyahu... the king said to his servants "Get me out of here, I
am badly wounded!" So his servants took him from his battle-chariot and drove him to Y'rushalayim in a
second carriage that he had he died and was buried in his fathers' tombsall of Y'hudah and Y'rushalayim
mourned for Yoshiyyahu The common people chose Y'hoahaz ben Yoshiyyahu and anointed him in
Y'rushalayim to succeed his father (Divrei Hayamim Beit 35:20-24; 36:1).
The "Egyptian king Necho" was Pharaoh Wehem-ib-ra Nekau II, who reigned ca.610-595 BCE:
Yoshiyyahus 31st year corresponds to ca.610 BCE, placing it right at the beginning of Nekaus reign.
It should be noted that Y'hoahaz needed to be personally anointed because he was not the legal heir to
the throne: his brother Elyakim (Y'hoyakim) was actually two years older (compare M'lachim Beit 23:31
and 23:36).
Y'hoahaz, Ex868 (3315/16)
Y'hoahaz only reigned for three months (M'lachim Beit 23:31); he was deposed by Pharaoh Nekau, who
placed his brother Elyakim on the throne of Y'hudah, changing his name to Y'hoyakim (M'lachim Beit
23:33-34)
Y'hoyakim, Ex869-879 (3316/17-3326/27)
Y'hoyakim reigned in Y'hudah for 11 years (M'lachim Beit 23:36). It was in his 4th year that the
Chaldean king Nabopolassar died and his son Nabu-kudurri-utzur, better known as Nebuchadnezzar II,
became king of Babylonia
in the 4th year of Y'hoyakim ben Yoshiyyahu, king of Y'hudah, which was the first year of Nebuchadrezzar,
king of Babylonia (Yirm'yahu 25:1)
Nebuchadnezzars succession is documented in a clay tablet, currently in the British Museum, London
(catalogue no. BM21946)see Appendix II:
21st year [of Nabopolassar] The king of Akkad stayed home while his eldest son, Nebuchadnezzar (the
crown prince) mustered the army. He took command of the troops and marched to Carchemish, which is on the
banks of the Euphrates. He crossed the river and confronted the Egyptian army which was encamped at
xl

Carchemish battle was joined and the Egyptian troops retreated before him he inflicted a heavy defeat
upon them and eliminated them completely
In the Hamath district, the army of Akkad overtook the remnants of the Egyptian troops which had escaped the
defeat: they inflicted a further defeat upon them and not a single Egyptian soldier returned home; at that time
Nebuchadnezzar conquered all of Hamath
Nabopolassar died on 8th Av, having ruled Babylon for 21 years Nebuchadnezzar returned to Babylon in the
month Elul and ascended the royal throne in Babylon on 1st Elul.
In his accession-year, Nebuchadnezzar returned to Hatti he marched about victoriously in Hatti until the
month Sh'vat and in the month Sh'vat he brought the vast plunder from Hatti into Babylon. In the month Nisan
he took the hand of Bel and Bels son and celebrated the Akitu [New Year] feast
The tablet then continues with Nebuchadnezzars "first year". The Battle of Carchemish is mentioned by
the prophet Yirm'yahu, who places it also in Y'hoyakims 4th year
concerning the army of Pharaoh N'cho, king of Egypt, which was [encamped] by the River Euphrates at
Carchemish, [and] which was defeated by the Babylonian king Nebuchadrezzar in the 4th year of
Y'hoyakim ben Yoshiyyahu, king of Y'hudah (Yirm'yahu 46:2).
It is perhaps ironic that Nebuchadnezzar II, the most hated of all foreign kings in Hebrew history, who
overthrew the last remnant of the Hebrew Monarchy, destroyed Shlomohs Temple, and exiled our
people from our homeland, should provide the vital link between the Biblical dating systems and the
modern calendar. But this is the case, and it is so because the intensely superstitious Babylonians had a
deep belief in astrology and kept meticulous records of their observations of the heavens. One surviving
such diary (inscribed on a clay tablet known as VAT4956, owned by the Vorderasiatisches Museum in
East Berlinsee Appendix III) lists a large number of careful observations of astronomical phenomena
that occurred during months 1-3 and 10-12 of Nebuchadnezzars 37th year (the remainder of the tablet is
missing), and by means of modern computational techniques that year can be identified with absolute
certainty as the period corresponding to the 12 lunar months which began at sunset on 21st April, 568
BCE and ended at sunset on 10th April, 567 BCE.
Counting back 36 years before 568/7 BCE, we find that Nebuchadnezzars "first year" must have been
the Babylonian calendar year that ran from the spring of 604 BCE to the spring of 603 BCE, and this
unambiguously identifies the year that the Babylonian historian responsible for the Royal Diary tablet
BM21946 calls "Nabopolassars 21st year" and "Nebuchadnezzars accession-year" as the period from
the spring new-moon of 605 BCE to the spring new-moon of 604 BCE. The date of Nebuchadnezzars
accession, given by BM21946 as 1st Elul, corresponds to the Babylonian day that started at sunset on
6th September and ended at sunset on 7th September 605 BCE.
Our next task is to figure out how the Hebrew historians who authored the Biblical accounts would have
reckoned the years of Nebuchadnezzars reign. The Talmud (Treatise Rosh Hashanah, folio 3a & folio
8a, and also Treatise Avodah Zarah, folio 10a) states that the Hebrew practice was to reckon the reigns
of Yisraelite kings and rulers (including Mosheh, Y'hoshua and the Judges) in spring-to-spring years, but
the reigns of gentile kings in autumn-to-autumn yearsit is immaterial how the gentile nations reckoned
the reigns of their own kings, because the Scriptural accounts were written by Hebrew authors who
naturally would have adopted the Hebrew convention. The following, while not proving that the Biblical
writers consistently followed this practice throughout the Scriptural narratives, do provide evidence to
support these assertions:
1. Moshehs brother Aharon died at Mt. Hor "on the 1st day of the 5th month in the 40th
year of the Yisraelites' departure from Egypt" (B'midbar 33:38), before the Yisraelites
had arrived "on the other side of the [River] Yarden, in the land of Mo'av" (D'varim
1:5), where Mosheh made his farewell speech to Yisrael "on the 1st day of the 11th
xli
month in the 40th year" (D'varim 1:3). It is clear from this that the "40th year of the
Yisraelites' departure from Egypt" was therefore being reckoned as a spring-to-spring
year, because if it had been an autumn-to-autumn year the "41st year" would have started
on the 1st day of the 7th month and the date given in D'varim 1:3 could not still have
been in the 40th year.
2. M'lachim Alef 6:1 equates the 4th year of Shlomohs reign to a year of the Exodus
calendar, the years of which (as just proved) are spring-to-spring years.
3. But the opposite is found in the case of the gentile king Artah-shasta (Darius I) in the
first two chapters of N'hemyah, because it is apparent from the context that the events of
Kislev in the 20th year of Artah-shas't (N'hemyah 1:1) took place before the events of
Nisan in the 20th year of King Artaxerxes (N'hemyah 2:1), showing that the author
considered this (gentile) kings "20th year" to be an autumn-to-autumn year.
It follows that Nebuchadnezzars "first year", in Hebrew reckoning, began on 1st Tishri, a month after
his accessionthat is, it was the period from the autumn new moon of 605 BCE to the autumn new moon
of 604 BCE, even though so far as the Babylonian historians were concerned, his "first year" did not
begin until six months later. Now we know from Yirm'yahu that half of this 12-month period overlapped
Y'hoyakims 4th year (which, as we shall soon see, was Ex872corresponding to the second half of
3319 and the first half of 3320). But which half in other words, was Nebuchadnezzars "1st year", in
Hebrew reckoning, 3319 or 3320?
Lets examine Y'hoyakims reign in detail. He reigned for 11 years (M'lachim Beit 23:36, Divrei
Hayamim Beit 36:5), and during this time he was attacked twice by Nebuchadnezzaronce in the
latters "2nd year" (Talmud), when he made Y'hoyakim his vassal and was content to leave him on the
throne of Y'hudah provided he paid his annual tributes, and again in his (i.e. Nebuchadnezzar's) "8th
year" (M'lachim Beit 24:12), when he arrested him and bound him in chains for transport to Babylonia
(Divrei Hayamim Beit 36:6). But why did Nebuchadnezzar attack Y'hoyakim for a second time? Well,
after the first attack, Y'hoyakim had become his vassal for three years, but had then reneged and
rebelled against him (M'lachim Beit 24:1). That is to say, Y'hoyakim had accepted Babylonian
domination from Nebuchadnezzars 2nd year until his 5th, but from then on he had tried to free himself
from Babylonian domination. This continued for 3 yearsfrom Nebuchadnezzars 5th year until his
8thand it was then, in the third year of Y'hoyakims rebellion (see Dan. 1:1), but his 11th year actually
as king, that Nebuchadnezzar attacked him again.
The unfortunate Y'hoyakim was never taken to Babylonia, though. It is not clear what became of him (or,
indeed, how he came to be captured when Y'rushalayim had not in fact fallen), but he appears to have
died at that time (possibly at the hands of his Babylonian captors?). Even his burial is not recorded. But
it is recorded that he had reigned for 11 years (M'lachim Beit 23:36, Divrei Hayamim Beit 36:5), and that
his son Y'hoyachin succeeded him (M'lachim Beit 24:6, Divrei Hayamim Beit 36:8).
Y'hoyachin, Ex879 (3326/27)
Y'hoyachin (also known as Y'chonyah and as Konyah) had a very short reign: just 3 months (M'lachim
Beit 24:8) and 10 days (Divrei Hayamim Beit 36:9). The account in M'lachim says
"at that time, Nebuchadnezzars servants had attacked Y'rushalayim and the city was under siege; then
Nebuchadnezzar himself came upon the city, while his servants were besieging it, and King Y'hoyachin of
Y'hudah surrendered to the king of Babylonia, together with his mother, his servants, his ministers-of-state and
his officials: the king of Babylonia arrested him in his eighth year" (M'lachim Beit 24:10-12)
xlii
that is to say, in Nebuchadnezzars 8th yearobviously not Y'hoyachin's, since he only reigned for a
few months! The Biblical account continues
[Nebuchadnezzar] plundered all the treasuries of Adonais Temple and the treasuries of the kings
palace, and also stripped off all the golden ornaments that King Shlomoh of Yisrael had decorated Adonais
Sanctuary with, as Adonai had instructed him the king of Babylonia placed [Y'hoyachin's] uncle
Mattanyah on the throne in his place, changing his name to Tzid'kiyyahu (M'lachim Beit 24:13-17)
The Babylonian Chronicle tablet BM21946, which I mentioned earlier, corroborates this account very
closely, even giving an exact date for Y'hoyachins arrest and deportation and the appointment of his
uncle as his replacement
7th year [of Nebuchadnezzar]In the month Kislev, the king of Akkad mustered his army and marched into
Hatti; he laid siege to the [capital] city of Y'hudah and on 2nd Adar he captured the city and arrested its king
he appointed a king of his own choice in the city and returned to Babylonia bringing with him the vast plunder
that he had siezed.
The date given for the capture of Y'rushalayim and Y'hoyachins arrest2nd Adar, Nebuchadnezzars
7th year (as reckoned by Babylonian historians)corresponds to 16th March 597 BCE. Now, combining
the data from the Biblical narratives with the information from the Babylonian chronicle tablet, it
emerges that Y'hoyakim must have died around 20th Marheshvan, 597 BCE and his son Y'hoyachin then
reigned for the 3 months and 10 days from then until his arrest on 2nd Adari.e., right at the very end
of the Exodus year that ran from the spring of 598 BCE to the spring of 597 BCEwhich was Y'hoyakims
11th year. This means that Y'hoyakims "1st year" (Ex869) was the year from the spring 608 BCE to the
spring of 607 BCE, and his "4th year" (Ex872)during which Nebuchadnezzar came to powerwas the
year from the spring of 605 BCE to the spring of 604 BCE.
We can now resolve the ambiguity concerning how Nebuchadnezzars "first year" was reckoned by the
Hebrew historians. The M'lachim author says that Y'hoyachins arrest occurred during
Nebuchadnezzars "8th year" (M'lachim Beit 24:12), and the Chronicler informs us that it happened at
the turn of the year (Divrei Hayamim Beit 36:10). This latter detail is confirmed by the Babylonian
historian in BM21946, who records that it happened in Adar. This places Y'hoyachins removal from the
throne at the very end of the regnal year Ex879, which was also Y'hoyakims 11th, and half-way through
3327, which the M'lachim historian calls "Nebuchadnezzars 8th" and that means that he was counting
3320, corresponding to the second half of Y'hoyakims 4th and the first half of his 5th, as
Nebuchadnezzars "first year".
Tzid'kiyyahu, Ex880-890 (3327/28-3337/38)
Tzid'kiyyahu, the last king of Y'hudah, reigned for 11 years (M'lachim Beit 24:18; Yirm'yahu 52:1;
Divrei Hayamim Beit 36:11). On the 10th day of Tevet in his 9th year, Nebuchadnezzar II again invaded
Y'hudah (the Chronicler informs us that Nebuchadnezzar had made Tzid'kiyyahu swear an oath of
allegiance to him in Gods Name, but Tzid'kiyyahu had reneged and "rebelled against him"Divrei
Hayamim Beit 36:13) and laid siege to Y'rushalayim (M'lachim Beit 25:1, Yirm'yahu 52:4); this cannot
be confirmed from Babylonian sources because the Royal Diary tablet covering these years of
Nebuchadnezzars reign has so far not been found. The siege lasted for about 18 months, until the
summer of Tzid'kiyyahus 11th year, when, on 9th Tammuz, the citys defences were overcome and Jerusalem fell (M'lachim Beit 25:2-4, Yirm'yahu 52:5-7). Tzid'kiyyahu was arrested and tried; his sons were
all killed; and he himself was blinded and chained for transport to Babylon where he was imprisoned for
the rest of his life (M'lachim Beit 25:5-7, Yirm'yahu 52:8-11). This was in the summer of 3337, or 587
BCE. It was in Av of the following year, i.e. 3338Nebuchadnezzars 19th by Hebrew reckoning (the
summer of 586 BCE), that Nebuchadnezzar sent his army to Y'rushalayim once more under the command
xliii
of one Nebuzaradan (Neb-shar-udn), and this is when Shlomohs Temple was destroyed. The Talmud
(Treatise Ta'anit, folio 29a) reports that
The heathens broke into the Santuary on the 7th of Av, and feasted and revelled in it on the 7th and on the 8th;
on the 9th, as it was getting dark, they set the building alight, and it continued to burn [all that night] and
throughout the following day [i.e. the 10th of Av].
This accounts for the apparent discrepancy between M'lachim Beit 25:8 which states that the destruction
occurred on the seventh of Av, and Yirm'yahu 52:12 which gives the date as the tenth.
The prophet Y'hezkel
As we have seen, Y'hoyachin was arrested by Nebuchadnezzar are deported to Babylonia (where he was
imprisoned until Nebuchadnezzar died 37 years later) in Adar of Nebuchadnezzars 7th year, as
reckoned by the Babylonian historian: this was the last month of the Exodus calendar year Ex879, and
halfway through Creation Calendar year 3327 (March 597 BCE) The first complete year "of Y'hoyachins
exile" was therefore Creation Calendar year 3328. Y'hezkel records that "on the 5th of the 10th month in
the 12th year of our exile, a refugee from Y'rushalayim came to me [and told me] that the city had been
stricken" (33:21)this was thus on the 5th Tevet 3339, some five months after the destruction of the
Temple. Similarly, when Y'hezkel dates his first Vision "in the 5th year of Y'hoyachins exile" (1:2), the
year he means is 3332 (which was the 30th year of the 17th Yovel, as we have already seen: compare
1:1); and when he refers to Yom Kippur of "the 25th year of our exile, and the 14th year after the city
was destroyed" (40:1), he means 10th Tishri 3352, because "the 1sy year after the city was destroyed"
would have been 3339.
The next historical event of interest recorded in the Bible is the death of Nebuchadnezzar and succession
of his son Amel-Mardk (called Evil-M'rodach by the Biblical historians):
on the 25th [or 27th] day of the 12th month in the 37th year of King Y'hoyachin of Y'hudahs exile, King
Evil-Merodach of Babylonia, in his accession year, pardoned King Y'hoyachin of Y'hudah. He released him
from prison, ordered that he was to be well-treated, and accorded him greater dignity than any of the other
[captive] kings who were with him in Babylonia. [Y'hoyachin] changed out of his prison clothing and used
to dine frequently with [Evil-Merodach] for the rest of his life he was provided with a daily allowance by
the king of Babylonia for the remainder of his life, until the day he died (M'lachim Beit 25:27-30,
Yirm'yahu 52:31-34).
The 37th year of Y'hoyachins exile, reckoned in the same way as before, was 3364, or 561/60 BCE: this
agrees well with secular history, which places Nebuchadnezzars death in 562/61 BCE. The book of
M'lachim and Yirm'yahus historical appendix (ch.52) both end at this point, and Divrei Hayamim adds
only an abridged version of the text of the Proclamation issued by Cyrus I ("Cyrus the Great") in 539
BCE, granting permission for the Judan exiles to return to their shattered homeland and rebuild it (a
fuller version of the Cyrus Proclamation occurs at the beginning of Ezra-N'hemyah).
This clay cylinder is inscribed in Babylonian cuneiform with an account by Cyrus,
king of Persia (559-530BCE) of his conquest of Babylon in 539BCE and capture of
Nabonidus, the last Babylonian king. Cyrus claims to have achieved this with the aid
of Marduk, the god of Babylon. He then describes measures of relief he brought to
the inhabitants of the city, and tells how he returned a number of images of gods,
which Nabonidus had collected in Babylon, to their proper temples throughout
Mesopotamia and western Iran. At the same time he arranged for the restoration of
these temples, and organised the return to their homelands of a number of people who had been held in Babylonia by the
Babylonian kings. Although the Jews are not mentioned in this document, their return to Palestine following their deportation
by Nebuchadnezzar II, was part of this policy. This cylinder has sometimes been described as "the first charter of human
xliv
rights", but it in fact reflects a long tradition in Mesopotamia where, from as early as the third millennium BCE, kings began
their reigns with declarations of reforms. The cylinder is 22.9 cm long. [From the website of the British Museum, London.]
Unfortunately, the "traditional" Hebrew history parts company with reality at this point. The following
Talmudic passage (taken from Treatise M'gillah, folios 11b-12a) is interesting, but not historically
accurate:
It is written: At that time, when King Ahashvrosh ascended the throne of his kingdom (Esther 1:2), but
the text immediately continues: in the THIRD year of his reign!
Rava [mid-4th century CE Babylonian scholar] taught: "The word k'shevet [lit., 'when he sat'] in Esther 1:2
signifies 'when he felt secure on the throne', not 'when he ascended it'." Ahashvrosh said: "Bel-Shatzar
calculated and got it wrong; now I shall calculate correctly!" What is this referring to? It is written: "After
70 years have been completed for Babylonia, I shall visit you" (Yirm'yahu 29:10); and it is also written
"to complete 70 years of the desolation of Y'rushalayim" (Dan. 9:2). [Bel-Shatzar] counted 45 years for
the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, 23 years for Evil-M'rodachs reign, and the first 2 years of his ownmaking
70 years; and that is why [in his 3rd year] he brought out the sacred utensils from the Temple and
desecrated them (Dan. 5:3-4).
But how do we know that Nebuchadnezzar reigned for 45 years? A Master taught: "They were exiled in the
7th year and they were exiled in the 8th year: they were exiled in the 18th year and they were exiled in the
19th year"[meaning] Y'hoyachins exile occurred in the 7th year of Y'hoyakims subjugation, which was
Nebuchadnezzars 8th: Tzid'kiyyahus exile occurred in the 18th year of Y'hoyakims subjugation, which
was Nebuchadnezzars 19thfor a Master taught: "Nebuchadnezzar captured Nineveh in his first year, and
subjugated Y'hoyakim in his second"and it is also written "on the 25th day of the 12th month in the 37th
year of King Y'hoyachin of Y'hudahs exile, King Evil-Merodach of Babylonia, in his accession year,
pardoned King Y'hoyachin of Y'hudah and released him from prison" (Yirm'yahu 52:31) 8 and 37
make 45!
And 23 years for Evil-M'rodachs reign?thats traditional.
So, when two years of his own reign had passed, Bel-Shatzar said "Now for sure [the Judans] are not
going to be [miraculously] freed!"so he brought out the sacred utensils from the Temple and desecrated
them. This is what Daniel meant when he told him: "You have challenged Adonai of Heaven, and have had
the utensils from His Temple brought before you" (Dan. 5:23)
It is written after that: That very night, Bel-Shatzar, king of the Chaldeans, was killed (Dan. 5:30), and
the text continues and the throne passed to Darius the Median, who was about 62 years old (Dan. 6:1).
"So he was in error," [Ahashvrosh] reasoned; "now let me calculate correctly! Did the prophet say '[After
70 years have been completed] for the Babylonian Dynasty?'No! he said 'for Babylonia!' And what can
'for Babylonia' mean?it must mean for the Judans' exile in Babylonia!" The difference is 8 years [since
the exile began in Nebuchadnezzars 8th year], so Ahashvrosh substituted Bel-Shatzars last year, 5 years
for the combined reigns of Darius and Cyrus, and the first 2 years of his own reign to make up 70 years for
the exile. Then, when his 3rd year had begun, he thought the 70 years had been completed, and yet still the
Judans had not been miraculously liberated, so he too said "Now for sure [the Judans] are not going to
be [miraculously] freed!"and he, too, brought out the sacred utensils from the Temple and desecrated
them [Midrashic interpretation of Esther 1:7 the cups were of an unusual kind]. Then the 'Satan' came and
danced among them, and killed Vashti!
How, then, should he have calculated? He also was in error, because he ought to have been reckoning from
the destruction of Y'rushalayim! And how many years is he still short?eleven. How many years did
Ahashvrosh reign?fourteen: so the Temple should have been rebuilt in his 14th year! Why, then, is it
written: Then work on the construction of Gods Temple in Y'rushalayim was halted [and it remained at a
standstill until the 2nd year of Darius, king of Persia] (Ezra 4:24)? Rava explained: "Two of those regnal
years overlapped; consequently there was still one year to be completed, and the 70 years were not finished
until the first year of Darius [the Persian]."
xlv
Rava taught [further]: "Even Daniel erred in this matter, for it is written: [In the first year of Darius son of
Ahashvrosh of Median descent, who came to power over the Chaldean Empire], in the first year of his
reign, IDanielwas re-considering the Books to determine the number of years (Dan. 9:1-2)since he
says he was 're-considering', it follows that initially he had been in error!"
Sadly, for all the apparent accuracy of the calculations in this passage, they bear little resemblance to
actual history. Nebuchadnezzars son, Amel-Mardk, who succeeded him in 561 BCE, in fact only
reigned for 2 years, before he was assassinated by his brother-in-law, Neriglissar (Chaldee: Nergalsharra-utzur), who then reigned from 559 BCE until 556 BCE (he is mentioned twice in Yirm'yahu 39:3,
where he is called Nergal-Saretzer and described as Nebuchadnezzars "chief officer"). Neriglissar was
succeeded by his son Labashi-Mardk, who only survived for one month before he was deposed and
Nabonidus (Nab-na'id) came to power. Surviving Babylonian inscriptions tell us that Nabonidus was
away from Babylon on military campaigns for most of his reign, leaving his son, the Crown Prince Belsharra-utzur (i.e. the Biblical "Bel-Shatzar") reigning as regent in his absence. "Bel-Shatzar" was never
actually king, however, because Nabonidus was deposed when Cyrus the Great invaded and took control
of the Babylonian Empire in 539 BCE.
What is interesting is that Amel-Mardks 2 years, Neriglissars 4 years, Labashi-Mardks month and
Naboniduss 17 years together total 23 years, which is the number of years credited to "Evil-M'rodach"
by the Talmudit seems that these four kings somehow became concatenated into one in the orallytransmitted Talmudic "tradition". In any case, there is nothing either in actual history or even in the
Scriptural narrative to support the assertions that after the Biblical "Evil-M'rodach" (or the historical
Amel-Mardk, Neriglissar, Labashi-Mardk and Nabonidus) "Bel-Shatzar" reigned for 3 years, "Darius
the Median" and "Cyrus" reigned for 5 years between them, "Ahashvrosh" reigned for 14 years and
"Darius son of Ahashvrosh" reigned after him; in fact, Cyrus (Krush) reigned for 9 years (539-530
BCE) and was then succeeded by his son Cambyses (Kambuiya) who reigned for 8 years (530-522 BCE).
Towards the end of his reign, a revolt broke out and Cambyses was accidentally killed while on his way
to deal with the situation. The rebellion was eventually crushed by a group of seven conspirators and one
h
of them, Darius (Drayava u) I, became the next king. He reigned for 36 years, from 521 until 486 BCE,
and it was in his 6th year516 BCE, exactly 70 years after Shlomohs Temple had been destroyed in 586
BCEthat Ezra and his workers eventually completed the rebuilding of the Second Temple (Ezra 6:15).
On Dariuss death in 486 BCE, he was succeeded by his son Xerxes (Khshayrsh) I, who reigned for 21
years (486-465 BCE); he is said to have been murdered at Persepolis by Artabanus, captain of the palace
guard; he was succeeded by his son Artaxerxes (Artakh-shathr) I, who reigned for 41 years, from 465
BCE until 425 BCE. It is most likely that the dating of N'hemyahs first chapters, the 20th year of King
Artaxerxes, refers to Darius I (as Rashi suggests), placing these events in 502 BCE.
Other Calendars: the modern conventional "Creation Calendar"

