Edwin R. Thiele’s
“The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings”


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Summary
Full Review Below
Book Reviewed Our Rating
Title:
The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings
Author:
Edwin Thiele
Binding:
Paperback, 253 pages
Publisher:

Kregel Publications: 1983
ISBN:
082543825X
List Price:
$10.99
Buy Now For: $8.79
 (20%)
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Review Date:
2 February, 1998
Reviewer:
J. P. Holding
[ We  Highly Recommend This Book ]

Recommended

Publisher Commentary:  “...Dr. Edwin R. Thiele has addressed these issues and solved the problems related to the chronology of the Hebrew kings. By carefully studying the biblical data, he determined the dating methods of the early Hebrew scribes. By following the principles established by these scribes, Dr. Thiele has succeeded in producing a chronology that is consistent with the scriptural records and the records of other nations of the ancient world.”

Bookshop Summary:  This is the ‘must-have’ book for understanding the records of the Kings of Israel and Judah. Highly-detailed, yet understandable even to the layman.
 
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Playing the Kingly Numbers


A review of Edwin Thiele’s
“The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings”


by
J. P. Holding
|

Does the Book of Kings put you into a royal tizzy with all those reigns and numbers? After reading this book, that will be one less thing that you have to think about. Dr. Thiele has put things into sensible order - and proven the reliability of the regnal data from the Books of Kings.

As is often the case, understanding comes with an understanding of the culture. Here, the regnal numbers of the Kings becomes apparent, Thiele tells us, by taking into account these basic considerations:

  • Accession-year dating. Certain ANE cultures, when a king began his reign in the middle of a calendar year, did not consider this to be the monarch's first year, but rather called this an accession year, and began the first year of the reign from the first of the next calendar year. (This would be equivalent to a President’s first year being counted from the January following his appointment, even though he assumed office in the previous June.)
  • Co-reigns. As today, a king may appoint his son as co-regent while still alive.
  • Different starts of regnal years. Problematically, Israel and Judah started their regnal years in different months for most of their history - although Judah switched methods for part of their history, which has contributed greatly to the confusion!

Thiele takes these and other considerations into account, and the result is stupendous. Not only does he achieve a chronology for the Hebrew kings that accords with the Bible; he also makes a perfect fit with records of other cultures. This truly amazing project is one of a kind, and is well worth being acquired - even if you have no particular need for the material.


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