LEGAL BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Bates.F. (1985) Principles of Evidence. 3rd Edition. Sydney The Law Book Company Limited.
Freckelton. I.R. (1987) The Trial of the Expert. A Study of Expert Evidence and Forensic Experts. Melbourne.Aust.Oxford University Press.
Ligertwood. A.L.C. ( 1988 ) Australian Evidence. First Edition. Butterworths P/l. North Ryde
Vinson.D.E. (1985) How to Persuade Jurors. American Bar Association Journal 72, 76
Gobbo. J.A., Byrne. D., Heydon J.D. (1979) Cross on Evidence 2nd Edition. Sydney. Aust. Butterworths Pty.Ltd.
Vinson.D.E. (1985) How to Persuade Jurors. American Bar Association Journal 72, 76
Legal Information Institute : Federal Rules of Evidence http://www.law.cornell.edu/rules/fre/
NOLO : http://www.nolo.com
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The Law, Rules of Evidence & Archaeology Part 4.
(Installment 4 of Legal Issues related to Chapter Seven of the King's Calendar : "The Battle of Qarqar - 853 BCE" - and - Including Issues related to Chapter Nine : 883 BCE. to 756 BCE. The Ancient Near East)
Prologue
The intention of this article is to offer a Polemical rebuttal of Academic methodology in reconstructing the history of Israel.
Currently Historians insist that King Ahab of Israel was at the Battle of Qarqar which occurred in 853 BCE. In Parts 1, 2 and 3 of this series, it was demonstrated that the direct evidence that they offer is (legally) unacceptable direct evidence, and that the circumstantial evidence rebuts the claim that Ahab was at the Battle.
The 'King's Calendar' chronology for Ancient Israel insists that Ahab died in 863 BCE, a decade prior to the Battle of Qarqar (853 BCE).
In this article we will discuss the issues pertinent to the current Academic perception of events in Israel and Syria during this particular century, and will commence where Part 3 left off, with the deaths of Jehoram of Israel and Ahaziah of Judah.
WHEN DID JEHORAM AND AHAZIAH DIE?
According to the chronology of the King's Calendar, whose chronological reconstruction is calculated backward in time from the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BCE, Jehoram and Ahaziah commenced their respective final years, (in both Artificial and Solar calendars), in Nisan of 849 BCE.
Since the purpose of this chapter is not to justify the King's Calendar chronology [in a court of Law the two sides do not argue at the same time], but to offer rebuttal to current academic opinion [referred to here as 'The State of Opinion'], no argument is offered as to why the King's Calendar date for Jehoram and Jehu should be accepted. [The chronology can be visually appreciated by going to Appendix 5 and comparing its' presentation with the references provided in Appendix 13]
The following chart provides visualization of the reigns of the Kings of Israel and Judah, so that you can appreciate the King's Calendar perspective.
[See the image at http://www.kingscalendar.com/images/uploads/849_justification_LAW_PT_41.jpg] From this chronological position, it can be seen that Ahab was not at the Battle of Qarqar. More importantly, acceptance of the King's Calendar chronology as it pertains to Israel and Judah, would require a change in the current academic position in relation to events in Syria.
According to Josephus [Antiquities 9:6:1] Hazael of Syria came to the throne prior to Jehoram's death. [Bright, 1981, p.254 - places Hazael c. 842 BCE - 806 BCE]
Since the King's Calendar puts Jehoram's death at 849 BCE., current academic opinion that Hazael of Syria commenced to reign around 842/841 BCE. can be seen to be incorrect.
There are three important reasons for putting Hazael on the throne around 842/841 BCE.
The first is that it 'reasonably' allows Ahab to be at the Battle of Qarqar, 'if he died immediately thereafter' (so that Jehoram could rule and die before Hazael came to the throne of Syria).
The second reason, is that the first documentary evidence of his reign, is dated to this period. It is known that Hazael withstood Shalmaneser's siege of Damascus in 841 BCE. (Judaica, 1972, Vol 7, p.1516).
