Hughes, Secrets of the Times
Posted: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 | Updated: Wed, 13 Oct 2021 | Tagged:
Jeremy Hughes, Secrets of the Times: Myth and History in Biblical Chronology. JSOTSS, 66; Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1990 [reprinted: LHBOT; London: Continuum, 2009].
N.b. Hughes is for the most part interested in working out principles of chronology internal to his various sources, thus the information in Tables 1-3 attends to relative chronology. Only in Tables 4-5 are the data concerned with absolute chronologies (i.e., “dates”).
Tables
1. Priestly chronology, from the creation to the founding of the second temple
1.1 From Adam to the Flood
1.2 From the flood to Terah (father of Abraham)
1.3 The Hebrew Patriarchs
2. Deuteronomistic chronology from the settlement in Canaan to the Babylonian exile
2.1 The period of the judges
2.2 David and Solomon
2.3 Kings of Judah from Rehoboam to Jehoshaphat
2.4 Kings of Judah from Jehoram to Zedekiah
3. Chronological data in Josephus
3.1 From the Exodus to the foundation of the temple
3.2 Judaean kings from David’s accession to the Babylonian exile
3.3 Israelite kings from the schism to the fall of Samaria
4. Mesopotamian chronology
4.1 Kings of Assyria
4.2 Kings of Babylon
4.3 Kings of Persia
5. Israelite-Judaean Chronology
5.1 Kings of Israel
5.2 Kings of Judah
6. Names of the Months
Reviews
- John Barton, Journal of Jewish Studies, 41/2 (1990), pp. 261-263.
- Lowell K. Handy, Critical Review of Books in Religion, (1992), pp. 97-99.
William H. Irwin, Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 54/2 (1992), pp. 323-324.
The argument of the book is that biblical chronology is schematic not only in the priestly chronology of the world but also in the deuteronomistic chronology of Israel, including the reigns of the kings of Israel and Judah in the Books of Kings. … Although the title may give the impression that the study’s principal focus is the symbolic or mythical character of biblical chronology and indeed this may have been the author’s original intention, the recovery of the actual chronology of the kings receives at least equal attention.
Gwilym H. Jones, Journal of Theological Studies, ns 42/1 (1991), pp. 155-157.
- Peter Mommer, Theologische Literaturzeitung, 116/4 (1991), pp. 269-271.
1. Priestly chronology, from the creation to the founding of the second temple
1.1 From Adam to the Flood
| Genesis | Name | MT | LXX | SP | Priestly | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.3 | Adam | 130 | 230 | 130 | 130 | |
| 5.6 | Seth | 105 | 205 | 105 | 105 | |
| 5.9 | Enosh | 90 | 190 | 90 | 90 | |
| 5.12 | Kenan | 70 | 170 | 70 | 70 | |
| 5.15 | Mahalalel | 65 | 165 | 65 | 65 | |
| 5.18 | Jared | 162 | 162 | 62 | 62 | |
| 5.21 | Enoch | 65 | 165 | 65 | 65 | |
| 5.25 | Methuselah | 187 | 167 | 67 | 69 | |
| 5.28 | Lamech | 182 | 188 | 53 | 53 | |
| 5.32 | Noah | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | not included in total |
| 7.6,9.28 | (age at flood) | 600 | 600 | 600 | 600 | |
| 11.10 | Shem | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | not included in total |
| Totals | 1656 | 2242 | 1307 | 1309 |
1.2 From the flood to Terah (father of Abraham)
| Genesis | Name | MT | LXX | SP | Priestly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11.10 | flood to Arpachshad | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| 11.12 | Arpachshad | 35 | 135 | 135 | 35 |
| 11.13 | Kenan | 130 | |||
| 11.14 | Shelah | 30 | 130 | 130 | 30 |
| 11.16 | Eber | 34 | 134 | 134 | 34 |
| 11.18 | Peleg | 30 | 130 | 130 | 30 |
| 11.20 | Reu | 32 | 132 | 132 | 32 |
| 11.22 | Serug | 30 | 130 | 130 | 30 |
| 11.24 | Nahor | 29 | 79 | 79 | 29 |
| 11.26 | Terah | 70 | 70 | 70 | 70 |
