AN ESSAY ON THE CHRONOGRAPHICAL AND NUMERICAL SYSTEMS IN USE AMONG THE ANCIENT JEWS. TO WHICH IS ADDED AN APPENDIX, CONTAINING AN EXAMINATION OF THE ASSYRIAN, EGYPTIAN, AND OTHER ANCIENT CHRONOGRAPHIES, ETC. ETC. LONDON: LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, AND LONGMANS. 1851. 220, l. 6. ADVERTISEMENT. THE following Essay is the second of two which the Author originally intended to publish. The first contained an inquiry seriatim into the authenticity of all the principal numbers of the ancient Jewish Writings. But the second having extended to a length not at all contemplated at the outset, it was deemed inexpedient to incur the risk of so great loss as would be involved in the publication of a large work on a subject in which few persons take any interest. In consequence, the Author determined to withhold the first; and, as some small substitute, to introduce at the end of each Division of the second, a List of the principal numbers. In these Lists, there will doubtless be found numbers, in reference to which the meaning of the Author will not be apparent; but, with regard to the great bulk, it is believed that their cyclical character, or their magnitude, or peculiar coincidences connected with them, or the variations between the different authorities, will sufficiently indicate how far they can be deemed historical or trustworthy. The Author thinks it necessary to state further in this place, that the Essay and Appendix have been passed through the Press under circumstances unfavourable to their presentation to the reader in so perfect a form as could have been wished. For special reasons, but into which it is not necessary to enter, an attempt was made to effect the publication of the Work by a certain day. To accomplish this, the first half was placed in the Printers' hands before the other was composed. The consequence was, that, when the Work was found to increase to an extent not at all anticipated, excisions to reduce the size, and also insertions, be came necessary. It will be evident that, in a Work of this description, these could be made only with difficulty, and at the cost of imparting a fragmentary character to the whole. Another disadvantage arising from this haste has been, that, the Author's insight into the mystical system not having been so complete at the outset as at the conclusion, he has not put some things in so good a form as he might otherwise, perhaps, have done; and on one or two points of minor importance changes have taken place in his views. On the whole, however, he cannot but wonder that more occasion for correction has not been found than actually exists. The only point worthy of notice is, the ultimate date assigned to these mystical systems. The examination of the Profane Chronographies, and of that of Syncellus in particular, (which was entered upon only after the Essay was printed), has given rise to great doubts, whether these systems were not in vogue down to a much later period than he supposed. If they were, it may become a question, Whether the date and origin of some of the Works which contain them have been rightly assigned. Nevertheless, no great stress can be laid on this point, because it is evident that Syncellus may only have transmitted an Ancient Chronography as he found it. However, the Author will not detain the reader longer with prefatory remarks, now that he has at least stated the reasons of, — if he may not be allowed to say that he has assigned a sufficient excuse for,any blemishes that may be discovered in his essay. ANALYTICAL TABLE OF CONTENTS. I. INTRODUCTION; ¶ 1—21 : pp. 1–14. Discrepancies in Josephus; 1: how to be accounted for; 2. Our theory substantially new,-what it is; ¶ 4-5. Mystical quotation from Josephus; ¶ 6. List of astronomical periods, with remarks; 7-20. Formation of the periods; 21. Scru- tiny will be chiefly directed to chronological numbers; ¶ 22. How far the results certain; ¶ 23. II. DIVISIONS AND SUBDIVISIONS; ¶ 24-671. (2). DIVISIONS A AND B. Genealogical Tables of Gen. V. and XI.; 25-143. [1]. Ante-procreation or Chronological Ages; ¶29-118b. Expo- sition of part of theory; ¶ 29-42. The Samaritan; 43-58. The Original derived from it, deductions; 59-76. The Hebrew ; ¶ 77-84. The LXX. ; ¶ 85— [2]. Post-procreation Ages; ¶ 119-127. Sothiac × Apis Cycle; [3]. Total Ages; ¶ 128–143. Difference between sums of ante+ (3). Posterity of Cain and Seth ; ¶ 144–145. Parallelism, 7's; ¶ 144. Names; 145. (4). Significance of the names; ¶ 146-148. (5). 120y. limitation of man's days ; ¶ 149. (6). The Year of Deluge; ¶ 150-178. [1]. Abstract of Gen. VII-VIII. ; ¶ 151. [2]. Ambiguities; 152-159. Noah's age; ¶ 153. When Flood ended, ¶ 154. What years in use; ¶ 155–158. [3]. Periodic divisions; 160-174. At 30 days to a month; |