wstruse
03-08-2008, 05:40 PM
For those of you interested in the Scriptural and Historical chronology of Yashua I have been working on Josephus’ account of the death of Herod. Here is a rough version of the information.
Those of you who have studied the issue know that Josephus gives and account towards the end of Herod’s life which provides many details surround his death. Included in those details is an eclipse of the moon, Herod’s death and then a Jewish rebellion at a following Passover.
As far as I am aware there are only two schools of thought on this chronology by Josephus. I school believes the eclipse mentioned took place on March 13, 4 BC and the other school believes December 29, 1 BC. Both of these eclipses would have been visible from Jerusalem and surrounding areas.
In the tables below you will see a list of the specific event that Josephus describes as taking place after the eclipse, (including Herod’s death) and then up to the Jewish rebellion at the following Passover.
Also added to the mix is the Megillith Ta’anith also called the 'Scroll of Fasting' (written during the 1st century) indicates that Herod died on the 1st of Shevat. (Megillath Ta’anith xi,1 Warsh edition p. 16a)
It is also likely that the events describe in Matthew and Luke concerning the birth of Yashua took place during this last year of Herods life. Josephus states that sometime after the eclipse, Herod began to 'do all things like a madman'. While Herod was clearly cruel during his lifetime it is unlikely He would have killed all the 2 year olds in Bethlehem had he been in his right mind. Josephus’ account also bears this out.
Antiquities of the Jews 17:172-174 172 And when the physicians once thought fit to have him bathed in a vessel full of oil, it was supposed that he was just dying; but upon the lamentable cries of his domestics, he revived; and having no longer the least hopes of recovering, he gave orders that every soldier should be paid fifty drachmas; 173 and he also gave a great deal to their commanders, and to his friends, and came again to Jericho, where he grew so choleric, that it brought him to do all things like a madman; and, though he were near his death, he contrived the following wicked designs. 174 He commanded that all the principal men of the entire Jewish nation, wherever they lived, should be called to him. Accordingly, they were a great number that came, because the whole nation was called, and all men heard of this call, and death was the penalty of such as should despise the letters that were sent to call them. And now the king was in a wild rage against them all, the innocent as well as those who had afforded ground for accusations;
In the 4 BC chronology I have included a rough chronology of Marys purification, their subsequent return to Nazareth, their flight to Egypt and their return to Nazareth. It is worth noting here that the tradition of the wise men coming to the manger scene in Bethlehem is very unlikely.
According to the Law once Mary’s purification was over, her and Joseph had to offer a lamb for their first born son. If they were too poor for a lamb they could offer 2 turtledoves and two pigeons. According to Luke 22 they offered the turtledoves and pigeons. Had the wise men already visited them they would have had gold, frankincense and myrrh with which to buy a lamb. After the Marys purification she and Joseph went directly back to Nazareth. After the wise men’s visit Mary and Joseph went down into Egypt. Then, later after Herods death they returned to Judea and resettled in Nazareth. Luke 2:41 states that Yashua’s parents went 'every year' to the Passover. If this passage is to be taken literally then Mary and Joseph spent only a short time in Egypt before the next Passover.
I have only included the events of Mary and Joseph in the 4 BC table. The reason for this is I was not able to come up with any scenario where the events Josephus described, between the Eclipse and the death of Herod, could have taken place by 1 Shevat. Nor was I able to come up with a scenario where the events of Luke and Matthew could have taken place when Herod acted like a 'madman' in the last months of his life.
There you have it, for what its worth.
Wstruse
Those of you who have studied the issue know that Josephus gives and account towards the end of Herod’s life which provides many details surround his death. Included in those details is an eclipse of the moon, Herod’s death and then a Jewish rebellion at a following Passover.
As far as I am aware there are only two schools of thought on this chronology by Josephus. I school believes the eclipse mentioned took place on March 13, 4 BC and the other school believes December 29, 1 BC. Both of these eclipses would have been visible from Jerusalem and surrounding areas.
In the tables below you will see a list of the specific event that Josephus describes as taking place after the eclipse, (including Herod’s death) and then up to the Jewish rebellion at the following Passover.
Also added to the mix is the Megillith Ta’anith also called the 'Scroll of Fasting' (written during the 1st century) indicates that Herod died on the 1st of Shevat. (Megillath Ta’anith xi,1 Warsh edition p. 16a)
It is also likely that the events describe in Matthew and Luke concerning the birth of Yashua took place during this last year of Herods life. Josephus states that sometime after the eclipse, Herod began to 'do all things like a madman'. While Herod was clearly cruel during his lifetime it is unlikely He would have killed all the 2 year olds in Bethlehem had he been in his right mind. Josephus’ account also bears this out.
Antiquities of the Jews 17:172-174 172 And when the physicians once thought fit to have him bathed in a vessel full of oil, it was supposed that he was just dying; but upon the lamentable cries of his domestics, he revived; and having no longer the least hopes of recovering, he gave orders that every soldier should be paid fifty drachmas; 173 and he also gave a great deal to their commanders, and to his friends, and came again to Jericho, where he grew so choleric, that it brought him to do all things like a madman; and, though he were near his death, he contrived the following wicked designs. 174 He commanded that all the principal men of the entire Jewish nation, wherever they lived, should be called to him. Accordingly, they were a great number that came, because the whole nation was called, and all men heard of this call, and death was the penalty of such as should despise the letters that were sent to call them. And now the king was in a wild rage against them all, the innocent as well as those who had afforded ground for accusations;
In the 4 BC chronology I have included a rough chronology of Marys purification, their subsequent return to Nazareth, their flight to Egypt and their return to Nazareth. It is worth noting here that the tradition of the wise men coming to the manger scene in Bethlehem is very unlikely.
According to the Law once Mary’s purification was over, her and Joseph had to offer a lamb for their first born son. If they were too poor for a lamb they could offer 2 turtledoves and two pigeons. According to Luke 22 they offered the turtledoves and pigeons. Had the wise men already visited them they would have had gold, frankincense and myrrh with which to buy a lamb. After the Marys purification she and Joseph went directly back to Nazareth. After the wise men’s visit Mary and Joseph went down into Egypt. Then, later after Herods death they returned to Judea and resettled in Nazareth. Luke 2:41 states that Yashua’s parents went 'every year' to the Passover. If this passage is to be taken literally then Mary and Joseph spent only a short time in Egypt before the next Passover.
I have only included the events of Mary and Joseph in the 4 BC table. The reason for this is I was not able to come up with any scenario where the events Josephus described, between the Eclipse and the death of Herod, could have taken place by 1 Shevat. Nor was I able to come up with a scenario where the events of Luke and Matthew could have taken place when Herod acted like a 'madman' in the last months of his life.
There you have it, for what its worth.
Wstruse