The Biblical "Creation Calendar" should not be confused with the conventional "Creation Calendar" that
is in general use now among Hebrews. It is tempting to assume they are the same but this cannot be the
case, because it would give a date of about 424 BCE for the destruction of the First Temple, more than a
century after Nebuchadnezzar I died!
There is therefore a discrepancy of about 162 years between the two calendars, which arises because the
conventional "Creation Calendar" is based on the semi-mythical "traditional" history preserved in the
Talmud and other ancient Hebrew writings, to which I have already referred. The Second Temple period
is said to have started in 3408, i.e. 70 years after the First Temple was destroyed (based on Yirm'yahus
xlvi
famous prophecy and also on actuall history), and to have lasted for 420 years (Talmud, Treatise Yoma,
folio 9a), broken down in Treatise Avodah Zarah (folio 9a) as follows: Persian Rule is said to have
lasted for 34 years after Cyruss Proclamation (see Divrei Hayamim Beit 36:23, Ezra 1:1-4), i.e. until
3442; the Persians were then supposedly ousted by the Greeks who ruled Yisrael for the next 180 years
(until 3622), when Mattityahu and his sons, the Hasmonans (Hashmonayyim), or "Maccabees",
succeeded in achieving independence from Greece, founding a dynasty that held power for another 103
years (until 3725) when they were supplanted by the Roman-appointed Herodian Dynasty that governed
Yisrael for a further 103 years until the destruction of the Second Temple in Av 3828 (summer of 68 CE).
Now in spite of all the detail, this is not historically accurate: because although the exact date of the
destruction of the Second Temple by the Roman general (later emperor) Titus is debatable, it definitely
took place some time between 68 and 70 CE, and that would mean it should have been built in about 350
BCE. But Cyrus issued his Proclamation in 539 BCE and the Second Temple was actually completed in
the 6th year of Darius Is reign (Ezra 6:15), i.e. 516 BCE; and, in any case, Nebuchadnezzar II couldn't
possibly have destroyed the First Temple and exiled the Y'hudim round about 422 BCE, because he died
in 561!
Furthermore, the Talmudic version places the Hasmonans' overthrow of the rule of Antiochus IV
Epiphanes (Greek, "the Magnificent") and their subsequent seizure of power in about 138 BCE, which
cannot be right because that Antiochus reigned from 175 to 164 BCE; and it sets the start of the Herodian
Dynasty in about 35 BCE, but that dynastys founder, Herod Antipater, was actually appointed Rex
Iudorum (i.e. "King of the Judans") by Julius Csar, who was assassinated on 15th March (the "Ides
of March"), 44 BCE, so the Herodian Dynasty could not have started as late as 35. In fact, Herod
Antipaters appointment took place in about 47 BCE.
The Seleucidan Calendar
There was also another calendar was in use by Hebrew (and other) writers around 2000 years ago:
known as the "Seleucidan Era" (SE), it counts years from the founding of the Seleucid Dynasty by
Seleucus I "Nicator" (Greek: "the conqueror"). He was a Macedonian general who served under
Alexander the Great, and was king of Macedonia 336-323 BCE. Seleucus was made governor of Babylon
in the second partition of Alexanders kingdom in 321 BCE, becoming king of Babylonia in 312 BCE.
The Seleucidan Era is used consistently throughout the apocryphal books of the Hashmonayyim
(Hasmonans), called "Maccabees" in christian versions. Antiochus IV Epiphanes (see above) is said to
have come to power in "the 137th year of the Greek kingdom" (1 Macc. 1:12-13, v.10 in the Greek
version) and the date of his death is given as "the 148th year" (1 Macc. 6:18, v.16 in the Greek version
the Greek text has "the 149th year").
In Rabbinic writings (both Talmudic and later), the Seleucidan Era is called minyan sh'tarot, "the Era
for [dating] contracts". The Talmud (Treatise Avodah Zarah, folios 9a-9b) provides a formula for
converting between the conventional "Creation Calendar", which was in general use, and the more
specialised Seleucidan Era, which was normally only used by "scribes" for dating legal documents:
"If a scholar is unsure of the exact date, he should ask a scribe what date he is currently using for his legal
documents and add to it 48 years the phrase "forty-eight cities" (B'midbar 35:7) is an aide-mmoire.
Conversely, if a scribe is unsure of the exact date, he should ask a scholar what his date is and subtract 48 years
from itmnemonic: scholars add, scribes subtract".
xlvii
(the meaning of the mnemonic "scholars add, scribes subtract" is that "scholars add" to our understanding by their teaching, while "scribes subtract" because the Hebrew text of the scriptures, the
preserve of the "scribes", mostly uses "short" spelling, omitting the vowel-letters vav and yod).
The formula refers only to the last two digits of the date; it is assumed that both scholar and scribe will
be in no doubt which century they are in! It works because Year 1 of the Seleucidan Era corresponds
to 3449 of the conventional "Creation Calendar" so that, for example, in the year 3850 (i.e. 402 SE), a
scholar say his date was "50" and the scribe is then instructed to subtract 48, leaving him with "02"; and
a scribe would give his date as "02", to which the scholar adds 48, giving him "50".
Interestingly, Maimonides (or "RaMBaM", 1135-1204 CE), in the preface to the astronomical chapters of
Hilchot Kiddush Hahodesh in his magnum opus Mishneh Torah, equates the year 1489 SE to 4938 of the
conventional "Creation Calendar" (Kiddush Hahodesh 11:16), so he was counting 3450 as 1 SE; I am
unable to account for this discrepancy.
The same Talmud passage also says that after the Second Temple was destroyed, it became the general
practice to date events from the year of its destruction. Another formula, similar to the one just quoted,
is provided for conversion between this new "Temple Destruction" calendar and the Seleucidan Era:
"If a scholar is unsure of the exact date, he should ask a scribe what date he is currently using for his legal
documents and add to it 20 years the phrase "these twenty years that I have spent in your house" (B'rshit
31:41) is an aide-mmoire. Conversely, if a scribe is unsure of the exact date, he should ask a scholar what his
date is and subtract 20 years from itmnemonic: scholars add, scribes subtract" (Avodah Zarah, folio 9a).
Here, the "scholar" is counting 381 SE (3829) as the 1st year "of the destruction of the Second Temple",
so he would tell the scribe that the date is "01" and the scribe would subtract 20 (having first added 100
to avoid dealing with negative numbers), leaving him with "81"; and a scribe would give his date as
"81", to which the scholar would add 20 (and discard the excess century), giving his date as "01".
In this case, Maimonides (in the passage cited above) is in agreement with the Talmudic formula,
equating 4938 of the conventional "Creation Calendar"/1489 SE to 1109 "of the destruction of the
Second Temple" (89 + 20 = [1]09).
There is one other Talmudic passage that should be mentioned here: an obscure teaching in Treatise
Avodah Zarah (folio 9b) equates the year 4228 of the conventional "Creation Calendar" to the 400th
year "of the destruction of the Second Temple", making the "first year of the destruction" equal to 3829:
this is consistent with the "add/subtract 48" formula given above.
We therefore have:
Year 1 of the Biblical "Creation Calendar" = 3925/24 BCE
Year 1 of the conventional "Creation Calendar" = 3761/60 BCE
Year 1 of the Seleucidan Era = 313/12 BCE (Talmud) or 312/11 BCE (Maimonides)
Year 1 "of the destruction of the Second Temple" = 68/69 (Talmud) or 69/70 (Maimonides)
(all running from autumn to autumn); and
Year 1 of the Exodus Era = 1476/75 BCE (spring to spring)
Note: when working with years "BCE", it is important to remember that the year after "1 BCE" is called "1
CE" without an intervening "year 0".
Chronological Timeline
of the T'nach

BCE
Creation
Calendar
3925
0
1
3923
2
3922
3
3921
4
3920
5
3919
6
3918
7
3917
8
3916
9
3915
10
3914
11
3913
12
3912
3911
Details
Creation of ADAM
3924
13
Timeline: page 1
Notes
B'rshit 1:27, 5:1-2
Timeline: page 2
BCE
Creation
Calendar
3911
14
3910
15
3909
16
3908
17
3907
18
3906
19
3905
20
3904
21
3903
22
3902
23
3901
24
3900
25
3899
26
3898
3897
27
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
3897
28
3896
29
3895
30
3894
31
3893
32
3892
33
3891
34
3890
35
3889
36
3888
37
3887
38
3886
39
3885
40
3884
3883
41
Details
Timeline: page 3
Notes
Timeline: page 4
BCE
Creation
Calendar
3883
42
3882
43
3881
44
3880
45
3879
46
3878
47
3877
48
3876
49
3875
50
3874
51
3873
52
3872
53
3871
54
3870
3869
55
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
3869
56
3868
57
3867
58
3866
59
3865
60
3864
61
3863
62
3862
63
3861
64
3860
65
3859
66
3858
67
3857
68
3856
3855
69
Details
Timeline: page 5
Notes
Timeline: page 6
BCE
Creation
Calendar
3855
70
3854
71
3853
72
3852
73
3851
74
3850
75
3849
76
3848
77
3847
78
3846
79
3845
80
3844
81
3843
82
3842
3841
83
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
3841
84
3840
85
3839
86
3838
87
3837
88
3836
89
3835
90
3834
91
3833
92
3832
93
3831
94
3830
95
3829
96
3828
3827
97
Details
Timeline: page 7
Notes
Timeline: page 8
BCE
Creation
Calendar
3827
98
3826
99
3825
100
3824
101
3823
102
3822
103
3821
104
3820
105
3819
106
3818
107
3817
108
3816
109
3815
110
3814
3813
111
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
3813
112
3812
113
3811
114
3810
115
3809
116
3808
117
3807
118
3806
119
3805
120
3804
121
3803
122
3802
123
3801
124
3800
3799
125
Details
Timeline: page 9
Notes
Timeline: page 10
BCE
Creation
Calendar
Details
Notes
3799
126
3798
127
3797
128
3796
129
3795
Birth of SHET
130
3794
131
3793
132
3792
133
3791
134
3790
135
3789
136
3788
137
3787
138
3786
3785
139
B'rshit 5:3

BCE
Creation
Calendar
3785
140
3784
141
3783
142
3782
143
3781
144
3780
145
3779
146
3778
147
3777
148
3776
149
3775
150
3774
151
3773
152
3772
3771
153
Details
Timeline: page 11
Notes
Timeline: page 12
BCE
Creation
Calendar
3771
154
3770
155
3769
156
3768
157
3767
158
3766
159
3765
160
3764
161
3763
162
3762
163
3761
164
3760
165
3759
166
3758
3757
167
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
3757
168
3756
169
3755
170
3754
171
3753
172
3752
173
3751
174
3750
175
3749
176
3748
177
3747
178
3746
179
3745
180
3744
3743
181
Details
Timeline: page 13
Notes
Timeline: page 14
BCE
Creation
Calendar
3743
182
3742
183
3741
184
3740
185
3739
186
3738
187
3737
188
3736
189
3735
190
3734
191
3733
192
3732
193
3731
194
3730
3729
195
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
3729
196
3728
197
3727
198
3726
199
3725
200
3724
201
3723
202
3722
203
3721
204
3720
205
3719
206
3718
207
3717
208
3716
3715
209
Details
Timeline: page 15
Notes
Timeline: page 16
BCE
Creation
Calendar
3715
210
3714
211
3713
212
3712
213
3711
214
3710
215
3709
216
3708
217
3707
218
3706
219
3705
220
3704
221
3703
222
3702
3701
223
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Timeline: page 17
Details
Notes
3701
224
3700
225
3699
226
3698
227
3697
228
3696
229
3695
230
3694
231
3693
232
3692
233
3691
234
3690
Birth of ENOSH
235
3689
236
3688
3687
237
B'rshit 5:6
Timeline: page 18
BCE
Creation
Calendar
3687
238
3686
239
3685
240
3684
241
3683
242
3682
243
3681
244
3680
245
3679
246
3678
247
3677
248
3676
249
3675
250
3674
3673
251
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
3673
252
3672
253
3671
254
3670
255
3669
256
3668
257
3667
258
3666
259
3665
260
3664
261
3663
262
3662
263
3661
264
3660
3659
265
Details
Timeline: page 19
Notes
Timeline: page 20
BCE
Creation
Calendar
3659
266
3658
267
3657
268
3656
269
3655
270
3654
271
3653
272
3652
273
3651
274
3650
275
3649
276
3648
277
3647
278
3646
3645
279
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
3645
280
3644
281
3643
282
3642
283
3641
284
3640
285
3639
286
3638
287
3637
288
3636
289
3635
290
3634
291
3633
292
3632
3631
293
Details
Timeline: page 21
Notes
Timeline: page 22
BCE
Creation
Calendar
3631
294
3630
295
3629
296
3628
297
3627
298
3626
299
3625
300
3624
301
3623
302
3622
303
3621
304
3620
305
3619
306
3618
3617
307
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
3617
308
3616
309
3615
310
3614
311
3613
312
3612
313
3611
314
3610
315
3609
316
3608
317
3607
318
3606
319
3605
320
3604
3603
321
Details
Timeline: page 23
Notes
Timeline: page 24
BCE
Creation
Calendar
Details
Notes
3603
322
3602
323
3601
324
3600
Birth of KEINAN
325
3599
326
3598
327
3597
328
3596
329
3595
330
3594
331
3593
332
3592
333
3591
334
3590
3589
335
B'rshit 5:9

BCE
Creation
Calendar
3589
336
3588
337
3587
338
3586
339
3585
340
3584
341
3583
342
3582
343
3581
344
3580
345
3579
346
3578
347
3577
348
3576
3575
349
Details
Timeline: page 25
Notes
Timeline: page 26
BCE
Creation
Calendar
3575
350
3574
351
3573
352
3572
353
3571
354
3570
355
3569
356
3568
357
3567
358
3566
359
3565
360
3564
361
3563
362
3562
3561
363
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
3561
364
3560
365
3559
366
3558
367
3557
368
3556
369
3555
370
3554
371
3553
372
3552
373
3551
374
3550
375
3549
376
3548
3547
377
Details
Timeline: page 27
Notes
Timeline: page 28
BCE
Creation
Calendar
3547
378
3546
379
3545
380
3544
381
3543
382
3542
383
3541
384
3540
385
3539
386
3538
387
3537
388
3536
389
3535
390
3534
3533
391
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Timeline: page 29
Details
Notes
3533
392
3532
393
3531
394
3530
Birth of MAHALAL'EL
395
3529
396
3528
397
3527
398
3526
399
3525
400
3524
401
3523
402
3522
403
3521
404
3520
3519
405
B'rshit 5:12
Timeline: page 30
BCE
Creation
Calendar
3519
406
3518
407
3517
408
3516
409
3515
410
3514
411
3513
412
3512
413
3511
414
3510
415
3509
416
3508
417
3507
418
3506
3505
419
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
3505
420
3504
421
3503
422
3502
423
3501
424
3500
425
3499
426
3498
427
3497
428
3496
429
3495
430
3494
431
3493
432
3492
3491
433
Details
Timeline: page 31
Notes
Timeline: page 32
BCE
Creation
Calendar
3491
434
3490
435
3489
436
3488
437
3487
438
3486
439
3485
440
3484
441
3483
442
3482
443
3481
444
3480
445
3479
446
3478
3477
447
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Timeline: page 33
Details
Notes
3477
448
3476
449
3475
450
3474
451
3473
452
3472
453
3471
454
3470
455
3469
456
3468
457
3467
458
3466
459
3465
Birth of YERED
460
3464
3463
461
B'rshit 5:15
Timeline: page 34
BCE
Creation
Calendar
3463
462
3462
463
3461
464
3460
465
3459
466
3458
467
3457
468
3456
469
3455
470
3454
471
3453
472
3452
473
3451
474
3450
3449
475
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
3449
476
3448
477
3447
478
3446
479
3445
480
3444
481
3443
482
3442
483
3441
484
3440
485
3439
486
3438
487
3437
488
3436
3435
489
Details
Timeline: page 35
Notes
Timeline: page 36
BCE
Creation
Calendar
3435
490
3434
491
3433
492
3432
493
3431
494
3430
495
3429
496
3428
497
3427
498
3426
499
3425
500
3424
501
3423
502
3422
3421
503
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
3421
504
3420
505
3419
506
3418
507
3417
508
3416
509
3415
510
3414
511
3413
512
3412
513
3411
514
3410
515
3409
516
3408
3407
517
Details
Timeline: page 37
Notes
Timeline: page 38
BCE
Creation
Calendar
3407
518
3406
519
3405
520
3404
521
3403
522
3402
523
3401
524
3400
525
3399
526
3398
527
3397
528
3396
529
3395
530
3394
3393
531
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
3393
532
3392
533
3391
534
3390
535
3389
536
3388
537
3387
538
3386
539
3385
540
3384
541
3383
542
3382
543
3381
544
3380
3379
545
Details
Timeline: page 39
Notes
Timeline: page 40
BCE
Creation
Calendar
3379
546
3378
547
3377
548
3376
549
3375
550
3374
551
3373
552
3372
553
3371
554
3370
555
3369
556
3368
557
3367
558
3366
3365
559
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
3365
560
3364
561
3363
562
3362
563
3361
564
3360
565
3359
566
3358
567
3357
568
3356
569
3355
570
3354
571
3353
572
3352
3351
573
Details
Timeline: page 41
Notes
Timeline: page 42
BCE
Creation
Calendar
3351
574
3350
575
3349
576
3348
577
3347
578
3346
579
3345
580
3344
581
3343
582
3342
583
3341
584
3340
585
3339
586
3338
3337
587
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
3337
588
3336
589
3335
590
3334
591
3333
592
3332
593
3331
594
3330
595
3329
596
3328
597
3327
598
3326
599
3325
600
3324
3323
601
Details
Timeline: page 43
Notes
Timeline: page 44
BCE
Creation
Calendar
3323
602
3322
603
3321
604
3320
605
3319
606
3318
607
3317
608
3316
609
3315
610
3314
611
3313
612
3312
613
3311
614
3310
3309
615
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Timeline: page 45
Details
Notes
3309
616
3308
617
3307
618
3306
619
3305
620
3304
621
3303
Birth of HANOCH
622
3302
623
3301
624
3300
625
3299
626
3298
627
3297
628
3296
3295
629
B'rshit 5:18
Timeline: page 46
BCE
Creation
Calendar
3295
630
3294
631
3293
632
3292
633
3291
634
3290
635
3289
636
3288
637
3287
638
3286
639
3285
640
3284
641
3283
642
3282
3281
643
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
3281
644
3280
645
3279
646
3278
647
3277
648
3276
649
3275
650
3274
651
3273
652
3272
653
3271
654
3270
655
3269
656
3268
3267
657
Details
Timeline: page 47
Notes
Timeline: page 48
BCE
Creation
Calendar
3267
658
3266
659
3265
660
3264
661
3263
662
3262
663
3261
664
3260
665
3259
666
3258
667
3257
668
3256
669
3255
670
3254
3253
671
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
3253
672
3252
673
3251
674
3250
675
3249
676
3248
677
3247
678
3246
679
3245
680
3244
681
3243
682
3242
683
3241
684
3240
3239
685
Details
Timeline: page 49
Notes
Timeline: page 50
BCE
Creation
Calendar
Details
Notes
3239
686
3238
Birth of M'TUSHELAH
687
3237
688
3236
689
3235
690
3234
691
3233
692
3232
693
3231
694
3230
695
3229
696
3228
697
3227
698
3226
3225
699
B'rshit 5:21

BCE
Creation
Calendar
3225
700
3224
701
3223
702
3222
703
3221
704
3220
705
3219
706
3218
707
3217
708
3216
709
3215
710
3214
711
3213
712
3212
3211
713
Details
Timeline: page 51
Notes
Timeline: page 52
BCE
Creation
Calendar
3211
714
3210
715
3209
716
3208
717
3207
718
3206
719
3205
720
3204
721
3203
722
3202
723
3201
724
3200
725
3199
726
3198
3197
727
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
3197
728
3196
729
3195
730
3194
731
3193
732
3192
733
3191
734
3190
735
3189
736
3188
737
3187
738
3186
739
3185
740
3184
3183
741
Details
Timeline: page 53
Notes
Timeline: page 54
BCE
Creation
Calendar
3183
742
3182
743
3181
744
3180
745
3179
746
3178
747
3177
748
3176
749
3175
750
3174
751
3173
752
3172
753
3171
754
3170
3169
755
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
3169
756
3168
757
3167
758
3166
759
3165
760
3164
761
3163
762
3162
763
3161
764
3160
765
3159
766
3158
767
3157
768
3156
3155
769
Details
Timeline: page 55
Notes
Timeline: page 56
BCE
Creation
Calendar
3155
770
3154
771
3153
772
3152
773
3151
774
3150
775
3149
776
3148
777
3147
778
3146
779
3145
780
3144
781
3143
782
3142
3141
783
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
3141
784
3140
785
3139
786
3138
787
3137
788
3136
789
3135
790
3134
791
3133
792
3132
793
3131
794
3130
795
3129
796
3128
3127
797
Details
Timeline: page 57
Notes
Timeline: page 58
BCE
Creation
Calendar
3127
798
3126
799
3125
800
3124
801
3123
802
3122
803
3121
804
3120
805
3119
806
3118
807
3117
808
3116
809
3115
810
3114
3113
811
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
3113
812
3112
813
3111
814
3110
815
3109
816
3108
817
3107
818
3106
819
3105
820
3104
821
3103
822
3102
823
3101
824
3100
3099
825
Details
Timeline: page 59
Notes
Timeline: page 60
BCE
Creation
Calendar
3099
826
3098
827
3097
828
3096
829
3095
830
3094
831
3093
832
3092
833
3091
834
3090
835
3089
836
3088
837
3087
838
3086
3085
839
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
3085
840
3084
841
3083
842
3082
843
3081
844
3080
845
3079
846
3078
847
3077
848
3076
849
3075
850
3074
851
3073
852
3072
3071
853
Details
Timeline: page 61
Notes
Timeline: page 62
BCE
Creation
Calendar
3071
854
3070
855
3069
856
3068
857
3067
858
3066
859
3065
860
3064
861
3063
862
3062
863
3061
864
3060
865
3059
866
3058
3057
867
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Timeline: page 63
Details
Notes
3057
868
3056
869
3055
870
3054
871
3053
872
3052
873
3051
Birth of LEMECH
874
3050
875
3049
876
3048
877
3047
878
3046
879
3045
880
3044
3043
881
B'rshit 5:25
Timeline: page 64
BCE
Creation
Calendar
3043
882
3042
883
3041
884
3040
885
3039
886
3038
887
3037
888
3036
889
3035
890
3034
891
3033
892
3032
893
3031
894
3030
3029
895
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
3029
896
3028
897
3027
898
3026
899
3025
900
3024
901
3023
902
3022
903
3021
904
3020
905
3019
906
3018
907
3017
908
3016
3015
909
Details
Timeline: page 65
Notes
Timeline: page 66
BCE
Creation
Calendar
3015
910
3014
911
3013
912
3012
913
3011
914
3010
915
3009
916
3008
917
3007
918
3006
919
3005
920
3004
921
3003
922
3002
3001
923
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Timeline: page 67
Details
Notes
3001
924
3000
925
2999
926
2998
927
2997
928
2996
929
2995
Death of ADAM
930
2994
931
2993
932
2992
933
2991
934
2990
935
2989
936
2988
2987
937
B'rshit 5:5
Timeline: page 68
BCE
Creation
Calendar
2987
938
2986
939
2985
940
2984
941
2983
942
2982
943
2981
944
2980
945
2979
946
2978
947
2977
948
2976
949
2975
950
2974
2973
951
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2973
952
2972
953
2971
954
2970
955
2969
956
2968
957
2967
958
2966
959
2965
960
2964
961
2963
962
2962
963
2961
964
2960
2959
965
Details
Timeline: page 69
Notes
Timeline: page 70
BCE
Creation
Calendar
2959
966
2958
967
2957
968
2956
969
2955
970
2954
971
2953
972
2952
973
2951
974
2950
975
2949
976
2948
977
2947
978
2946
2945
979
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Details
Timeline: page 71
Notes
2945
980
2944
981
2943
982
2942
983
2941
984
2940
985
2939
986
2938
Death of HANOCH
987
2937
988
2936
989
2935
990
2934
991
2933
992
2932
2931
993
B'rshit 5:23-24 "...and he was no more, because God had taken him"
Timeline: page 72
BCE
Creation
Calendar
2931
994
2930
995
2929
996
2928
997
2927
998
2926
999
2925
1000
2924
1001
2923
1002
2922
1003
2921
1004
2920
1005
2919
1006
2918
2917
1007
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2917
1008
2916
1009
2915
1010
2914
1011
2913
1012
2912
1013
2911
1014
2910
1015
2909
1016
2908
1017
2907
1018
2906
1019
2905
1020
2904
2903
1021
Details
Timeline: page 73
Notes
Timeline: page 74
BCE
Creation
Calendar
2903
1022
2902
1023
2901
1024
2900
1025
2899
1026
2898
1027
2897
1028
2896
1029
2895
1030
2894
1031
2893
1032
2892
1033
2891
1034
2890
2889
1035
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Timeline: page 75
Details
Notes
2889
1036
2888
1037
2887
1038
2886
1039
2885
1040
2884
1041
2883
Death of SHET
1042
2882
1043
2881
1044
2880
1045
2879
1046
2878
1047
2877
1048
2876
2875
1049
B'rshit 5:8
Timeline: page 76
BCE
Creation
Calendar
Details
Notes
2875
1050
2874
1051
2873
1052
2872
1053
2871
1054
2870
1055
2869
Birth of NO'AH
1056
2868
1057
2867
1058
2866
1059
2865
1060
2864
1061
2863
1062
2862
2861
1063
B'rshit 5:28

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2861
1064
2860
1065
2859
1066
2858
1067
2857
1068
2856
1069
2855
1070
2854
1071
2853
1072
2852
1073
2851
1074
2850
1075
2849
1076
2848
2847
1077
Details
Timeline: page 77
Notes
Timeline: page 78
BCE
Creation
Calendar
2847
1078
2846
1079
2845
1080
2844
1081
2843
1082
2842
1083
2841
1084
2840
1085
2839
1086
2838
1087
2837
1088
2836
1089
2835
1090
2834
2833
1091
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2833
1092
2832
1093
2831
1094
2830
1095
2829
1096
2828
1097
2827
1098
2826
1099
2825
1100
2824
1101
2823
1102
2822
1103
2821
1104
2820
2819
1105
Details
Timeline: page 79
Notes
Timeline: page 80
BCE
Creation
Calendar
2819
1106
2818
1107
2817
1108
2816
1109
2815
1110
2814
1111
2813
1112
2812
1113
2811
1114
2810
1115
2809
1116
2808
1117
2807
1118
2806
2805
1119
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2805
1120
2804
1121
2803
1122
2802
1123
2801
1124
2800
1125
2799
1126
2798
1127
2797
1128
2796
1129
2795
1130
2794
1131
2793
1132
2792
2791
1133
Details
Timeline: page 81
Notes
Timeline: page 82
BCE
Creation
Calendar
Details
Notes
2791
1134
2790
1135
2789
1136
2788
1137
2787
1138
2786
1139
2785
Death of ENOSH
1140
2784
1141
2783
1142
2782
1143
2781
1144
2780
1145
2779
1146
2778
2777
1147
B'rshit 5:11

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2777
1148
2776
1149
2775
1150
2774
1151
2773
1152
2772
1153
2771
1154
2770
1155
2769
1156
2768
1157
2767
1158
2766
1159
2765
1160
2764
2763
1161
Details
Timeline: page 83
Notes
Timeline: page 84
BCE
Creation
Calendar
2763
1162
2762
1163
2761
1164
2760
1165
2759
1166
2758
1167
2757
1168
2756
1169
2755
1170
2754
1171
2753
1172
2752
1173
2751
1174
2750
2749
1175
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2749
1176
2748
1177
2747
1178
2746
1179
2745
1180
2744
1181
2743
1182
2742
1183
2741
1184
2740
1185
2739
1186
2738
1187
2737
1188
2736
2735
1189
Details
Timeline: page 85
Notes
Timeline: page 86
BCE
Creation
Calendar
2735
1190
2734
1191
2733
1192
2732
1193
2731
1194
2730
1195
2729
1196
2728
1197
2727
1198
2726
1199
2725
1200
2724
1201
2723
1202
2722
2721
1203
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2721
1204
2720
1205
2719
1206
2718
1207
2717
1208
2716
1209
2715
1210
2714
1211
2713
1212
2712
1213
2711
1214
2710
1215
2709
1216
2708
2707
1217
Details
Timeline: page 87
Notes
Timeline: page 88
BCE
Creation
Calendar
2707
1218
2706
1219
2705
1220
2704
1221
2703
1222
2702
1223
2701
1224
2700
1225
2699
1226
2698
1227
2697
1228
2696
1229
2695
1230
2694
2693
1231
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Timeline: page 89
Details
Notes
2693
1232
2692
1233
2691
1234
2690
Death of KEINAN
1235
2689
1236
2688
1237
2687
1238
2686
1239
2685
1240
2684
1241
2683
1242
2682
1243
2681
1244
2680
2679
1245
B'rshit 5:14
Timeline: page 90
BCE
Creation
Calendar
2679
1246
2678
1247
2677
1248
2676
1249
2675
1250
2674
1251
2673
1252
2672
1253
2671
1254
2670
1255
2669
1256
2668
1257
2667
1258
2666
2665
1259
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2665
1260
2664
1261
2663
1262
2662
1263
2661
1264
2660
1265
2659
1266
2658
1267
2657
1268
2656
1269
2655
1270
2654
1271
2653
1272
2652
2651
1273
Details
Timeline: page 91
Notes
Timeline: page 92
BCE
Creation
Calendar
2651
1274
2650
1275
2649
1276
2648
1277
2647
1278
2646
1279
2645
1280
2644
1281
2643
1282
2642
1283
2641
1284
2640
1285
2639
1286
2638
2637
1287
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Timeline: page 93
Details
Notes
2637
1288
2636
1289
2635
Death of MAHALAL'EL
1290
2634
1291
2633
1292
2632
1293
2631
1294
2630
1295
2629
1296
2628
1297
2627
1298
2626
1299
2625
1300
2624
2623
1301
B'rshit 5:17
Timeline: page 94
BCE
Creation
Calendar
2623
1302
2622
1303
2621
1304
2620
1305
2619
1306
2618
1307
2617
1308
2616
1309
2615
1310
2614
1311
2613
1312
2612
1313
2611
1314
2610
2609
1315
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2609
1316
2608
1317
2607
1318
2606
1319
2605
1320
2604
1321
2603
1322
2602
1323
2601
1324
2600
1325
2599
1326
2598
1327
2597
1328
2596
2595
1329
Details
Timeline: page 95
Notes
Timeline: page 96
BCE
Creation
Calendar
2595
1330
2594
1331
2593
1332
2592
1333
2591
1334
2590
1335
2589
1336
2588
1337
2587
1338
2586
1339
2585
1340
2584
1341
2583
1342
2582
2581
1343
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2581
1344
2580
1345
2579
1346
2578
1347
2577
1348
2576
1349
2575
1350
2574
1351
2573
1352
2572
1353
2571
1354
2570
1355
2569
1356
2568
2567
1357
Details
Timeline: page 97
Notes
Timeline: page 98
BCE
Creation
Calendar
2567
1358
2566
1359
2565
1360
2564
1361
2563
1362
2562
1363
2561
1364
2560
1365
2559
1366
2558
1367
2557
1368
2556
1369
2555
1370
2554
2553
1371
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2553
1372
2552
1373
2551
1374
2550
1375
2549
1376
2548
1377
2547
1378
2546
1379
2545
1380
2544
1381
2543
1382
2542
1383
2541
1384
2540
2539
1385
Details
Timeline: page 99
Notes
Timeline: page 100

