In the Priestly Code it is made the epoch
of an era (Exodus xii. 2), which is afterwards dated from, not only
in years but even in months and days. It is unquestionable that
this precise style of dating only came into use among the Hebrews
at a very late period. *We find in the historical books only one
statement of the month in which an event took place (1Kings vi.
38), and in that case the day is not given. To the prophetic
writers dates were of some importance, and the growth of the
practice may to some extent be traced with them. Amos first came
forward "two years before the earthquake." /2/
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2. Agh. xv. 11, 17: when al-Walid b. al-Mughira was dead, the
Arabs dated after his death to the year of the elephant, which
thereafter was made an epoch. According to others they reckoned
nine years after the death of Hisham b. al-Mughira, to the time
when they built the Caaba, and then they dated from the building
of the Caaba. Comp. the 'Am al Ramada and the 'Am al Ru'af.
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The most precise date in Isaiah is "the year in which king Uzziah
died.
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