Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Harold R. Holmyard III" <hholmyard AT ont.com>]

Dear Herman and list,

Herman has suggested a date for the Exodus of 1598 B.C. Besides 1 
Kings 6:1, Judges 11:26 is another verse that would imply this date 
is inaccurate. Here Jepthah indicates that Israel has occupied 
Heshbon and other Transjordanian areas for three hundred years.

Judg. 11:26 For three hundred years Israel occupied Heshbon, Aroer, 
the surrounding settlements and all the towns along the Arnon. Why 
didn't you retake them during that time?

HH: Jephthah was one of the later judges, and he judged for six 
years. After him are mentioned Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon, who together 
judged Israel for twenty-five years. The Lord then handed Israel over 
to the Philistines for forty years, and Samson judged for twenty 
years. It is not clear if Samson's judging is considered part of the 
forty years of Philistine rule or not. There is a description of 
three episodes without any mention of the ruling judge: Micah's 
priest (Judg 17), Dan's invasion of Laish with Micah's priest (Judg 
18), and the Benjamite war (Judg 19-21).

HH: If Herman were correct about the date of the Exodus, then 
allowing 40 years of wandering, which would bring us to 1558 B.C., 
subtracting 300 years gives 1258 B.C. at the time of Jepthah. It does 
not seem that there is 248 years from Jepthah to the beginning of 
David's rule in 1010 B.C. The period from Jepthah to David seems 
relatively short, more like a 131 years. There are 6 years for 
Jepthah, 25 years for the three judges (Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon), 40 
years under the Philistines, possibly another 20 years under Samson, 
Samuel's judging (also under the period of Philistine domination), 
and Saul's 40 years. The sum of 6 + 25 + 40 + 20 + 40 = 131. And 1010 
B.C. +131 + 300 = c. 1441 B.C. Since one would have to add another 40 
years from the conquest of the Transjordan back to the Exodus (1481 
B.C.), it may be that I do not know how to calculate the figures for 
the period of the judges accurately. Jepthah may have given a round 
number with the figure of 300 years, and Samson's 20 years may be 
part of the 40 years of Philistine domination.  But the chronology 
seems closer to a 1440 B.C. Exodus than a 1598 B.C. Exodus.

                                Yours,
                                Harold Holmyard