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2539
1386
2538
1387
2537
1388
2536
1389
2535
1390
2534
1391
2533
1392
2532
1393
2531
1394
2530
1395
2529
1396
2528
1397
2527
1398
2526
2525
1399
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2525
1400
2524
1401
2523
1402
2522
1403
2521
1404
2520
1405
2519
1406
2518
1407
2517
1408
2516
1409
2515
1410
2514
1411
2513
1412
2512
2511
1413
Details
Timeline: page 101

Notes
Timeline: page 102

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Details
Notes
2511
1414
2510
1415
2509
1416
2508
1417
2507
1418
2506
1419
2505
1420
2504
1421
2503
Death of YERED
1422
2502
1423
2501
1424
2500
1425
2499
1426
2498
2497
1427
B'rshit 5:20

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2497
1428
2496
1429
2495
1430
2494
1431
2493
1432
2492
1433
2491
1434
2490
1435
2489
1436
2488
1437
2487
1438
2486
1439
2485
1440
2484
2483
1441
Details
Timeline: page 103

Notes
Timeline: page 104

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2483
1442
2482
1443
2481
1444
2480
1445
2479
1446
2478
1447
2477
1448
2476
1449
2475
1450
2474
1451
2473
1452
2472
1453
2471
1454
2470
2469
1455
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2469
1456
2468
1457
2467
1458
2466
1459
2465
1460
2464
1461
2463
1462
2462
1463
2461
1464
2460
1465
2459
1466
2458
1467
2457
1468
2456
2455
1469
Details
Timeline: page 105

Notes
Timeline: page 106

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2455
1470
2454
1471
2453
1472
2452
1473
2451
1474
2450
1475
2449
1476
2448
1477
2447
1478
2446
1479
2445
1480
2444
1481
2443
1482
2442
2441
1483
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2441
1484
2440
1485
2439
1486
2438
1487
2437
1488
2436
1489
2435
1490
2434
1491
2433
1492
2432
1493
2431
1494
2430
1495
2429
1496
2428
2427
1497
Details
Timeline: page 107

Notes
Timeline: page 108

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2427
1498
2426
1499
2425
1500
2424
1501
2423
1502
2422
1503
2421
1504
2420
1505
2419
1506
2418
1507
2417
1508
2416
1509
2415
1510
2414
2413
1511
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2413
1512
2412
1513
2411
1514
2410
1515
2409
1516
2408
1517
2407
1518
2406
1519
2405
1520
2404
1521
2403
1522
2402
1523
2401
1524
2400
2399
1525
Details
Timeline: page 109

Notes
Timeline: page 110

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2399
1526
2398
1527
2397
1528
2396
1529
2395
1530
2394
1531
2393
1532
2392
1533
2391
1534
2390
1535
2389
1536
2388
1537
2387
1538
2386
2385
1539
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2385
1540
2384
1541
2383
1542
2382
1543
2381
1544
2380
1545
2379
1546
2378
1547
2377
1548
2376
1549
2375
1550
2374
1551
2373
1552
2372
2371
1553
Details
Timeline: page 111

Notes
Timeline: page 112

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Details
Notes
2371
1554
2370
1555
2369
Birth of YEFET
B'rshit 5:32
Birth of SHEM
B'rshit 11:10
1556
2368
1557
2367
1558
2366
1559
2365
1560
2364
1561
2363
1562
2362
1563
2361
1564
2360
1565
2359
1566
2358
2357
1567

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2357
1568
2356
1569
2355
1570
2354
1571
2353
1572
2352
1573
2351
1574
2350
1575
2349
1576
2348
1577
2347
1578
2346
1579
2345
1580
2344
2343
1581
Details
Timeline: page 113

Notes
Timeline: page 114

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2343
1582
2342
1583
2341
1584
2340
1585
2339
1586
2338
1587
2337
1588
2336
1589
2335
1590
2334
1591
2333
1592
2332
1593
2331
1594
2330
2329
1595
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2329
1596
2328
1597
2327
1598
2326
1599
2325
1600
2324
1601
2323
1602
2322
1603
2321
1604
2320
1605
2319
1606
2318
1607
2317
1608
2316
2315
1609
Details
Timeline: page 115

Notes
Timeline: page 116

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2315
1610
2314
1611
2313
1612
2312
1613
2311
1614
2310
1615
2309
1616
2308
1617
2307
1618
2306
1619
2305
1620
2304
1621
2303
1622
2302
2301
1623
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2301
1624
2300
1625
2299
1626
2298
1627
2297
1628
2296
1629
2295
1630
2294
1631
2293
1632
2292
1633
2291
1634
2290
1635
2289
1636
2288
2287
1637
Details
Timeline: page 117

Notes
Timeline: page 118

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Details
Notes
2287
1638
2286
1639
2285
1640
2284
1641
2283
1642
2282
1643
2281
1644
2280
1645
2279
1646
2278
1647
2277
1648
2276
1649
2275
1650
2274
Death of LEMECH
2273
1651
B'rshit 5:31

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Timeline: page 119
Details
Notes
2273
1652
2272
1653
2271
1654
2270
1655
2269
1656
Death of M'TUSHELAH
THE FLOOD
B'rshit 5:27
B'rshit 7:6, 7:11
Birth of ARPACH'SHAD
B'rshit 11:10
2268
1657
2267
1658
2266
1659
2265
1660
2264
1661
2263
1662
2262
1663
2261
1664
2260
2259
1665
Timeline: page 120

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2259
1666
2258
1667
2257
1668
2256
1669
2255
1670
2254
1671
2253
1672
2252
1673
2251
1674
2250
1675
2249
1676
2248
1677
2247
1678
2246
2245
1679
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Timeline: page 121
Details
Notes
2245
1680
2244
1681
2243
1682
2242
1683
2241
1684
2240
1685
2239
1686
2238
1687
2237
1688
2236
1689
2235
1690
2234
1691
2233
1692
2232
Birth of SHELAH
2231
1693
B'rshit 11:12
Timeline: page 122

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2231
1694
2230
1695
2229
1696
2228
1697
2227
1698
2226
1699
2225
1700
2224
1701
2223
1702
2222
1703
2221
1704
2220
1705
2219
1706
2218
2217
1707
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2217
1708
2216
1709
2215
1710
2214
1711
2213
1712
2212
1713
2211
1714
2210
1715
2209
1716
2208
1717
2207
1718
2206
1719
2205
1720
2204
2203
1721
Details
Timeline: page 123

Notes
Timeline: page 124

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Details
Notes
2203
1722
2202
Birth of VER
1723
2201
1724
2200
1725
2199
1726
2198
1727
2197
1728
2196
1729
2195
1730
2194
1731
2193
1732
2192
1733
2191
1734
2190
2189
1735
B'rshit 11:14

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2189
1736
2188
1737
2187
1738
2186
1739
2185
1740
2184
1741
2183
1742
2182
1743
2181
1744
2180
1745
2179
1746
2178
1747
2177
1748
2176
2175
1749
Details
Timeline: page 125

Notes
Timeline: page 126

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Details
Notes
2175
1750
2174
1751
2173
1752
2172
1753
2171
1754
2170
1755
2169
1756
2168
Birth of PELEG
1757
2167
1758
2166
1759
2165
1760
2164
1761
2163
1762
2162
2161
1763
B'rshit 11:16

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2161
1764
2160
1765
2159
1766
2158
1767
2157
1768
2156
1769
2155
1770
2154
1771
2153
1772
2152
1773
2151
1774
2150
1775
2149
1776
2148
2147
1777
Details
Timeline: page 127

Notes
Timeline: page 128

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Details
Notes
2147
1778
2146
1779
2145
1780
2144
1781
2143
1782
2142
1783
2141
1784
2140
1785
2139
1786
2138
Birth of R'U
1787
2137
1788
2136
1789
2135
1790
2134
2133
1791
B'rshit 11:18

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2133
1792
2132
1793
2131
1794
2130
1795
2129
1796
2128
1797
2127
1798
2126
1799
2125
1800
2124
1801
2123
1802
2122
1803
2121
1804
2120
2119
1805
Details
Timeline: page 129

Notes
Timeline: page 130

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Details
Notes
2119
1806
2118
1807
2117
1808
2116
1809
2115
1810
2114
1811
2113
1812
2112
1813
2111
1814
2110
1815
2109
1816
2108
1817
2107
1818
2106
Birth of S'RUG
2105
1819
B'rshit 11:20

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2105
1820
2104
1821
2103
1822
2102
1823
2101
1824
2100
1825
2099
1826
2098
1827
2097
1828
2096
1829
2095
1830
2094
1831
2093
1832
2092
2091
1833
Details
Timeline: page 131

Notes
Timeline: page 132

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2091
1834
2090
1835
2089
1836
2088
1837
2087
1838
2086
1839
2085
1840
2084
1841
2083
1842
2082
1843
2081
1844
2080
1845
2079
1846
2078
2077
1847
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Timeline: page 133
Details
Notes
2077
1848
2076
Birth of NAHOR
1849
2075
1850
2074
1851
2073
1852
2072
1853
2071
1854
2070
1855
2069
1856
2068
1857
2067
1858
2066
1859
2065
1860
2064
2063
1861
B'rshit 11:22
Timeline: page 134

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2063
1862
2062
1863
2061
1864
2060
1865
2059
1866
2058
1867
2057
1868
2056
1869
2055
1870
2054
1871
2053
1872
2052
1873
2051
1874
2050
2049
1875
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Timeline: page 135
Details
Notes
2049
1876
2048
1877
2047
Birth of TERAH
1878
2046
1879
2045
1880
2044
1881
2043
1882
2042
1883
2041
1884
2040
1885
2039
1886
2038
1887
2037
1888
2036
2035
1889
B'rshit 11:24
Timeline: page 136

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2035
1890
2034
1891
2033
1892
2032
1893
2031
1894
2030
1895
2029
1896
2028
1897
2027
1898
2026
1899
2025
1900
2024
1901
2023
1902
2022
2021
1903
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2021
1904
2020
1905
2019
1906
2018
1907
2017
1908
2016
1909
2015
1910
2014
1911
2013
1912
2012
1913
2011
1914
2010
1915
2009
1916
2008
2007
1917
Details
Timeline: page 137

Notes
Timeline: page 138

BCE
Creation
Calendar
2007
1918
2006
1919
2005
1920
2004
1921
2003
1922
2002
1923
2001
1924
2000
1925
1999
1926
1998
1927
1997
1928
1996
1929
1995
1930
1994
1993
1931
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
1993
1932
1992
1933
1991
1934
1990
1935
1989
1936
1988
1937
1987
1938
1986
1939
1985
1940
1984
1941
1983
1942
1982
1943
1981
1944
1980
1979
1945
Details
Timeline: page 139

Notes
Timeline: page 140

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Details
Notes
1979
1946
1978
1947
1977
Birth of AVRAM
B'rshit 11:26-27
Birth of SARAI
B'rshit 17:17
1948
1976
1949
1975
1950
1974
1951
1973
1952
1972
1953
1971
1954
1970
1955
1969
1956
1968
1957
1967
1958
1966
1965
1959

BCE
Creation
Calendar
1965
1960
1964
1961
1963
1962
1962
1963
1961
1964
1960
1965
1959
1966
1958
1967
1957
1968
1956
1969
1955
1970
1954
1971
1953
1972
1952
1951
1973
Details
Timeline: page 141

Notes
Timeline: page 142

BCE
Creation
Calendar
1951
1974
1950
1975
1949
1976
1948
1977
1947
1978
1946
1979
1945
1980
1944
1981
1943
1982
1942
1983
1941
1984
1940
1985
1939
1986
1938
1937
1987
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Timeline: page 143
Details
Notes
1937
1988
1936
1989
1935
1990
1934
1991
1933
1992
1932
1993
1931
1994
1930
1995
1929
Death of PELEG
B'rshit 11:19
Death of NAHOR
B'rshit 11:25
1996
1928
1997
1927
1998
1926
1999
1925
2000
1924
1923
2001
Timeline: page 144

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Details
Notes
1923
2002
1922
2003
1921
2004
1920
2005
1919
Death of NO'AH
2006
1918
2007
1917
2008
1916
2009
1915
2010
1914
2011
1913
2012
1912
2013
1911
2014
1910
1909
2015
B'rshit 9:29

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Timeline: page 145
Details
Notes
1909
2016
1908
2017
1907
2018
"Agreement among the

Pieces" (B'rshit 15)
(Traditional)
Migration of AVRAM to
K'na'an
B'rshit 12:4
Death of R'U
B'rshit 11:21
1906
2019
1905
2020
1904
2021
1903
2022
1902
2023
1901
2024
1900
2025
1899
2026
1898
2027
1897
2028
1896
1895
2029
Timeline: page 146

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Details
Notes
1895
2030
1894
2031
1893
2032
1892
2033
1891
2034
1890
2035
1889
2036
1888
2037
1887
2038
1886
2039
1885
2040
1884
2041
1883
2042
1882
1881
2043
Sarai persuades Avram

to marry her Egyptian
maid Hagar
B'rshit 16:3
Hagar gives birth to

YISHMA'EL
B'rshit 16:16

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Timeline: page 147
Details
Notes
1881
2044
1880
2045
1879
2046
1878
2047
1877
2048
Avram is commanded
to circumcise himself;
his name is changed to
AVRAHAM
Sarah gives birth to
YITZ'HAK
B'rshit 17:1-14. Also: Sarais name is changed to SARAH (B'rshit 17:15);

YITZ'HAKs birth is foretold (B'rshit 17:16, 17:19 & 17:21; 18:10, 18:14);
Avraham circumcises himself, Yishma'el, and all his male servants (B'rshit
17:23:27); S'dom, Amorah, Admah and Tz'voyyim are destroyed (B'rshit 19)
B'rshit 21:5
Death of S'RUG
B'rshit 11:23
1876
2049
1875
2050
1874
2051
1873
2052
1872
2053
1871
2054
1870
2055
1869
2056
1868
1867
2057
Timeline: page 148

BCE
Creation
Calendar
1867
2058
1866
2059
1865
2060
1864
2061
1863
2062
1862
2063
1861
2064
1860
2065
1859
2066
1858
2067
1857
2068
1856
2069
1855
2070
1854
1853
2071
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Timeline: page 149
Details
Notes
1853
2072
1852
2073
1851
2074
1850
2075
1849
2076
1848
2077
1847
2078
1846
2079
1845
2080
1844
2081
1843
2082
1842
Death of TERAH
B'rshit 11:32
God tests Avrahams

faith
Birth of RIV'KAH
Death of SARAH
B'rshit 22:1-19
B'rshit 22:20-23
B'rshit 23:1-2
2083
1841
2084
1840
1839
2085
Timeline: page 150

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Details
Notes
1839
2086
1838
2087
1837
2088
Marriage of YITZ'HAK
and RIV'KAH
B'rshit 25:20
Death of ARPACH'SHAD
B'rshit 11:13
1836
2089
1835
2090
1834
2091
1833
2092
1832
2093
1831
2094
1830
2095
1829
2096
1828
2097
1827
2098
1826
1825
2099

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Timeline: page 151
Details
Notes
1825
2100
1824
2101
1823
2102
1822
2103
1821
2104
1820
2105
1819
2106
1818
2107
1817
2108
1816
2109
1815
2110
1814
2111
1813
2112
1812
1811
2113
Rivkah gives birth to

YA'AKOV and SAV
B'rshit 25:26
Timeline: page 152

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Details
Notes
1811
2114
1810
2115
1809
2116
1808
2117
1807
2118
1806
2119
1805
2120
1804
2121
1803
2122
1802
Death of AVRAHAM
B'rshit 25:7
Death of SHELAH
B'rshit 11:15
2123
1801
2124
1800
2125
1799
2126
1798
1797
2127

BCE
Creation
Calendar
1797
2128
1796
2129
1795
2130
1794
2131
1793
2132
1792
2133
1791
2134
1790
2135
1789
2136
1788
2137
1787
2138
1786
2139
1785
2140
1784
1783
2141
Details
Timeline: page 153

Notes
Timeline: page 154

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Details
Notes
1783
2142
1782
2143
1781
2144
1780
2145
1779
2146
1778
2147
1777
2148
1776
2149
1775
2150
1774
2151
1773
2152
1772
2153
1771
2154
1770
1769
2155
sav marries two

Hittite women
B'rshit 26:34

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Timeline: page 155
Details
Notes
1769
2156
1768
2157
1767
Death of SHEM
2158
1766
2159
1765
2160
1764
2161
1763
2162
1762
2163
1761
2164
1760
2165
1759
2166
1758
2167
1757
2168
1756
1755
2169
B'rshit 11:11
Timeline: page 156

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Details
Notes
1755
2170
1754
2171
1753
2172
1752
2173
1751
2174
1750
2175
1749
2176
1748
2177
1747
2178
1746
2179
1745
2180
1744
2181
1743
2182
1742
1741
2183
Death of YISHMA'EL
Ya'akov "steals" savs
blessing and flees his
parents home
B'rshit 25:17
B'rshit 27:1-40
B'rshit 27:41-28:5
Also: sav marries Yishmaels daughter Mahalat (B'rshit 28:6-9)

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Timeline: page 157
Details
Notes
1741
2184
1740
2185
Ya'akov arrives at
Haran
(back-calculation based on B'rshit 30:25)

Ya'akov agrees to work for Lavan for 7 years in return for his cousin Rahel,
"and he loved her so much that they seemed like just a few days to him"
(B'rshit 29:20).
Death of VER
B'rshit 11:17
Lavan tricks Ya'akov

into marrying L'ah
instead of Rahel
B'rshit 29:23-25
Ya'akov agrees to work for Lavan for a further 7 years
(B'rshit 29:26-30)
L'ah gives birth to

R'UVEN
B'rshit 29:32
L'ah gives birth to

SHIM'ON; Rahel
persuades Ya'akov to
marry her maid Bilhah
L'ah gives birth to
LVI
Bilhah gives birth to
DAN
L'ah gives birth to
Y'HUDAH
Bilhah gives birth to
NAFTALI
Zilpah gives birth to
GAD
L'ah gives birth to
YISSACHAR
B'rshit 29:33
B'rshit 30:3
1739
2186
1738
2187
1737
2188
1736
2189
1735
2190
1734
2191
1733
2192
1732
2193
1731
2194
1730
2195
1729
2196
1728
1727
2197
B'rshit 29:34
B'rshit 30:5
B'rshit 29:35
B'rshit 30:7
Also: L'ah persuades Ya'akov to marry her maid Zilpah (B'rshit 30:9)
B'rshit 30:10
B'rshit 30:17
Timeline: page 158

BCE
Creation
Calendar
1727
2198
1726
2199
1725
Details
Zilpah gives birth to
ASHER
L'ah gives birth to
Z'VULUN
L'ah gives birth to
DINAH
Rahel gives birth to
YOSEF
Notes
B'rshit 30:12
B'rshit 30:19
B'rshit 30:21
B'rshit 30:23-26
Ya'akov now wants to return home, but Lavan persuades him to stay on and
work for wages (B'rshit 30:26-34)
2200
1724
2201
1723
2202
1722
2203
1721
2204
1720
2205
Ya'akov finally leaves

Lacan
1719
B'rshit 31:38
He now has 4 wives and 11 sons and a daughter and has become very
wealthy (B'rshit 31:1-18)
2206
1718
2207
1717
2208
1716
2209
1715
2210
1714
1713
2211
BINYAMIN is born; Rahel

dies in childbirth
Ya'akov is reunited with
his father, Yitz'hak
B'rshit 35:16-19
B'rshit 35:27

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Details
Timeline: page 159

Notes
1713
2212
1712
2213
1711
2214
1710
2215
1709
2216
1708
2217
1707
2218
1706
2219
1705
2220
1704
2221
1703
2222
1702
2223
1701
2224
1700
1699
2225
Yosefs brothers sell

himhe is taken to
Egypt and soon ends up
in prison
B'rshit 37:2his father (Ya'akov) believes him dead and mourns for him
(B'rshit 37:34); his father (Yitz'hak) weeps for Ya'akovs needless grief
(B'rshit 37:35)
Timeline: page 160

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Details
Notes
1699
2226
1698
2227
1697
Yosef meets the

Pharaohs chief butler
and chief baker in the
prison
Death of YITZ'HAK
he interprets their dreams (back-calculation based on B'rshit 41:1). Three

days later, one is executed and the other is released; Yosef remains in prison
for a further 2 years.
The Pharaoh has two

dreams
The "seven years of
abundance" begin
Yosef interprets them and predicts 7 years of abundance followed by 7

years of famine (B'rshit 41:46)
Yosef is made Viceroy of Egypt (B'rshit 41:38-45)
B'rshit 41:47
The "seven years of

famine" begin
B'rshit 41:54
Migration of Ya'akov
and his whole family to
Egypt
B'rshit 47:9; 45:6
B'rshit 35:28
2228
1696
2229
1695
2230
1694
2231
1693
2232
1692
2233
1691
2234
1690
2235
1689
2236
1688
2237
1687
2238
1686
1685
2239

BCE
Creation
Calendar
1685
2240
1684
2241
1683
2242
1682
2243
1681
2244
1680
2245
1679
2246
1678
2247
1677
2248
1676
2249
1675
2250
1674
2251
1673
2252
1672
1671
2253
Details
Timeline: page 161

Notes
Timeline: page 162

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Details
Notes
1671
2254
1670
Death of YA'AKOV
2255
1669
2256
1668
2257
1667
2258
1666
2259
1665
2260
1664
2261
1663
2262
1662
2263
1661
2264
1660
2265
1659
2266
1658
1657
2267
B'rshit 47:28

BCE
Creation
Calendar
1657
2268
1656
2269
1655
2270
1654
2271
1653
2272
1652
2273
1651
2274
1650
2275
1649
2276
1648
2277
1647
2278
1646
2279
1645
2280
1644
1643
2281
Details
Timeline: page 163

Notes
Timeline: page 164

BCE
Creation
Calendar
1643
2282
1642
2283
1641
2284
1640
2285
1639
2286
1638
2287
1637
2288
1636
2289
1635
2290
1634
2291
1633
2292
1632
2293
1631
2294
1630
1629
2295
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Timeline: page 165
Details
Notes
1629
2296
1628
2297
1627
2298
1626
2299
1625
2300
1624
2301
1623
2302
1622
2303
1621
2304
1620
2305
1619
2306
1618
2307
1617
2308
1616
Death of YOSEF
1615
2309
B'rshit 50:26
Timeline: page 166

BCE
Creation
Calendar
1615
2310
1614
2311
1613
2312
1612
2313
1611
2314
1610
2315
1609
2316
1608
2317
1607
2318
1606
2319
1605
2320
1604
2321
1603
2322
1602
1601
2323
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Timeline: page 167
Details
Notes
1601
2324
1600
2325
1599
2326
1598
2327
1597
2328
1596
2329
1595
2330
1594
2331
1593
2332
1592
2333
1591
2334
1590
2335
1589
2336
1588
1587
2337
Death of LVI
Enslavement of the
Hebrews begins
(traditional); Sh'mot 6:16
Timeline: page 168

BCE
Creation
Calendar
1587
2338
1586
2339
1585
2340
1584
2341
1583
2342
1582
2343
1581
2344
1580
2345
1579
2346
1578
2347
1577
2348
1576
2349
1575
2350
1574
1573
2351
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Details
Timeline: page 169

Notes
1573
2352
1572
2353
1571
2354
1570
2355
1569
2356
1568
2357
1567
2358
1566
2359
1565
2360
1564
2361
1563
2362
1562
2363
1561
2364
1560
Birth of AHARON
1559
2365
(back-calculation based on Sh'mot 7:7)
Timeline: page 170

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Details
Notes
1559
2366
1558
2367
1557
Birth of MOSHEH
2368
1556
2369
1555
2370
1554
2371
1553
2372
1552
2373
1551
2374
1550
2375
1549
2376
1548
2377
1547
2378
1546
1545
2379
(back-calculation based on Sh'mot 7:7)

He was the son of Amram (Sh'mot 6:20), the son of K'hat (Sh'mot 6:18), the
son of Lvi (Sh'mot 6:16), Ya'akov and L'ahs 3rd son

BCE
Creation
Calendar
1545
2380
1544
2381
1543
2382
1542
2383
1541
2384
1540
2385
1539
2386
1538
2387
1537
2388
1536
2389
1535
2390
1534
2391
1533
2392
1532
1531
2393
Details
Timeline: page 171

Notes
Timeline: page 172

BCE
Creation
Calendar
Details
Notes
1531
2394
1530
2395
1529
2396
1528
2397
1527
2398
1526
2399
1525
2400
1524
2401
1523
2402
1522
2403
1521
2404
1520
2405
1519
Birth of Y'HOSHUA
2406
1518
1517
2407
(back-calculation based on Y'hoshua 24:29 & Shoftim 2:8)

He was the son of Nun [Non], the son of Elishama, the son of Ammihud, the
son of La'adan, the son of Tahan, the son of Telah, the son of Refah, the son
of B'riyah, the son of Efrayim, Yosef and Osnats younger son (Divrei
Hayamim Alef 7:23-27)

BCE
Creation
Calendar
1517
2408
1516
2409
1515
2410
1514
2411
1513
2412
1512
2413
1511
2414
1510
2415
1509
2416
1508
2417
1507
2418
1506
2419
1505
2420
1504
1503
2421
Details
Timeline: page 173

Notes
Timeline: page 174

BCE
Creation
Calendar
1503
2422
1502
2423
1501
2424
1500
2425
1499
2426
1498
2427
1497
2428
1496
2429
1495
2430
1494
2431
1493
2432
1492
2433
1491
2434
1490
1489
2435
Details
Notes

BCE
Creation
Calendar
1489
2436
1488
2437
1487
2438
1486
2439
1485
2440
1484
2441
1483
2442
1482
2443
1481
2444
1480
2445
1479
2446
1478
2447
1477
1476
2448
Details
Timeline: page 175

Notes
Timeline: page 176

BCE
1476
Creation
Calendar
Exodus
Calendar
2448
Ex1
2449
Details
THE EXODUS
1st year of MOSHEH
2nd year of Mosheh
1475
Ex2
2450
3rd year of Mosheh
1474
Ex3
2451
4th year of Mosheh
1473
Ex4
2452
5th year of Mosheh
1472
Ex5
2453
6th year of Mosheh
1471
Ex6
2454
7th year of Mosheh
1470
Ex7
2455
8th year of Mosheh
1469
Ex8
2456
9th year of Mosheh
1468
Ex9
2457
10th year of Mosheh
1467
Ex10
2458
11th year of Mosheh
1466
Ex11
2459
12th year of Mosheh
1465
Ex12
2460
13th year of Mosheh
1464
Ex13
2461
14th year of Mosheh
1463
Ex14
1462
2462
Notes
"He said to Avram, 'Know with certainty that your zera
will be strangers in lands that will not be their own for
400 years and they will serve them and they will
persecute them" (B'rshit 15:13)

BCE
1462
Creation
Calendar
Exodus
Calendar
Timeline: page 177

Details
15th year of Mosheh
2462
Ex15
2463
16th year of Mosheh
1461
Ex16
2464
17th year of Mosheh
1460
Ex17
2465
18th year of Mosheh
1459
Ex18
2466
19th year of Mosheh
1458
Ex19
2467
20th year of Mosheh
1457
Ex20
2468
21st year of Mosheh
1456
Ex21
2469
22nd year of Mosheh
1455
Ex22
2470
23rd year of Mosheh
1454
Ex23
2471
24th year of Mosheh
1453
Ex24
2472
25th year of Mosheh
1452
Ex25
2473
26th year of Mosheh
1451
Ex26
2474
27th year of Mosheh
1450
Ex27
2475
28th year of Mosheh
1449
Ex28
1448
2476
Notes
Timeline: page 178

BCE
1448
Creation
Calendar
Exodus
Calendar
Details
Notes
29th year of Mosheh
2476
Ex29
2477
30th year of Mosheh
1447
Ex30
2478
31st year of Mosheh
1446
Ex31
2479
32nd year of Mosheh
1445
Ex32
2480
33rd year of Mosheh
1444
Ex33
2481
34th year of Mosheh
1443
Ex34
2482
35th year of Mosheh
1442
Ex35
2483
36th year of Mosheh
1441
Ex36
2484
37th year of Mosheh
1440
Ex37
2485
38th year of Mosheh
1439
Ex38
2486
39th year of Mosheh
1438
Ex39
2487
40th year of Mosheh
1437
Ex40
2488
1st year of Y'HOSHUA
1436
Ex41
2489
2nd year of Y'hoshua
1435
Ex42
1434
2490
1st Av 2487Aharon dies (D'varim 33:38).