| Total | 290/292 | 1070/1072 | 940/942 | 290 |
1.3 The Hebrew Patriarchs
| Genesis | Name | MT | LXX | SP | Priestly | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21.5 | Abraham | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | |
| 25.26 | Isaac | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | |
| 47.9 | Jacob’s age on entering Egypt | 130 | 130 | 130 | 130 | |
| Total | 290 | 290 | 290 | 290 | ||
| 12.40 | Israel in Egypt | 430 | 215 | 215 | 430 | |
| Israel in Canaan | 215 | 215 | ||||
| 1 Kings 6.1 | Exodus to first temple | 480 | 440 | 480 | ||
| First temple period | 430 | 430/435 | 430 | not included in total | ||
| Exile | 50 | not included in total |
2. Deuteronomistic chronology from the settlement in Canaan to the Babylonian exile
2.1 The period of the judges
| Judges | Name or Event | MT | LXX | Josephus | Deuteronomy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8 | Mesopotamian oppression | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
| 3.11 | Tranquility | 40 | 50 | 40 | 40 |
| 3.14 | Moabite oppression | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| 3.30 | Tranquility | 80 | 80 | 81 | 80 |
| 4.3 | Canaanite oppression | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| 5.31 | Tranquility | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 |
| 6.1 | Midianite oppression | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| 8.28 | Tranquility | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 |
| 9.22 | Abimelech | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 10.2 | Tola | 23 | 23 | 23 | |
| 10.3 | Jair | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| 10.8 | Ammonite oppression | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| 12.7 | Jephthah | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 |
| 12.9 | Ibzan | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| 12.11 | Elon | 10 | 10 | 10 | |
| 12.14 | Abdon | 8 | 8 | 8 | |
| 13.1 | Philistine oppression | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 |
| 15.20,16.31 | Samson | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| 1 Sam. 4.18 | Eli | 40 | 20 | 40 | 40 |
| 1 Sam. 7.15 | Samuel | 30 (not included in total) | 30 | ||
| Total | 450 | 430 | 450 | 480 |
2.2 David and Solomon
| 1 Kings | Name | MT | LXX | Josephus | Deuteronomy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.11 | David | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 |
| 11.42 | Solomon | 40 | 40 | 80 | 40 |
2.3 Kings of Judah from Rehoboam to Jehoshaphat
| 1 Kings | Name | MT | LXX | Josephus | Deuteronomy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12.24 | Rehoboam | 12 | |||
| 14.21 | Rehoboam | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
| 15.2 | Abijam | 3 | 6 | 3 | 6 |
| 15.10 | Asa | 41 | 41 | 41 | 41 |
| 22.42 | Jehoshaphat | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
2.4 Kings of Judah from Jehoram to Zedekiah
| 2 Kings | Name | MT | LXX | Josephus | Deuteronomy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.17 | Jehoram | 8 | 10 | 8 | 11 |
| 8.26 | Ahaziah | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 11.4 | Athaliah (queen) | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| 12.2 | Joash | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 |
| 14.2 | Amaziah | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 |
| 15.2 | Uzziah | 52 | 52 | 52 | 52 |
| 15.33 | Jotham | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| 16.2 | Ahaz | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| 18.2 | Hezekiah | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 |
| 21.1 | Manasseh | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 |
