testimony.doc
3
Nov. 16, 2005
Theodore H. Robinson: Wellhausen is surely right in believing that the
synchronisms in Kings are worthless, being merely a late compilation from the
actual figures given.
S. R. and G. R. Driver: Since, however, it is clear on various grounds that these
synchronisms are not original, any attempt to base a chronological scheme on
them may be disregarded.
Karl Marti: Almost along the whole line, the discrepancy between synchronisms
and years of reign is incurable.
Cyrus Gordon: The numerical errors in the Books of Kings have defied every
attempt to ungarble them. Those errors are largely the creation of the editors . . .
the editors did not execute the synchronisms skillfully.
2
Such conclusions about the unreliability of the chronological data of the kingdom period
follow logically once we grant the presuppositions of these scholars and then pursue their
deductive method. The advantage of the deductive approach is that it is readily adaptable
to whatever is currently fashionable in intellectual circles. At present that seems to be the
socio-economic approach to historical interpretation. The disadvantage of the deductive
approach is that nothing is ever settled for certain; the results obtained are as diverse as
the presuppositions of the scholars, since diverse presuppositions produce diverse results.
THE INDUCTIVE METHOD
There were, however, some scholars who followed an inductive approach in biblical and
chronological studies. Induction is inference of a generalized conclusion from particular
instances--compare
DEDUCTION
.
3
Broadly speaking, deduction starts with principles,
whereas induction starts with observation. When studying the chronology of the Hebrew
monarchies, the following are some of the observations that should be made if an
inductive course is to be pursued:
1.
There is evidence from Jewish writings that the New Year might be reckoned
from the spring month of Nisan, and other evidence that it might be measured
2
All quotes are from Edwin Thiele, Synchronisms of the Hebrew Kings, AUSS 1 (1963): 12425.
3
Webster's Ninth.