THE BIBLICAL CALENDAR OF HISTORY

                               by Harold Camping

                       A Chronological Record of Events
                          According to the Holy Bible

                             FAMILY STATIONS, INC.
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                          Oakland, California  94621

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

 <0>  Introduction
 <1>  The Clue Phrase "Called His Name'
 <2>  An Ancient Calendar
 <3>  Calendar Confirmation from Egypt
 <4>  Aaron's was the Fourth Generation
 <5>  The First Civilization
 <6>  The Confusion of Tongues
 <7>  Egypt Becomes a Great Civilization
 <8>  Writing and the Tower of Babel
 <9>  Conclusion
 <10>  A Calendar of Events in Biblical History
 .         Events
 .         The Chronological Sequence During the Egyptian Sojourn
 .         Historical Timetable of Pharaohs and Dynasties
 .         Chronology of the Judges
 .         Israel Chronology
 .         Note on Oppression by Heathen Power
 .         Chronological Table of the Kings of the Divided Kingdom
 <11>  References




Introduction

    Chapters 5  and 11  of the  book of  Genesis have  long been a 
seemingly  insurmountable  obstacle  to  students  of  the  Bible.  
Inasmuch as they begin with  Adam and end with Abraham,  they have 
their  roots in  creation and  their outreach  into the era of the 
great civilizations of Babylon and Egypt, which flourished  during 
Abraham's  day. They therefore tantalize the scholar who is trying 
to reconstruct past history.  Unfortunately, because a solution to 
an understanding of  these chapters has not  been forthcoming, the 
events  embraced within their scope -- creation, the  fall of man, 
the Noachian  flood -- are likewise often  looked upon as accounts 
impervious to clear understanding. 

    Bishop  Ussher's  attempt  to  understand  these chronological 
notices has  only worsened  matters.  His  conclusions that Adam's 
date  was 4004  B.C., the  flood date  was 2349  B.C. and that the 
Israelites  spent  215  years  in  Egypt,  agree  neither with the 
Biblical nor the secular evidence. 
    But these chapters of Genesis are  a part of the Word of  God, 
and therefore they must be  true and dependable. The question  is, 
can they be rightly understood?  I would be so  presumptuous as to 
suggest a solution  to these chronologies.  This  solution will be 
compared with some of the pertinent archaeological evidence. 



The Clue Phrase "Called His Name"

    In Genesis 4 and 5 we read of the birth of Enoch to Seth.  Why 
did God use different language in describing this event in Genesis 
4 than  in Genesis 5?  In  Genesis 4 "Seth called  his name Enoch" 
(Gen. 4:26).  But in Chapter 5 the  Bible says," Seth begat Enoch" 
(Gen.5:6).  Why did God use the phrase "called  his name" (ASV) in 
connection  with Enoch's  birth in  Genesis 4  when He  did not in 
Genesis 5?   It is obvious that the phrase "Seth begat Enoch, " or 
"Methuselah  begat  Lamech,"  did  not  insure  that Enoch was the 
immediate son of Seth or Lamech or Methuselah.  Many instances can 
be  found where a father-son  relationship appears to be indicated 
and yet other Scriptural evidence points to more distant ancestry.  
Matthew  1:1,, where  Jesus is  referred to  as the son David, and 
David, the son Abraham, is illustrative. 
    A  more careful examination of  the Scriptures reveals why the 
phrase "called his name" which is  the Hebrew qara', was used.  In 
every place  where this phrase is employed,  there can be no doubt 
of  the  existing  relationship:  invariably  it  is indicative of 
parent  and  child.   Thus  the  Bible says, for example, "Abraham 
called  the  name  of  his  son...Isaac"  (Gen. 21:3), "...so they 
called  his name Esau" (Gen. 25:25),  "a virgin shall conceive and 
shall call his name Immanuel" (Isa. 7:14). In every instance where 
this  "clue" phrase appears  one may be  certain that an immediate 
son is being described and not a more remote descendant.  
    God's use of this "clue" phrase thus assures one that Seth was 
the immediate son of Adam (Gen.  4:24), Enoch of Seth (Gen. 4:26), 
and Noah of his father, Lamech (Gen. 5:29). 
    But  what  about  the  rest  of  the  names appearing in these 
genealogies   under  discussion?   Two  are  decipherable.   Other 
Biblical evidence shows clearly that Shem was the immediate son of 
Noah, even though the phrase "called his name" is not used.(1) The 
Bible  shows, too, by other information that when Terah was 130 he 
became the father of Abram.(2) But in the case of all of the other 
names listed in  these chapters there  is no Biblical  evidence of 
any  kind that points to an immediate father-son relationship.  In 
fact, there is internal evidence within these accounts that points 
to other than immediate father-son relationships.(3) 