This, as Professor D.J. Wiseman of the British Academy put in writing to me many years ago, does not constitute proof that this was when Hazael commenced his reign. [I can't in this article prove that Prof. Wiseman wrote anything to me at all. When I checked my photo files, I discovered that I had not copied his letter to my computer. Nevertheless, the actual document can be produced. It is in safe keeping in Australia. In this is an important lesson. Just because you can't prove something right now, does not mean that it cannot be proved at all.]
The third reason, relates to two subsequent battles (848 BCE & 845 BCE) to the Battle of Qarqar (853 BCE), for which there is 'evidence' that Ben-Hadad II was still the ruler of Syria, for he is mentioned in the Assyrian records. Therefore Hazael could not have commenced earlier than 844 BCE.
SO WHAT ARE THE FACTS?
No. 1 The first 'fact' of which to be aware is that traditional chronologies for Ahab, Ben-Hadad II and Hazael, have all depended on the Kurkh Stele, and the dating for the Battle of Qarqar in 853 BCE., and the Biblical Narratives, together with the Moabite Stone, and other circumstantial evidence, discredits the 'opinion' that Ahab was at the Battle of Qarqar in 853 BCE and that he died soon thereafter.
No. 2 The second 'assertion' here is that Ben-Hadad II, according to Josephus, was replaced by Hazael prior to Jehoram's death, which is established by the King's Calendar at 849 BCE. [For apologetics relating to the reliability of Josephus' chronologies, GO TO: http://www.kingscalendar.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi?action=topics&viewcat=Chronology NOTE: Until December 31st 2005, Josephus files are freely available online at King's Calendar. Subsequently access will be denied. GO TO: http://www.kingscalendar.com/cgi-bin/mods/showhtml/showhtml.pl?url=www.kingscalendar.com/kc_free_files/A_PRECIS_OF_CHAPTERS.html }
Whilst modern academia may not put much credence in Josephus, the reality is that he had available to him, documents no longer available to us, and that it cannot be stated today, that current knowledge of events from that period, must be more accurate.
Cornfeld (1982) in his introduction to the Jewish Wars, makes this statement: 'Despite all discrepancies, ambiguities, contradictions and plain mistakes, the fact remains that Josephus was a highly reliable witness, not only with respect to events in Palestine and Jerusalem of his own time, but also, though to a somewhat lesser extent, with regard to earlier times, for which he depended on available traditional sources. In sum, despite ambiguities and exaggerations, his is the most comprehensive surviving account in existence...'
No. 3 Direct Documentary evidence has been provided to indicate that Ben-Hadad II of Syria, was still on the throne of Syria, as late as 845 BCE. However, that documentary evidence is provided by the exact same 'witness' that provided discredited evidence in the matter of Ahab's presence at the Battle of Qarqar.
The same witness (Shalmaneser III) who provided the Documentary evidence to prove that Ben-Hadad II of Syria was present in two battles in 848 BCE and 845 BCE, has already been proven to have been either 'false' or 'inaccurate' in his documentary identification of another king.
[Rule 106. Remainder of or Related Writings or Recorded Statements http://www.law.cornell.edu/rules/fre/rules.htm#Rule106 Abbreviated: When a writing is introduced an adverse party may require the introduction of any other writing which ought in fairness to be considered contemporaneously with it.]
This then goes to a legal matter involving the 'character of witnesses'.
It is the right of the prosecution and defense to call into question the character of a witness. Since the evidence provided by the witness of Shalmaneser's Kurkh Stele has been shown to at best be 'erroneous' and at worse 'fabricated', it is justifiable to question the 'competency' of this witness (Shalmaneser) in providing testimony on a related matter.
