26th Dynasty, and the earliest, that of Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, with the chief of the 22nd Dynasty, Schesonk-Sesak. We may venture to state here by anticipation, although we are not aware that it has ever yet been proved, that all those Scripture data accord in the most satisfactory manner with the traditions and contemporary monuments of Egypt. In the third book the proof of this will be prepared, and in the fourth presented to our readers.

But from the time of Rehoboam and the dedication of Solomon's Temple upwards, the continuous narrative of Scripture ceases, and consequently here also ceases the-up to this point reasonable-harmony in the chronological system of the critics. Beyond the earlier of those epochs-the building of the Temple-we have two great periods to pass through, in which the Jewish and Egyptian chronology must be compared; and the pivots of these two periods are nothing less than the pivots of the history of Egypt, and perhaps of the

world.

That nearest to us extends from the building of the Temple to the Exodus, or from Solomon to Moses.

The more remote is the sojourn of the children of Israel in Egypt, or from Moses to Joseph. No correct estimate of the value of Jewish chronological tradition relative to the age of the three Arch-Patriarchs, or the migration of Abraham from Mesopotamia into Canaan, can be expected apart from a previous analysis of the same traditional sources, on which we depend for the measurement of those two periods. When once we have attained this lofty vantage-ground, we may attempt to investigate the Origines of the Jewish people and of mankind, and extend our speculations to the question: whether or no a chronological character can be ascribed to the names and genealogies which connect Abraham, the father of Isaac and Jacob, with his ancestors in Chaldæa, and these again with the first race of

man after the Flood. On the result of this latter investigation will depend how far we may expect to find an historico-chronological element in these biblical accounts of human life during the antediluvian period.

A.

BIBLICAL TRADITION AND RESEARCH INTO THE PERIOD FROM THE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE TO THE MIGRATION INTO EGYPT, OR FROM SOLOMON TO JOSEPH.

I. THE LENGTH OF THE PERIOD FROM SOLOMON TO MOSES.

WE have in Scripture two data as to the length of the first of these two periods-one, reckoning by the separate dates in the Pentateuch, the Books of Joshua and Judges; the other, a general statement in the Book of Kings. The former dates are transmitted harmoniously -although with occasional chasms-in the different texts; as to the latter, the Septuagint and Hebrew texts differ; while both are at variance with any sum total that can be formed out of the individual numbers of the other reckoning.

We shall first examine the specific dates, divided into sections, according to the general course of history during the period.

I. The time of Moses.

1. The journey to Sinai, from thence to Ka- Yrs. Mthr. desh Barnea: the mission of Caleb

2. The march from Kadesh Barnea to the gulf of Eleanitis and back-subsequent decampment, conquest, and occupation by the Israelites of the country to the east of Jordan-the death of Moses

2+x

37+x

reckoned as 40 yrs.

II. The time of Joshua. He country on this side Jordan. ration arises

conquers the
A new gene-

The death of Joshua at the age of 110. (Josh. xxiv. 29. See for the age of Caleb, Josh. xiv. 7. 10.)

. x yrs.

III. The period of the Judges, from the death of Joshua to the close of Samuel's rule. The data touching this period are of two kinds. On one side, the duration of foreign supremacy over the Israelites is given; on the other, that of their independence and state of peace under one or other of their judges, or simply the date of the time that such or such a leader was in office. Thus it is said of the time when Ehud was judge "the land had rest fourscore years." It is improbable that Ehud was judge in Israel during all this period of peace: yet the name of no other judge occurs between him and Deborah. But one single fact the defeat of the Philistines by the hero Shamgar-is -is briefly mentioned. Samson on the contrary (it is said) judged Israel 20 years "in the days of the Philistines," consequently in the time of the supremacy of the Philistines, which is stated as being a period of 40 years. Here then the question at once presents itself: how is the time to be computed from these data? merely by the years of the Judges? or by them conjointly with those of foreign supremacy An exclusive preference of either method were obviously objectionable. We here give the numbers. as transmitted to us, in a double column, according to the above twofold notation.

?

x years

IV. The time of the Kings to the Building of the Temple. Saul (his son Ish-bosheth is 40 years old at his death, 2 Sam. ii. 10.) David (7 years at Hebron (over Judah) 33 years at Jerusalem (over all Israel), 2 Sam. v. 4, 5. (Comp. 1 Kings ii. 11.) Solomon, up to the commencement of the building of the Temple. (2 Kings vi. 1.)

- 40+6 months

3+x

x+43 yrs. +x mo.

We have therefore the following results:

I. The time of Moses

II.

III.

IV.

Joshua

40 years.

x+

the Judges 3x+359 + (3x+111) yrs.

the Kings X+ 43

4x+442+(3x+111) yrs.

If we omit entirely from our calculation the periods of rebellion which preceded the supremacy-as not being historical, or as included in the other numbers-or as unimportant, together with the time of Shamgar, as being included in that of Ehud-and lastly, the time before Abimelech took possession of the government at the death of Gideon-still there are four important periods remaining, the length of which is undefined:The whole term of Joshua's command, consequently the time employed in the conquest of great part of Canaan:

The time between the death of Joshua and the judicature of Othniel: consequently that of the victorious settlement of the tribes in their new seats. (Judges i.) The time of the judicature of Samuel after the victory at Mizpeh: lastly

The period of the reign of Saul that is, from the battle of Mizpeh to his death.