7th Adar 2488Mosheh transfers the leadership of
Yisrael to Y'hoshua (B'midbar 27:18-23; D'varim 3:28,
34:9) and dies too (D'varim 34:5).
10th Nisan 2488Y'hoshua assumes the leadership and
Yisrael crosses the River Yarden and enters K'na'an
(Y'hoshua 4:19)

BCE
1434
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
Timeline: page 179

Exodus
Calendar
Details
Notes
3rd year of Y'hoshua
2490
Ex43
2491
4th year of Y'hoshua
1433
Ex44
2492
1432
Ex45
2493
1431
Ex46
2494
1430
Ex47
2495
1429
Ex48
2496
The Wars of Conquest end.

Allocation of the land begins. Kalev
approaches Y'hoshua and claims the inheritance
that was promised to him (Y'hoshua 14:6-10)
1428
Ex49
2497
1427
Ex50
2498
1426
Ex51
2499
1425
Ex52
2500
1424
Ex53
2501
1423
Ex54
2502
1422
Ex55
2503
J1/1
2504
J1/2
1421
Ex56
1420
Allocation of the land ends.

The 7-year and 50-year Sh'mittah and Yovel
cycles begin.
Timeline: page 180

BCE
1420
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
2504
J1/2
Exodus
Calendar
Details
Notes

Ex57
2505
J1/3
1419
Ex58
2506
J1/4
1418
Ex59
2507
J1/5
1417
Ex60
2508
J1/6
21st year of Y'hoshua
1416
Ex61
2509
J1/7
22nd year of Y'hoshua
1415
Ex62
2510
J1/8
23rd year of Y'hoshua
1414
Ex63
2511
J1/9
1413
Ex64
2512
J1/10
1412
Ex65
2513
J1/11
1411
Ex66
J1/12
2514
J1/12
1410
Ex67
2515
J1/13
1409
Y'hoshua dies after ruling Yisrael for 28 years

(traditional)
1st year of OT'NIYEL

1st year of Aramean
domination
The leadership passes to Judge OT'NIYEL ben

K'naz, Kalevs younger brother (Shoftim 3:9-10)
Yisrael is dominated by Kushan-Rish'atayim,
king of Aram-Naharayim for 8 years (Shoftim
3:8)
Ex68
2516
J1/14
1408
Ex69
2517
J1/15
2518
J1/16
1407
Ex70
1406
2nd year of Ot'niyel

2nd year of Aramean
domination

BCE
1406
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
2518
J1/16
Timeline: page 181

Exodus
Calendar
Ex71
2519
J1/17
1405
Ex72
2520
J1/18
1404
Ex73
2521
J1/19
1403
Ex74
2522
J1/20
1402
Ex75
2523
J1/21
1401
Ex76
2524
J1/22
Details
3rd year of Ot'niyel
3rd year of Aramean
domination
4th year of Ot'niyel
4th year of Aramean
domination
5th year of Aramean
domination
6th year of Aramean
domination
7th year of Aramean
domination
8th year of Aramean
domination
1400
Ex77
2525
J1/23
1399
Ex78
2526
J1/24
1398
Ex79
2527
J1/25
1397
Ex80
2528
J1/26
1396
Ex81
2529
J1/27
1395
Ex82
2530
J1/28
1394
Ex83
2531
J1/29
2532
J1/30
1393
Ex84
1392
Notes
Ot'niyel liberates Yisrael from Aramean

domination after 8 years (Shoftim 3:9-10)
Timeline: page 182

BCE
1392
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
2532
J1/30
Exodus
Calendar
Details
Ex85
2533
J1/31
1391
Ex86
2534
J1/32
1390
Ex87
2535
J1/33
1389
Ex88
2536
J1/34
21st year of Ot'niyel
1388
Ex89
2537
J1/35
1387
Ex90
2538
J1/36
1386
Ex91
2539
J1/37
1385
Ex92
2540
J1/38
1384
Ex93
2541
J1/39
1383
Ex94
2542
J1/40
1382
Ex95
2543
J1/41
1381
Ex96
2544
J1/42
1380
Ex97
2545
J1/43
2546
J1/44
1379
Ex98
1378
Notes

BCE
1378
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
2546
J1/44
Timeline: page 183

Exodus
Calendar
Details
Notes
31st year of Ot'niyel

Ex99
2547
J1/45
1377
Ex100
2548
J1/46
1376
Ex101
2549
J1/47
1375
Ex102
2550
J1/48
1374
Ex103
2551
J1/49
1373
Ex104
2552
J1/50
1372
Ex105
2553
J2/1
1371
Ex106
2554
J2/2
1370
Ex107
2555
J2/3
1369
Ot'niyel dies after ruling Yisrael for 40 years

(Shoftim 3:11)
1st year of HUD

1st year of Mo'avite
domination
The leadership passes to hud son of Gra of

Binyamin (Shoftim 3:16-29)
Yisrael is dominated by Eglon, king of
Mo'av for 18 years (Shoftim 3:12-14)
Ex108
2556
J2/4
1368
Ex109
2557
J2/5
1367
Ex110
2558
J2/6
1366
Ex111
2559
J2/7
2560
J2/8
1365
Ex112
1364
2nd year of hud

2nd year of Mo'avite
domination
3rd year of hud
3rd year of Mo'avite
domination
4th year of hud
4th year of Mo'avite
domination
Timeline: page 184

BCE
1364
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
2560
J2/8
Exodus
Calendar
Ex113
2561
J2/9
1363
Ex114
2562
J2/10
1362
Ex115
2563
J2/11
1361
Ex116
2564
J2/12
1360
Ex117
2565
J2/13
1359
Ex118
2566
J2/14
1358
Ex119
2567
J2/15
1357
Ex120
2568
J2/16
1356
Ex121
2569
J2/17
1355
Ex122
2570
J2/18
1354
Ex123
2571
J2/19
1353
Ex124
2572
J2/20
1352
Ex125
2573
J2/21
2574
J2/22
1351
Ex126
1350
Details
5th year of hud
domination
6th year of hud
domination
7th year of hud
domination
8th year of hud
domination
9th year of hud
domination
10th year of hud
domination
11th year of hud
domination
12th year of hud
domination
13th year of hud
domination
14th year of hud
domination
15th year of hud
domination
16th year of hud
domination
17th year of hud
domination
18th year of hud
domination
Notes

BCE
1350
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
2574
J2/22
Timeline: page 185

Exodus
Calendar
Details
19th year of hud
Ex127
2575
J2/23
20th year of hud
1349
Ex128
2576
J2/24
21st year of hud
1348
Ex129
2577
J2/25
22nd year of hud
1347
Ex130
2578
J2/26
23rd year of hud
1346
Ex131
2579
J2/27
24th year of hud
1345
Ex132
2580
J2/28
25th year of hud
1344
Ex133
2581
J2/29
26th year of hud
1343
Ex134
2582
J2/30
27th year of hud
1342
Ex135
2583
J2/31
28th year of hud
1341
Ex136
2584
J2/32
29th year of hud
1340
Ex137
2585
J2/33
30th year of hud
1339
Ex138
2586
J2/34
31st year of hud
1338
Ex139
2587
J2/35
2588
J2/36
32nd year of hud
1337
Ex140
1336
Notes
hud liberates Yisrael from Mo'avite
domination after 18 years (Shoftim 3:30)
Timeline: page 186

BCE
1336
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
2588
J2/36
Exodus
Calendar
Details
33rd year of hud
Ex141
2589
J2/37
34th year of hud
1335
Ex142
2590
J2/38
35th year of hud
1334
Ex143
2591
J2/39
36th year of hud
1333
Ex144
2592
J2/40
37th year of hud
1332
Ex145
2593
J2/41
38th year of hud
1331
Ex146
2594
J2/42
39th year of hud
1330
Ex147
2595
J2/43
40th year of hud
1329
Ex148
2596
J2/44
41st year of hud
1328
Ex149
2597
J2/45
42nd year of hud
1327
Ex150
2598
J2/46
43rd year of hud
1326
Ex151
2599
J2/47
44th year of hud
1325
Ex152
2600
J2/48
45th year of hud
1324
Ex153
2601
J2/49
2602
J2/50
46th year of hud
1323
Ex154
1322
Notes

BCE
1322
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
2602
J2/50
Timeline: page 187

Exodus
Calendar
Details
47th year of hud
Ex155
2603
J3/1
48th year of hud
1321
Ex156
2604
J3/2
49th year of hud
1320
Ex157
2605
J3/3
50th year of hud
1319
Ex158
2606
J3/4
51st year of hud
1318
Ex159
2607
J3/5
52nd year of hud
1317
Ex160
2608
J3/6
53rd year of hud
1316
Ex161
2609
J3/7
54th year of hud
1315
Ex162
2610
J3/8
55th year of hud
1314
Ex163
2611
J3/9
56th year of hud
1313
Ex164
2612
J3/10
57th year of hud
1312
Ex165
2613
J3/11
58th year of hud
1311
Ex166
2614
J3/12
59th year of hud
1310
Ex167
2615
J3/13
2616
J3/14
60th year of hud
1309
Ex168
1308
Notes
Timeline: page 188

BCE
1308
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
2616
J3/14
Exodus
Calendar
Details
61st year of hud
Ex169
2617
J3/15
62nd year of hud
1307
Ex170
2618
J3/16
63rd year of hud
1306
Ex171
2619
J3/17
64th year of hud
1305
Ex172
2620
J3/18
65th year of hud
1304
Ex173
2621
J3/19
66th year of hud
1303
Ex174
2622
J3/20
67th year of hud
1302
Ex175
2623
J3/21
68th year of hud
1301
Ex176
2624
J3/22
69th year of hud
1300
Ex177
2625
J3/23
70th year of hud
1299
Ex178
2626
J3/24
71st year of hud
1298
Ex179
2627
J3/25
72nd year of hud
1297
Ex180
2628
J3/26
73rd year of hud
1296
Ex181
2629
J3/27
2630
J3/28
74th year of hud
1295
Ex182
1294
Notes

BCE
1294
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
2630
J3/28
Timeline: page 189

Exodus
Calendar
Details
Notes
75th year of hud

Ex183
2631
J3/29
76th year of hud
1293
Ex184
2632
J3/30
77th year of hud
1292
Ex185
2633
J3/31
78th year of hud
1291
Ex186
2634
J3/32
79th year of hud
1290
Ex187
2635
J3/33
1289
Ex188
2636
J3/34
1288
Ex189
2637
J3/35
1287
Ex190
2638
J3/36
1286
Ex191
2639
J3/37
1285
Ex192
2640
J3/38
1284
Ex193
2641
J3/39
1283
Ex194
2642
J3/40
1282
Ex195
2643
J3/41
2644
J3/42
1281
Ex196
1280
80th year of hud

SHAMGAR
1st year of D'VORAH

1st year of K'na'anite
domination
2nd year of D'vorah
2nd year of K'na'anite
domination
3rd year of D'vorah
3rd year of K'na'anite
domination
4th year of D'vorah
4th year of K'na'anite
domination
5th year of D'vorah
domination
6th year of D'vorah
domination
7th year of D'vorah
domination
8th year of D'vorah
domination
hud dies after ruling Yisrael for 80 years

(Shoftim 3:30). The leadership passes briefly to
Judge Shamgar son of Anat (Shoftim 3:31),
and then to Judge D'vorah
Yisrael is dominated by Yavin, king of
K'na'an for 20 years (Shoftim 4:1-3)
Timeline: page 190

BCE
1280
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
2644
J3/42
Exodus
Calendar
Ex197
2645
J3/43
1279
Ex198
2646
J3/44
1278
Ex199
2647
J3/45
1277
Ex200
2648
J3/46
1276
Ex201
2649
J3/47
1275
Ex202
2650
J3/48
1274
Ex203
2651
J3/49
1273
Ex204
2652
J3/50
1272
Ex205
2653
J4/1
1271
Ex206
2654
J4/2
1270
Ex207
2655
J4/3
1269
Ex208
2656
J4/4
Details
9th year of D'vorah
domination
10th year of D'vorah
domination
domination
domination
domination
domination
domination
domination
domination
domination
domination
domination
21st year of D'vorah
1268
Ex209
2657
J4/5
2658
J4/6
22nd year of D'vorah
1267
Ex210
1266
Notes
D'vorah inspires Barak son of Avino'am to

liberate Yisrael from K'na'anite domination
after 20 years (Shoftim 4:4-24)

BCE
1266
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
2658
J4/6
Timeline: page 191

Exodus
Calendar
Details
23rd year of D'vorah
Ex211
2659
J4/7
1265
Ex212
2660
J4/8
1264
Ex213
2661
J4/9
1263
Ex214
2662
J4/10
1262
Ex215
2663
J4/11
1261
Ex216
2664
J4/12
1260
Ex217
2665
J4/13
1259
Ex218
2666
J4/14
31st year of D'vorah
1258
Ex219
2667
J4/15
32nd year of D'vorah
1257
Ex220
2668
J4/16
33rd year of D'vorah
1256
Ex221
2669
J4/17
1255
Ex222
2670
J4/18
1254
Ex223
2671
J4/19
2672
J4/20
1253
Ex224
1252
Notes
Timeline: page 192

BCE
1252
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
2672
J4/20
Exodus
Calendar
Details
Notes

Ex225
2673
J4/21
1251
Ex226
2674
J4/22
1250
Ex227
2675
J4/23
1249
D'vorah dies after ruling Yisrael for 40 years

(Shoftim 5:31)
There is no immediate successor
1st year of Midiyanite

domination
Yisrael is dominated by the Midiyanites for

7 years (Shoftim 6:1)
Ex228
2676
J4/24
1248
Ex229
2677
J4/25
1247
Ex230
2678
J4/26
1246
Ex231
2679
J4/27
1245
Ex232
2680
J4/28
1244
Ex233
2681
J4/29
1243
Ex234
2682
J4/30
1242
Ex235
2683
J4/31
2nd year of Midiyanite

domination
3rd year of Midiyanite

domination
4th year of Midiyanite

domination

domination

domination

domination
1st year of GID'ON
1241
Ex236
2684
J4/32
2nd year of Gid'on
1240
Ex237
2685
J4/33
2686
J4/34
3rd year of Gid'on
1239
Ex238
1238
Judge Gid'on liberates Yisrael from Midiyanite

domination and assumes the leadership
(Shoftim 7)

BCE
1238
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
2686
J4/34
Timeline: page 193

Exodus
Calendar
Details
4th year of Gid'on
Ex239
2687
J4/35
5th year of Gid'on
1237
Ex240
2688
J4/36
6th year of Gid'on
1236
Ex241
2689
J4/37
7th year of Gid'on
1235
Ex242
2690
J4/38
8th year of Gid'on
1234
Ex243
2691
J4/39
9th year of Gid'on
1233
Ex244
2692
J4/40
10th year of Gid'on
1232
Ex245
2693
J4/41
11th year of Gid'on
1231
Ex246
2694
J4/42
12th year of Gid'on
1230
Ex247
2695
J4/43
13th year of Gid'on
1229
Ex248
2696
J4/44
14th year of Gid'on
1228
Ex249
2697
J4/45
15th year of Gid'on
1227
Ex250
2698
J4/46
16th year of Gid'on
1226
Ex251
2699
J4/47
2700
J4/48
17th year of Gid'on
1225
Ex252
1224
Notes
Timeline: page 194

BCE
1224
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
2700
J4/48
Exodus
Calendar
Details
18th year of Gid'on
Ex253
2701
J4/49
19th year of Gid'on
1223
Ex254
2702
J4/50
20th year of Gid'on
1222
Ex255
2703
J5/1
21st year of Gid'on
1221
Ex256
2704
J5/2
22nd year of Gid'on
1220
Ex257
2705
J5/3
23rd year of Gid'on
1219
Ex258
2706
J5/4
24th year of Gid'on
1218
Ex259
2707
J5/5
25th year of Gid'on
1217
Ex260
2708
J5/6
26th year of Gid'on
1216
Ex261
2709
J5/7
27th year of Gid'on
1215
Ex262
2710
J5/8
28th year of Gid'on
1214
Ex263
2711
J5/9
29th year of Gid'on
1213
Ex264
2712
J5/10
30th year of Gid'on
1212
Ex265
2713
J5/11
2714
J5/12
31st year of Gid'on
1211
Ex266
1210
Notes

BCE
1210
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
2714
J5/12
Timeline: page 195

Exodus
Calendar
Details
Notes
32nd year of Gid'on

Ex267
2715
J5/13
33rd year of Gid'on
1209
Ex268
2716
J5/14
34th year of Gid'on
1208
Ex269
2717
J5/15
35th year of Gid'on
1207
Ex270
2718
J5/16
36th year of Gid'on
1206
Ex271
2719
J5/17
37th year of Gid'on
1205
Ex272
2720
J5/18
38th year of Gid'on
1204
Ex273
2721
J5/19
39th year of Gid'on
1203
Ex274
2722
J5/20
1202
40th year of Gid'on
Gid'on dies after ruling Yisrael for a full 40

years (Shoftim 8:28)
1st year of AVIMELECH
Gid'ons son Avimelech usurps the leadership

and proclaims himself king (Shoftim 9:6)
Ex275
2723
J5/21
1201
Ex276
2724
J5/22
2nd year of Avimelech
1200
Ex277
2725
J5/23
1199
3rd year of Avimelech
Avimelech is deposed and killed after ruling

for 3 years (Shoftim 9:22)
1st year of TOLA
The leadership passes to Judge Tola ben

Pu'ah of Yissachar (Shoftim 10:1-2)
Ex278
2726
J5/24
1198
Ex279
2727
J5/25
2728
J5/26
2nd year of Tola
1197
Ex280
1196
Timeline: page 196

BCE
1196
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
2728
J5/26
Exodus
Calendar
Details
3rd year of Tola
Ex281
2729
J5/27
4th year of Tola
1195
Ex282
2730
J5/28
5th year of Tola
1194
Ex283
2731
J5/29
6th year of Tola
1193
Ex284
2732
J5/30
7th year of Tola
1192
Ex285
2733
J5/31
8th year of Tola
1191
Ex286
2734
J5/32
9th year of Tola
1190
Ex287
2735
J5/33
10th year of Tola
1189
Ex288
2736
J5/34
11th year of Tola
1188
Ex289
2737
J5/35
12th year of Tola
1187
Ex290
2738
J5/36
13th year of Tola
1186
Ex291
2739
J5/37
14th year of Tola
1185
Ex292
2740
J5/38
15th year of Tola
1184
Ex293
2741
J5/39
2742
J5/40
16th year of Tola
1183
Ex294
1182
Notes

BCE
1182
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
2742
J5/40
Timeline: page 197

Exodus
Calendar
Details
Notes
17th year of Tola

Ex295
2743
J5/41
18th year of Tola
1181
Ex296
2744
J5/42
19th year of Tola
1180
Ex297
2745
J5/43
20th year of Tola
1179
Ex298
2746
J5/44
21st year of Tola
1178
Ex299
2747
J5/45
22nd year of Tola
1177
Ex300
2748
J5/46
1176
23rd year of Tola
Tola dies after ruling Yisrael for 23 years

(Shoftim 10:1-2)
1st year of YA'IR
The leadership passes to Judge Ya'ir of

Gil'ad (Shoftim 10:3)
Ex301
2749
J5/47
1175
Ex302
2750
J5/48
2nd year of Ya'ir
1174
Ex303
2751
J5/49
3rd year of Ya'ir
1173
Ex304
2752
J5/50
4th year of Ya'ir
1172
Ex305
2753
J6/1
5th year of Ya'ir
1171
Ex306
2754
J6/2
6th year of Ya'ir
1170
Ex307
2755
J6/3
2756
J6/4
7th year of Ya'ir
1169
Ex308
1168
Timeline: page 198

BCE
1168
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
2756
J6/4
Exodus
Calendar
Details
8th year of Ya'ir
Ex309
2757
J6/5
9th year of Ya'ir
1167
Ex310
2758
J6/6
10th year of Ya'ir
1166
Ex311
2759
J6/7
11th year of Ya'ir
1165
Ex312
2760
J6/8
12th year of Ya'ir
1164
Ex313
2761
J6/9
13th year of Ya'ir
1163
Ex314
2762
J6/10
14th year of Ya'ir
1162
Ex315
2763
J6/11
15th year of Ya'ir
1161
Ex316
2764
J6/12
16th year of Ya'ir
1160
Ex317
2765
J6/13
17th year of Ya'ir
1159
Ex318
2766
J6/14
18th year of Ya'ir
1158
Ex319
2767
J6/15
19th year of Ya'ir
1157
Ex320
2768
J6/16
20th year of Ya'ir
1156
Ex321
2769
J6/17
2770
J6/18
21st year of Ya'ir
1155
Ex322
1154
Notes

BCE
1154
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
2770
J6/18
Timeline: page 199

Exodus
Calendar
Ex323
2771
J6/19
1153
Ex324
2772
J6/20
1152
Ex325
2773
J6/21
1151
Ex326
2774
J6/22
1150
Ex327
2775
J6/23
1149
Ex328
2776
J6/24
1148
Ex329
2777
J6/25
1147
Ex330
2778
J6/26
1146
Ex331
2779
J6/27
1145
Ex332
2780
J6/28
1144
Ex333
2781
J6/29
1143
Ex334
2782
J6/30
1142
Ex335
2783
J6/31
2784
J6/32
1141
Ex336
1140
Details
22nd year of Ya'ir
1st year of P'lishtianAmmonite domination
2nd year of P'lishtianAmmonite domination
3rd year of P'lishtianAmmonite domination
4th year of P'lishtianAmmonite domination
Notes
Ya'ir dies after ruling Yisrael for 22 years
(Shoftim 10:3); there is no immediate successor
Yisrael is dominated by the P'lishtians and
Ammonites for 18 years, "starting that same
year" (Shoftim 10:7-8)
Timeline: page 200

BCE
1140
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
2784
J6/32
Exodus
Calendar
Ex337
2785
J6/33
1139
Ex338
2786
J6/34
1138
Ex339
2787
J6/35
1137
Ex340
2788
J6/36
Details

1st year of YIFTAH
2nd year of Yiftah
1136
Ex341
2789
J6/37
Notes
Judge Yiftah of Gil'ad liberates Yisrael

from P'lishtian-Ammonite domination and
assumes the leadership (Shoftim 11:32-33)
It is exactly 300 years since Yisrael entered the
land, as Yiftah tells the Ammonite king
(Shoftim 11:26)
3rd year of Yiftah
1135
Ex342
2790
J6/38
4th year of Yiftah
1134
Ex343
2791
J6/39
5th year of Yiftah
1133
Ex344
2792
J6/40
1132
Ex345
2793
J6/41
1131
Ex346
2794
J6/42
1130
Ex347
2795
J6/43
1129
Ex348
2796
J6/44
1128
Ex349
2797
J6/45
2798
J6/46
1127
Ex350
1126
6th year of Yiftah

1st year of IV'TZAN
(BO'AZ)
2nd year of Iv'tzan
(Bo'az)
3rd year of Iv'tzan

(Bo'az)
4th year of Iv'tzan

(Bo'az)
5th year of Iv'tzan

(Bo'az)
6th year of Iv'tzan

(Bo'az)
Yiftah dies after ruling Yisrael for 6 years

(Shoftim 12:7)
The leadership passes to Judge Iv'tzan of
Beit Lehem (Shoftim 12:8)

BCE
1126
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
2798
J6/46
Timeline: page 201

Exodus
Calendar
Ex351
2799
J6/47
Details
7th year of Iv'tzan
(Bo'az)
1st year of EILON
Notes
Iv'tzan dies after ruling Yisrael for 7 years
(Shoftim 12:9-10)
The leadership passes to Judge Eilon of
Z'vulun (Shoftim 12:11)
2nd year of Eilon
1125
Ex352
2800
J6/48
3rd year of Eilon
1124
Ex353
2801
J6/49
4th year of Eilon
1123
Ex354
2802
J6/50
5th year of Eilon
1122
Ex355
2803
J7/1
6th year of Eilon
1121
Ex356
2804
J7/2
7th year of Eilon
1120
Ex357
2805
J7/3
8th year of Eilon
1119
Ex358
2806
J7/4
9th year of Eilon
1118
Ex359
2807
J7/5
1117
Ex360
2808
J7/6
10th year of Eilon

1st year of AVDON
2nd year of Avdon
1116
Ex361
2809
J7/7
3rd year of Avdon
1115
Ex362
2810
J7/8
4th year of Avdon
1114
Ex363
2811
J7/9
2812
J7/10
5th year of Avdon
1113
Ex364
1112
Eilon dies after ruling Yisrael for 10 years

(Shoftim 12:11)
The leadership passes to Judge Avdon ben Hillel
of Pir'aton (Shoftim 12:13)
Timeline: page 202

BCE
1112
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
2812
J7/10
Exodus
Calendar
Details
Notes
6th year of Avdon

Ex365
2813
J7/11
7th year of Avdon
1111
Ex366
2814
J7/12
1110
Ex367
2815
J7/13
8th year of Avdon

1st year of SHIMSHON
2nd year of Shimshon
1109
Ex368
2816
J7/14
3rd year of Shimshon
1108
Ex369
2817
J7/15
4th year of Shimshon
1107
Ex370
2818
J7/16
1106
Ex371
2819
J7/17
1105
Ex372
2820
J7/18
1104
Ex373
2821
J7/19
1103
Ex374
2822
J7/20
1102
Ex375
2823
J7/21
1101
Ex376
2824
J7/22
1100
Ex377
2825
J7/23
2826
J7/24
1099
Ex378
1098
Avdon dies after ruling Yisrael for 8 years

(Shoftim 12:14-15)
The leadership passes to Judge Shimshon ben
Mano'ah (Shoftim 12:13)
40 years of P'lishtian domination begin
(Shoftim 13:1), which continue throughout
Shimshons Judgeship (compare Shoftim 15:20)
and extend into that of li

BCE
1098
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
2826
J7/24
Timeline: page 203

Exodus
Calendar
Details
Notes

Ex379
2827
J7/25
1097
Ex380
2828
J7/26
1096
Ex381
2829
J7/27
1095
Ex382
2830
J7/28
1094
Ex383
2831
J7/29
1093
Ex384
2832
J7/30
1092
Ex385
2833
J7/31
1091
Ex386
2834
J7/32

1st year of LI
2nd year of li
1090
Ex387
2835
J7/33
3rd year of li
1089
Ex388
2836
J7/34
4th year of li
1088
Ex389
2837
J7/35
5th year of li
1087
Ex390
2838
J7/36
6th year of li
1086
Ex391
2839
J7/37
2840
J7/38
7th year of li
1085
Ex392
1084
Shimshon dies at the hands of the P'lishtians

after ruling Yisrael for 20 years (Shoftim 15:20,
16:31)
The leadership passes to Judge li (Sh'muel Alef
4:18), Chief Kohen at the Shiloh Sanctuary
Timeline: page 204

BCE
1084
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
2840
J7/38
Exodus
Calendar
Details
8th year of li
Ex393
2841
J7/39
9th year of li
1083
Ex394
2842
J7/40
10th year of li
1082
Ex395
2843
J7/41
11th year of li
1081
Ex396
2844
J7/42
12th year of li
1080
Ex397
2845
J7/43
13th year of li
1079
Ex398
2846
J7/44
14th year of li
1078
Ex399
2847
J7/45
15th year of li
1077
Ex400
2848
J7/46
16th year of li
1076
Ex401
2849
J7/47
17th year of li
1075
Ex402
2850
J7/48
18th year of li
1074
Ex403
2851
J7/49
19th year of li
1073
Ex404
2852
J7/50
20th year of li
1072
Ex405
2853
J8/1
2854
J8/2
21st year of li
1071
Ex406
1070
Notes

BCE
1070
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
2854
J8/2
Timeline: page 205