Rule 405. Methods of Proving Character : (a) Reputation or opinion : In all cases in which evidence of character or a trait of character of a person is admissible, proof may be made by testimony as to reputation or by testimony in the form of an opinion. On cross-examination, inquiry is allowable into relevant specific instances of conduct. - (b) Specific instances of conduct : In cases in which character or a trait of character of a person is an essential element of a charge, claim, or defense, proof may also be made of specific instances of that person's conduct : NOTES TO RULE 405 : Of the three methods of proving character provided by the rule, evidence of specific instances of conduct is the most convincing.]
The records of Shalmaneser cannot with any degree of confidence, be accepted as reliable. Furthermore, the records of other Assyrian rulers, are just as suspect.
MISIDENTIFICATION:
Having established that the Kurkh Stele misidentified Ahab as the king involved at the Battle of Qarqar, and in view of the fact that both Josephus and the King's Calendar contest the basic premise that Ben-Hadad II was king of Syria during the period of Shalmaneser's later attacks, it is worth looking wider afield to see just how accurate Assyrian record keeping was.
When we look into the accuracy of Assyrian record keeping, we note for instance that when a particular king is mentioned by name, the reference need not be legitimate. [Refer to discussion on erroneous identification of Tubail of Tyre, in records of tribute to Tiglath-Pileser III. - Miller & Hayes 1986, p.332. They point out that with regard to the tribute paid by Menehem, there are two differing records. One states that Menehem of Israel, Rezin of Damascus and Tubail of Tyre, paid tribute, and the other that Menehem, Rezin, and Hiram of Tyre paid tribute.]
When it comes to the lengths of the reigns of the various kings, Academics cannot be certain unless it is specifically stated in the historical records, that a particular king's length of reign, does or does not include his accession year. [Grayson.A.K. (Cambridge Ancient History, 1991, p.71/72) includes Tiglath-Pileser's accession year, whereas Thiele (1966, p97) appears to not.]
When it comes to chronological events in the records, Academics can't even agree how the chronological data ought to be applied. Referring to Tiglath-Pileser's campaigns, we have two different dates for the exact same campaign. [E.R. Thiele (1966, p.97) puts the 743 BCE campaign in 738 BCE.]
Even without these specific examples, it is already recognised that many of the historical records (eg the Eponym and Babylonian Chronicles), leave much to be desired. [Cambridge Ancient History, 1991, p 339/340]
One writer (Peet. T.E. 1924, p.75) wrote: "Archaeology is not an exact science, and deals more often in probabilities and possibilities than in irrefutable demonstrations.' Although written in reference to Ancient Egypt, it is painfully obvious that evidence is not always clearcut and precise, and inferences drawn from such evidences, are not always susceptible to scientific testing.
When one examines the Assyrian records, there is no evidence to support the claim that Israel's historical records are 'less' reliable.
ACADEMIC GUESSWORK, PREJUDICE AND BIAS
The few following brief notes provide an insight into how precise are the findings in Archaeology and History.
1. Aharoni's (1978, p.183) observation that it is difficult for scholars to admit their errors.
2. In relation to Mazar's (1986,pp231/247) preference for accepted dating despite his own evidence to the contrary - cited in James et.al. (1991, p.250)
3. Peter James et.al.(1991,p.162) discuss such issues as poor methodology and hypercritical treatment of Scripture, blindness, prejudice and a sectarian like rejection of the Biblical Record.
(p.309), citing Hanfmann (1951, pp.355/65) and supporting Jagersma (1983,p.37), points out that the basis of all chronologies, that of the Egyptian and Mesopotamian, rests heavily on academic guesswork.
(p.222) cites Sir Alan Gardiner's (1961) reference to Egyptian History as 'a collection of rags and tatters'.
(foreword pp.xiii-xv) Colin Renfrew, Professor of Archaeology, Cambridge University (1990), discusses the probable chronological errors and circular arguments in estimating ancient history.
(p.227) citing: Roy.A. (1982) re: current astronomical calculations : also p 228 in relation to the theory of Sothic dating and it's assumptions.
