Principles of Chronology

In order to attempt to reconcile the Biblical data with itself and the chronology of Babylon we must first understand some basic principles of ancient chronology and calendars. As explained by Thiele [1, p. 43]:

In working out the chronology of a nation, a primary requisite is that the chronological procedure of that nation be understood. The following items must be definitely established: (1) the year from which a king began to count the years of his reign—whether from the time of his actual accession, from the following year, or from some other time;

(2) the time of the calendar year when a king began to count his reign; (3) the method according to which a scribe of one nation reckoned the years of a king of a neighboring state, whether according to the system used in his nation or according to that of the neighbor; (4) whether or not the nation made use of coregencies, whether or not several rival rulers might have been reigning at the same time, and whether interregna occurred; (5) whether during the period under review a uniform system was followed, or whether variations took place; and, finally, (6) some absolute date during the period in question from which the years can be figured backward and forward so that the full chronological pattern might be secured. An understanding of each of the above items is necessary to a correct reconstruction of the chronologies of Israel and Judah, for unless one is acquainted with the type of chronological procedure in use, a wrong interpretation is likely to be placed on the available data and cause an erroneous pattern to ensue.

Accession and Non-Accession Year Reckoning

As defined by Thiele [1, p. 43]:

Accession Year Reckoning

In Assyria, Babylon, and Persia when a king first came to the throne, the year was usually called the king's accession year, but not till the first day of the first month of the next new year did the king begin reckoning events in his own first year. This system of reckoning is called the accession year system, or postdating.

Non-Accession Year Reckoning

In other places a king began to reckon his first year from the day he first came to the throne. This method of reckoning is known as the nonaccession-year system, or antedating.

Start of the Regnal Year

Whilst we know the Babylonians began their calendar year at Nisanu in Spring (see Calendar), the situation in Judah was more complex [1, p. 44]:

Among the Hebrews there were two calendar years, one beginning with Nisan in the spring and the other with Tishri in the fall. With which of these months did the Hebrews begin reckoning their regnal years? And did both Israel and Judah follow the same practice?

No consensus has yet been reached whether the Judean kings regnal years were reckoned from Nisan or Tishri [2].

References