BIBLE CHRONOLOGY

BIBLE CHRONOLOGY
Our Bible Chronology is a subject involved in confusion and perplexity. Learned men and antiquarians have been laborious in critical investigations for a solution of the existing difficulties, but have thus far failed of reaching any very satisfactory results.
What has contributed to this chronological confusion is the fact that the events of sacred history, as recorded in the Scriptures of the Old Testament, are not given in the order of their occurrence. Hence, it becomes a more difficult work to adjust our Bible Chronology. Another source of existing perplexity is the fact that the three existing versions of Holy Scripture, viz., the Hebrew, the Samaritan Pentateuch, and the Greek Septuagint, have each a different chronology, showing a discrepancy of hundreds of years between the creation of man and the birth of Christ. The greater discrepancy is between the Hebrew version and the Greek Septuagint. According to Abp. Usher, who adopts the authority of the Hebrew Scriptures, the period between the creation of man and the birth of Christ is 4004 years. According to Dr. Hales, who advocates the Septuagint chronology, this period embraces 5411 years, a difference of 1407 years, as compared with the computation of Usher.
Various theories have been adopted for the purpose of accounting for the chronological discrepancy between the Hebrew version and the Greek Septuagint. There are plausible reasons for supposing that the translators of the Septuagint, being Jews, and living in Egypt, corrupted the chronology of their own Scriptures, influenced by motives of national vanity, in order to extend the antiquity of their sacred records, and of their nation, so as to equal, or approximate unto the high antiquity claimed for the Egyptian chronicles, and the remote date of their national organization. But this is not the place to discuss the causes of these chronological discrepancies, nor would such discussion be very satisfactory.
It is admitted that, in respect to the probability of accuracy arising from the state of the text, the Hebrew has the advantage. That text is, therefore, followed in the authorized version of our English Bible; and the chronology, as therein given according to the learned Usher, is accepted as the most reliable of any among the conflicting systems which different chronologists, ancient and modern, have advocated. It is not claimed that in existing circumstances entire accuracy as to dates is obtained. All that can reasonably be expected is an approximation to chronological accuracy in the dates which are given.
In the preparation of the following table, the general plan adopted is that appended by Dr. Dewar, Principal of the University at Aberdeen, to his enlarged and improved edition of Stackhouse's Biblical works, as edited and published in Glasgow, 1842. To make it more full and satisfactory, it has been supplemented by additions selected from original sources, and from a variety of chronological articles to which the editor has had access. The aid furnished by these articles is hereby acknowledged. The Table, thus prepared, covers the same period as that embraced in the History of the Bible, to which it is appended.
Chronological Tables
Note--Such events as are derived from secular history, are given in italics, to distinguish them readily from those of Biblical origin, so far as the inspired History extends.