The features which characterise this method of historical work are
few and strongly distinctive. A continuous chronology connects
the times of rest and their separating intervals, and thereby the
continuity of the periods is secured. In order justly to
estimate this chronology, it is necessary to travel somewhat
beyond the limits of Judges. The key to it is to be found in
1Kings vi. 1.
"In the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of
Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year
of the reign of Solomon, he began to build the house of the Lord."
As observed by Bertheau, and afterwards by Noldeke, who has still
farther pursued the subject, these 480 years correspond to 12
generations of 40 years each. Analogously in 1Chronicles v. 29-34
[vi. 2-8], 12 high priests from Aaron to Ahimaaz are assumed for
the same period of time, and the attempt was made to make their
successions determine those of the generations (Numbers xxxv. 28).
Now it is certainly by no means at once clear how this total is
to be brought into accord with the individual entries. Yet even
these make it abundantly plain that 40 is the fundamental number
of the reckoning.
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