Exodus
Calendar
Details
22nd year of li
Ex407
2855
J8/3
23rd year of li
1069
Ex408
2856
J8/4
24th year of li
1068
Ex409
2857
J8/5
25th year of li
1067
Ex410
2858
J8/6
26th year of li
1066
Ex411
2859
J8/7
27th year of li
1065
Ex412
2860
J8/8
28th year of li
1064
Ex413
2861
J8/9
29th year of li
1063
Ex414
2862
J8/10
30th year of li
1062
Ex415
2863
J8/11
31st year of li
1061
Ex416
2864
J8/12
32nd year of li
1060
Ex417
2865
J8/13
33rd year of li
1059
Ex418
2866
J8/14
34th year of li
1058
Ex419
2867
J8/15
2868
J8/16
35th year of li
1057
Ex420
1056
Notes
Birth of David (back-calculation based on
Sh'muel Beit 5:4)
Timeline: page 206

BCE
1056
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
2868
J8/16
Exodus
Calendar
Details
Notes
36th year of li
Ex421
2869
J8/17
37th year of li
1055
Ex422
2870
J8/18
38th year of li
1054
Ex423
2871
J8/19
39th year of li
1053
Ex424
2872
J8/20
1052
Ex425
2873
J8/21
40th year of li
1st year of SH'MUEL
2nd year of Sh'muel
1051
Ex426
2874
J8/22
3rd year of Sh'muel
1050
Ex427
2875
J8/23
4th year of Sh'muel
1049
Ex428
2876
J8/24
5th year of Sh'muel
1048
Ex429
2877
J8/25
6th year of Sh'muel
1047
Ex430
2878
J8/26
7th year of Sh'muel
1046
Ex431
2879
J8/27
8th year of Sh'muel
1045
Ex432
2880
J8/28
9th year of Sh'muel
1044
Ex433
2881
J8/29
2882
J8/30
10th year of Sh'muel
1043
Ex434
1042
li dies after ruling Yisrael for 40 years

(Sh'muel Alef 4:18)
The leadership passes to Judge Sh'muel of
Ramah the prophet (Sh'muel Alef 7:6, 7:15)

BCE
1042
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
2882
J8/30
Timeline: page 207

Exodus
Calendar
Ex435
2883
J8/31
Details
11th year of Sh'muel
1st year of SHA'UL
Notes
Sh'muel anoints Sha'ul; they rule jointly for one
year (Talmud, Z'vahim 118b)
Sh'muel dies after ruling Yisrael for 11 years
(the last year jointly with Sha'ul)traditional
2nd year of Sha'ul
1041
Ex436
2884
J8/32
1040
Ex437
2885
J8/33
3rd year of Sha'ul

1st year of DAVID
Sha'ul is killed by the P'lishtians at the Battle of

Mt. Gilbo'a, after reigning one year jointly with
Sh'muel and two years alone after Sh'muel's
death (Sh'muel Alef 13:1). David becomes king.
2nd year of David
1039
Ex438
2886
J8/34
3rd year of David
1038
Ex439
2887
J8/35
4th year of David
1037
Ex440
2888
J8/36
5th year of David
1036
Ex441
2889
J8/37
6th year of David
1035
Ex442
2890
J8/38
7th year of David
1034
Ex443
2891
J8/39
8th year of David
1033
Ex444
2892
J8/40
9th year of David
1032
Ex445
2893
J8/41
10th year of David
1031
Ex446
2894
J8/42
11th year of David
1030
Ex447
2895
J8/43
2896
J8/44
12th year of David
1029
Ex448
1028
After reigning in Hevron for 7 years [and 6

months], David captures Y'rushalayim and
makes it his capital (Sh'muel Beit 2:11, 5:5;
M'lachim Alef 2:11; Divrei Hayamim Alef 3:4,
29:27). He brings the Aron there...
Timeline: page 208

BCE
1028
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
2896
J8/44
Exodus
Calendar
Details
13th year of David
Ex449
2897
J8/45
14th year of David
1027
Ex450
2898
J8/46
15th year of David
1026
Ex451
2899
J8/47
16th year of David
1025
Ex452
2900
J8/48
17th year of David
1024
Ex453
2901
J8/49
18th year of David
1023
Ex454
2902
J8/50
19th year of David
1022
Ex455
2903
J9/1
20th year of David
1021
Ex456
2904
J9/2
21st year of David
1020
Ex457
2905
J9/3
22nd year of David
1019
Ex458
2906
J9/4
23rd year of David
1018
Ex459
2907
J9/5
24th year of David
1017
Ex460
2908
J9/6
25th year of David
1016
Ex461
2909
J9/7
2910
J9/8
26th year of David
1015
Ex462
1014
Notes

BCE
1014
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
2910
J9/8
Timeline: page 209

Exodus
Calendar
Details
Notes
27th year of David

Ex463
2911
J9/9
28th year of David
1013
Ex464
2912
J9/10
29th year of David
1012
Ex465
2913
J9/11
30th year of David
1011
Ex466
2914
J9/12
31st year of David
1010
Ex467
2915
J9/13
32nd year of David
1009
Ex468
2916
J9/14
33rd year of David
1008
Ex469
2917
J9/15
34th year of David
1007
Ex470
2918
J9/16
35th year of David
1006
Ex471
2919
J9/17
36th year of David
1005
Ex472
2920
J9/18
37th year of David
1004
Ex473
2921
J9/19
38th year of David
1003
Ex474
2922
J9/20
39th year of David
1002
Ex475
2923
J9/21
2924
J9/22
40th year of David
1001
Ex476
1000
David dies after reigning for a total of 40 years;

he is succeeded by his son Shlomoh; Birth
of Shlomohs son R'hav'am (based on M'lachim
Alef 14:21 & Divrei Hayamim Beit 12:13)
Timeline: page 210

BCE
1000
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
2924
J9/22
Exodus
Calendar
Details
Notes
1st year of SHLOMOH

Ex477
2925
J9/23
2nd year of Shlomoh
999
Ex478
2926
J9/24
3rd year of Shlomoh
998
Ex479
2927
J9/25
4th year of Shlomoh
997
Ex480
2928
J9/26
5th year of Shlomoh
996
Ex481
2929
J9/27
6th year of Shlomoh
995
Ex482
2930
J9/28
7th year of Shlomoh
994
Ex483
2931
J9/29
8th year of Shlomoh
993
Ex484
2932
J9/30
9th year of Shlomoh
992
Ex485
2933
J9/31
10th year of Shlomoh
991
Ex486
2934
J9/32
990
Ex487
2935
J9/33
989
Ex488
2936
J9/34
988
Ex489
2937
J9/35
2938
J9/36
987
Ex490
986
Shlomoh begins building the Temple

(1 M'lachim 6:1 & Divrei Hayamim Beit 3:2)

BCE
986
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
2938
J9/36
Timeline: page 211

Exodus
Calendar
Details
Ex491
2939
J9/37
985
Ex492
2940
J9/38
984
Ex493
2941
J9/39
983
Ex494
2942
J9/40
982
Ex495
2943
J9/41
981
Ex496
2944
J9/42
21st year of Shlomoh
980
Ex497
2945
J9/43
22nd year of Shlomoh
979
Ex498
2946
J9/44
23rd year of Shlomoh
978
Ex499
2947
J9/45
977
Ex500
2948
J9/46
976
Ex501
2949
J9/47
975
Ex502
2950
J9/48
974
Ex503
2951
J9/49
2952
J9/50
973
Ex504
972
Notes
Timeline: page 212

BCE
972
Creation Jubilee
Exodus
Calendar Calendar Calendar
2952
Kings of Y'hudah
Kings of Yisrael
Notes
J9/50
Ex505
2953
J10/1
971
Ex506
2954
J10/2
31st year of Shlomoh
970
Ex507
2955
J10/3
32nd year of Shlomoh
969
Ex508
2956
J10/4
33rd year of Shlomoh
968
Ex509
2957
J10/5
967
Ex510
2958
J10/6
966
Ex511
2959
J10/7
965
Ex512
2960
J10/8
964
Ex513
2961
J10/9
963
Ex514
2962
J10/10
962
Ex515
2963
J10/11
961
Ex516
2964
J10/12
1st yr. of YAROV'AM I

1st yr. of R'HAV'AM
960
Ex517
2965
J10/13
2966
J10/14
2nd yr. of R'hav'am
959
Ex518
958
2nd yr. of Yarov'am I
3rd yr. of Yarov'am I
Shlomoh dies after reigning

for 40 years and is succeeded
by his son R'hav'am
(M'lachim Alef 11:42-3)
The ten northern tribes secede
under Yarov'am ben N'vat and
form the breakaway northern
kingdom of Yisrael (M'lachim
Alef 12)

BCE
958
Timeline: page 213
Creation Jubilee
Exodus
2966
Kings of Y'hudah
J10/15
4th yr. of Yarov'am I

4th yr. of R'hav'am
957
Ex520
2968
J10/16

5th yr. of R'hav'am
956
Ex521
2969
J10/17

6th yr. of R'hav'am
955
Ex522
2970
J10/18

7th yr. of R'hav'am
954
Ex523
2971
J10/19

8th yr. of R'hav'am
953
Ex524
2972
J10/20

9th yr. of R'hav'am
952
Ex525
2973
J10/21

10th yr. of R'hav'am
951
Ex526
2974
J10/22

950
Ex527
2975
J10/23

949
Ex528
2976
J10/24

948
Ex529
2977
J10/25

947
Ex530
2978
J10/26

946
Ex531
2979
J10/27
2980
J10/28

945
Ex532
944
Notes
3rd yr. of R'hav'am
J10/14
Ex519
2967
Kings of Yisrael
R'hav'am is attacked by "the

Egyptian king Shishak"
(M'lachim Alef 14:25, Divrei
Hayamim Beit 12:2)
Timeline: page 214

BCE
Creation Jubilee
Exodus
Kings of Y'hudah
Kings of Yisrael
Death of R'hav'am (M'lachim

Alef 14:21)

944
Ex533
2981
J10/29
Ex534
2982
J10/30

2nd year of Aviyyam
942
Ex535
2983
J10/31
Ex536
J10/32
21st yr. of Yarov'am I

1st year of ASA
940
Ex537
2985
J10/33
2nd year of Asa
939
Ex538
2986
J10/34
3rd year of Asa
938
Ex539
2987
J10/35
Ex540
J10/36
3rd year of Ba'asha

5th year of Asa
936
Ex541
2989
J10/37
4th year of Ba'asha

6th year of Asa
935
Ex542
2990
J10/38
5th year of Ba'asha

7th year of Asa
934
Ex543
2991
J10/39
6th year of Ba'asha

8th year of Asa
933
Ex544
2992
J10/40
7th year of Ba'asha

9th year of Asa
932
Ex545
2993
J10/41
2994
J10/42
8th year of Ba'asha

10th year of Asa
931
Ex546
930
Accession of Asa (M'lachim Alef

15:9)
22nd yr. of Yarov'am I Death of Yarov'am I (M'lachim c
1st year of NADAV
Alef 14:20)
Accession of Nadav (M'achim
Alef 15:25)
Death of Nadav (M'lachim Alef
2nd year of Nadav
1st year of BA'ASHA
15:25)
Accession of Ba'asha (M'lachim
Alef 15:28, 15:33)
2nd year of Ba'asha
4th year of Asa
937
2988
Death of Aviyyam (M'lachim

Alef 15:2)
3rd year of Aviyyam
941
2984
Accession of Aviyyam (M'lachim

Alef 14:31-15:1)
1st year of AVIYYAM
943
Notes
9th year of Ba'asha
Birth of Asas son Y'hoshafat

(back-calculation based on
1 M'lachim 22:42, Divrei
Hayamim Beit 20:31)

BCE
930
Timeline: page 215
Creation Jubilee
Exodus
2994
Kings of Y'hudah
11th year of Asa
J10/42
Ex547
2995
J10/43
10th year of Ba'asha

12th year of Asa
929
Ex548
2996
J10/44

13th year of Asa
928
Ex549
2997
J10/45

14th year of Asa
927
Ex550
2998
J10/46

15th year of Asa
926
Ex551
2999
J10/47

16th year of Asa
925
Ex552
3000
J10/48

17th year of Asa
924
Ex553
3001
J10/49

18th year of Asa
923
Ex554
3002
J10/50

19th year of Asa
922
Ex555
3003
J11/1

20th year of Asa
921
Ex556
3004
J11/2

21st year of Asa
920
Ex557
3005
J11/3

22nd year of Asa
919
Ex558
3006
J11/4
21st year of Ba'asha

23rd year of Asa
918
Ex559
3007
J11/5
3008
J11/6
22nd year of Ba'asha

24th year of Asa
917
Ex560
916
Kings of Yisrael
23rd year of Ba'asha
Notes
Timeline: page 216

BCE
916
Creation Jubilee
Exodus
3008
Kings of Y'hudah
J11/7

1st year of LAH
26th year of Asa
915
Ex562
3010
J11/8
27th year of Asa
914
Ex563
3011
J11/9
Ex564
J11/10
3rd year of Omri

29th year of Asa
912
Ex565
3013
J11/11
4th year of Omri

30th year of Asa
911
Ex566
3014
J11/12
31st year of Asa
910
Ex567
3015
J11/13
J11/14
33rd year of Asa
908
Ex569
J11/15
Ex570
J11/16
9th year of Omri

35th year of Asa
906
Ex571
3019
J11/17
10th year of Omri

36th year of Asa
905
Ex572
3020
J11/18
11th year of Omri

37th year of Asa
904
Ex573
3021
J11/19
3022
J11/20
12th year of Omri

1st year of AH'AV
38th year of Asa
903
Ex574
902
7th year of Omri

Omri moves his
capital from Tir'tzah
to Shomron
8th year of Omri
Birth of Y'hoshafats son

Y'horam (based on M'lachim
Beit 8:17 and Divrei Hayamim
Beit 21:5, 21:20)
34th year of Asa
907
3018
End of the Civil War (M'lachim

Alef 16:23)
6th year of Omri
Ex568
3017
5th year of Omri

Tivni dies, Civil War
ends
32nd year of Asa
909
3016
2nd year of lah

ZIMRI
1st year of OMRI
Civil War begins
2nd year of Omri
Death of Ba'asha (M'lachim Alef

15:33, 16:6)
Accession of lah (M'lachim
Alef 16:6, 16:8)
Death of lah (M'lachim Alef
16:8), Zimri (M'lachim Alef
16:10); Accession of Omri
(M'lachim Alef 16:16-18); Civil
War (M'lachim Alef 16:21-22)
28th year of Asa
913
3012
Notes
25th year of Asa
J11/6
Ex561
3009
Kings of Yisrael
2nd year of Ah'av
Death of Omri (M'lachim Alef

16:23)
Accession of Ah'av (M'lachim
Alef 16:29)

BCE
902
Timeline: page 217
Creation Jubilee
Exodus
3022
Kings of Y'hudah
J11/21
3rd year of Ah'av

40th year of Asa
901
Ex576
3024
J11/22
4th year of Ah'av
Ex577
J11/23
5th year of Ah'av
Ex578
J11/24
6th year of Ah'av

2nd yr. of Y'hoshafat
898
Ex579
3027
J11/25
7th year of Ah'av

3rd yr. of Y'hoshafat
897
Ex580
3028
J11/26
8th year of Ah'av

4th yr. of Y'hoshafat
896
Ex581
3029
J11/27
9th year of Ah'av

895
Ex582
3030
J11/28
10th year of Ah'av

894
Ex583
3031
J11/29
11th year of Ah'av

893
Ex584
3032
J11/30
12th year of Ah'av

892
Ex585
3033
J11/31
13th year of Ah'av

891
Ex586
3034
J11/32
14th year of Ah'av

890
Ex587
3035
J11/33
3036
J11/34
15th year of Ah'av

889
Ex588
888
Accession of Y'hoshafat
(M'lachim Alef 15:24)
1st yr. of Y'HOSHAFAT
899
3026
Death of Asa (M'lachim Alef

15:10)
41st year of Asa
900
3025
Notes
39th year of Asa
J11/20
Ex575
3023
Kings of Yisrael
16th year of Ah'av
Birth of Y'horams son Ahazyah

(back-calculation based on
M'lachim Beit 8:26... Divrei
Hayamim Beit 22:2 makes him
20 years older, which is
impossible and must be an error
as it would mean he was older
than his own father!)
Timeline: page 218

BCE
888
Creation Jubilee
Exodus
3036
Kings of Y'hudah
J11/34
Ex589
3037
J11/35
17th year of Ah'av

887
Ex590
3038
J11/36
18th year of Ah'av

886
Ex591
3039
J11/37
19th year of Ah'av

885
Ex592
3040
J11/38
20th year of Ah'av

884
Ex593
3041
J11/39
883
Ex594
3042
J11/40
882
Ex595
3043
J11/41
21st year of Ah'av

1st yr. of Y'HORAM as
regent
2nd yr. of Y'horam as
regent
Ex596
J11/42
2nd year of Yoram
Ex597
J11/43
3rd year of Yoram

21st yr. of Y'hoshafat
879
Ex598
3046
J11/44
4th year of Yoram

22nd yr. of Y'hoshafat
878
Ex599
3047
J11/45
877
Ex600
3048
J11/46
876
Ex601
3049
J11/47
3050
J11/48
875
Ex602
874
2nd year of Ahazyah

1st year of YORAM
880
3045
22nd year of Ah'av

1st year of AHAZYAH
881
3044
Kings of Yisrael
5th year of Yoram

23rd yr. of Y'hoshafat
& 1st yr. of Y'HORAM
6th year of Yoram
& 2nd yr. of Y'horam
7th year of Yoram
& 3rd yr. of Y'horam
8th year of Yoram
Notes

BCE
874
Timeline: page 219
Creation Jubilee
Exodus
3050
Kings of Yisrael
Notes
4th yr. of Y'horam
J11/48
Ex603
3051
Kings of Y'hudah
5th yr. of Y'horam
9th year of Yoram
6th yr. of Y'horam
10th year of Yoram
7th yr. of Y'horam

AHAZYAHU co-regent
11th year of Yoram
J11/49
873
Ex604
3052
J11/50
872
Ex605
3053
J12/1
871
Ex606
3054
J12/2
8th yr. of Y'horam

AHAZYAHU
12th year of Yoram
1st year of ATALYAH
1st year of YHU
2nd year of Atalyah
2nd year of Yhu
3rd year of Atalyah
3rd year of Yhu
4th year of Atalyah
4th year of Yhu
5th year of Atalyah
5th year of Yhu
6th year of Atalyah
6th year of Yhu
7th year of Atalyah

1st year of Yo'ash
2nd year of Yo'ash
7th year of Yhu
870
Ex607
3055
J12/3
869
Ex608
3056
J12/4
868
Ex609
3057
J12/5
867
Ex610
3058
J12/6
866
Ex611
3059
J12/7
865
Ex612
3060
J12/8
864
Ex613
3061
J12/9
863
Ex614
3062
J12/10
8th year of Yhu

3rd year of Yo'ash
862
Ex615
3063
J12/11
3064
J12/12
4th year of Yo'ash
861
Ex616
860
9th year of Yhu
10th year of Yhu
Birth of Ahazyahus son Yo'ash

(back calculation based on
M'lachim Beit 12:1, Divrei
Hayamim Beit 24:1)
Timeline: page 220

BCE
860
Creation Jubilee
Exodus
3064
Kings of Y'hudah
J12/13
11th year of Yhu

6th year of Yo'ash
859
Ex618
3066
J12/14
12th year of Yhu

7th year of Yo'ash
858
Ex619
3067
J12/15
13th year of Yhu

8th year of Yo'ash
857
Ex620
3068
J12/16
14th year of Yhu

9th year of Yo'ash
856
Ex621
3069
J12/17
15th year of Yhu

10th year of Yo'ash
855
Ex622
3070
J12/18
16th year of Yhu

11th year of Yo'ash
854
Ex623
3071
J12/19
17th year of Yhu

12th year of Yo'ash
853
Ex624
3072
J12/20
18th year of Yhu

13th year of Yo'ash
852
Ex625
3073
J12/21
19th year of Yhu

14th year of Yo'ash
851
Ex626
3074
J12/22
20th year of Yhu

15th year of Yo'ash
850
Ex627
3075
J12/23
21st year of Yhu

16th year of Yo'ash
849
Ex628
3076
J12/24
22nd year of Yhu

17th year of Yo'ash
848
Ex629
3077
J12/25
3078
J12/26
23rd year of Yhu

18th year of Yo'ash
847
Ex630
846
Notes
5th year of Yo'ash
J12/12
Ex617
3065
Kings of Yisrael
24th year of Yhu
Birth of Yo'ashs son

Amatz'yahu (back-calculation
based on M'lachim Beit 14:2)

BCE
846
Timeline: page 221
Creation Jubilee
Exodus
3078
Kings of Y'hudah
19th year of Yo'ash
J12/26
Ex631
3079
J12/27
25th year of Yhu

20th year of Yo'ash
845
Ex632
3080
J12/28
26th year of Yhu

21st year of Yo'ash
844
Ex633
3081
J12/29
27th year of Yhu

22nd year of Yo'ash
843
Ex634
3082
J12/30
28th year of Yhu

1st year of Y'HOAHAZ
23rd year of Yo'ash
842
Ex635
3083
J12/31
2nd year of Y'hoahaz

24th year of Yo'ash
841
Ex636
3084
J12/32
3rd year of Y'hoahaz

25th year of Yo'ash
840
Ex637
3085
J12/33
4th year of Y'hoahaz

26th year of Yo'ash
839
Ex638
3086
J12/34

27th year of Yo'ash
838
Ex639
3087
J12/35

28th year of Yo'ash
837
Ex640
3088
J12/36

29th year of Yo'ash
836
Ex641
3089
J12/37

30th year of Yo'ash
835
Ex642
3090
J12/38

31st year of Yo'ash
834
Ex643
3091
J12/39
3092
J12/40

32nd year of Yo'ash
833
Ex644
832
Kings of Yisrael
Notes
Timeline: page 222

BCE
832
Creation Jubilee
Exodus
3092
Kings of Y'hudah
J12/41

34th year of Yo'ash
831
Ex646
3094
J12/42

35th year of Yo'ash
830
Ex647
3095
J12/43

36th year of Yo'ash
829
Ex648
3096
J12/44

Y'HOASH regent
37th year of Yo'ash
828
Ex649
3097
J12/45

Y'hoash regent
38th year of Yo'ash
827
Ex650
3098
J12/46

Y'hoash regent
39th year of Yo'ash
826
Ex651
3099
J12/47
1st year of Y'HOASH

40th year of Yo'ash
825
Ex652
3100
J12/48
2nd year of Y'hoash

1st yr. of AMATZ'YAHU
824
Ex653
3101
J12/49
3rd year of Y'hoash

2nd yr. of Amatz'yahu
823
Ex654
3102
J12/50
4th year of Y'hoash

3rd yr. of Amatz'yahu
822
Ex655
3103
J13/1
5th year of Y'hoash

4th yr. of Amatz'yahu
821
Ex656
3104
J13/2
6th year of Y'hoash

820
Ex657
3105
J13/3
3106
J13/4
7th year of Y'hoash

819
Ex658
818
Notes
33rd year of Yo'ash
J12/40
Ex645
3093
Kings of Yisrael
8th year of Y'hoash
Birth of Amatz'yahus son

Azaryah/Uzziyahu (backcalculation based on M'lachim
Beit 14:21, 15:2 and Divrei
Hayamim Beit 26:3)

BCE
818
Timeline: page 223
Creation Jubilee
Exodus
3106
Kings of Y'hudah
J13/5
9th year of Y'hoash

817
Ex660
3108
J13/6
10th year of Y'hoash

816
Ex661
3109
J13/7

815
Ex662
3110
J13/8

814
Ex663
3111
J13/9

813
Ex664
3112
J13/10

& 1st of YAROV'AM II
812
Ex665
3113
J13/11
Ex666
J13/12
810
Ex667
3115
J13/13
809
Ex668
3116
J13/14
808
Ex669
3117
J13/15
807
Ex670
3118
J13/16
806
Ex671
3119
J13/17
3120
J13/18
805
Ex672
804

& 2nd of Yarov'am II
811
3114
Notes
J13/4
Ex659
3107
Kings of Yisrael

& 3rd of Yarov'am II
& 1st yr. of AZARYAH
(UZZIYAHU)
4th of Yarov'am II
(1st as sole ruler)
& 2nd year of
Azaryah (Uzziyahu)
5th of Yarov'am II
(2nd as sole ruler)
& 3rd year of Azaryah
(Uzziyahu)
6th of Yarov'am II
(3rd as sole ruler)
& 4th year of Azaryah
(Uzziyahu)
7th of Yarov'am II
(4th as sole ruler)
(Uzziyahu)
8th of Yarov'am II
(5th as sole ruler)
(Uzziyahu)
9th of Yarov'am II
(6th as sole ruler)
Birth of Azaryah/Uzziyahus son

Yotam (based on M'lachim Beit
15:33 and Divrei Hayamim Beit
27:1, 27:8)
Timeline: page 224

BCE
804
Creation Jubilee
Exodus
3120
J13/18
Ex673
3121
J13/19
803
Ex674
3122
J13/20
802
Ex675
3123
J13/21
801
Ex676
3124
J13/22
800
Ex677
3125
J13/23
799
Ex678
3126
J13/24
798
Ex679
3127
J13/25
797
Ex680
3128
J13/26
796
Ex681
3129
J13/27
795
Ex682
3130
J13/28
794
Ex683
3131
J13/29
793
Ex684
3132
J13/30
792
Ex685
3133
J13/31
3134
J13/32
791
Ex686
790
Kings of Y'hudah
Kings of Yisrael
21st yr. of Amatz'yahu

(Uzziyahu)
10th of Yarov'am II
(7th as sole ruler)
22nd yr. of
Amatz'yahu
& 8th year of Azaryah 11th of Yarov'am II
(Uzziyahu)
(8th as sole ruler)
23rd yr. of Amatz'yahu
(Uzziyahu)
12th of Yarov'am II
(9th as sole ruler)
& 10th yr. of Azaryah
(Uzziyahu)
13th of Yarov'am II
(10th as sole ruler)
(Uzziyahu)
14th of Yarov'am II
(Uzziyahu)
15th of Yarov'am II
(Uzziyahu)
16th of Yarov'am II
(Uzziyahu)
17th of Yarov'am II
(Uzziyahu)
18th of Yarov'am II
16th year of Azaryah
(Uzziyahu)
19th of Yarov'am II
(Uzziyahu)
20th of Yarov'am II
(Uzziyahu)
21st of Yarov'am II
(Uzziyahu)
22nd of Yarov'am II
(Uzziyahu)
23rd of Yarov'am II
Notes

BCE
790
Timeline: page 225
Creation Jubilee
Exodus
3134
J13/32
Ex687
3135
J13/33
789
Ex688
3136
J13/34
788
Ex689
3137
J13/35
787
Ex690
3138
J13/36
786
Ex691
3139
J13/37
785
Ex692
3140
J13/38
784
Ex693
3141
J13/39
783
Ex694
3142
J13/40
782
Ex695
3143
J13/41
781
Ex696
3144
J13/42
780
Ex697
3145
J13/43
779
Ex698
3146
J13/44
778
Ex699
3147
J13/45
3148
J13/46
777
Ex700
776
Kings of Y'hudah
21st year of Azaryah
(Uzziyahu)
Kings of Yisrael
Notes

24th of Yarov'am II
(21st as sole ruler)
22nd year of Azaryah

(Uzziyahu)
25th of Yarov'am II
(22nd as sole ruler)
23rd year of Azaryah
(Uzziyahu)
26th of Yarov'am II
(23rd as sole ruler)
(Uzziyahu)
27th of Yarov'am II
(Uzziyahu)
28th of Yarov'am II
Amos prophesies the end of

the Northern Kingdom
29th of Yarov'am II
2nd year of Amoss prophecy
30th of Yarov'am II

(Uzziyahu)

(Uzziyahu).

