Analysis of Sacred Chronology

PREFACE

If Chronology is “the soul of history,” it is equally so of prophecy. Without it, the Scriptures would lose much of their harmony and beauty. It is carefully interwoven into the sacred text, and gives the order and dependence of the several parts on each other. The chronology of the Bible is as important in its place as any other subject of revelation. When disregarded, sad errors have been made in locating the historical and prophetical Scriptures. ASC 3.1

The elements of Chronology, and the numerous scriptural synchronisms, have only been given in works too voluminous, diffusive and expensive for ordinary use. To place before those not having access to the larger works, the simple evidences by which scriptural events are located, is the design of the following pages. An original feature of this analysis of Scripture Chronology is the presenting in full, and in chronological order, the words of inspiration, which have a bearing on the time of the events and predictions therein recorded. The reader will thus be enabled to obtain a concise and clear, as well as a correct, understanding of the reasons which govern in the adoption of the several dates. The works of Prideaux, Hales, Usher, Clark, Jackson, Blair, the Duke of Manchester, and others, have been freely consulted, in this compilation. To Dr. Hales in particular the author is much indebted for many valuable suggestions. Excepting the periods of the patriarchal age, and a few unimportant variations from his scheme, the chronology of Dr. Hales is conformed to, as the most satisfactory of any extant. In the chronology of the patriarchal age, Dr. Hales follows the numbers of the Septuagint; for dissenting from which, the reasons are given in a chapter devoted to that subject. ASC 3.2

With the hope that these pages will aid the Bible student in harmonizing disputed dates and contemporary events, present all that is essential to a correct understanding of Sacred Chronology, and thus tend to throw light on the pages of inspiration, and give interest to its study, they are prayerfully submitted. ASC 4.1

Boston, April 23, 1850.