An Ancient Calendar

    In  further  reflection  upon  this  situation,  two  Biblical 
notices should be examined.  The first is that of Genesis 7 and 8, 
where the dates of the flood  events are referenced to the age  of 
Noah.  Thus Gen. 8:13 records, "in the six hundred and first year, 
in the first  month, the first day of  the month, the waters....," 
etc. Gen. 7:6  indicates to us that the six  hundred years was the 
age of Noah when the  flood came.  Could the calendars  of ancient 
peoples have been tied to the life spans of certain individuals? 
    The second notice  is that of  the New Testament  where Christ 
declared  "this  generation  will  not  pass  away until all these 
things take  place" (Matt.  24:34).  In  this reference  Christ is 
speaking of events that would  take place just before His  return.  
He  is  therefore  insisting  "this  generation" would continue at 
least for  almost two thousand  years, for this  much time has now 
elapsed, and  all of  the events  of which  he was  prophesying in 
Matthew 24 have  not yet happened.  As  a matter of fact,  this is 
the generation of Jesus Christ.  This is 1981  A.D. -- the year of 
our Lord.  The  events of today are dated exactly  as they were in 
Noah's day, by reference to the birth day of a person. 
    Since  this method  of dating  events was  practiced in Noah's 
day, was  suggested by Jesus Himself, and  is actually the practice 
use  today,  could  not  this  have  been  the method described in 
Genesis 5  and 11?   Isn't it  possible that  these accounts are a 
calendar giving the name of  the patriarch whose life span was the 
reference  point  at  his  period  or generation in history?  This 
would make abundant  sense, for this would  provide for continuity 
and clarity in historical reckoning. 



Calendar Confirmation from Egypt

    God gives additional evidence  to support this reasoning.   In 
Exodus 6 God gives genealogical information concerning some of the 
descendants of  Jacob. The information given  does not appear very 
meaningful to our present day  and age.  But hidden amongst  these 
verses are three numbers.  The first is found in verse 16 where it 
is stated that Levi's three sons were  Gershon, Kohath and Merari, 
and the years of Levi's  life were 137.  The second is in the next 
verse, where it says Kohath's four sons were Amram,  Ighar, Hebron 
and Uzziel, and the years of Kohath's life were 133.  The third is 
in verse 20, where it says Amram was married  to Jochebed and she 
bore him Moses and Aaron, and the years of Amram's  life were 137.  
At first reading,  it appears that Levi was the great grandfather, 
Kohath the grandfather, Amram  the father, and Moses and Aaron the 
sons.  But is this so?   There is no other Biblical  evidence that 
indicates this  is the case, and  there is no use  anywhere in the 
Bible of the  phrase "called his  name" in reference  to these men 
which would point to a immediate father-son relationship.  But why 
would God give the life spans of only three individuals amongst so 
many? 
    To  solve  this  puzzle,  let  us  assume God is giving us the 
calendar for the Israelitish  sojourn in Egypt.  One  might recall 
that Jacob came  to Egypt with  his sons including  Levi, and that 
the Israelites went out of Egypt under the leadership of Moses and 
Aaron.  Both Levi and Aaron are mentioned in Exodus 6 and  the age 
of Aaron at the time of Israel's departure from Egypt is given  as 
83 (Exodus 7:7).  It can be shown from the Biblical references that 
when Levi  entered Egypt he was 60+3 years of age, with the burden 
of the evidence pointing to 60 years.  Since he died at the age of 
137, he lived 77 years in Egypt.  If this is a calendar giving the 
names of the reference patriarchs  or generations, we would expect 
that Kohath  was a  descendant of  Levi and  was born  the year of 
Levi's death: that  Amram was a descendant of  Kohath, and that he 
was born the year  of Kohath's death. Aaron  in turn was born  the 
year of Amram's death, and  was descended from Amram.  Let  us add 
these time spans together:  