4. Miller & Hayes(1986,pp.67/75) provides a plethora of academic disagreements based on bias and preference [relates to Egypt].
5. Compare Petrie (1931) Trigger (1983) Grimal (1992) and Aldred,( 1988 ) in relation to differing chronologies for the kings of the 18th Egyptian Dynasty - for which the same information is available. a) Amenhotep I commenced somewhere between 1560 & 1515 BCE - b) Thotmes II commenced somewhere between 1528 & 1482 BCE - c) Amenhotep II commenced somewhere between 1447 & 1425 BCE
6. Fall of Samaria: both Shalmaneser and Sargon claim to have completed the siege against Hoshea King of Israel. [Bright (1981, p275) and Herrmann (1981, p.250) both currently favouring a victory completed by Shalmaneser]
7. Herrmann (1981,p.249) believes Pekah's (Hoshea's predecessor) end came in 733 BCE, the year before Damascus fell, while Ahlstrom (1993, p. 635) places it in the same year, that is, 732 BCE.
8. Roux.G. ( 1982,p.308 ) Citing: Oates.J. (1965, pp.135/59) -and - Reade.J. (1970, pp.1-9) Identifies Kandalanu as the name by which Ashurbanipal ruled in Babylon from 648 BCE onwards. - but - Wiseman (1961, p89) indicates that Kandalanu was Ashurbanipal's appointee.
9. Bright, 1981, p.255, Adad-Nirari c.802 BCE crushed Damascus which was ruled by Hazael's son Ben-Hadad III. - Miller and Hayes 1986, pp 291-293 indicate that the actual date is uncertain. It could have been 802 BCE or 796 BCE.
10. Like the suggestion that Jehoram of Israel and Jehoram of Judah were the one and the same person, depending on where you read, the same question is raised in relation to Ben-Hadad I and II of Syria.
THE ALTERNATIVE TO GUESSWORK.
The alternative to Guesswork would be a system that is more scientifically testable. Reliance upon the Assyrian records mentioned in this series, has led Academics to conclusions that are not demonstrably correct or verifiable.
The mathematics of the 'King's Calendar' demonstrates a preponderance of accurate specific predictions with regard to Kings and events of Judah and Israel, that do not rely upon personal preferences or opinions.
The guesswork for the period under discussion in this article presents possible scenarios for the reigns of Hazael, and Ben Hadad I & II which like those for the kings of the 18th Dynasty in Egypt, all depend upon 'how' an 'authority on the matter' likes to portray them.
Based upon the mathematical calculation of reigns for the Kings of Israel and Judah, The 'King's Calendar' reconstruction of the reigns of Ben Hadad I & II would be:
Ben Hadad I Pre-893 BCE to 883 BCE (10+ years) Regency 883 BCE to Pre-868 BCE (15 years)
Ben Hadad II Pre-868 BCE to 850 BCE (18 Years)
Apologetics for this may be found in Newsletter No. 17 : The Significance of Ahab's death. http://www.kingscalendar.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi?action=viewnews&id=172
CONCLUSION:
The documentary evidence provided for this period of time by archaeologists and historians lacks credibility, when viewed through the lens of the Rules of Evidence. Nevertheless, they have been preferred over the Historical Documents of Israel, precisely because they do come from Israel and because they contain unacceptably strong religious elements.
This combined with a complete failure to understand the chronological material presented therein, has resulted in an historical reconstruction that is not only unreliable but extremely patchy to say the least.
The Mathematical basis of the King's Calendar historical reconstruction for the History of Israel, is a scientifically verifiable or falsifiable system.
To date, the conclusions drawn from this Scientific system of Math, has demonstrated itself to be reliable.
It is time to 'throw out the discredited evidence' and rewrite the history books.
The Jury has Returned:
The Judge has announced the Verdict:
The Academic Evidence is thrown out of court.
