Some Bible commentators get right the “big things” like the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus – but cannot be trusted when it comes to numbers, years, chronology. By this I do not mean their mathematical calculations, but rather that they do not have the same confidence in biblical chronology that they have in biblical theology. For example, an older Baptist commentator writes:
Thus there is a difference of one hundred and twelve years between the dates which Paul followed, and those which appear to have been used at an earlier period [i.e., 1 Kings 6:1, rlv]. Such differences as these, however, in dates, are not of material importance. The letters which were employed in ancient manuscripts for numbers may, in some instances, have been wrongly copied, or incorrectly deciphered; and as the attention of readers was not particularly directed to the subject of chronology, the means of correcting a copyist’s misstatement, should one occur, would be likely to perish.[i]Certainly, there is a sense in which we will all agree that getting the substitutionary atonement right is more important than figuring out how certain numbers add up and relate correctly. On the other hand, if we cannot trust God on the little things, can we trust him on the big things? The Bible believer’s approach is to expect God got his figures correct to begin with, and has preserved them accurately – rather than blame difficulties on scribal errors, emendations, and such like. And sometimes we may just need to admit that we do not know the answer.
The context (a Pauline sermon, Acts 13:16-22).
16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience. 17 The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it. 18 And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness. 19 And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot. 20 And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. 21 And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years. 22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
In this account, we find that God established his people in the land of Canaan. He destroyed seven nations of Canaanites, then divided the land to the tribes by lot. See Numbers 26:55-56; Joshua 19:51; et al. Then God led his people by judges he raised up, over the course of 450 years. Samuel the prophet was the last of the judges. When they desired a king instead of judges, God gave them Saul (I Samuel 10:21-24), their first king who reigned of forty years.
A textual variant.
A textual variant in Acts 13:20 creates a difference in interpretation and a possible different historical account. Look at two different texts, first the Textus Receptus stream.
- TR1894: και μετα ταυτα ως ετεσιν τετρακοσιοις και πεντηκοντα εδωκεν κριτας εως σαμουηλ του προφητου
- 1611 KJV: And after that he gave unto them judges, about the space of foure hundred and fifty yeeres untill Samuel the prophet.
The majority of texts (manuscripts) agree with Textus Receptus. For example, an English translation of MT: “And after these things, for about four hundred and fifty years, He gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet.” However, the Critical Text changes the wording and the meaning.
- CT: ὡς ἔτεσιν τετρακοσίοις καὶ πεντήκοντα. καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα ἔδωκεν κριτὰς ἕως Σαμουὴλ τοῦ προφήτου.
- NIV: All this took about 450 years. After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet.
So, to compare Acts 13:20 in the KJV and the NIV:
- KJV: And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.
- NIV: All this took about 450 years. After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet.
In the King James Bible and other TR translations, the 450 years mentioned appears to refer to the time of the judges to Samuel. The NIV and others (ESV, NET, LEB, etc.) apply the time frame of 450 years to the choosing of the ancestors, the exile in Egypt, coming out of Egypt, 40 years wandering in the wilderness, and the conquering and dividing of the land of Canaan. Concerning the translation of the CT reading, the NET Bible notes admit, “The words ‘all this took’ are not in the Greek text, but are supplied to make a complete statement in English.”
Those who have no textual confidence concerning the copying and transmission of the numbers of the Bible tend to make only a modest effort to resolve chronological difficulties, and then, when necessary, seek refuge in “copyists’ errors.”[ii] The Bible-believer with confidence in the copying and transmission will make every effort to resolve chronological difficulties. That is the “Bible-believing way.” However, sometimes they “over-exert” and make up unbelievable resolutions when it would be better to just explain, “I don’t know.”
This, in fact, can be a difficult passage for Bible students to reconcile with 1 Kings 6:1, “And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the Lord.” It seems to create too great a length of time from the Exodus to the building of the temple.
Some comments of others.
Josephus (C. J. Ellicott).
“Josephus (Ant. viii. 3, § 1) gives 592 years from the Exodus to the building of Solomon’s Temple. Of this period sixty-five years were occupied by the wanderings in the wilderness and the conquest under Joshua, eighty-four by the reigns of Saul and David and the first four years of Solomon, leaving 443 years for the period of the Judges. This agrees, it will be seen, sufficiently with the Received text in this passage, but leaves the discrepancy with 1Kings 6:1 unexplained. There would of course, be nothing strange in St. Paul’s following the same traditional chronology as Josephus, even where it differed from that of the present Hebrew text of the Old Testament.”