              Levi               77 years in Egypt
              Kohath            137 years in Egypt
              Amram             133 years in Egypt
              Aaron              83 years in Egypt
                                430 years -- Total Time

Turning  now  to  the  Biblical  record, we discover the following 
interesting  information.   "Now  the  time  that  the children of 
Israel dwelt  in Egypt was four hundred  and thirty years.  And it 
came to pass at the end of four hundred and thirty years, even the 
selfsame day it came  to pass, that all the hosts  of Jehovah went 
out from the land of Egypt" (Ex. 12:40,41). 
    God thus shows us clearly that the calendar used to record the 
passage of time during the Egyptian sojourn was based on the lives 
of  Levi  and  his  descendants,  Kohath,  Amram  and Aaron.  This 
explains too the prophecy given to Abraham in Gen. 15:13-16, where 
he is told his descendants would be oppressed 400 years  in a land 
that was not theirs, and that they would return to their  own land 
in the fourth generation. 



The Confusion of Tongues

    The  next  bit  of  history  that  should  be  interesting  to 
investigate  is the  event of  the tower  of Babel.   Is there any 
secular evidence that relates to the  account of this confusion of 
tongues as set forth in Genesis 11?  There is, indeed.
    It might first of all be noted that  the account of Genesis 11 
indicates that prior  to this time  in history all  men spoke  one 
language.  Moreover,  the leading  civilization was  that of these 
people  who dwelt in the plains  of Shinar or Sumer.  Their desire 
to  be  the  one  great  civilization  of  the  world prompted the 
building  of  this  great  tower,  which  in turn brought on God's 
interference with their plans so that they were forced to separate 
into various nations.
    As has already been shown, the first great civilization of the 
world as revealed by secular evidence was  that which sprang forth 
in  the  Mesopotamia  Valley.   The  time  of the beginning of the 
second  important  civilization  of  antiquity  could  be  of real 
significance.  Presumably, it would  have begun very shortly after 
the tower of Babel.  The event of the  tower of Babel can be known 
to  have occurred during  the generation of  Peleg, for in his days 
the earth was  divided (Gen.10:25).  Peleg's generation  was dated 
3153 B.C. to  2914 B.C.  Therefore  one would expect  no important 
civilizations  other than  Babylonia to  have an antiquity greater 
than about 3150 B.C.



Egypt Becomes A Great Civilization

    All  archaeological  evidence  points  to  Egypt as the second 
great civilization to appear.  While there was a primitive culture 
in Egypt prior to the First  Dynasty, the uniting of all of  Egypt 
under Pharaoh Menes to form the First Dynasty was the signal for a 
major burst in the arts of civilization.  Albright writes:(13) 

         It  is  now  certain  that  the  level  of Egyptian 
         culture   remained   considerably   below  that  of 
         Mesopotamia  until  the  First  Dynasty, when under 
         strong   indirect  influence   from  the  Euphrates 
         Valley,  it  forged  ahead  of  the   latter  in  a 
         breathtaking spurt. 

    Interestingly,  the new  civilization of  Egypt beginning with 
the First  Dynasty was patterned after the Babylonia (Mesopotamia) 
culture.  Albright continues:(14)

         The close of the predynastic  Age and the beginning 
         of  the  Thinite  (period  of  first two centuries) 
         period  witnessed  a  sudden  burst  in the arts of 
         civilization.  This seems to have been connected in 
         some  way  with  an  increase of cultural influence 
         from Asia, since there are numerous exact parallels 
         between  Mesopotamia and  Egyptian culture  at this 
         time, the former being demonstrably older and  more 
         original in nearly every instance. 

