Title: Study of the Chronology of the Redemptive History (2)
- To study the chronology of the Bible
When it comes to studying the chronology of the Bible, we have to read the Bible and understand the years in the Bible according to God’s way and His intention. The Bible does not use one same calendar or cycle throughout, but different calendar and different cycle at different times in order to give the first readers the best understanding.
The Pentateuch (The first 5 books of the Bible) is known as written around 1400 BC by Moses. And the last book, the book of Revelation is known as written around 100 AD. Thus the Bible is written over the span of 1500 years. It means each book is written to give the first expected readers better understanding. For example, the book of Nehemiah is written according to Tishri cycle, the book of Daniel is also written according to Tishri cycle, but the book of Ezekiel is written according to Nisan cycle calendar.
- The Perspective of the book of Chronicles
1 Kings 6:1 Now it came about in the four hundred and eightieth year after the sons of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the Lord.
Solomon became a king in 970BC. During King Solomon’s time, Israel used accession year dating method, thus his 4th regnal year is 966BC. It says that it was the 480th year after the sons of Israel came out of the land of Egypt. So, we calculate this in this way: 966+480=1446. But, if we counted minutely, we would have noticed that there are 481 years in between 966 and 1446. However, the whole calculation of 1 Kings 6:1 was based on the 4th regnal year of Solomon. Therefore, ‘480th year’ also has to be calculated in the same way of Solomon’s 4th regnal year. 970BC when Solomon became a king is considered his accession year. Then, only in 969BC, it was calculated as the 1st regnal year. Likewise, in the perspective of 1 Kings 6:1, 1446BC when the Israelites came out from Egypt should be considered as the year of the Exodus. Then, 1445 BC should be counted as the 1st year of the Exodus.
- The perspective of the Pentateuch
Pentateuch (the first 5 books of the Bible) was written by Moses. Numbers 33:38 stays that Aaron died on the 1st day of the 5th month of the 40th year after the Exodus, which is 1407BC according to the western calendar. Therefore, if we calculate this way, we can understand that 1446BC was counted as the first year of the Exodus in the book of Moses.
Hebrew word for 2nd year in Numbers 9:1-2 is ‘SheNi’ and it means the second. The date when the Israelites came out from the land of Egypt was the 15th day of Nisan in 1446 BC. Since they came out after the Passover, the first Passover the Israelites could observe during the wilderness journey was the one in 1445 BC. 1445 BC was counted as the 2nd year of the Exodus. Considering above, we can understand that unlikely to the perspective of Chronicle, Moses calculated the year of the Exodus, 1446 BC as the first year of the Exodus.
- Another way to calculate a period
Exodus 12:40-41 Now the time that the sons of Israel lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. 41 And at the end of four hundred and thirty years, to the very day, all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.
It says that at the end of 430 years, Israelites came out from Egypt. We used the formula 1446+430=1876 and taught the year of Jacob entered Egypt was 1876 BC. However, in between 1446 and 1876, there are 431 years.
There is another way to calculate years in the Bible: Age reckoning method. Eg. Your birthday is 1 Jan 2020, you will turn 1 year old on 1 Jan 2021. When you live full one year it is calculated as one year. Hebrew word for ‘at the end’ in verse 41 is “KeTs” and it means “full, fully”.
Conclusion:
We must follow God’s perspective
We must follow God’s perspective in order to understand God’s redemptive history.
The book of Malachi is the book of the Old Testament in timely order. And God prophesied through Prophet Malachi that Elijah will come before the Messiah (Mal 4:5-6).
The Jews waited for Elijah who would come back from heaven in a chariot of fire and whirlwind, because this was how Elijah went up to heaven. This is man’s perspective.
However, Jesus explained that Elijah had already come before Him, and that was John the Baptist (Matthew 17:12-14, Luke1:17).
Elijah did not come in the physical body that was taken to heaven before, but John the Baptist was the one who came in the spirit and power of Elijah.
Even today, because the Jews do not believe that John the Baptist was Elijah, they still wait for Elijah, thus they do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah. To follow God’s perspective is so important and only those who follow God’s perspective will be able to understand God’s redemptive history and be able to see Jesus Christ who is coming again.
The Lord's Covenant Church Malaysia 