(Uzziyahu)
YOTAM regent
31st of Yarov'am II
3rd year of Amoss prophecy

Azaryah/Uzziyahu is stricken
with tzara'at (levitical leprosy)
The Earthquake
4th year of Amoss prophecy

(Uzziyahu)
Yotam regent
32nd of Yarov'am II

(Uzziyahu)
Yotam regent
33th of Yarov'am II

(Uzziyahu)
Yotam regent
34th of Yarov'am II

(Uzziyahu)
Yotam regent
35th of Yarov'am II

(Uzziyahu)
Yotam regent
36th of Yarov'am II

(Uzziyahu)
Yotam regent
37th of Yarov'am II
Timeline: page 226

BCE
776
Creation Jubilee
Exodus
3148
J13/46
Ex701
3149
J13/47
775
Ex702
3150
J13/48
774
Ex703
3151
J13/49
773
Ex704
3152
J13/50
772
Ex705
3153
J14/1
771
Ex706
3154
J14/2
770
Ex707
3155
J14/3
769
Ex708
3156
J14/4
768
Ex709
3157
J14/5
767
Ex710
3158
J14/6
766
Ex711
3159
J14/7
765
Ex712
3160
J14/8
764
Ex713
3161
J14/9
3162
J14/10
763
Ex714
762
Kings of Y'hudah
Kings of Yisrael

(Uzziyahu)
Yotam regent
38th of Yarov'am II

(Uzziyahu)
Yotam regent
39th of Yarov'am II

(Uzziyahu)
Yotam regent
40th of Yarov'am II
41st of Yarov'am II
Z'CHARYAH
(Z'charyah)
SHALLUM

(Uzziyahu)
Yotam regent
1st year of M'NAHEM

(Uzziyahu)
Yotam regent
2nd year of M'nahem

(Uzziyahu)
Yotam regent
3rd year of Menahem

(Uzziyahu)
Yotam regent
4th year of M'nahem

(Uzziyahu)
Yotam regent
5th year of M'nahem

(Uzziyahu)
Yotam regent
6th year of M'nahem
21st year of Amoss prophecy

(Uzziyahu)
Yotam regent
7th year of M'nahem

(Uzziyahu)
Yotam regent
8th year of M'nahem

(Uzziyahu)
Yotam regent
9th year of M'nahem

(Uzziyahu)
Yotam regent
(Uzziyahu)
Yotam regent
Notes

BCE
762
Timeline: page 227
Creation Jubilee
Exodus
3162
J14/10
Ex715
3163
J14/11
761
Ex716
3164
J14/12
760
Ex717
3165
J14/13
759
Ex718
3166
J14/14
Kings of Y'hudah
J14/15
10th year of M'nahem

(Uzziyahu)
Yotam regent
1st year of P'KAHYAH

(Uzziyahu)
Yotam regent
2nd year of P'kahyah

(Uzziyahu)
Yotam regent
1st year of PEKAH
2nd year of Pekah
3rd year of Pekah
4th year of Pekah
5th year of Pekah
6th year of Pekah
7th year of Pekah
8th year of Pekah
9th year of Pekah
Birth of Ahazs son Hiz'kiyahu

(based on M'lachim Beit 18:2)
10th year of Pekah
11th year of Pekah
2nd year of Yotam
757
Ex720
J14/16
3rd year of Yotam
756
Ex721
3169
J14/17
4th year of Yotam
755
Ex722
3170
J14/18
5th year of Yotam
754
Ex723
3171
J14/19
6th year of Yotam
753
Ex724
3172
J14/20
7th year of Yotam
752
Ex725
3173
J14/21
8th year of Yotam
751
Ex726
3174
J14/22
9th year of Yotam
750
Ex727
3175
J14/23
3176
J14/24
10th year of Yotam
749
Ex728
748
Birth of Yotams son Ahaz

(based on M'lachim Beit 16:2
and Divrei Hayamim Beit 28:1)

(Uzziyahu)
Yotam regent
Ex719
3168
Notes
1st year of YOTAM
758
3167
Kings of Yisrael
Timeline: page 228

BCE
748
Creation Jubilee
Exodus
3176
Kings of Y'hudah
J14/25
Ex730
J14/26
Ex731
J14/27
Ex732
J14/28
Ex733
J14/29
Ex734
J14/30
742
Ex735
3183
J14/31
741
Ex736
3184
J14/32
740
Ex737
3185
J14/33
739
Ex738
3186
J14/34
J14/35
J14/36
18th year of Pekah
19th year of Pekah
20th year of Pekah
1st year of HOSH'A

(as vassal of Assyria)
2nd year of Hosh'a

3rd year of Hosh'a

4th year of Hosh'a

5th year of Hosh'a

4th year of Ahaz

("20th yr. of Yotam")
8th year of Ahaz
735
Ex742
734
17th year of Pekah
3rd year of Ahaz

Ex741
J14/38
7th year of Ahaz
736
3190
16th year of Pekah
2nd year of Ahaz

Ex740
J14/37
6th year of Ahaz
737
3189
15th year of Pekah
1st year of AHAZ

Ex739
3188
5th year of Ahaz
738
3187
14th year of Pekah
16th year of Yotam
743
3182
15th year of Yotam
744
3181
13th year of Pekah
14th year of Yotam
745
3180
13th year of Yotam
746
3179
12th year of Pekah

12th year of Yotam
747
3178
Notes
11th year of Yotam
J14/24
Ex729
3177
Kings of Yisrael

BCE
734
Timeline: page 229
Creation Jubilee
Exodus
3190
Kings of Y'hudah
J14/39
Ex744
J14/40
Ex745
J14/41
Ex746
J14/42
Ex747
J14/43
Ex748
J14/44
Ex749
J14/45
Ex750
J14/46
Ex751
J14/47
Ex752
J14/48
Ex753
J14/49
Ex754
J14/50
Ex755
J15/1
3204
J15/2
3rd year of Hosh'a

(independent)
4th year of Hosh'a

(independent)
5th year of Hosh'a

(independent)
6th year of Hosh'a

(independent)
7th year of Hosh'a

(independent)

The Assyrians lay siege to
Shomron
8th year of Hosh'a

(independent)
9th year of Hosh'a

(independent)

Fall of Shomron
6th year of Hiz'kiyahu
721
Ex756
720
722
3203
2nd year of Hosh'a

(independent)
723
3202
3rd year of Hiz'kiyahu
724
3201
1st year of Hosh'a

(independent)
2nd year of Hiz'kiyahu
725
3200
1st year of HIZ'KIYAHU
726
3199
9th year of Hosh'a

16th year of Ahaz
727
3198
15th year of Ahaz
728
3197
8th year of Hosh'a

14th year of Ahaz
729
3196
13th year of Ahaz
730
3195
7th year of Hosh'a

12th year of Ahaz
731
3194
11th year of Ahaz
732
3193
6th year of Hosh'a

10th year of Ahaz
733
3192
Notes
9th year of Ahaz
J14/38
Ex743
3191
Kings of Yisrael
END OF THE
NORTHERN KINGDOM
Timeline: page 230

BCE
720
Creation Jubilee
Exodus
3204
Kings of Y'hudah
Notes
J15/2
Ex757
3205
J15/3
719
Ex758
3206
J15/4
718
Ex759
3207
J15/5
717
Ex760
3208
J15/6
716
Ex761
3209
J15/7
715
Ex762
3210
J15/8
714
E763
3211
J15/9
713
Ex764
3212
J15/10
712
Ex765
3213
J15/11
711
Ex766
3214
J15/12
710
Ex767
3215
J15/13
709
Ex768
3216
J15/14
708
Ex769
3217
J15/15
3218
J15/16
707
Ex770
706
10th year of
Hiz'kiyahu
11th year of
Hiz'kiyahu
12th year of
Hiz'kiyahu
13th year of
Hiz'kiyahu
14th year of
Hiz'kiyahu
Y'rushalayim attacked by the armies of the Assyrian king

Sargon II, commanded by Crown Prince Sennacherib
(M'lachim Beit 18:13ff)
15th year of
Hiz'kiyahu
16th year of
Hiz'kiyahu
17th year of
Hiz'kiyahu
18th year of
Hiz'kiyahu
19th year of
Hiz'kiyahu
20th year of
Hiz'kiyahu
Birth of Hiz'kiyahus son M'nasheh (back-calculation

based on M'lachim Beit 21:1 and Divrei Hayamim Beit
33:1)

BCE
706
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
3218
J15/16
Timeline: page 231

Exodus
Calendar
Kings of Y'hudah
21st year of Hiz'kiyahu
Ex771
3219
J15/17
22nd year of Hiz'kiyahu
705
Ex772
3220
J15/18
23rd year of Hiz'kiyahu
704
Ex773
3221
J15/19
703
Ex774
3222
J15/20
702
Ex775
3223
J15/21
701
Ex776
3224
J15/22
700
Ex777
3225
J15/23
699
Ex778
3226
J15/24
698
Ex779
3227
J15/25
1st year of M'NASHEH
697
Ex780
3228
J15/26
2nd year of M'nasheh
696
Ex781
3229
J15/27
3rd year of M'nasheh
695
Ex782
3230
J15/28
4th year of M'nasheh
694
Ex783
3231
J15/29
3232
J15/30
693
Ex784
692
Notes
Timeline: page 232

BCE
692
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
3232
J15/30
Exodus
Calendar
Kings of Y'hudah
Ex785
3233
J15/31
691
Ex786
3234
J15/32
690
Ex787
3235
J15/33
689
Ex788
3236
J15/34
688
Ex789
3237
J15/35
687
Ex790
3238
J15/36
686
Ex791
3239
J15/37
685
Ex792
3240
J15/38
684
Ex793
3241
J15/39
683
Ex794
3242
J15/40
682
Ex795
3243
J15/41
681
Ex796
3244
J15/42
680
Ex797
3245
J15/43
3246
J15/44
679
Ex798
678
Notes

BCE
678
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
3246
J15/44
Timeline: page 233

Exodus
Calendar
Kings of Y'hudah
Ex799
3247
J15/45
21st year of M'nasheh
677
Ex800
3248
J15/46
676
Ex801
3249
J15/47
675
Ex802
3250
J15/48
674
Ex803
3251
J15/49
673
Ex804
3252
J15/50
672
Ex805
3253
J16/1
671
Ex806
3254
J16/2
670
Ex807
3255
J16/3
669
Ex808
3256
J16/4
668
Ex809
3257
J16/5
667
Ex810
3258
J16/6
666
Ex811
3259
J16/7
3260
J16/8
665
Ex812
664
Notes
Timeline: page 234

BCE
664
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
3260
J16/8
Exodus
Calendar
Kings of Y'hudah
Ex813
3261
J16/9
663
Ex814
3262
J16/10
662
Ex815
3263
J16/11
661
Ex816
3264
J16/12
660
Ex817
3265
J16/13
659
Ex818
3266
J16/14
658
Ex819
3267
J16/15
657
Ex820
3268
J16/16
656
Ex821
3269
J16/17
655
Ex822
3270
J16/18
654
Ex823
3271
J16/19
653
Ex824
3272
J16/20
652
Ex825
3273
J16/21
3274
J16/22
651
Ex826
650
Notes
Birth of M'nashehs son Amon (based on
2 M'lachim 21:19 and Divrei Hayamim Beit
33:21)

BCE
650
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
3274
J16/22
Timeline: page 235

Exodus
Calendar
Kings of Y'hudah
Notes

Ex827
3275
J16/23
649
Ex828
3276
J16/24
648
Ex829
3277
J16/25
647
Ex830
3278
J16/26
646
Ex831
3279
J16/27
645
Ex832
3280
J16/28
644
Ex833
3281
J16/29
643
Ex834
3282
J16/30
1st year of AMON
642
Ex835
3283
J16/31
2nd year of Amon
641
Ex836
3284
J16/32
1st year of YOSHIYYAHU
640
Ex837
3285
J16/33
2nd year of Yoshiyyahu
639
Ex838
3286
J16/34
3rd year of Yoshiyyahu
638
Ex839
3287
J16/35
3288
J16/36
4th year of Yoshiyyahu
637
Ex840
636
Birth of Amons son Yoshiyyahu (backcalculation based on 2 M'lachim 22:1 & Divrei
Hayamim Beit 34:1)
Timeline: page 236

BCE
636
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
3288
J16/36
Exodus
Calendar
Kings of Y'hudah
Notes

Ex841
3289
J16/37
635
Ex842
3290
J16/38
634
Ex843
3291
J16/39
633
Birth of Yoshiyyahus son Y'hoyakim [Elyakim]

(based on M'lachim Beit 23:36, Divrei
Hayamim Beit 36:2)
Birth of Yoshiyyahus son Y'hoahaz (backcalculation based on M'lachim Beit 23:31,

Divrei Hayamim Beit 36:5)
Ex844
3292
J16/40
632
Ex845
3293
J16/41
631
Ex846
3294
J16/42
630
Ex847
3295
J16/43
629
Ex848
3296
J16/44
628
Ex849
3297
J16/45
627
Ex850
3298
J16/46
626
Ex851
3299
J16/47
625
Ex852
3300
J16/48
624
Ex853
3301
J16/49
3302
J16/50
623
Ex854
622

BCE
622
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
3302
J16/50
Timeline: page 237

Exodus
Calendar
Kings of Y'hudah
Notes

Ex855
3303
J17/1
621
Ex856
3304
J17/2
21st year of Yoshiyyahu
620
Ex857
3305
J17/3
619
Ex858
3306
J17/4
618
Ex859
3307
J17/5
22nd year of
Yoshiyyahu
23rd year of
Yoshiyyahu
617
Birth of Yoshiyyahus son Tzid'kiyyahu

[Mattanyah]
(back-calculation based on M'lachim Beit 24:18.
Yirm'yahu 52:1 and Divrei Hayamim Beit
36:11)
Ex860
3308
J17/6
616
Ex861
3309
J17/7
615
Ex862
3310
J17/8
614
Ex863
3311
J17/9
613
Ex864
3312
J17/10
612
Ex865
3313
J17/11
611
Ex866
3314
J17/12
31st year of Yoshiyyahu
610
Ex867
3315
J17/13
3316
J17/14
Y'HOAHAZ
609
Ex868
608
Birth of Y'hoyakims son Y'hoyachin (backcalculation based on M'lachim Beit 24:8...

according to Divrei Hayamim Beit 36:9, he was
10 years younger but this is most likely an
error)
Timeline: page 238

BCE
608
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
3316
J17/14
Exodus
Calendar
Kings of Y'hudah
Notes
1st year of Y'HOYAKIM

Ex869
3317
J17/15
2nd year of Y'hoyakim
607
Ex870
3318
J17/16
3rd year of Y'hoyakim
606
Ex871
3319
J17/17
4th year of Y'hoyakim
605
Ex872
3320
J17/18
604
Ex873
3321
J17/19
603
Ex874
3322
J17/20
602
Ex875
3323
J17/21
601
Ex876
3324
J17/22
600
Ex877
3325
J17/23
599
Ex878
3326
J17/24
598
Ex879
3327
J17/25

Y'HOYACHIN
1st yr. of TZID'KIYYAHU
597
Ex880
3328
J17/26
2nd yr. of Tzid'kiyyahu
596
Ex881
3329
J17/27
3330
J17/28
3rd yr. of Tzid'kiyyahu
595
Ex882
594
Babylonian kings
as reckoned by
as reckoned by
Hebrew historians
secular historians
accession-year of
1st year of
Nebuchadnezzar
Nebuchadnezzar
1st year of
Nebuchadnezzar
2nd year of
Nebuchadnezzar
2nd year of
Nebuchadnezzar
3rd year of
Nebuchadnezzar
3rd year of
Nebuchadnezzar
4th year of
Nebuchadnezzar
4th year of
Nebuchadnezzar
5th year of
Nebuchadnezzar
5th year of
Nebuchadnezzar
6th year of
Nebuchadnezzar
6th year of
Nebuchadnezzar
7th year of
Nebuchadnezzar
7th year of
Nebuchadnezzar
8th year of
Nebuchadnezzar
captures and exiles
8th year of
Y'hoyachin
Nebuchadnezzar
9th year of
Nebuchadnezzar
1st year of
9th year of
Y'hoyachins exile
Nebuchadnezzar
10th year of
Nebuchadnezzar
2nd year of
10th year of
Y'hoyachins exile
Nebuchadnezzar
11th year of
Nebuchadnezzar

BCE
594
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
3330
J17/28
Timeline: page 239

Exodus
Calendar
Kings of Y'hudah
3rd yr. of Tzid'kiyyahu
Ex882
3331
J17/29
5th yr. of Tzid'kiyyahu
593
Ex884
3332
J17/30
592
Ex885
3333
J17/31
591

Y'hezkels Vision of the
Merkavah (Divine
Chariot), 5th Tammuz
Ex886
3334
J17/32
590
Ex887
3335
J17/33
589
Ex888
3336
J17/34

Siege of Y'rushalayim
begins, 10th Tevet
588
Ex889
3337
J17/35
587
Ex890
3338
J17/36
586
Ex891
3339
J17/37
585
Ex892
3340
J17/38

Y'rushalayims defences
are overcome (9th
Tammuz)
Temple destroyed,
7th to 10th Av
1st year after the fall of
Y'rushalayim; Y'hezkel
receives news of the
calamity, 5th Tevet
2nd year after the fall
of Y'rushalayim
584
Ex893
3341
J17/39
3rd year after the fall of

Y'rushalayim
583
Ex894
3342
J17/40
4th year after the fall of

Y'rushalayim
582
Ex895
3343
J17/41
3344
J17/42

Y'rushalayim
581
Ex896
580

Y'rushalayim
Babylonian kings
Hebrew reckoning
Secular reckoning
10th year of
3rd year of
Nebuchadnezzar
Y'hoyachins exile
11th year of
Nebuchadnezzar
12th year of
Nebuchadnezzar
13th year of
Nebuchadnezzar
5th year of
13th year of
Y'hoyachins exile
Nebuchadnezzar
14th year of
Nebuchadnezzar
6th year of
14th year of
Y'hoyachins exile
Nebuchadnezzar
15th year of
Nebuchadnezzar
7th year of
15th year of
Y'hoyachins exile
Nebuchadnezzar
16th year of
Nebuchadnezzar
8th year of
16th year of
Y'hoyachins exile
Nebuchadnezzar
17th year of
Nebuchadnezzar
9th year of
17th year of
Y'hoyachins exile
Nebuchadnezzar
18th year of
Nebuchadnezzar
10th year of
18th year of
Y'hoyachins exile
Nebuchadnezzar
19th year of
Nebuchadnezzar
11th year of
19th year of
Y'hoyachins exile
Nebuchadnezzar
20th year of
Nebuchadnezzar
12th year of
20th year of
Y'hoyachins exile
Nebuchadnezzar
21st year of
Nebuchadnezzar
13th year of
21st year of
Y'hoyachins exile
Nebuchadnezzar
22nd year of
Nebuchadnezzar
14th year of
22nd year of
Y'hoyachins exile
Nebuchadnezzar
23rd year of
Nebuchadnezzar
15th year of
23rd year of
Y'hoyachins exile
Nebuchadnezzar
24th year of
Nebuchadnezzar
16th year of
24th year of
Y'hoyachins exile
Nebuchadnezzar
25th year of
Nebuchadnezzar
Timeline: page 240

BCE
580
Creation
Calendar
Jubilee
Calendar
3344
J17/42
Exodus
Calendar
Ex897
3345
J17/43
Kings of Y'hudah

Y'rushalayim
579
Ex898
3346
J17/44

Y'rushalayim
578
Ex899
3347
J17/45

Y'rushalayim
577
Ex900
3348
J17/46
10th year after the fall

of Y'rushalayim
576
Ex901
3349
J17/47

of Y'rushalayim
575
Ex902
3350
J17/48

of Y'rushalayim
574
Ex903
3351
J17/49

of Y'rushalayim
573
Ex904
3352
J17/50
572
Ex905
3353
571
Ex906
3354
570
Ex907
3355
569
Ex908
3356
568
Ex909
3357
567
Ex910
566
3358

of Y'rushalayim;
Y'hezkels Vision of the
3rd Temple, 10th Tishri
Babylonian kings
Hebrew reckoning
Secular reckoning
25th year of
17th year of
Y'hoyachins exile
Nebuchadnezzar
26th year of
Nebuchadnezzar
18th year of
26th year of
Y'hoyachins exile
Nebuchadnezzar
27th year of
Nebuchadnezzar
19th year of
27th year of
Y'hoyachins exile
Nebuchadnezzar
28th year of
Nebuchadnezzar
20th year of
28th year of
Y'hoyachins exile
Nebuchadnezzar
29th year of
Nebuchadnezzar
21st year of
29th year of
Y'hoyachins exile
Nebuchadnezzar
30th year of
Nebuchadnezzar
22nd year of
30th year of
Y'hoyachins exile
Nebuchadnezzar
31st year of
Nebuchadnezzar
23rd year of
31st year of
Y'hoyachins exile
Nebuchadnezzar
32nd year of
Nebuchadnezzar
24th year of
32nd year of
Y'hoyachins exile
Nebuchadnezzar
33rd year of
Nebuchadnezzar
25th year of
33rd year of
Y'hoyachins exile
Nebuchadnezzar
34th year of
Nebuchadnezzar
26th year of
34th year of
Y'hoyachins exile
Nebuchadnezzar
35th year of
Nebuchadnezzar
27th year of
35th year of
Y'hoyachins exile
Nebuchadnezzar
36th year of
Nebuchadnezzar
28th year of
36th year of
Y'hoyachins exile
Nebuchadnezzar
37th year of
Nebuchadnezzar
29th year of
37th year of
Y'hoyachins exile
Nebuchadnezzar
38th year of
Nebuchadnezzar
30th year of
38th year of
Y'hoyachins exile
Nebuchadnezzar
39th year of
Nebuchadnezzar

BCE
566
Creation
Calendar
Exodus
Calendar
3358
Ex911
3359
565
Ex912
3360
564
Ex913
3361
563
Ex914
3362
562
Ex915
3363
561
Ex916
3364
560
Ex917
3365
559
Ex918
3366
Timeline: page 241

Babylonian kings
Hebrew reckoning
secular reckoning
31st year of Y'hoyachins 39th year of
Nebuchadnezzar
exile
40th year of
Nebuchadnezzar
32nd year of Y'hoyachins 40th year of
exile
Nebuchadnezzar
41st year of
Nebuchadnezzar
33rd year of Y'hoyachins 41st year of
exile
Nebuchadnezzar
42nd year of
Nebuchadnezzar
34th year of Y'hoyachins 42nd year of
exile
Nebuchadnezzar
43rd year of
Nebuchadnezzar
35th year of Y'hoyachins 43rd year of
exile
Nebuchadnezzar
44th year of
Nebuchadnezzar
36th year of Y'hoyachins 1st year of AMEL-MARDK
exile
1st year of
"EVIL-M'RODACH"
37th year of Y'hoyachins 2nd year of Amel-Mardk
exile
2nd year of
"Evil-M'rodach"
1st year of NERIGLISSAR
3rd year of
"Evil-M'rodach"
2nd year of Neriglissar
558
Ex919
3367
4th year of
"Evil-M'rodach"
3rd year of Neriglissar
557
Ex920
3368
5th year of
"Evil-M'rodach"
4th year of Neriglissar
556
Ex921
3369
6th year of
"Evil-M'rodach"
1st year of NABU-NA'ID
555
Ex922
3370
7th year of
"Evil-M'rodach"
2nd year of Nabu-na'id
554
Ex923
3371
8th year of
"Evil-M'rodach"
3rd year of Nabu-na'id
553
Ex924
552
3372
9th year of
"Evil-M'rodach"
Notes
Timeline: page 242

BCE
552
Creation
Calendar
Exodus
Calendar
3372
Ex925
3373
Babylonian & Persian kings

Hebrew reckoning
Secular reckoning
4th year of Nabu-na'id
10th year of
"Evil-M'rodach"
551
Ex926
3374
11th year of
"Evil-M'rodach"
550
Ex927
3375
12th year of
"Evil-M'rodach"
549
Ex928
3376
13th year of
"Evil-M'rodach"
548
Ex929
3377
14th year of
"Evil-M'rodach"
547
Ex930
3378
15th year of
"Evil-M'rodach"
546
Ex931
3379
16th year of
"Evil-M'rodach"
545
Ex932
3380
17th year of
"Evil-M'rodach"
544
Ex933
3381
18th year of
"Evil-M'rodach"
543
Ex934
3382
19th year of
"Evil-M'rodach"
542
Ex935
3383
20th year of
"Evil-M'rodach"
541
Ex936
3384
21st year of
"Evil-M'rodach"
540
Ex937
3385
22nd year of
"Evil-M'rodach"
539
Ex938
538
3386
23rd year of
"Evil-M'rodach"
Notes

BCE
538
Creation
Calendar
Exodus
Calendar
3386
Ex939
Timeline: page 243

Babylonian & Persian kings
Hebrew reckoning
secular reckoning
1st year of CYRUS
1st year of "BELSHATZAR"
3387
2nd year of Cyrus
537
Ex940
2nd yr. of "Belshatzar"
3388
3rd year of Cyrus
536
Ex941
3rd year of "Belshatzar"
3389
4th year of Cyrus
535
Ex942
3390
534
Ex943
3391
533
Ex944
3392
532
Ex945
3393
531
Ex946
3394
530
Ex947
1st year of "DARIUS THE

MEDE" & "CYRUS THE
PERSIAN"
5th year of Cyrus
2nd year of "Darius the

Mede" & "Cyrus the
Persian"
6th year of Cyrus
3rd year of "Darius the

Mede" & "Cyrus the
Persian"
7th year of Cyrus
4th year of "Darius the

Mede" & "Cyrus the
Persian"
8th year of Cyrus
5th year of "Darius the

Mede" & "Cyrus the
Persian"
9th year of Cyrus
1st yr. of "AHASHVROSH"
3395
1st year of CAMBYSES
529
Ex948
2nd year of "Ahashvrosh"
3396
2nd year of Cambyses
528
Ex949
3rd year of "Ahashvrosh"
3397
3rd year of Cambyses
527
Ex950
4th year of "Ahashvrosh"
3398
4th year of Cambyses
526
Ex951
3399
525
Ex952
524
3400
Notes
Timeline: page 244

BCE
524
Creation
Calendar
Exodus
Calendar
3400
Ex953
Persian kings
Hebrew reckoning
secular reckoning
3401
523
Ex954
3402
522
Ex955
3403
1st year of DARIUS I
521
Ex956
10th yr. of "Ahashvrosh"
3404
2nd year of Darius I
520
Ex957
3405
3rd year of Darius I
519
Ex958
3406
4th year of Darius I
518
Ex959
3407
517
Ex960
3408

