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us the more likely from the circumstance (fully explained in the Chronological Note A,
Vol. 6. of this History) that the two chronologies agree as to the date of the fall of
Samaria (722 B.C.). On the other hand, we have the curious phenomenon that the
differences between them for the period before that event are not uniform and permanent,
but vary as to different reigns; while we mark the still more curious fact that in the date of
events after the fall of Samaria (as to which both chronologies agree) there is a
divergence of thirteen years(see Schrader, d. Keilinschr. u. d. A. T., end edition, p. 466).
For, assuredly, when the two agree as to the fall of Samaria, it seems almost impossible
that there should not be a reasonable explanation, or conciliation, of dates subsequent to
it. The utter groundlessness of the bold, entire rejection by certain writers of the
chronological notices in the Biblical books has been abundantly proved by Kamphausen
and Riehm (see Herzog's Real-Enc., u.s.p. 469). We express the more confidently our
views on this point that personally we attach little intrinsic importance to such points,
especially where, as in numerals, errors so easily creep in. Although, as hinted, no
solution hitherto proposed has satisfied us, we may call attention to an attempt in that
direction in the Church Quarterly Review for January, 1886. For the literature of the
subject and a full discussion of it, although from the German point of view, we refer to
the Art. Zeitrechnung (already mentioned) in Vol. 17. of the new edition of Herzog's
Real-Encykl.
His reign, which lasted seventeen years, was a period of incessant warfare with Syria, and
of constant and increasing humiliation to Israel. The history is very briefly indicated in
the Book of Kings, which is chiefly concerned in marking the deeper spiritual reasons for
the disasters of Israel in the increasing apostasy of king and people.
But welcome light is thrown on the brief details of political history furnished in the
Biblical account by what we read on the Assyrian monuments. It will be remembered that
the Syrian conquest of Israelitish territory had begun during the reign of Jehu.*
- Comp. Vol. 6. of this History.
The Biblical notice of these successive conquests by Hazael (2 Kings 10:32, 33) is
probably somewhat general, and not confined only to the time of Jehu. But the records on
the Assyrian monuments show that Hazael was at war with the powerful empire of
Assyria, defeated, and obliged to entreat peace under humiliating conditions. They also
record that Jehu had paid tribute to the powerful king of Assyria - more strictly, that he
had entered into a tributary alliance with that empire.* When peace was concluded
between Assyria and Hazael, the latter seems to have turned his whole force against the
kingdom of Israel as allied to Assyria. By a series of victories, Hazael gradually
possessed himself of the whole country east of the Jordan.
- See the inscriptions recording the Assyrian victories and the tribute of Jehu, in
Schrader, u.s., pp. 207-210.
(^)