    The date of the beginning of the First Dynasty  under Menes is 
calculated to  be somewhere between  2800 B.C. and  3100 B.C.  The 
early  archaeologists such  as Breasted  dated his  reign at about 
3400 B.C.  As new archaeological evidence was  uncovered this date 
was moved forward to about  3000 B.C.  Albright believes 2850 B.C. 
is a good estimate.(15)  William C. Hayes suggest 3100 B.C. is the 
best date presently available.(16)
    Considering the  above information, one is  struck by the fact 
that prior to about  3100 B.C. to 2850 B.C.  only one civilization 
of  consequence  existed  in  the  world.   That was the nation of 
Babylonia on the plains of Shinar.  Then at that time, in a sudden 
burst  of  progress,   Egypt  grew  to   become  a  second   great 
civilization, a civilization patterned after the first.  And these 
dates are in almost exact agreement with the Biblical date for the 
Tower of Babel.   Surely the confusion  of tongues as  recorded in 
Genesis  11 sent thousands  of people skilled  in all the arts and 
crafts of Mesopotamia to Egypt and elsewhere.   Thus accord can be 
seen between the  sacred and the secular records  by this indirect 
evidence of the timetable of the civilizations of antiquity.



Writing and the Tower of Babel

    It  might  be  noted  too  that  writing  had its beginning in 
Mesopotamia and may be related  to the confusion of tongues.   Sir 
Leonard Wooley writes:(17) "All the archaeological  evidence seems 
to  prove  that  true  writing  was  first  developed  in southern 
Mesopotamia." The timing  for this event is given  as 3500 to 3000 
B.C.  Gelb  concludes:(18)  "the  date  of  the  earliest Sumerian 
writing should be set tentatively at about 3100 B.C." 
    The  confusion of  tongues in  Sumer some  time in  the period 
between  3150-2900  B.C.  could  well  have been the catalyst that 
produced  writing.   Before  this  dramatic civilization-splitting 
event all  was secure.   Only one  language was  spoken in all the 
world.   Verbal  communication  was  adequate and dependable.  But 
then  came this fearful  event that shook  the very foundations of 
this  great  civilization.   Men  could  no longer understand each 
other.  There must be a better way.  The application of the spoken 
word to clay tablets  would provide insurance that this  kind of a 
happening would never totally  destroy a culture again.   The clay 
tablets  would always prove to be the reference point.  One surely 
can see  the possibility if not the probability of this connection 
between writing and the Tower of Babel.


Conclusion

    We  thus  see  that  the  chronology of history established by 
Biblical   reckoning   agrees   rather   satisfactorily  with  the 
archaeological  evidence  of  the  earliest   civilizations.   The 
Biblical timetable is of course the most reliable, for it is God's 
Word.  If we have properly interpreted it, it should make possible 
a far more  definitive analysis of the secular  evidence than ever 
before.  It should also provide a dependable framework in which to 
understand dating  evidence such  as that  offered by  radiometric 
isotopes like carbon 14.
    Hopefully, a perspective  of history has  been set forth  that 
shows that answers are  potentially forthcoming when we begin with 
the Biblical framework.  The  concept of a 13,000 year  old world, 
which  began to  be repopulated  again after  the flood some 7,000 
years ago, and which  1,500 years later had grown to a point which 
allowed the spawning of the first great  cities, surely makes much 
more sense than that of mankind being  around for hundreds or even 
thousands  of  millenniums,  and  then  becoming  a  cohesive  city 
civilization  only  in  the  last  5,500  years.  Furthermore, the 
apparent  possibility of the end of  the age occurring in our time 
also accords far better with the shorter timetable.

    Admittedly,  the first  purpose of  the Bible  is not  to be a 
textbook  of   science  or   history.   It   is  fundamentally   a 
presentation  of God's  grace revealed  through Jesus Christ.  But 
when the  Bible does speak  in any field  of learning, it  does so 
with great care,  accuracy and authority.  Three  reasons might be 
advanced for this: l. These subjects are often an integral part of 
the plan of salvation; 2.  they are part of God's message  to man; 
and  3.  by  reason  of  His  very  nature God is accurate when He 
speaks.   Therefore, it possibly has much  more to offer than many 
have supposed.   I hope  that others  will be  encouraged to build 
upon the suggestions offered in this presentation.