R.P. BenDedek.
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RELATED ARTICLES AND HISTORICAL BIBLIOGRAPHY.
The Law, Rules of Evidence & Archaeology Part 1.
http://www.kingscalendar.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi?action=viewnews&id=256
The Law, Rules of Evidence & Archaeology Part 2.
http://www.kingscalendar.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi?action=viewnews&id=257
The Law, Rules of Evidence & Archaeology Part 3.
http://www.kingscalendar.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi?action=viewnews&id=258
No. 16: The Life and Death of King Ahab of Israel.
http://www.kingscalendar.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi?action=viewnews&id=173
No. 17 : The Significance of Ahab's death. http://www.kingscalendar.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi?action=viewnews&id=172
Biblical Infallibility, Divine Inspiration & Academic Deceit and Manipulation
http://www.kingscalendar.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi?action=viewnews&id=234
HISTORICAL BIBLIOGRAPHY.
Aharoni. Y. ( 1978 ) The Archaeology of the Land of Israel. Philadelphia. Westminster Press
Ahlstrom.G.W. (1993) The History of Ancient Palestine. USA Minneapolis. Fortress Press.
Bright. J. (1981) A History of Israel. 3rd Ed. Philadelphia. Westminster Press.
Cambridge Ancient History Vol III Part 2. (1991) U.K.Cambridge University Press.
Cornfeld.G. (1982) Josephus: The Jewish War. Zondervan Publishing House Michigan.
Encyclopaedia Judaica Jerusalem (1972) MacMillan Publishing.
Gardiner. A. (1961) Egypt of the Pharaoh's. Oxford University Press. The Ancient Military Road between Egypt and Palestine. Journal of Egyptian Archaeology. No. 6
Hanfmann. G.M.A. (1951) The Bronze Age in the Near East. A Review Article. A.J.A. 55, 355-65
Herrmann,S. (1981) A History of Israel in Old Testament Times. Philadelphia. Fortress Press.
Jagersma,H. (1983) A History of Israel in the Old Testament Period. Philadelphia. Fortress Press
James P. Thorpe.I.J., Kokkinos.N., Morkot.R., Frankish.J. (1991) Centuries of Darkness. Rutgers Uni Press. New Jersey
Mazar. B. (1986) The Early Biblical Period. Jerusalem Exploration Society.
Miller,J.M., Hayes,J.M. (1986) A History of Ancient Israel and Judah. USA. Westminster Press.
Oates.J. (1965) Iraq XXVII 'Assyrian Chronology 631-612BC.
Oates.J. (1979) Babylon London. Thames and Hudson
Peet. T.E. (1924) Egypt and the Old Testament. University Press of Liverpool
Reade.J. (1970) JCS CCIII 'The Accession of Sinsharishkun'
Roux.G. (1982) Ancient Iraq. Suffolk. Penguin Books
Roy.A. (1982) The astronomical basis of Egyptian Chronology. Society for Interdisciplinary Studies
Review 6, 53-55.
Thiele.E.R. (1966) The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings: a reconstruction of the chronology of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Paternoster Press
Whiston. W. (1993) The Works of Josephus. Hendrickson Publishers. Massachusetts. USA
Wiseman.D.J. (1961) Chronicles of the Chaldaean Kings (626-556 BC) in the British Museum. Trustees of the British Museum. London
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This article may be freely reprinted providing this box is included and all links herewith (and within the article body) are made/remain active. (c)2003-2005 R.P.BenDedek.
About the author: R.P.BenDedek is the author of 'The King's Calendar: The Secret of Qumran' at http://www.kingscalendar.com In addition to his academic articles, in which he sets forth Apologetics for and the results of his discovery of an "artificial chronological scheme" running through the Bible, Josephus and the Damascus Documents of the Dead Sea Scrolls, he writes photographic stories on China and social editorial commentaries. Visit http://www.kingscalendar.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi for more info.
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