26-01-20 The study of the chronology of the Redemptive History

Title: The study of the chronology of the Redemptive History

1. To study the chronology of the Bible

When it comes to reading the Bible, we have to read in a way to understand the author’s intention. The Bible does not use the same calendar or cycle throughout the book but depending on situation, it uses different calendar system.

For example, the book of Nehemiah is written according to Tishri Cycle (Nehemiah 1:1; 2:1). Nehemiah heard that Jerusalem is broken and its gates were burnt down: this happened on the 9^th month of the 20^th year of King Artaxerxes. Then, a few months later, when Nehemiah was serving King Artaxerxes, as his face looked dark, the king asked him what his concern was: this happened on the 1^st month of the 20^th year. This shows that the book of Nehemiah was written according to Tishri Cycle. Book of Daniel too was written according to Tishri Cycle.

However, the book of Ezekiel was written according to Nisan Cycle (2 Chronicles 36:10). This year when Ezekiel was taken to Babylon was the 10^th of Nisan in 597 BC (Tishri Cycle) that is confirmed in Babylonian Chronology.

Ezekiel heard that Jerusalem city was destroyed on the 9^th day of the 4^th month in the 11^th year of King Zedekiah, that is 586 BC (Tishri cycle).

Ezekiel’s muteness was removed when he met a guy who escaped from Jerusalem about 6 months ago and that was the 5^th day of the 10^th month in the 12^th year of exile (Ezekiel 33:21-22).

If we calculate according to Tishri Cycle, 597 becomes the 1^st year of exile, 586 becomes the 12^th year of exile, and the 10^th month which is 6 months later should be counted as 13^th year of exile. However, the fact that Ezekiel explained the day that his muteness was removed was in the 12^th year of exile, it is the proof that the book of Ezekiel is written according to Nisan Cycle.

• The study the chronology of the Redemptive History series

Hebrew calendar which is known as a Nisan cycle and Tishri cycle was introduced for the first time in the 4^th book of Redemptive History. Thus, the years recorded in the first 3 books of Redemptive History series are according to western solar calendar : To be precise, it is back dated Julian calendar. So, years are according to Julian calendar, but the month and day were according to Hebrew calendar.

From the 4^th book of Redemptive History, when the king’s story is introduced, all the years and dates were recorded according to Hebrew calendar. Southern Judah used Tishri cycle and Northern Israel used Nisan cycle. However, they both are categorized as Hebrew calendar.

• Comparison of different calendars

Jeroboam’s 1^st regnal year was 930 BC (Nisan Cycle)

Rehoboam’s accession year was 930 BC (Tishri Cycle)

We can see that Nisan year starts first, Tishri year follows, then Western (Julian) year starts last.

Right before the Exodus, God ordered the people of Israel that today should be regarded as the New Year’s Day. Let’s imagine, we are living in April 2020, God appeared to us and ordered to regard that day as New Year’s Day. Would it be Nisan 2020 or Nisan 2021? That’s why Nisan year starts earlier than Western (Julian) year.

• Applying to the years of Exodus

Years of Exodus is introduced to us in the 2^nd book of the Redemptive History, thus their years are recorded according to western calendar. The date of Exodus is the 15^th day of Nisan in 1446BC.

1446BC – Western (Julian) solar calendar

15^th day of Nisan – Hebrew calendar

If we convert this to Hebrew year, it will be the 15^th day of Nisan in 1445 BC (23 April 1446 BC) .

The date of Entry to the land of Canaan is the 10^th day of Nisan in 1406 BC..

1406BC- Western (Julian) solar calendar

10^th day of Nisan-Hebrew calendar

If we convert this to Hebrew year, it will be the 10^th day of Nisan in 1405BC (26 April 1406 BC).

Conclusion:

The things hidden from the beginning will be opened to us

The way that God trained us was that He opens more when we are ready to receive.

God wants us to understand the Word of God and understand His intention. If we do not understand or if we do not desire to understand, then God shuts down and do not reveal it to us. If we understand and make efforts to understand His Word, God will reveal more to us and utter the meaning of the hidden things from the foundation of the world.

Let us read the Bible diligently and have the zeal to study the Word of God so that this year more Word of God, deeper intention of our Father God be made known to all of us.