            A CALENDAR OF EVENTS IN BIBLICAL HISTORY

               Events                                         B.C.
CREATION. (about 13,000 years ago)...........................11013
CREATION OF ADAM.............................................11013
BIRTH OF SETH. Adam was 130 when Seth was born
(Gen. 5:6)...................................................10883
BIRTH OF ENOCH. Seth was 105 when Enoch was born
(Gen.5:6)....................................................10778
END OF ENOCH'S PERIOD 905 years after his birth
(Gen. 5:11) which is the year Kenan was born and
which began his period........................................9873
END OF KENAN'S PERIOD 910 years after his birth
(Gen. 5:14).  This is the year Mahalaleel was born
and beginning of his period...................................8963
END OF MAHALALEEL'S PERIOD 895 years after his
birth (Gen.5:17).  This is the year Jared was born
and beginning of his period...................................8068
END OF JARED'S PERIOD 962 years after his birth
(Gen.5:20).  This is the year Enoch was born and 
beginning of his period.......................................7106
END OF ENOCH'S PERIOD 365 years after his birth
(Gen. 5:23).  This is the year Methuselah was born
and beginning of his period...................................6741
END OF METHUSELAH'S PERIOD 969 years after his 
birth (Gen. 5:27).  This is the year Lamech was
born and beginning of his period..............................5772
BIRTH OF NOAH.  Lamech was 182 when Noah was
born (Gen. 5:28,29)...........................................5590
THE FLOOD (about 7,000 years ago).  Noah was 600
when the flood came (Gen. 7:6)................................4990
DEATH OF SHEM 502 years after the flood  
(Gen. 11:10,11).  This is the year Arpachshad 
was born and beginning of his period..........................4488
END OF ARPACHSHAD'S PERIOD 438 years after his
birth (Gen. 11:12,13).  This is the year Shelah
was born and beginning of his period..........................4050
END OF SHELAH'S PERIOD 433 years after his birth
(Gen. 11:14,15).  This is the year Eber was born
and beginning of his period...................................3617
END OF EBER'S PERIOD 464 years after his birth
(Gen. 11:16,17).  This is the year Peleg was born
and beginning of his period...................................3153
TOWER OF BABEL
During Peleg's patriarchal period the division of    
the continents occurred.  The Tower of Babel must
have occurred between these dates (Gen. 10:25)...........3153-2914
END OF PELEG'S PERIOD  239 years after his birth
(Gen. 11:18,19).  This is the year Reu was born
and beginning of his period...................................2914
END OF REU'S PERIOD 239 years after his birth
(Gen. 11:20,21).  This is the year Serug was
born and beginning of his period..............................2675
END OF SERUG'S PERIOD 230 years after his
birth (Gen. 11:22,23).  This is the year Nahor
was born and beginning of his period..........................2445
END OF NAHOR'S PERIOD 148 years after his 
birth (Gen. 11:24,25).  This is the year Terah 
was born and beginning of his period..........................2297
BIRTH OF ABRAM TO TERAH. Terah was 130 years
old at birth of Abram.........................................2167
ABRAM ENTERED CANAAN..........................................2092
CIRCUMCISION OF ABRAHAM when he was 99
years of age..................................................2068
BIRTH OF ISAAC. Abraham was 100 years old at
birth of Isaac (Gen. 21:5)....................................2067
BIRTH OF JACOB. Isaac was 60 years old at birth
of Jacob (Gen. 25:26).........................................2007
    1. Jacob arrives in Haran at the age of...........60
    2. He works seven years for Rachel and is
       then married to Rachel and Leah.  He is then...67
    3. Reuben is born to Leah the following year
       when Jacob is..................................68
    4. Simeon is born next to Leah when Jacob is......69
    5. Levi is born next to Leah when Jacob is........70
    6. Jacob finishes his second seven year
       contract for Rachel when he is.................74
    7. He works for wages for 20 years.  In the
       17th year of this period Joseph is born.
       Jacob is.......................................91
    8. At end of the 20 year period Joseph is
       weaned and Jacob wishes to leave Haran. He is..94
    9. He works six years longer for his flocks
       and leaves Haran at age.......................100
JACOB'S FAMILY ARRIVES IN EGYPT when Jacob  
is 130 (Gen. 47:9)                                            1877


     The Chronological Sequence During the Egyptian Sojourn

Remembering that  the death year  of one patriarch  coincides with 
the birth year of the next, the result must look like this: 

Levi's Time in Egypt (137 minus 60).......................77 Years 
Kohath's Period of Patriarchal Leadership................133 Years
Amram's Period of Patriarchal Leadership.................137 Years
Aaron's Age at the Time of the Exodus (Exod. 7:7).........83 Years
Total....................................................430 Years