516
Ex961
3409
515
1st year of "DARIUS SON OF

AHASHVROSH"
(Dan. 9:1)
Ex962
3410
514
Ex963
3411
513
Ex964
3412
512
Ex965
3413
511
Ex966
510
3414
Notes
Second Temple
completed (Ezra 6:15)
note: it is exactly 70 yrs.
since the First Temple
was destroyed by
Nebuchadnezzar
Appendix I
Appendix I: page 1
Appendix I
Secular dating of the Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek & Roman Kings
Our primary source for the chronologies of the Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek and Roman kings
is Claudius Ptolemus ("Ptolemy"). Very little is known about Ptolemy: he was born, probably in
Greece, around the year 100 CE, but, according to ancient sources, spent most of his life in Alexandria,
Egypt; yet the name "Claudius" indicates that he held Roman citizenship. He died in about 170 CE.
Ptolemy made significant contributions to mathematics, optics and geography, but it is in the field of
astronomy that his influence was the greatest, and his theories and methods dominated scientific thought
for 1,500 years. His earliest and most famous work, originally written in Greek and titled
("Mathematical Composition"), was translated into Arabic at an early date as al-Majisti ("Great
Work"): medival Latin translations in Europe reproduced this title in the form "Almagesti", and it has
since become known simply as the "Almagest". In this work, Ptolemy proposed a geometric theory to
account mathematically for the apparent motions and positions of the planets, Sun, and Moon against a
background of unmoving stars. This work did not include any physical descriptions of objects in space.
The Almagest contains numerous tables for calculating the positions of the various celestial bodies, and
Ptolemy later collected these together into a separate work, ("Handy Tables"), to
which he added a number of auxillary tables, including one to facilitate the determination of the number
of days between two specified historical dates, a vital step in all astronomical calculations. Since it was
usual in antiquity to quote dates by reference to the regnal years of kings, this necessitated the provision
of a list of kings and the dates of their reigns, and this table has become known as (the
"Canon of the Kings", or "Royal Canon")although in his introduction to the "Handy Tables", Ptolemy
himself called it ("little introductory canon") and ("chronography
of [the] kings"). This text, whose importance to the chronology of antiquity cannot be understated,
remained unknown in the Latin west until the early 17th century: the French Calvinist Joseph Scaliger,
who has been called the founder of the modern study of chronology, had access only to faulty copies of
it towards the end of his life. When the first reliable manuscript of the "Canon" first came to light in
christian Europe soon after Scaligers death in 1609, the German chronologer Sethus Calvisius (15561615) described it as omni auro pretiosior! ("more valuable than all gold!").
The "Canon" begins with the first year of the Chaldean king Nab-nsir ("Nabonassar"), who came to
power in 747 BCE, and lists 20 "kings of Assyria & Babylonia" (including two brief periods described as
"kingless"), followed by 11 "kings of the Persians", 12 "kings of the Macedonians", and 12 "kings of the
Romans", leading up to Ptolemys own time and ending with lius Antoninus (137-160 CE). For each of
the kings in the list, Ptolemy gives the length of the kings reign, expressed as an integer number of
Egyptian civil years, together with a cumulative total of years from the beginning of the table (i.e. from
the 1st year of Nabonassar) to the end of that kings reign. Table 1 on the following page gives
Ptolemys raw data.
Ample documents from the 1st and 2nd centuries CE exist to provide exact and unambiguous dates for
the Roman emperors at the end of the Canon, from which it is a relatively simple (if tedious) matter to
calculate the dates in the proleptic Julian calendar of the beginning of each of the 907 years covered by
the Canon: these are given in Table 2, together with the regnal year assigned by Ptolemy corresponding
to each Egyptian year. The notes that follow are, in part, excerpted and adapted from the excellent paper
"More Valuable than all Gold": Ptolemys Royal Canon and Babylonian Chronology by Leo Depuydt
of Brown University, published in the Journal of Cuneiform Studies, Vol. 47 (1995), pages 97-118.
Appendix I: page 2
Table 1: Ptolemys Canon
Kings
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
Nabonassar
Nabu-nadin-zeri
Mukin-zeri & Pul
Ululayu (Shalman-ser V)
Merodach-baladan
Sargon II
(first interregnum)
Bel-ibni
Ashur-nadin-shumi
Nergal-ushezib
Mushezib-Mardk
(second interregnum)
sar-haddon
Shamsh-shma-kin
Kandaln
Nabopolassar
Nebuchadnezzar II
Amel-Mardk
Neriglissar
Nabonidus
Cyrus
Cambyses
Darius I
Xerxes I
Artaxerxes I
Darius II
Artaxerxes II
Artaxerxes III (Ochus)
Arses (Arogos)
Darius III
Alexander the Great
Philip Arrhidus
Alexander II
Ptolemy I Soter
Ptolemy II Philadephus
Ptolemy III Euergetes
Ptolemy IV Phliopator
Ptolemy V Epiphanes
Ptolemy VI Philometor
Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II
Ptolemy IX Soter II
Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysus
Cleopatra VII Philopator
Augustus
Tiberius
Gaius
Claudius
Nero
Vespasianus (Vespasian)
Titus
Domitianus (Domitian)
Nerva
Traianus (Trajan)
Hadrianus (Hadrian)
lius Antoninus
Nationality
Babylonian
Babylonian
Chaldan & Assyrian
Assyrian
Chaldan
Assyrian
Babylonian
Assyrian
Babylonian
Chaldan
Assyrian
Assyrian
Chaldan?
Chaldan?
Chaldan?
Chaldan?
Chaldan?
Chaldan?
Persian
Persian
Persian
Persian
Persian
Persian
Persian
Persian
Persian
Persian
Macedonian
Macedonian
Macedonian
Egyptian-Macedonian
Egyptian-Macedonian
Egyptian-Macedonian
Egyptian-Macedonian
Egyptian-Macedonian
Egyptian-Macedonian
Egyptian-Macedonian
Egyptian-Macedonian
Egyptian-Macedonian
Egyptian-Macedonian
Roman
Roman
Roman
Roman
Roman
Roman
Roman
Roman
Roman
Roman
Roman
Roman
Years
reigned
Cumulative
total of years
14
2
5
5
12
5
2
3
6
1
4
8
13
20
22
21
43
2
4
17
9
8
36
21
41
19
46
21
2
4
8
7
12
20
38
25
17
24
35
29
36
29
22
43
22
4
14
14
10
3
15
1
19
21
23
14
16
21
26
38
43
45
48
54
55
59
67
80
100
122
143
186
188
192
209
218
226
262
283
324
343
389
410
412
416
424
431
443
463
501
526
543
567
602
631
667
696
718
761
783
787
801
815
825
828
843
844
863
884
907
Appendix I: page 3
Table 2: Ptolemys CanonRegnal years and proleptic Julian equivalents

Regnal years
1st of Nabonassar
2nd of Nabonassar
3rd of Nabonassar
4th of Nabonassar
5th of Nabonassar
6th of Nabonassar
7th of Nabonassar
8th of Nabonassar
9th of Nabonassar
10th of Nabonassar
11th of Nabonassar
12th of Nabonassar
13th of Nabonassar
14th of Nabonassar
1st of Nabu-nadin-zeri
2nd of Nabu-nadin-zeri
1st of Mukin-zeri & Pul
2nd of Mukin-zeri & Pul
3rd of Mukin-zeri & Pul
4th of Mukin-zeri & Pul
5th of Mukin-zeri & Pul
1st of Ululayu
2nd of Ululayu
3rd of Ululayu
4th of Ululayu
5th of Ululayu
1st of Merodach-baladan
2nd of Merodach-baladan
3rd of Merodach-baladan
4th of Merodach-baladan
1st of Sargon II
2nd of Sargon II
3rd of Sargon II
4th of Sargon II
5th of Sargon II
1st of Interregnum 1
2nd of Interregnum 1
1st of Bel-ibni
2nd of Bel-ibni
3rd of Bel-ibni
1st of Ashur-nadin-shumi
2nd of Ashur-nadin-shumi
3rd of Ashur-nadin-shumi
4th of Ashur-nadin-shumi
1st of Nergal-ushezib
Proleptic
Julian Date
Regnal years
Proleptic
Julian Date
26 Feb. 747 BCE

26 Feb. 746 BCE
26 Feb. 745 BCE
25 Feb. 744 BCE
25 Feb. 743 BCE
25 Feb. 742 BCE
25 Feb. 741 BCE
24 Feb. 740 BCE
24 Feb. 739 BCE
24 Feb. 738 BCE
24 Feb. 737 BCE
23 Feb. 736 BCE
23 Feb. 735 BCE
23 Feb. 734 BCE
23 Feb. 733 BCE
22 Feb. 732 BCE
22 Feb. 731 BCE
22 Feb. 730 BCE
22 Feb. 729 BCE
21 Feb. 728 BCE
21 Feb. 727 BCE
21 Feb. 726 BCE
21 Feb. 725 BCE
20 Feb. 724 BCE
20 Feb. 723 BCE
20 Feb. 722 BCE
20 Feb. 721 BCE
19 Feb. 720 BCE
19 Feb. 719 BCE
19 Feb. 718 BCE
19 Feb. 717 BCE
18 Feb. 716 BCE
18 Feb. 715 BCE
18 Feb. 714 BCE
18 Feb. 713 BCE
17 Feb. 712 BCE
17 Feb. 711 BCE
17 Feb. 710 BCE
17 Feb. 709 BCE
16 Feb. 708 BCE
16 Feb. 707 BCE
16 Feb. 706 BCE
16 Feb. 705 BCE
15 Feb. 704 BCE
15 Feb. 703 BCE
15 Feb. 702 BCE
15 Feb. 701 BCE
14 Feb. 700 BCE
14 Feb. 699 BCE
14 Feb. 698 BCE
14 Feb. 697 BCE
13 Feb. 696 BCE
13 Feb. 695 BCE
13 Feb. 694 BCE
13 Feb. 693 BCE
1st of Mushezib-Marduk
2nd of Mushezib-Marduk
3rd of Mushezib-Marduk
4th of Mushezib-Marduk
1st of Interregnum 2
2nd of Interregnum 2
3rd of Interregnum 2
4th of Interregnum 2
1st of Esarhaddon
2nd of Esarhaddon
3rd of Esarhaddon
4th of Esarhaddon
5th of Esarhaddon
6th of Esarhaddon
7th of Esarhaddon
8th of Esarhaddon
9th of Esarhaddon
10th of Esarhaddon
11th of Esarhaddon
12th of Esarhaddon
13th of Esarhaddon
1st of Shamash-shuma-ukin
2nd of Shamash-shuma-ukin
3rd of Shamash-shuma-ukin
4th of Shamash-shuma-ukin
1st of Kandalanu
2nd of Kandalanu
3rd of Kandalanu
4th of Kandalanu
5th of Kandalanu
6th of Kandalanu
7th of Kandalanu
8th of Kandalanu
9th of Kandalanu
10th of Kandalanu
12 Feb. 692 BCE

12 Feb. 691 BCE
12 Feb. 690 BCE
12 Feb. 689 BCE
11 Feb. 688 BCE
11 Feb. 687 BCE
11 Feb. 686 BCE
11 Feb. 685 BCE
10 Feb. 684 BCE
10 Feb. 683 BCE
10 Feb. 682 BCE
10 Feb. 681 BCE
9 Feb. 680 BCE
9 Feb. 679 BCE
9 Feb. 678 BCE
9 Feb. 677 BCE
8 Feb. 676 BCE
8 Feb. 675 BCE
8 Feb. 674 BCE
8 Feb. 673 BCE
7 Feb. 672 BCE
7 Feb. 671 BCE
7 Feb. 670 BCE
7 Feb. 669 BCE
6 Feb. 668 BCE
6 Feb. 667 BCE
6 Feb. 666 BCE
6 Feb. 665 BCE
5 Feb. 664 BCE
5 Feb. 663 BCE
5 Feb. 662 BCE
5 Feb. 661 BCE
4 Feb. 660 BCE
4 Feb. 659 BCE
4 Feb. 658 BCE
4 Feb. 657 BCE
3 Feb. 656 BCE
3 Feb. 655 BCE
3 Feb. 654 BCE
3 Feb. 653 BCE
2 Feb. 652 BCE
2 Feb. 651 BCE
2 Feb. 650 BCE
2 Feb. 649 BCE
1 Feb. 648 BCE
1 Feb. 647 BCE
1 Feb. 646 BCE
1 Feb. 645 BCE
31 Jan. 644 BCE
31 Jan. 643 BCE
31 Jan. 642 BCE
31 Jan. 641 BCE
30 Jan. 640 BCE
30 Jan. 639 BCE
30 Jan. 638 BCE
Appendix I: page 4
Table 2 (contd.): Ptolemys CanonRegnal years and proleptic Julian equivalents

Regnal years
11th of Kandalanu
12th of Kandalanu
13th of Kandalanu
14th of Kandalanu
15th of Kandalanu
16th of Kandalanu
17th of Kandalanu
18th of Kandalanu
19th of Kandalanu
20th of Kandalanu
21st of Kandalanu
22nd of Kandalanu
1st of Nabopolassar
2nd of Nabopolassar
3rd of Nabopolassar
4th of Nabopolassar
5th of Nabopolassar
6th of Nabopolassar
7th of Nabopolassar
8th of Nabopolassar
9th of Nabopolassar
10th of Nabopolassar
21st of Nabopolassar
1st of Nebuchadnezzar II
2nd of Nebuchadnezzar II
3rd of Nebuchadnezzar II
4th of Nebuchadnezzar II
Proleptic
Julian Date
30 Jan. 637 BCE
29 Jan. 636 BCE
29 Jan. 635 BCE
29 Jan. 634 BCE
29 Jan. 633 BCE
28 Jan. 632 BCE
28 Jan. 631 BCE
28 Jan. 630 BCE
28 Jan. 629 BCE
27 Jan. 628 BCE
27 Jan. 627 BCE
27 Jan. 626 BCE
27 Jan. 625 BCE
26 Jan. 624 BCE
26 Jan. 623 BCE
26 Jan. 622 BCE
26 Jan. 621 BCE
25 Jan. 620 BCE
25 Jan. 619 BCE
25 Jan. 618 BCE
25 Jan. 617 BCE
24 Jan. 616 BCE
24 Jan. 615 BCE
24 Jan. 614 BCE
24 Jan. 613 BCE
23 Jan. 612 BCE
23 Jan. 611 BCE
23 Jan. 610 BCE
23 Jan. 609 BCE
22 Jan. 608 BCE
22 Jan. 607 BCE
22 Jan. 606 BCE
22 Jan. 605 BCE
21 Jan. 604 BCE
21 Jan. 603 BCE
21 Jan. 602 BCE
21 Jan. 601 BCE
20 Jan. 600 BCE
20 Jan. 599 BCE
20 Jan. 598 BCE
20 Jan. 597 BCE
19 Jan. 596 BCE
19 Jan. 595 BCE
19 Jan. 594 BCE
19 Jan. 593 BCE
18 Jan. 592 BCE
18 Jan. 591 BCE
18 Jan. 590 BCE
18 Jan. 589 BCE
17 Jan. 588 BCE
17 Jan. 587 BCE
17 Jan. 586 BCE
17 Jan. 585 BCE
16 Jan. 584 BCE
16 Jan. 583 BCE
Regnal years
1st of Amel-Marduk
2nd of Amel-Marduk
1st of Neriglissar
2nd of Neriglissar
3rd of Neriglissar
4th of Neriglissar
1st of Nabonidus
2nd of Nabonidus
3rd of Nabonidus
4th of Nabonidus
5th of Nabonidus
6th of Nabonidus
7th of Nabonidus
8th of Nabonidus
9th of Nabonidus
10th of Nabonidus
11th of Nabonidus
12th of Nabonidus
13th of Nabonidus
14th of Nabonidus
15th of Nabonidus
16th of Nabonidus
17th of Nabonidus
1st of Cyrus
2nd of Cyrus
3rd of Cyrus
4th of Cyrus
5th of Cyrus
6th of Cyrus
7th of Cyrus
8th of Cyrus
9th of Cyrus
1st of Cambyses
2nd of Cambyses
Proleptic
Julian Date
16 Jan. 582 BCE
16 Jan. 581 BCE
15 Jan. 580 BCE
15 Jan. 579 BCE
15 Jan. 578 BCE
15 Jan. 577 BCE
14 Jan. 576 BCE
14 Jan. 575 BCE
14 Jan. 574 BCE
14 Jan. 573 BCE
13 Jan. 572 BCE
13 Jan. 571 BCE
13 Jan. 570 BCE
13 Jan. 569 BCE
12 Jan. 568 BCE
12 Jan. 567 BCE
12 Jan. 566 BCE
12 Jan. 565 BCE
11 Jan. 564 BCE
11 Jan. 563 BCE
11 Jan. 562 BCE
11 Jan. 561 BCE
10 Jan. 560 BCE
10 Jan. 559 BCE
10 Jan. 558 BCE
10 Jan. 557 BCE
9 Jan. 556 BCE
9 Jan. 555 BCE
9 Jan. 554 BCE
9 Jan. 553 BCE
8 Jan. 552 BCE
8 Jan. 551 BCE
8 Jan. 550 BCE
8 Jan. 549 BCE
7 Jan. 548 BCE
7 Jan. 547 BCE
7 Jan. 546 BCE
7 Jan. 545 BCE
6 Jan. 544 BCE
6 Jan. 543 BCE
6 Jan. 542 BCE
6 Jan. 541 BCE
5 Jan. 540 BCE
5 Jan. 539 BCE
5 Jan. 538 BCE
5 Jan. 537 BCE
4 Jan. 536 BCE
4 Jan. 535 BCE
4 Jan. 534 BCE
4 Jan. 533 BCE
3 Jan. 532 BCE
3 Jan. 531 BCE
3 Jan. 530 BCE
3 Jan. 529 BCE
2 Jan. 528 BCE
Appendix I: page 5

Regnal years
3rd of Cambyses
4th of Cambyses
5th of Cambyses
6th of Cambyses
7th of Cambyses
8th of Cambyses
1st of Darius I
2nd of Darius I
3rd of Darius I
4th of Darius I
5th of Darius I
6th of Darius I
7th of Darius I
8th of Darius I
9th of Darius I
10th of Darius I
11th of Darius I
12th of Darius I
13th of Darius I
14th of Darius I
15th of Darius I
16th of Darius I
17th of Darius I
18th of Darius I
19th of Darius I
20th of Darius I
21st of Darius I
22nd of Darius I
23rd of Darius I
24th of Darius I
25th of Darius I
26th of Darius I
27th of Darius I
28th of Darius I
29th of Darius I
30th of Darius I
31st of Darius I
32nd of Darius I
33rd of Darius I
34th of Darius I
35th of Darius I
36th of Darius I
1st of Xerxes I
2nd of Xerxes I
3rd of Xerxes I
4th of Xerxes I
5th of Xerxes I
6th of Xerxes I
7th of Xerxes I
8th of Xerxes I
9th of Xerxes I
10th of Xerxes I
11th of Xerxes I
12th of Xerxes I
13th of Xerxes I
Proleptic
Julian Date
2 Jan. 527 BCE
2 Jan. 526 BCE
2 Jan. 525 BCE
1 Jan. 524 BCE
1 Jan. 523 BCE
1 Jan. 522 BCE
1 Jan. 521 BCE
31 Dec. 521 BCE
31 Dec. 520 BCE
31 Dec. 519 BCE
31 Dec. 518 BCE
30 Dec. 517 BCE
30 Dec. 516 BCE
30 Dec. 515 BCE
30 Dec. 514 BCE
29 Dec. 513 BCE
29 Dec. 512 BCE
29 Dec. 511 BCE
29 Dec. 510 BCE
28 Dec. 509 BCE
28 Dec. 508 BCE
28 Dec. 507 BCE
28 Dec. 506 BCE
27 Dec. 505 BCE
27 Dec. 504 BCE
27 Dec. 503 BCE
27 Dec. 502 BCE
26 Dec. 501 BCE
26 Dec. 500 BCE
26 Dec. 499 BCE
26 Dec. 498 BCE
25 Dec. 497 BCE
25 Dec. 496 BCE
25 Dec. 495 BCE
25 Dec. 494 BCE
24 Dec. 493 BCE
24 Dec. 492 BCE
24 Dec. 491 BCE
24 Dec. 490 BCE
23 Dec. 489 BCE
23 Dec. 488 BCE
23 Dec. 487 BCE
23 Dec. 486 BCE
22 Dec. 485 BCE
22 Dec. 484 BCE
22 Dec. 483 BCE
22 Dec. 482 BCE
21 Dec. 481 BCE
21 Dec. 480 BCE
21 Dec. 479 BCE
21 Dec. 478 BCE
20 Dec. 477 BCE
20 Dec. 476 BCE
20 Dec. 475 BCE
20 Dec. 474 BCE
Regnal years
14th of Xerxes I
15th of Xerxes I
16th of Xerxes I
17th of Xerxes I
18th of Xerxes I
19th of Xerxes I
20th of Xerxes I
21st of Xerxes I
1st of Artaxerxes I
2nd of Artaxerxes I
3rd of Artaxerxes I
4th of Artaxerxes I
5th of Artaxerxes I
6th of Artaxerxes I
7th of Artaxerxes I
8th of Artaxerxes I
9th of Artaxerxes I
10th of Artaxerxes I
21st of Artaxerxes I
22nd of Artaxerxes I
23rd of Artaxerxes I
32nd of Artaxerxes I
33rd of Artaxerxes I
1st of Darius II
2nd of Darius II
3rd of Darius II
4th of Darius II
5th of Darius II
6th of Darius II
Proleptic
Julian Date
19 Dec. 473 BCE
19 Dec. 472 BCE
19 Dec. 471 BCE
19 Dec. 470 BCE
18 Dec. 469 BCE
18 Dec. 468 BCE
18 Dec. 467 BCE
18 Dec. 466 BCE
17 Dec. 465 BCE
17 Dec. 464 BCE
17 Dec. 463 BCE
17 Dec. 462 BCE
16 Dec. 461 BCE
16 Dec. 460 BCE
16 Dec. 459 BCE
16 Dec. 458 BCE
15 Dec. 457 BCE
15 Dec. 456 BCE
15 Dec. 455 BCE
15 Dec. 454 BCE
14 Dec. 453 BCE
14 Dec. 452 BCE
14 Dec. 451 BCE
14 Dec. 450 BCE
13 Dec. 449 BCE
13 Dec. 448 BCE
13 Dec. 447 BCE
13 Dec. 446 BCE
12 Dec. 445 BCE
12 Dec. 444 BCE
12 Dec. 443 BCE
12 Dec. 442 BCE
11 Dec. 441 BCE
11 Dec. 440 BCE
11 Dec. 439 BCE
11 Dec. 438 BCE
10 Dec. 437 BCE
10 Dec. 436 BCE
10 Dec. 435 BCE
10 Dec. 434 BCE
9 Dec. 433 BCE
9 Dec. 432 BCE
9 Dec. 431 BCE
9 Dec. 430 BCE
8 Dec. 429 BCE
8 Dec. 428 BCE
8 Dec. 427 BCE
8 Dec. 426 BCE
7 Dec. 425 BCE
7 Dec. 424 BCE
7 Dec. 423 BCE
7 Dec. 422 BCE
6 Dec. 421 BCE
6 Dec. 420 BCE
6 Dec. 419 BCE
Appendix I: page 6

Regnal years
7th of Darius II
8th of Darius II
9th of Darius II
10th of Darius II
11th of Darius II
12th of Darius II
13th of Darius II
14th of Darius II
15th of Darius II
16th of Darius II
17th of Darius II
18th of Darius II
19th of Darius II
1st of Artaxerxes II
2nd of Artaxerxes II
3rd of Artaxerxes II
4th of Artaxerxes II
Proleptic
Julian Date
6 Dec. 418 BCE
5 Dec. 417 BCE
5 Dec. 416 BCE
5 Dec. 415 BCE
5 Dec. 414 BCE
4 Dec. 413 BCE
4 Dec. 412 BCE
4 Dec. 411 BCE
4 Dec. 410 BCE
3 Dec. 409 BCE
3 Dec. 408 BCE
3 Dec. 407 BCE
3 Dec. 406 BCE
2 Dec. 405 BCE
2 Dec. 404 BCE
2 Dec. 403 BCE
2 Dec. 402 BCE
1 Dec. 401 BCE
1 Dec. 400 BCE
1 Dec. 399 BCE
1 Dec. 398 BCE
30 Nov. 397 BCE
30 Nov. 396 BCE
30 Nov. 395 BCE
30 Nov. 394 BCE
29 Nov. 393 BCE
29 Nov. 392 BCE
29 Nov. 391 BCE
29 Nov. 390 BCE
28 Nov. 389 BCE
28 Nov. 388 BCE
28 Nov. 387 BCE
28 Nov. 386 BCE
27 Nov. 385 BCE
27 Nov. 384 BCE
27 Nov. 383 BCE
27 Nov. 382 BCE
26 Nov. 381 BCE
26 Nov. 380 BCE
26 Nov. 379 BCE
26 Nov. 378 BCE
25 Nov. 377 BCE
25 Nov. 376 BCE
25 Nov. 375 BCE
25 Nov. 374 BCE
24 Nov. 373 BCE
24 Nov. 372 BCE
24 Nov. 371 BCE
24 Nov. 370 BCE
23 Nov. 369 BCE
23 Nov. 368 BCE
23 Nov. 367 BCE
23 Nov. 366 BCE
22 Nov. 365 BCE
22 Nov. 364 BCE
Regnal years
1st of Artaxerxes III
2nd of Artaxerxes III
3rd of Artaxerxes III
4th of Artaxerxes III
21st of Artaxerxes III
1st of Arses
2nd of Arses
1st of Darius III
2nd of Darius III
3rd of Darius III
4th of Darius III
1st of Alexander the Great
2nd of Alexander the Great
3rd of Alexander the Great
4th of Alexander the Great
1st of Philip Arrhidus
2nd of Philip Arrhidus
3rd of Philip Arrhidus
4th of Philip Arrhidus
1st of Alexander II
2nd of Alexander II
3rd of Alexander II
4th of Alexander II
5th of Alexander II
6th of Alexander II
7th of Alexander II
8th of Alexander II
9th of Alexander II
Proleptic
Julian Date
22 Nov. 363 BCE
22 Nov. 362 BCE
21 Nov. 361 BCE
21 Nov. 360 BCE
21 Nov. 359 BCE
21 Nov. 358 BCE
20 Nov. 357 BCE
20 Nov. 356 BCE
20 Nov. 355 BCE
20 Nov. 354 BCE
19 Nov. 353 BCE
19 Nov. 352 BCE
19 Nov. 351 BCE
19 Nov. 350 BCE
18 Nov. 349 BCE
18 Nov. 348 BCE
18 Nov. 347 BCE
18 Nov. 346 BCE
17 Nov. 345 BCE
17 Nov. 344 BCE
17 Nov. 343 BCE
17 Nov. 342 BCE
16 Nov. 341 BCE
16 Nov. 340 BCE
16 Nov. 339 BCE
16 Nov. 338 BCE
15 Nov. 337 BCE
15 Nov. 336 BCE
15 Nov. 335 BCE
15 Nov. 334 BCE
14 Nov. 333 BCE
14 Nov. 332 BCE
14 Nov. 331 BCE
14 Nov. 330 BCE
13 Nov. 329 BCE
13 Nov. 328 BCE
13 Nov. 327 BCE
13 Nov. 326 BCE
12 Nov. 325 BCE
12 Nov. 324 BCE
12 Nov. 323 BCE
12 Nov. 322 BCE
11 Nov. 321 BCE
11 Nov. 320 BCE
11 Nov. 319 BCE
11 Nov. 318 BCE
10 Nov. 317 BCE
10 Nov. 316 BCE
10 Nov. 315 BCE
10 Nov. 314 BCE
9 Nov. 313 BCE
9 Nov. 312 BCE
9 Nov. 311 BCE
9 Nov. 310 BCE
8 Nov. 309 BCE
Appendix I: page 7

Regnal years
10th of Alexander II
1st of Ptolemy Soter I
2nd of Ptolemy Soter I
3rd of Ptolemy Soter I
4th of Ptolemy Soter I
1st of Ptolemy Philadephus
2nd of Ptolemy Philadephus
3rd of Ptolemy Philadephus
4th of Ptolemy Philadephus
Proleptic
Julian Date
Regnal years
Proleptic
Julian Date
8 Nov. 308 BCE

8 Nov. 307 BCE
8 Nov. 306 BCE
7 Nov. 305 BCE
7 Nov. 304 BCE
7 Nov. 303 BCE
7 Nov. 302 BCE
6 Nov. 301 BCE
6 Nov. 300 BCE
6 Nov. 299 BCE
6 Nov. 298 BCE
5 Nov. 297 BCE
5 Nov. 296 BCE
5 Nov. 295 BCE
5 Nov. 294 BCE
4 Nov. 293 BCE
4 Nov. 292 BCE
4 Nov. 291 BCE
4 Nov. 290 BCE
3 Nov. 289 BCE
3 Nov. 288 BCE
3 Nov. 287 BCE
3 Nov. 286 BCE
2 Nov. 285 BCE
2 Nov. 284 BCE
2 Nov. 283 BCE
2 Nov. 282 BCE
1 Nov. 281 BCE
1 Nov. 280 BCE
1 Nov. 279 BCE
1 Nov. 278 BCE
31 Oct. 277 BCE
31 Oct. 276 BCE
31 Oct. 275 BCE
31 Oct. 274 BCE
30 Oct. 273 BCE
30 Oct. 272 BCE
30 Oct. 271 BCE
30 Oct. 270 BCE
29 Oct. 269 BCE
29 Oct. 268 BCE
29 Oct. 267 BCE
29 Oct. 266 BCE
28 Oct. 265 BCE
28 Oct. 264 BCE
28 Oct. 263 BCE
28 Oct. 262 BCE
27 Oct. 261 BCE
27 Oct. 260 BCE
27 Oct. 259 BCE
27 Oct. 258 BCE
26 Oct. 257 BCE
26 Oct. 256 BCE
26 Oct. 255 BCE
26 Oct. 254 BCE

1st of Ptolemy Euergetes I
2nd of Ptolemy Euergetes I
3rd of Ptolemy Euergetes I
4th of Ptolemy Euergetes I
21st of Ptolemy Euergetes I
22nd of Ptolemy Euergetes I
23rd of Ptolemy Euergetes I
1st of Ptolemy Phliopator
2nd of Ptolemy Phliopator
3rd of Ptolemy Phliopator
4th of Ptolemy Phliopator
1st of Ptolemy Epiphanes
2nd of Ptolemy Epiphanes
3rd of Ptolemy Epiphanes
4th of Ptolemy Epiphanes
25 Oct. 253 BCE

