Bibliography
| Title: The Sabbath Year Cycle in Josephus Secondary Title: HUCA Volume: 52 Pages: 129-139 Type: Journal Article Year: 1981 Abstract: "Josephus' dating by this cycle is accurate. A proper application of the year of hardship to the eighth year, or the first year of the new sabbath cycle, instead of to the seventh, clears up the chronological problems. A chronology using this cycle is constructed using Josephus and I Maccabees".
"Summary: The Sabbath year cycle was an important part of Jewish religious history. It was observed with varying degrees of regularity over the centuries. Josephus frequently used the cycle in dating certain events between 175 B.C.E. and 75 C.E. but this use of this cycle has been criticised as unreliable and inconsistent. The difficulty focuses on how the year of hardship should be determined. Is it the 7th year (the fallow year when no crops are grown), or is it the 8th year (first year of the new cycle) before the new crops are harvested. The difference in Calculation will directly affect the accuracy of the Josephus figures. An examination of the events in Josephus shows that there is a greater degree of accuracy than had been recognized, especially when one takes into account the 7th year vs. 8th year tension. By identifying certain specific dates (the siege of Bethsura, the murder of Simon the Hasmonean; Herod's conquest of Jerusalem; the protest against Caligula's statue, and the destruction of the second temple) it is then possible to construct an accurate Sabbath year cycle for the period of history covered by the writings of Josephus". Keywords: Chronology and Calendar |