17 The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arme brought he them out of it. 18 And about the time of forty yeeres suffered he their maners in the wildernesse. 19 And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot: 20 And after that he gave unto them judges, about the space of foure hundred and fifty yeeres until Samuel the prophet.
1560: For these 450 yeres were not fully accomplished, but there lacked 3 years counting from the birth of Isaac to the distribution of ye land of Canaan.[iii]
1599: There were from the birth of Isaac unto the destruction of the Canaanites under the governance of Joshua four hundred and seven and forty years, and therefore he addeth in this place, this word, About, for there want three years, but the Apostle useth the whole greater number.
1599: In this space of forty years must the time of Samuel be reckoned with the days of Saul: for the kingdom did as it were swallow up his government.
Cornelius a Lapide, et al.
Some count 450 years from the birth of Isaac. “Cornelius a Lapide, Calovius, Mill, and others supply γενόμενα after πεντήκοντα, post haec, quae spatio 450 annorum gesta sunt, so that the terminus a quo is the birth of Isaac, in whom God chose the fathers; from thence to the birth of Jacob are 60 years, from the birth of Jacob to the entrance into Egypt are 130 years, after which the residence in Egypt lasted 210 years, and then from the Exodus to the division of Canaan 47 years elapsed, making in all 447 years,—accordingly, about 450 years.”
Albert Barnes.
Several scholars have tried to resolve it by “blaming” Paul with relying on tradition rather than inspiration. So Albert Barnes: “Paul would naturally use the chronology which was in current, common use among the Jews. It was not his business to settle such points; but he would speak of them as they were usually spoken of, and refer to them as others did…Thus, (Antiq., book 7, chapter 3, section 1), Josephus says expressly that Solomon ‘began to build the temple in the fourth year of his reign, 592 years after the exodus out of Egypt,’ etc. This would allow 40 years for their being in the wilderness, 17 years for Joshua, 40 for Samuel and Saul, 40 for the reign of David, and 452 years for the time of the judges and the times of anarchy that intervened. This remarkable coincidence shows that this was the chronology which was then used, and which Paul had in view.”
Will Kinney, Joey Faust.
Some KJV Defenders argue that the years in Acts 13:20 and 1 Kings 6:1 represent different ways of counting. So Will Kinney: “Let us then infer that Paul has given us the length of the period in ordinary, common years (with no specialized criteria). On the other hand, let us infer that the author of 1st Kings has also given us a correct answer, but to a different question. He has given us the length of the same period, minus certain years that do not meet the criteria of his chronology. Let us suppose that the author of 1st Kings is not answering the question of how long the period was in ordinary, normal years with no qualifications. Let us suppose that he is giving us the number of years minus, let’s say, the years Israel was delivered over to its enemies in bondage and servitude throughout that period of the ‘Judges’…The Bible sometimes counts years in such a way that it ‘skips’ those that do not fit into the framework it is counting in.”
“…the numbers in 1 Kings 6:1 and Acts 13:20 in the KJV fit together extremely well if we understand ‘after’ in Acts 13:20 as a preposition and realize that Moses was raised up to be the first judge in about 1483 BC…There is only a 4-year discrepancy between the histories in 1 Kings 6:1 and Acts 13:20, which is completely acceptable since we are dealing in most cases with round numbers. Acts 13:20 in the KJV is not an error, but a clear statement as to how many years God gave judges to Israel.”
Final Considerations.
1. The years mentioned in both 1 Kings 6:1 and Acts 13:20 are unquestionably chronologically and historically accurate. If the Bible is inspired and preserved by God it cannot be otherwise.
2. I cannot see how a reading of the 450 years in the King James translation can begin from the time of the birth of Isaac to the division of Canaan. Nevertheless, there are some King James Defenders that interpret it that way.
3. To reject the TR reading creates different chronological problems, albeit possibly considered a simpler problem by some. Additionally, for some it stymies Paul to only having access to the common knowledge of his day. Thus, he had no miraculous gift of knowledge to understand and preach the matter correctly.
4. Again, sometimes it is okay to say, “I know the Bible is right, I just don’t currently have the knowledge and understanding to explain it.”
If any readers have an idea, a good resolution, or just a comment on this, please let me know.
[i] Henry
J. Ripley. The Acts of the Apostles with Notes, Chiefly Explanatory,
Boston, MA: Gould, Kendall, and Lincoln, 1843, p. 178.
[ii] “…nothing is more perplexing than the chronology of ancient facts. The difficulty is found in all writings; in profane as well as sacred. Mistakes are so easily made in transcribing numbers, where letters are used instead of writing the words at length, that we are not to wonder at such errors.” Albert Barnes.