         Historical Timetable of Pharaohs and Dynasties

1888 B.C. - Sesostris III  became  Pharaoh.  He  was  part  of the 
Middle Kingdom or 12th Dynasty of Egypt.  His father, Sesostris II, 
probably had  reigned during  the previous  19 years  and possibly 
came to an untimely death.
1886 B.C. - Joseph became Prime Minister or Grand  Vizier of Egypt 
under Sesostris III.
1877 B.C. -  The  family  of  Joseph  came  to  Egypt  and took up 
residence in the  land of Goshen.  The city of Avaris (Zoan in the 
Bible), which later was called Tanis or Qantir, was their capital. 
1850 B.C. - Sesostris III  died  after  an exceedingly  successful 
reign of 38 years.  He was succeeded by another great 12th Dynasty 
Pharaoh named Amenemhet III.  Under his reign  Joseph continued as 
Prime Minister.  A canal bearing Joseph's name was  constructed at 
this time.
1806 B.C. - Joseph died.
1802 B.C. - Amenemhet III died after a 48 year reign.   During his 
reign  Egypt  was  prosperous,  tranquil  and  productive.  He was 
succeeded  by Amenemhet IV  who reigned for  the brief period of 9 
years.  During  his reign there was much internal strife for royal 
supremacy. 
1791 B.C. - Amenemhet IV  died  and   was succeeded  by  the  last 
Pharaoh of the 12th Dynasty, Sebeknefrure. 
1787 B.C. - Sebeknefrure's  brief reign  of 4 years ended and with 
it ended the 12th Dynasty.  The 13th Dynasty began.  The reigns of 
succeeding Pharaohs were short  and the empire began  to dissolve.  
The Israelites, who  no doubt are  the "Hyksos" of  Archaeological 
fame, took advantage of the internal struggles to acquire a strong 
hand  in the Egyptian government and  indeed some of them may have 
reigned as Pharaohs during this period.
1580 B.C. (approx.) - Several  dynasties  have  ruled  over  Egypt 
since 1787 B.C.  At this time Ahmose I began to reign as the first 
king  of  the  18th  Dynasty.   He  forcibly  began  to remove the 
Israelites  (Hyksos)  from  political  power.   The  most war-like 
Israelites were  driven from the  land and the  Israelitish nation 
began to be  severely oppressed.  Either this Pharaoh  or a closely 
succeeding  Pharaoh such  as  Thutmose I could  well have been the 
king who "did not know Joseph" (Exod. 1:8).
1560 B.C. (approx.) - Ahmose I was followed by his son Amenhotep I
who consolidated the gains of his father.
1540-1535 B.C. (approx.) - Thutmose I began to reign as king.   He 
too was  a continuation  of the  18th Dynasty.   He continued  and 
probably   intensified   the   oppressive   measures  against  the 
Israelites, for he was ruling when  Moses was born.  His animosity 
toward the Israelites was probably heightened by his troubles with 
Palestine  and Syria.  His  reign was followed  by that of his son 
Thutmose II.
1527 B.C. - Moses was born at  a time when a royal edict condemned 
all  the  boy  babies  to  be  destroyed.   Princess Hatshepsut, a 
daughter of the king, found him in the bulrushes and raised him as 
her son.
1501 B.C. - Thutmose III began  to reign as  the  greatest king of 
the  18th Dynasty.   For approximately  the first  25 years of his 
reign he  was co-regent  with Princess  Hatshepsut.  She  regarded 
herself  as  a  king  and  was  the  dominant  ruler  during  this 
co-regency. 
1487 B.C. - Moses  fled  from  Egypt.  King  Hatshepsut,  who  had      
raised  him  to  be  her  son,  sought  to kill him because of his 
evident loyalty for the Israelites.
1481  B.C. (approx.) - King Hatshepsut died and Thutmose III  con-
tinued to reign until the time of the exodus.

Israel went out of Egypt (Thutmose III)........1447 B.C.
Israel entered into Canaan.....................1407 B.C.

    EXODUS FROM EGYPT 430 years later
    (Exod. 12:40)..............................1447 B.C.
    ENTRANCE INTO CANAAN 40 years later........1407 B.C.