| 21.19 | Amon | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 22.1 | Josiah | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 |
| 23.31 | Jehoahaz | 3 months | 3 months | 3 months | 3 months |
| 23.36 | Jehoiakim | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
| 24.8 | Jehoiachin | 3 months | 3 months | 3 months | 3 months |
| 24.18 | Zedekiah | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
| Total | 474 | 474/479 | 514 | 480 |
3. Chronological data in Josephus
3.1 From the Exodus to the foundation of the temple
| Antiquities | Name | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.176,327 | Moses | 40 | |
| 5.117 | Joshua | 25 | |
| 6.84 | (anarchy) | 18 | |
| 5.181 | Mesopotamian oppression | 8 | |
| 5.184 | Kenaz | 40 | |
| 5.187 | Moabite oppression | 18 | |
| 5.197 | Ehud | 80 | |
| 5.197 | Shamgar | 1 | |
| 5.200 | Canaanite oppression | 20 | |
| 5.209 | Barak | 40 | |
| 5.211 | Midianite oppression | 7 | |
| 5.232 | Gideon | 40 | |
| 5.239 | Abimelech | 3 | |
| 5.254 | Jair | 22 | |
| 5.263 | Ammonite oppression | 18 | |
| 5.270 | Jephthah | 6 | |
| 5.271 | Ibzan | 7 | |
| 5.272 | Elon | 10 | |
| 5.273-4 | Abdon | ||
| 5.275 | Philistine oppression | 40 | |
| 5.316 | Samson | 20 | |
| 5.359 | Eli | 40 | |
| 6.294 | Samuel (sole rule) | 12 | |
| 6.294,378 | Samuel and Saul | 18 | |
| 6.378 | Saul (sole rule) | 22 | |
| 10.143 | Saul | 20 | not included in total |
| 7.65,389 | David in Hebron | 7 years 6 months | |
| 7.389 | David in Jerusalem | 33 | |
| 8.61 | Solomon before the temple | 4 | |
| Total | 591 years 6 months |
3.2 Judaean kings from David’s accession to the Babylonian exile
| Antiquities | Name | Synchronisms | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.389 | David in Hebron | 7 years 6 months | |
| 7.389 | David in Jerusalem | 33 | |
| 8.211 | Solomon | 80 | |
| 8.264 | Rehoboam | 17 | |
| 8.264,285 | Abijam | Jeroboam 18 | 3 |
| 8.314 | Asa | 41 | |
| 9.44 | Jehoshaphat | 25 | |
| 9.104 | Jehoram | 8 | |
| 9.121 | Ahaziah | 1 | |
| 9.143 | Athaliah (queen) | 7 | |
| 9.142f,272 | Joash | 40 | |
| 9.186,204 | Amaziah | Jehoash 2 | 29 |
| 9.216,227 | Uzziah | Jeroboam 14 | 52 |
| 9.243 | Jotham | 16 | |
| 9.257 | Ahaz | 16 | |
| 9.260,10.36 | Hezekiah | Hoshea 4 | 29 |
| 10.46 | Manasseh | 55 | |
| 10.47 | Amon | 2 | |
| 10.77 | Josiah | 31 | |
| 10.83 | Jehoahaz | 3 months | |
| 10.98 | Jehoiakim | 11 | |
| 10.98 | Jehoiachin | 3 months | |
| 10.135 | Zedekiah | 11 | |
| Total | 515 |
3.3 Israelite kings from the schism to the fall of Samaria
| Antiquities | Name | Synchronism | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8.287 | Jeroboam | 22 | |
| 8.287 | Nadab | Asa 2 | 2 |
| 8.299 | Baasha | 24 | |
| 8.307 | Elah | 2 | |
| 8.311 | Zimri | 7 days | |
| 8.312 | Omri | Asa 30 | 12 |
| 8.316 | Ahab | 22 | |
| 9.19 | Ahaziah | 2 | |
| 9.27 | Joram | 12 | |
| 9.160 | Jehu | 27 | |
| 9.173 | Jehoahaz | Joash 21 | 17 |
| 9.177 | Jehoash | Joash 37 | 16 |
| 9.205,215 | Jeroboam | Amaziah 15 | 40 |
| 9.228 | Zechariah | 6 month | |
| 9.228 | Shallum | 1 month | |
| 9.232 | Menahem | 10 | |
| 9.233 | Pekahiah | 2 | |
| 9.234 | Pekah | 20 | |
| 9.258 | Hoshea | 9 | |
| 9.277 | Samaria was besieged | Hoshea 7 | |
| 9.278 | Samaria fell | Hoshea 9 = Hezekiah 7 | |
| Total | 239 years 7 months | 239 years 7 months |
4. Mesopotamian chronology
4.1 Kings of Assyria
| Name | Years | From (BC) | To (BC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adadnirari II | 21 | 912 | 891 |
| Tukultinimurta II | 7 | 891 | 884 |
| Ashurnasirpal II | 25 | 884 | 859 |
| Shalmaneser III | 35 | 859 | 824 |
| Shamshi-adad V | 13 | 824 | 811 |
| Adadnirari III | 28 | 811 | 783 |
| Shalmaneser IV | 10 | 783 | 773 |
| Ashurdan III | 18 | 773 | 755 |
| Ashurnirari V | 10 | 755 | 745 |
| Tiglathpileser III | 18 | 745 | 727 |