5 comments:
i must agree with your 4 Final Consideration points.
in EW Bullinger's Companion Bible, Appendix 50 point 6 he gives an explanation as such:
...
6. One of the greatest difficulties which chronologers have to face is, and always has been, the apparent conflict between the record in 1 Kings 6:1, that Solomon's temple was commenced "in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt"; while in Acts 13:17-22 the same amounts to 573 years, a difference of ninety-three years.
In the majority of cases 1 Kings 6:1 has been adopted by chronologists as being correct, St. Paul's reckoning being left to take care of itself; or, they say that he was "misinformed", or "only speaking generally."
The simple fact is both are right.
The solution of the difficulty is that St. Paul's statement is according to Anno Mundi years (573) -- the other, on the principle of what we may call Anno Dei reckoning (480). (See the "Lo-Ammi" periods chart, 50. vii. 11).
The charts show that, on the plain and straight-forward statements of the Scriptures themselves, the actual Anno Mundi period from the Exodus to the commencement of Solomon's temple was exactly 573 years, thus agreeing with St. Paul, and absolutely verifying the reckoning in Acts 13:17-22.
But the four hundred and eightieth year of 1 Kings 6 is also as absolutely correct, only it is reckoned from the Exodus on a different principle -- viz. according to God's reckoning.
The difference in years between the two statements is, as already said, the ninety-three years of the servitudes.
Now, to ignore ninety-three years in the lifetime of the world cannot be done without upsetting all other dates.
Yet this is precisely what is generally done.
Understanding the "four hundred and eightieth year" as being on Anno Mundi reckoning instead of according to Anno Dei reckoning, chronologers are compelled, in order to make things "agree", to handle and compress the figures and facts of the Judges period in the most arbitrary manner.
St. Paul's testimony is that "God gave (them) Judges about 450 years until Samuel the prophet". (Acts 13:20.)
The adverb of time here translated until (e]w", heos, until, as long as), marks the completion of an action up to the time of the commencement of another. Here, it denotes the fulfilment of the times of the Judges, ending with the close of Samuel's forty years, and the commencement of the kingdom. (Cp. the use of e]w"-- heos -- in Matt. 1:25, "until she had brought forth her firstborn son.")
The chart 50. iv. exactly coincides with St. Paul's statement. The Judgeship period ends, and the kingdom time begins with Saul in 1000 B.C.
...
His note on 1 Kings 6:1 is as follows:
four hundred and eightieth year. Note that the number is Ordinal (not Cardinal) = the 480th year of some longer and larger period, viz. the 490 years from the Exodus to the Dedication of the Temple ; the difference of ten years being made up of seven years in building (v. 38) and three years in furnishing. Dedicated not in seventh year, for Completion took place in the eighth month of one year ( v . 38), and the Dedication in the seventh month of another (8. 2 ). The chronological period was 40 years in wilderness + 450 years under judges + 40 years of Saul + 40 years of David + 3 years of Solomon ( v . 1 ) = 573 (from 1490-917). The mystical period of 480 years is obtained by deducting the period of 93 years, when Israel’s national position was in abeyance. Thus : 8 (Judg. 3. 8) + 18 (Judg. 3. 14 ) + 20 (Judg. 4. 3 ) + 7 (Judg. 6. 1 ) + 40 (Judg. 13. 1 ) = 93. (N.B. The eighteen years of Judg. 10. 7 , 9 , was local and beyond Jordan. It did not affect the national position). Hence 573 — 93 = 480 (from 873-93).
Alex, thanks for sharing from Bullinger on this. I have his Companion Bible, but for some reason it never occurred to me to look and see if he said anything about this. I look forward to looking at his chart, since the visual might add some extra help!
Alex, a great quote from Bullinger in Appendix 50"
“4. The position occupied in The Companion Bible is that all Scripture is ‘given by inspiration of God,’ θεόπνευστος (theopneustos) = God breathed. Therefore, the record of the dates and periods stated in the Bible are as much inspired as any other portion of it; and are as much to be relied on for accuracy as those statements upon which we rest in hope of eternal salvation. They must be as unreservedly received and believed as any other statements contained in its pages.”
Nice. And true.
Bullinger has some good stuff, super smart, quite the scholar - just kind of went a bit too far and a little off latter in his life, and he apparently did not hold to a fixed text by his adoption of some RV readings here and there.
I don't always agree with Bullinger, but I find he has some quite insightful comments on the Bible. I have a Kregel reprint of The Companion Bible. It is nicely done, but the comments are in too small a print.
Post a Comment