Chronology of the Judges         B.C.    Israel Chronology   Years
The Exodus                       1447
Entrance into Canaan             1407
Initial 40 year Period in   1407-1367     Land had rest       40  
  Canaan. During this           
  period the conquest of                  Land had rest       80
  Canaan occurred under
  Joshua and Othniel de-        
  livered Israel.
Next 80 Year Period in      1367-1287
  Canaan.  During this
  Period Ehud and Shamgar
  deliver Israel                          Land had rest      40
Next 40 year Period in      1287-1247
  Canaan.  Deborah and                    Land had rest      40
  Barak were deliverers                   Abimelech rules     3
  during this period
Gideon judged               1247-1207     Tola judged        23
Abimelech rules             1207-1204     Jair judged        22
Tola judged                 1204-1181 
Jair judged                 1181-1159
Jephthah judged             1159-1153     Jephthah judged     6
Ibzan judged                1153-1146     Ibzan judged        7
Elon judged                 1146-1136     Elon judged        10
Abon judged                 1136-1128     Abon judged         8
Samson judged               1128-1108     Samson judged      20
Eli judged                  1108-1068     Eli judged         40
Ark in Philistines' Hands   1068-1067     Ark captured        1
Samuel judged               1067-1047     Final period of
Saul reigned as king        1047-1007       Samuel           20   
David reigned               1007- 967                       360
Solomon reigned              971- 931
  Foundation of temple
  laid in fourth year of
  Solomon's reign                 967

            ------------------------------------------------

               Note on Oppression By Heathen Power

Israel served Cushanrishathaim        8 years        Judges 3:8
                                                            3:11
Israel served Eglon                  18 years               3:14
                                                            3:30
Israel oppressed by Jabin            20 years               4:3
                                                            5:31
Israel in hand of Midian              7 years               6:1
                                                            8:28
                                                            9:22
                                                           10:2
                                                           10:3
Philistines oppressed Israel         18 years              10:8
                                                           12:7
                                                           12:9
                                                           12:11
                                                           12:14
Israel in hand of Philistines        40 years              13:1
                                                           15:20
                                                   I Samuel 4:18
                                                            6:1
                                  ______________
                                    111 years
                      
                  -------------------------------------

Events                          Date
Saul  king                    1047 B.C.  (about 3,000 years ago)  
David                         1007 B.C.
Solomon                        971 B.C.
Temple Foundation laid         967 B.C.
Solomon's temple con-          967 B.C.
   struction began 480
   years after exodus
   (I Ki. 6:1)
Division of kingdom at         931 B.C.
   death of Solomon 36
   years later

                  -------------------------------------


     Chronological Table of the Kings of the Divided Kingdom

                        JUDAH (2 Tribes)
King                         Reign                      Character
1. Rehoboam           931-913 B.C. (17 yrs )               Bad  
2. Abijah             913-911      ( 3 yrs.)               Bad
3. Asa                911-870      (41 yrs.)               Good
4. Jehoshaphat        873-848*     (25 yrs.)               Good
5. Jehoram            853-841*     ( 8 yrs.)               Bad
6. Ahaziah            841          ( 1 yr. )               Bad
7. Athaliah           841-835      ( 6 yrs.)               Bad
8. Joash              835-796      (40 yrs.)               Good
9. Amaziah            796-767      (29 yrs.)               Good
10.Azariah            792-740*     (52 yrs.)               Good
   (or Uzziah)
11.Jotham             750-732*     (16 yrs.)               Good
12.Ahaz               735-716      (16 yrs.)               Bad
13.Hezekiah           716-687      (29 yrs.)               Good
14.Manasseh           697-643                              Bad
15. Amon              643-641      ( 2 yrs.)               Bad
16.Josiah             641-609      (31 yrs.)               Good
17.Jehoahaz           609          ( 3 mo. )               Bad
18.Jehoiakim          609-598      (11 yrs.)               Bad
   (or Eliakim)
19.Jehoiachin         608-597*                             Bad
   (or Coniah,        
    Jeconiah)
20.Zedekiah           597-587                              Bad
   (or Mattaniah)