| Shalmaneser V | 5 | 727 | 722 |
| Sargon II | 17 | 722 | 705 |
| Sennacherib | 24 | 705 | 681 |
| Esarhaddon | 12 | 681 | 669 |
| Ashurbanipal | 42 | 669 | 627 |
4.2 Kings of Babylon
| Name | Years | From (BC) | To (BC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nabonassar | 14 | 748 | 734 |
| Nabunadinzeri | 2 | 734 | 732 |
| Nabushumukin II | 1 month | 732 | |
| Nabuzukinzeri | 3 | 732 | 729 |
| Tiglathpileser | 2 | 729 | 727 |
| Shalmaneser | 5 | 727 | 722 |
| Merodachbaladan II | 12 | 722 | 710 |
| Sargon II | 5 | 710 | 705 |
| Sennacherib | 2 | 705 | 703 |
| Mardukzakirshumi II | 1 month | 703 | |
| Merodachbaladan II | 9 months | 703 | |
| Belibni | 3 | 703 | 700 |
| Ashurnadinshumi | 6 | 700 | 694 |
| Nergalushezib | 1 | 694 | 693 |
| Mushezibmarduk | 4 | 693 | 689 |
| Sennacherib | 8 | 689 | 681 |
| Esarhaddon | 12 | 681 | 669 |
| Ashurbanipal | 1 | 669 | 668 |
| Shamash-shumukin | 20 | 668 | 648 |
| Kandalanu | 21 | 648 | 627 |
| (inter-regnum) | 1 | 627 | 626 |
| Nabopolassar | 21 | 626 | 605 |
| Nebuchadrezzar II | 43 | 605 | 562 |
| Evil-merodach | 2 | 562 | 560 |
| Neriglissar | 4 | 560 | 556 |
| Labashi-marduk | 3 months | 556 | |
| Nabonidus | 17 | 556 | 539 |
4.3 Kings of Persia
| Name | Years | From (BC) | To (BC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyrus II | 9 | 539 | 530 |
| Cambyses II | 8 | 530 | 522 |
| Bardiya | 6 months | 522 | |
| Darius I | 36 | 522 | 486 |
| Xerxes I | 21 | 486 | 465 |
| Artaxerxes I | 41 | 465 | 424 |
| Xerxes II | 1.5 months | 424 | |
| Darius II | 19 | 424 | 405 |
| Artaxerxes II | 46 | 405 | 359 |
| Artaxerxes III | 21 | 359 | 338 |
| Arses | 2 | 338 | 336 |
| Darius III | 5 | 336 | 331 |
5. Israelite-Judaean Chronology
5.1 Kings of Israel
| Name | Years | From (BC) | To (BC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeroboam | 25 or 22 | 937 | 913 |
| Nadab | 2 | 913 | 912 |
| Baasha | 24 | 912 | 889 |
| Elah | 2 | 889 | 888 |
| Zimri | 7 days | 888 | |
| Omri | 12 | 888 | 877 |
| Ahab | 24 or 22 | 877 | 854 |
| Ahaziah | 2 | 854 | 853 |
| Joram | 12 | 853 | 842 |
| Jehu | 27 (Josephus) | 842 | 816 |
| Jehoahaz | 17 | 816 | 800 |
| Jehoash | 16 | 800 | 785 |
| Jeroboam | 41 | 785 | 745 |
| Zechariah | 6 months | 745 | |
| Shallum | 1 month | 745 | |
| Menahem | 10 | 745 | 736 |
| Pekahiah | 2 | 736 | 735 |
| Pekah | 4 or 20 | 735 | 732 |
| Hioshea | 9 | 732 | 724 |
5.2 Kings of Judah
| Name | Years | From (BC) | To (BC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rehoboam | 17 | 937 | 921 |
| Abijam | 6 | 921 | 916 |
| Asa | 41 | 916 | 876 |
| Jehoshaphat | 25 | 876 | 852 |
| Jehoram | 11 or 10 | 852 | 842 |
| Ahaziah | 1 | 842 | |
| Athaliah | 7 | 842 | 836 |
| Joash | 38 or 40 | 836 | 799 |
| Amaziah | 28 or 29 | 799 | 772 |
| Azariah | 26 or 52 | 772 | 747 |
| Jotham | 11 or 16 | 747 | 737 |
| Ahaz | 16 | 737 | 722 |
| Hezekiah | 29 | 722 | 694 |
| Manasseh | 55 | 694 | 640 |
| Amon | 2 | 640 | 639 |
| Josiah | 31 | 639 | 609 |
| Jehoahaz | 3 months | 609 | |
| Jehoiakim | 11 | 609 | 598 |
| Jehoiachin | 3 months | 598 | |
| Zedekiah | 11 | 598 | 587 |
6. Names of the Months
| Number | Babylonian | Hebrew | Canaanite | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nisanu | Nisan | Abib | March | April |
| 2 | Aiaru | Iyyar | Ziv | April | May |
| 3 | Simanu | Sivan | May | June | |
| 4 | Duzu | Tammuz | June | July | |
| 5 | Abu | Ab | July | August | |
| 6 | Ululu | Elul | August | September | |
| 7 | Tashritu | Tishri | Ethanim | September | October |
| 8 | Arashanu | Marheshvan | Bul | October | November |
| 9 | Kislimu | Kislev | November | December | |
| 10 | Tebetu | Tebeth | December | January | |
| 11 | Shabatu | Shebat | January | February | |
| 12 | Adaru | Adar | February | March |