25 Oct. 252 BCE
25 Oct. 251 BCE
25 Oct. 250 BCE
24 Oct. 249 BCE
24 Oct. 248 BCE
24 Oct. 247 BCE
24 Oct. 246 BCE
23 Oct. 245 BCE
23 Oct. 244 BCE
23 Oct. 243 BCE
23 Oct. 242 BCE
22 Oct. 241 BCE
22 Oct. 240 BCE
22 Oct. 239 BCE
22 Oct. 238 BCE
21 Oct. 237 BCE
21 Oct. 236 BCE
21 Oct. 235 BCE
21 Oct. 234 BCE
20 Oct. 233 BCE
20 Oct. 232 BCE
20 Oct. 231 BCE
20 Oct. 230 BCE
19 Oct. 229 BCE
19 Oct. 228 BCE
19 Oct. 227 BCE
19 Oct. 226 BCE
18 Oct. 225 BCE
18 Oct. 224 BCE
18 Oct. 223 BCE
18 Oct. 222 BCE
17 Oct. 221 BCE
17 Oct. 220 BCE
17 Oct. 219 BCE
17 Oct. 218 BCE
16 Oct. 217 BCE
16 Oct. 216 BCE
16 Oct. 215 BCE
16 Oct. 214 BCE
15 Oct. 213 BCE
15 Oct. 212 BCE
15 Oct. 211 BCE
15 Oct. 210 BCE
14 Oct. 209 BCE
14 Oct. 208 BCE
14 Oct. 207 BCE
14 Oct. 206 BCE
13 Oct. 205 BCE
13 Oct. 204 BCE
13 Oct. 203 BCE
13 Oct. 202 BCE
12 Oct. 201 BCE
12 Oct. 200 BCE
12 Oct. 199 BCE
Appendix I: page 8

Regnal years
21st of Ptolemy Epiphanes
22nd of Ptolemy Epiphanes
23rd of Ptolemy Epiphanes
1st of Ptolemy Philometor
2nd of Ptolemy Philometor
3rd of Ptolemy Philometor
4th of Ptolemy Philometor
1st of Ptolemy Euergetes II
2nd of Ptolemy Euergetes II
3rd of Ptolemy Euergetes II
Proleptic
Julian Date
Regnal years
Proleptic
Julian Date
12 Oct. 198 BCE

11 Oct. 197 BCE
11 Oct. 196 BCE
11 Oct. 195 BCE
11 Oct. 194 BCE
10 Oct. 193 BCE
10 Oct. 192 BCE
10 Oct. 191 BCE
10 Oct. 190 BCE
9 Oct. 189 BCE
9 Oct. 188 BCE
9 Oct. 187 BCE
9 Oct. 186 BCE
8 Oct. 185 BCE
8 Oct. 184 BCE
8 Oct. 183 BCE
8 Oct. 182 BCE
7 Oct. 181 BCE
7 Oct. 180 BCE
7 Oct. 179 BCE
7 Oct. 178 BCE
6 Oct. 177 BCE
6 Oct. 176 BCE
6 Oct. 175 BCE
6 Oct. 174 BCE
5 Oct. 173 BCE
5 Oct. 172 BCE
5 Oct. 171 BCE
5 Oct. 170 BCE
4 Oct. 169 BCE
4 Oct. 168 BCE
4 Oct. 167 BCE
4 Oct. 166 BCE
3 Oct. 165 BCE
3 Oct. 164 BCE
3 Oct. 163 BCE
3 Oct. 162 BCE
2 Oct. 161 BCE
2 Oct. 160 BCE
2 Oct. 159 BCE
2 Oct. 158 BCE
1 Oct. 157 BCE
1 Oct. 156 BCE
1 Oct. 155 BCE
1 Oct. 154 BCE
30 Sept. 153 BCE
30 Sept. 152 BCE
30 Sept. 151 BCE
30 Sept. 150 BCE
29 Sept. 149 BCE
29 Sept. 148 BCE
29 Sept. 147 BCE
29 Sept. 146 BCE
28 Sept. 145 BCE
28 Sept. 144 BCE
4th of Ptolemy Euergetes II

21st of Ptolemy Euergetes II
22nd of Ptolemy Euergetes II
23rd of Ptolemy Euergetes II
1st of Ptolemy Soter II
2nd of Ptolemy Soter II
3rd of Ptolemy Soter II
4th of Ptolemy Soter II
28 Sept. 143 BCE

28 Sept. 142 BCE
27 Sept. 141 BCE
27 Sept. 140 BCE
27 Sept. 139 BCE
27 Sept. 138 BCE
26 Sept. 137 BCE
26 Sept. 136 BCE
26 Sept. 135 BCE
26 Sept. 134 BCE
25 Sept. 133 BCE
25 Sept. 132 BCE
25 Sept. 131 BCE
25 Sept. 130 BCE
24 Sept. 129 BCE
24 Sept. 128 BCE
24 Sept. 127 BCE
24 Sept. 126 BCE
23 Sept. 125 BCE
23 Sept. 124 BCE
23 Sept. 123 BCE
23 Sept. 122 BCE
22 Sept. 121 BCE
22 Sept. 120 BCE
22 Sept. 119 BCE
22 Sept. 118 BCE
21 Sept. 117 BCE
21 Sept. 116 BCE
21 Sept. 115 BCE
21 Sept. 114 BCE
20 Sept. 113 BCE
20 Sept. 112 BCE
20 Sept. 111 BCE
20 Sept. 110 BCE
19 Sept. 109 BCE
19 Sept. 108 BCE
19 Sept. 107 BCE
19 Sept. 106 BCE
18 Sept. 105 BCE
18 Sept. 104 BCE
18 Sept. 103 BCE
18 Sept. 102 BCE
17 Sept. 101 BCE
17 Sept. 100 BCE
17 Sept. 99 BCE
17 Sept. 98 BCE
16 Sept. 97 BCE
16 Sept. 96 BCE
16 Sept. 95 BCE
16 Sept. 94 BCE
15 Sept. 93 BCE
15 Sept. 92 BCE
15 Sept. 91 BCE
15 Sept. 90 BCE
14 Sept. 89 BCE
Appendix I: page 9

Regnal years
1st of Ptolemy Neos Dionysus
2nd of Ptolemy Neos Dionysus
3rd of Ptolemy Neos Dionysus
4th of Ptolemy Neos Dionysus
21st of Ptolemy Neos Dionysus
22nd of Ptolemy Neos Dionysus
23rd of Ptolemy Neos Dionysus
1st of Cleopatra VII
2nd of Cleopatra VII
3rd of Cleopatra VII
4th of Cleopatra VII
Proleptic
Julian Date
14 Sept. 88 BCE
14 Sept. 87 BCE
14 Sept. 86 BCE
13 Sept. 85 BCE
13 Sept. 84 BCE
13 Sept. 83 BCE
13 Sept. 82 BCE
12 Sept. 81 BCE
12 Sept. 80 BCE
12 Sept. 79 BCE
12 Sept. 78 BCE
11 Sept. 77 BCE
11 Sept. 76 BCE
11 Sept. 75 BCE
11 Sept. 74 BCE
10 Sept. 73 BCE
10 Sept. 72 BCE
10 Sept. 71 BCE
10 Sept. 70 BCE
9 Sept. 69 BCE
9 Sept. 68 BCE
9 Sept. 67 BCE
9 Sept. 66 BCE
8 Sept. 65 BCE
8 Sept. 64 BCE
8 Sept. 63 BCE
8 Sept. 62 BCE
7 Sept. 61 BCE
7 Sept. 60 BCE
7 Sept. 59 BCE
7 Sept. 58 BCE
6 Sept. 57 BCE
6 Sept. 56 BCE
6 Sept. 55 BCE
6 Sept. 54 BCE
5 Sept. 53 BCE
5 Sept. 52 BCE
5 Sept. 51 BCE
5 Sept. 50 BCE
4 Sept. 49 BCE
4 Sept. 48 BCE
4 Sept. 47 BCE
4 Sept. 46 BCE
3 Sept. 45 BCE
3 Sept. 44 BCE
3 Sept. 43 BCE
3 Sept. 42 BCE
2 Sept. 41 BCE
2 Sept. 40 BCE
2 Sept. 39 BCE
2 Sept. 38 BCE
1 Sept. 37 BCE
1 Sept. 36 BCE
1 Sept. 35 BCE
1 Sept. 34 BCE
Regnal years
21st of Cleopatra VII
22nd of Cleopatra VII
1st of Augustus
2nd of Augustus
3rd of Augustus
4th of Augustus
5th of Augustus
6th of Augustus
7th of Augustus
8th of Augustus
9th of Augustus
10th of Augustus
11th of Augustus
12th of Augustus
13th of Augustus
14th of Augustus
15th of Augustus
16th of Augustus
17th of Augustus
18th of Augustus
19th of Augustus
20th of Augustus
21st of Augustus
22nd of Augustus
23rd of Augustus
24th of Augustus
25th of Augustus
26th of Augustus
27th of Augustus
28th of Augustus
29th of Augustus
30th of Augustus
31st of Augustus
32nd of Augustus
33rd of Augustus
34th of Augustus
35th of Augustus
36th of Augustus
37th of Augustus
38th of Augustus
39th of Augustus
40th of Augustus
41st of Augustus
42nd of Augustus
43rd of Augustus
1st of Tiberius
2nd of Tiberius
3rd of Tiberius
4th of Tiberius
5th of Tiberius
6th of Tiberius
7th of Tiberius
8th of Tiberius
9th of Tiberius
Proleptic
Julian Date
31 Aug. 33 BCE
31 Aug. 32 BCE
31 Aug. 31 BCE
31 Aug. 30 BCE
30 Aug. 29 BCE
30 Aug. 28 BCE
30 Aug. 27 BCE
30 Aug. 26 BCE
29 Aug. 25 BCE
29 Aug. 24 BCE
29 Aug. 23 BCE
29 Aug. 22 BCE
28 Aug. 21 BCE
28 Aug. 20 BCE
28 Aug. 19 BCE
28 Aug. 18 BCE
27 Aug. 17 BCE
27 Aug. 16 BCE
27 Aug. 15 BCE
27 Aug. 14 BCE
26 Aug. 13 BCE
26 Aug. 12 BCE
26 Aug. 11 BCE
26 Aug. 10 BCE
25 Aug. 9 BCE
25 Aug. 8 BCE
25 Aug. 7 BCE
25 Aug. 6 BCE
24 Aug. 5 BCE
24 Aug. 4 BCE
24 Aug. 3 BCE
24 Aug. 2 BCE
23 Aug. 1 BCE
23 Aug. 1 CE
23 Aug. 2 CE
23 Aug. 3 CE
22 Aug. 4 CE
22 Aug. 5 CE
22 Aug. 6 CE
22 Aug. 7 CE
21 Aug. 8 CE
21 Aug. 9 CE
21 Aug. 10 CE
21 Aug. 11 CE
20 Aug. 12 CE
20 Aug. 13 CE
20 Aug. 14 CE
20 Aug. 15 CE
19 Aug. 16 CE
19 Aug. 17 CE
19 Aug. 18 CE
19 Aug. 19 CE
18 Aug. 20 CE
18 Aug. 21 CE
18 Aug. 22 CE
Appendix I: page 10

Regnal years
10th of Tiberius
11th of Tiberius
12th of Tiberius
13th of Tiberius
14th of Tiberius
15th of Tiberius
16th of Tiberius
17th of Tiberius
18th of Tiberius
19th of Tiberius
20th of Tiberius
21st of Tiberius
22nd of Tiberius
1st of Gaius
2nd of Gaius
3rd of Gaius
4th of Gaius
1st of Claudius
2nd of Claudius
3rd of Claudius
4th of Claudius
5th of Claudius
6th of Claudius
7th of Claudius
8th of Claudius
9th of Claudius
10th of Claudius
11th of Claudius
12th of Claudius
13th of Claudius
14th of Claudius
1st of Nero
2nd of Nero
3rd of Nero
4th of Nero
5th of Nero
6th of Nero
7th of Nero
8th of Nero
9th of Nero
10th of Nero
11th of Nero
12th of Nero
13th of Nero
14th of Nero
1st of Vespasian
2nd of Vespasian
3rd of Vespasian
4th of Vespasian
5th of Vespasian
6th of Vespasian
7th of Vespasian
8th of Vespasian
9th of Vespasian
10th of Vespasian
Proleptic
Julian Date
18 Aug. 23 CE
17 Aug. 24 CE
17 Aug. 25 CE
17 Aug. 26 CE
17 Aug. 27 CE
16 Aug. 28 CE
16 Aug. 29 CE
16 Aug. 30 CE
16 Aug. 31 CE
15 Aug. 32 CE
15 Aug. 33 CE
15 Aug. 34 CE
15 Aug. 35 CE
14 Aug. 36 CE
14 Aug. 37 CE
14 Aug. 38 CE
14 Aug. 39 CE
13 Aug. 40 CE
13 Aug. 41 CE
13 Aug. 42 CE
13 Aug. 43 CE
12 Aug. 44 CE
12 Aug. 45 CE
12 Aug. 46 CE
12 Aug. 47 CE
11 Aug. 48 CE
11 Aug. 49 CE
11 Aug. 50 CE
11 Aug. 51 CE
10 Aug. 52 CE
10 Aug. 53 CE
10 Aug. 54 CE
10 Aug. 55 CE
9 Aug. 56 CE
9 Aug. 57 CE
9 Aug. 58 CE
9 Aug. 59 CE
8 Aug. 60 CE
8 Aug. 61 CE
8 Aug. 62 CE
8 Aug. 63 CE
7 Aug. 64 CE
7 Aug. 65 CE
7 Aug. 66 CE
7 Aug. 67 CE
6 Aug. 68 CE
6 Aug. 69 CE
6 Aug. 70 CE
6 Aug. 71 CE
5 Aug. 72 CE
5 Aug. 73 CE
5 Aug. 74 CE
5 Aug. 75 CE
4 Aug. 76 CE
4 Aug. 77 CE
Regnal years
1st of Titus
2nd of Titus
3rd of Titus
1st of Domitian
2nd of Domitian
3rd of Domitian
4th of Domitian
5th of Domitian
6th of Domitian
7th of Domitian
8th of Domitian
9th of Domitian
10th of Domitian
11th of Domitian
12th of Domitian
13th of Domitian
14th of Domitian
15th of Domitian
1st of Nerva
1st of Trajan
2nd of Trajan
3rd of Trajan
4th of Trajan
5th of Trajan
6th of Trajan
7th of Trajan
8th of Trajan
9th of Trajan
10th of Trajan
11th of Trajan
12th of Trajan
13th of Trajan
14th of Trajan
15th of Trajan
16th of Trajan
17th of Trajan
18th of Trajan
19th of Trajan
1st of Hadrian
2nd of Hadrian
3rd of Hadrian
4th of Hadrian
5th of Hadrian
6th of Hadrian
7th of Hadrian
8th of Hadrian
9th of Hadrian
10th of Hadrian
11th of Hadrian
12th of Hadrian
13th of Hadrian
14th of Hadrian
15th of Hadrian
16th of Hadrian
17th of Hadrian
Proleptic
Julian Date
4 Aug. 78 CE
4 Aug. 79 CE
3 Aug. 80 CE
3 Aug. 81 CE
3 Aug. 82 CE
3 Aug. 83 CE
2 Aug. 84 CE
2 Aug. 85 CE
2 Aug. 86 CE
2 Aug. 87 CE
1 Aug. 88 CE
1 Aug. 89 CE
1 Aug. 90 CE
1 Aug. 91 CE
31 July 92 CE
31 July 93 CE
31 July 94 CE
31 July 95 CE
30 July 96 CE
30 July 97 CE
30 July 98 CE
30 July 99 CE
29 July 100 CE
29 July 101 CE
29 July 102 CE
29 July 103 CE
28 July 104 CE
28 July 105 CE
28 July 106 CE
28 July 107 CE
27 July 108 CE
27 July 109 CE
27 July 110 CE
27 July 111 CE
26 July 112 CE
26 July 113 CE
26 July 114 CE
26 July 115 CE
25 July 116 CE
25 July 117 CE
25 July 118 CE
25 July 119 CE
24 July 120 CE
24 July 121 CE
24 July 122 CE
24 July 123 CE
23 July 124 CE
23 July 125 CE
23 July 126 CE
23 July 127 CE
22 July 128 CE
22 July 129 CE
22 July 130 CE
22 July 131 CE
21 July 132 CE
Appendix I: page 11

Regnal years
18th of Hadrian
19th of Hadrian
20th of Hadrian
21st of Hadrian
1st of Antoninus
2nd of Antoninus
3rd of Antoninus
4th of Antoninus
5th of Antoninus
6th of Antoninus
7th of Antoninus
8th of Antoninus
9th of Antoninus
10th of Antoninus
Proleptic
Julian Date
21 July 133 CE
21 July 134 CE
21 July 135 CE
20 July 136 CE
20 July 137 CE
20 July 138 CE
20 July 139 CE
19 July 140 CE
19 July 141 CE
19 July 142 CE
19 July 143 CE
18 July 144 CE
18 July 145 CE
18 July 146 CE
Regnal years
11th of Antoninus
12th of Antoninus
13th of Antoninus
14th of Antoninus
15th of Antoninus
16th of Antoninus
17th of Antoninus
18th of Antoninus
19th of Antoninus
20th of Antoninus
21st of Antoninus
22nd of Antoninus
23rd of Antoninus
Proleptic
Julian Date
18 July 147 CE
17 July 148 CE
17 July 149 CE
17 July 150 CE
17 July 151 CE
16 July 152 CE
16 July 153 CE
16 July 154 CE
16 July 155 CE
15 July 156 CE
15 July 157 CE
15 July 158 CE
15 July 159 CE
The "Egyptian years" that Ptolemy uses are particularly convenient for calculation purposes, as they are
all precisely the same length: the Egyptian civil calendar had no leap years and every year had 365 days
(twelve months of thirty days each and an additional five days). The Julian calendar date of the Egyptian
New Year therefore slips back one day every four years, where the Julian calendar has an intercalary day
and "wanders" backwards slowly through the months; the Egyptian year is therefore sometimes called
the annus vagus, or "wandering year".
What, precisely, is the significance of the Julian calendar dates given in Table 2? Consider, for example,
the first year of Nebuchadnezzar II, which according to the table began on 21st Jan. 604 BCE One thing
we must not assume is that Nebuchadnezzar ascended the throne and began his reign on that day; it
would have been pure coincidence if this had been the case and, indeed, we know from Royal Diary
tablet BM21946 (see page xxxix of the Introductory Notes and Appendix II) that this actually happened
on 1st Elul (late summer), on the Babylonian day corresponding to 6/7th Sept. 605 BCE So what, if
anything, did happen on 21st Jan. 604 BCE? To answer this, we must look at Babylonia and Egypt
separately.
There is no reason to think that 21st Jan. 604 BCE had any special significance in Babylonia. The lunar
month Kislev (Month 9), had begun some two and one-half weeks earlier with the first evening sighting
of the lunar crescent soon after the New Moon (which occurred late in the evening of 1st Jan. 604 BCE)
and so the Babylonian day that began at sunset on 20th Jan. and ended at sunset on 21st Jan. would have
been 18th or 19th Kislev. It is certain that Nebuchadnezzar II did not celebrate his accession to the
throne on that day: for one thing, his reign had already begun on the previous 1st Elul, some 3 months
before. On the other hand, his "Year 1" did not begin until the first Babylonian New Year after his
ascent of the throne, on the following 1st Nisan, which fell on about 30th April in 604 BCE On 21st Jan.
604 BCE, he was in his "accession year", the period from his accession to the first New Year after it in
the spring.
In Egypt, however, 21st Jan. 604 BCE did have some particular significance: it was the first day of the
month Thoth, and was New Years Day. Now unlike Babylonian days, which began in the evening at
sunset and consisted of the hours of darkness and the following hours of daylight, Egyptian days began
in the morning at sunrise and consisted of the hours of daylight and the following hours of darkness. The
Egyptian New Year of Jan. 604 BCE thus began at sunrise on 21st Jan. and lasted until sunrise on 22nd
Appendix I: page 12
Jan. But how did this Egyptian New Year of 21st/22nd Jan. 604 BCE come to mark the start of the reign
of Nebuchadnezzar II in Ptolemys Canon?
First, remember that the Canon only records whole numbers of Egyptian years. The reign of any of the
Babylonian kings, when converted into Canon years, must therefore begin on an Egyptian New Year.
Table 2 gives the Julian dates of all the Egyptian New Years for the period covered by the Canon. It
appears that Ptolemy chose the Egyptian New Year of 21st Jan. 604 BCE to represent the beginning of
Nebuchadnezzar IIs reign because it was the Egyptian New Year that preceeded the start of his "first
regnal year", i.e. the first Babylonian New Year after his actual accession.
The Canons dating technique therefore employs a rather curious combination of Egyptian pre-dating
and Babylonian post-dating: "pre-dating" means counting the period from a kings accession until the
next New Year as his "first year", and "post-dating" means reckoning that period as his "accession year"
and not starting to count his regnal years until the first full year after his accession. Ptolemy first postdates each kings accession according to the Babylonian calendar, and then pre-dates the Babylonian
New Years according to the Egyptian calendar. Depuydt, in his paper cited above (p.114), gives three
examples, namely Xerxes I, Darius II and Artaxerxes II, to illustrate this:
(1) Xerxes Is reign actually began in late November 486 BCE: post-dating to the following Babylonian New
Year brings us to 3rd/4th Apr. 485 BCE, and then pre-dating this to the preceding Egyptian New Year
produces the Canon date 23rd/24th Dec. 486 BCE as the artificial start of his reign;
(2) Darius IIs reign actually began between 24th Dec. 424 BCE and 13th Feb. 423 BCE: post-dating to the
following Babylonian New Year brings us to 10th/11th Apr. 423 BCE, and then pre-dating this to the
preceding Egyptian New Year produces the Canon date 7th/8th Dec. 424 BCE as the artificial start of his
reign;
(3) Artaxerxes IIs reign actually began between 17th Sept. 405 BCE and 9th/10th Apr. 404 BCE: post-dating to
the following Babylonian New Year brings us to 9th/10th Apr. 404 BCE, and then pre-dating this to the
preceding Egyptian New Year produces the Canon date 2nd/3rd Dec. 405 BCE as the artificial start of his
reign.
On the basis of these three examples, Depuydt notes that (i) in the case of Xerxes I, the Canons
artificial start-date for his reign (23rd Dec. 486 BCE) is later than the actual date (late November); (ii) in
the case of Darius II, the Canons artificial start-date for his reign (7th Dec. 424 BCE) is earlier than the
actual date (between 24th Dec. 424 BCE and 13th Feb. 423 BCE); and (iii) in Artaxerxes IIs case, the
Canons artificial start-date for his reign (2nd Dec. 405 BCE) could be either earlier or later than the
actual date (between 17th Sept. 405 BCE and 9th/10th Apr. 404 BCE).
Confused yet? it gets worse. Here, I quote Depuydt verbatim, from pages 114-5:
"It should be noted that the post-dating system was abandoned from Alexander onwards. This affects numbers
31, 32 and 33 in the Canon [Alexander the Great, Philip Arrhidus and Alexander II].For example, Year 1 of
Philip begins, according to the Canon, on 12th Nov. 324 BCE As with all the other rulers of Babylon in the
Canon, the beginning of Philips reign is pre-dated in Egyptian fashion from the beginning of the Babylonian
Year 1. But in the case of Philip, the beginning of Year 1 was itself not post-dated: it coincided with the actual
beginning of his reign and Year 2, not Year 1 as with most other rulers of Babylon mentioned in the Canon,
began on the first New Year of the reign. For Philip Arrhidus and Alexander II, and it would seem also for
Alexander the Great, does not pre-date after post-dating, but only pre-dates."
In conclusion: the Canon dates tell us nothing about the actual dates of the kings' reigns. They were not
intended to; Ptolemy constructed them for the purpose of astronomical calsulations only. The only thing
we can safely derive from each is the year corresponding to each year of each kings reign.
Appendix II
Appendix II: page 1
Appendix II
Babylonian Royal Diary Tablet BM21946
On the following pages, I reproduce the transcribed text and most recent translation of the Babylonian
Royal Diary tablet BM21946 referred to several times in this book, taken from Albert Kirk Graysons
Assyrian & Babylonian Chronicles (Eisenbrauns, 2000), pages 99-102.
OBVERSE
REVERSE
Babylonian "Royal Diary" Tablet BM21946
Appendix III: page 2
Appendix II: page 3
Appendix II: page 5
Appendix III
Appendix III
Babylonian Astronomical Diary Tablet VAT4956
The transcription & translation, with commentary, of Babylonian Astronomical Diary Tablet VAT4946,
which are reproduced on the following pages, are by A. J. Sachs & H. Hunger, and were published as
Astronomical diaries and related texts from Babylon, Volume I: diaries from 652 BC to 262 BC (Verlag
der sterreichischen Akademie der Wienschaften, Wien, 1988), pages 46-53. An earlier study of the
same tablet, with a detailed analysis (in German) of the astronomical data, can be found in Ein astronomischer Beobachtungstext aus dem 37te Jahre Nebukadnezars II (567/66)" by P. V. Neugebauer &
E. Weidner (Berichte ber die Wienschaften, philologisch-historische Klae 67/II, Leipzig, 1915).
Obverse
Reverse
Appendix IV
Appendix IV: page 1
Appendix IV
Leaders, "Judges" & Kings of Ancient Yisrael
Mosheh
Y'hoshua
Judge Ot'niyel
Judge hud
Judge Shamgar
Judge D'vorah
Midiyanite domination (no Yisraelite ruler)
Judge Gid'on
Avimelech
Judge Tola
Judge Ya'ir
P'lishtian-Ammonite domination (no Yisraelite ruler)
Judge Yiftah
Judge Iv'tzan
Judge Eilon
Judge Avdon
Judge Shimshon
Judge li
Judge Sh'muel
Sha'ul
David
Shlomoh
Y'HUDAH (SOUTHERN KINGDOM)
R'hav'am
Aviyyam
Asa
960-944 BCE
943-941 BCE
940-900 BCE
Y'hoshafat
899-875 BCE
Y'horam
Ahazyah
Atalyah
Yo'ash
877-870 BCE
870 BCE
869-864 BCE
863-825 BCE
Amatz'yahu
Azaryah/Uzziyahu
824-796 BCE
810-759 BCE
Yotam
Ahaz
758-743 BCE
742-727 BCE
Hiz'kiyyahu
M'nasheh
Amon
Yoshiyyahu
Y'hoahaz
Y'hoyakim
Y'hoyachin
Tzid'kiyyahu
726-698 BCE
697-643 BCE
642-641 BCE
640-610 BCE
609 BCE
608-598 BCE
597 BCE
597-587 BCE
1476-1437 BCE
1436-1409 BCE
1408-1369 BCE
1368-1289 BCE
1289 BCE
1288-1249 BCE
1248-1242 BCE
1241-1202 BCE
1201-1199 BCE
1198-1176 BCE
1175-1154 BCE
1154-1137 BCE
1137-1132 BCE
1132-1126 BCE
1126-1117 BCE
1117-1110 BCE
1110-1091 BCE
1091-1052 BCE
1052-1042 BCE
1042-1040 BCE
1040-1001 BCE
1000-961 BCE
YISRAEL (NORTHERN KINGDOM)
Yarov'am I
960-939 BCE
Nadav
Ba'asha
lah
Zimri
Omri
Ah'av
Ahaz'yah
Yoram
939-938 BCE
938-915 BCE
915-914 BCE
914 BCE
914-903 BCE
903-882 BCE
882-881 BCE
881-870 BCE
Yhu
Y'hoahaz
Y'hoash
Yarov'am II
Z'charyah
Shallum
M'nahem
P'kahyah
Pekah
869-842 BCE
842-826 BCE
825-812 BCE
812-772 BCE
772-771 BCE
771 BCE
770-761 BCE
760-759 BCE
758-739 BCE
Hosh'a
738-721 BCE

Bibchron PDF

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Bibchron PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

"

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

A little more simple arithmetic reveals that

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

The Talmud (Treatise Megillah, folio 17a) wonders

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

are described in B'rshit 29:31-30:24. The full passage reads as follows:

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

Family Tree of the Partiarchs

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

Family Tree of the Partiarchs (continued)

Yissachar Z'vulun Dinah

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

The account of the Yisraelites' travels in B'midbar continues

while the Sh'mot narrative says

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

The Mishnah (Treatise Ta'anit, ch.4, para. 6) records that

and the Talmud (folio 28b) explains

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

The Yovel Calendar

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

The verse in Y'hezkel, which I have now mentioned twice, reads

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

Ot'niyel (dominated by Kushan-Rish'atayim, king of Aram-Naharayim, for the first 8 years)

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

The divided kingdom

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

Kings of Yisrael (the northern kingdom)

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

Kings of Y'hudah (the southern kingdom)

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

Hiz'kiyyahu was succeeded by his son M'nasheh.

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

the Yovel celebrations later that year?

and the Chronicler elaborates:

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible

Chronology of the Hebrew Bible