        (Destruction of Jerusalem and captivity of Judah)
* Co-regency


                       ISRAEL (10 Tribes)  
King                         Reign                     Character
1. Jeroboam I         931-910 B.C. (22 yrs.)               Bad
2. Nadab              910-909      ( 2 yrs.)               Bad
3. Baasha             909-886      (24 yrs.)               Bad
4. Elah               886-885      ( 2 yrs.)               Bad
5. Zimri              885          ( 7 days)               Bad
6. Tibni              885-880       
7. Omri               885-874*     (12 yrs.)               Bad
8. Ahab               874-853      (22 yrs.)               Bad
9. Ahaziah            853-852      ( 2 yrs.)               Bad
10.Joram              852-841      (12 yrs.)               Bad
11.Jehu               841-814      (28 yrs.)               Bad
12.Jehoahaz           814-798      (17 yrs.)               Bad
13.Jehoash            798-782      (16 yrs.)               Bad
14.Jeroboam II        793-753*     (41 yrs.)               Bad
15.Zechariah          753-752      ( 6 mo. )               Bad
16.Shallum            752          ( l mo. )               Bad
17.Menahem            752-742      (10 yrs.)               Bad
18.Pekahiah           742-740      ( 2 yrs,)               Bad
19.Pekah              752-732*     (20 yrs.)               Bad
20.Hoshea             732-722      ( 9 yrs.)               Bad
          (Capture of Samaria and captivity of Israel)

Remnants of these 10 tribes joined with nation of Judah, which is 
then called Israel.

* Co-regency

                  -----------------------------

Israel (10 tribes) destroyed                          722 B.C.     
Israel (Judah augmented by remnants from
   10 tribes) subdued by Egypt                        609 B.C.
Israel taken in to Babylonian captivity
   and temple destroyed                               587 B.C.
Babylonia conquered by Cyrus, king of
   Medes and Persians (under Cyrus
   first contingent of Jews returns to
   Jerusalem)                                         539 B.C.
Temple partially rebuilt and rededicated              515 B.C.
Ezra returned to Jerusalem to reestablish law         458 B.C.
Rebuilding of wall by Nehemiah                        445 B.C.

SILENCE

Christ was born                                         7 B.C.
Christ was baptized                                    29 A.D.
Christ died on cross                                   33 A.D.
Jerusalem destroyed by Romans                          70 A.D.



                           REFERENCES

(1)  Compare Genesis 7:13, 9:18 and I Peter 3:20
(2)  Compare Genesis 11:27 ff, Genesis 12:4 and Acts 7:4
(3)  For example, Genesis 10:21  describes  Shem as "the father of 
     all  children  of Eber," though Eber is  removed from Shem by 
     several generations (cf. Genesis 11:10-16) 
(4)  The fact that Jesus was born a few  years earlier (probably 7 
     B.C.) does not diminish the force of this argument, for  1981 
     A.D.  is in principle related only to Christ's birth date and 
     not to any other.
(5)  Camping, Harold. Adam When? Ch. 3
(6)  Ibid., ch. 6
(7)  Thiele, Edwin R., The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings, 
     Eerdmans,  Rev.  edition  1965,  pg.  53,54.  Much additional 
     support can be  given to the  accuracy of this  date from the 
     reigns  of three of  the greatest of  the Egyptian Pharaohs - 
     Sesostris III, Tuthmosis III and Rameses II.  A discussion of  
     this is of course beyond the scope of this article.
(8)  Camping, Harold; ch. 5
(9)  Albright,  William  Foxwell;  From  the  Stone Age to Christ- 
     ianity, Doubleday & Co., Inc. 1957, pg. 32 
(10) Rowton, M. B.,  in The Cambridge  Ancient History,  Cambridge 
     University Press, 1964, pg. 57,58
(11) Camping, Harold, ch. 7
(12) Rawlinson, George,  Egypt and  Babylon, John  W. Lovell  Co., 
     pg. 9
(13) Albright, pg. 142
(14) Ibid., pg. 157
(15) Ibid.
(16) Hayes, William C., The Cambridge Ancient History, 1964, pg. 4 
(17) Wooley, Sir  Leonard, The Beginnings of Civilization, The New 
     York American Library, 1965, pg. 364
(18) Gelb, A Study of Writing, pg. 63

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