CHAPTER III.

CHRISTIAN AND JEWISH SYSTEMS OF CHRONOLOGY ERRONEOUS.

Chronology of the English Bible erroneous—Usher influenced by the Masoretes—Tradition of the House of Elias—Its complete refutation both from Scripture and fact—Utility and application of Mr. Cuninghame’s “Chart of Chronology”—Reasons assigned by the Jewish Rabbis why their expected Messiah is not yet come—Their curse upon all who calculate the Times.

From the whole of the preceding testimony and argument, it must appear evident that the chronology of Usher, which places the Christian era in A.M. 4004, which is adopted in all the larger editions of the English Bible, and which is still strenuously maintained by English divines, is but of comparatively recent origin, and rests upon a very unsound foundation. We have no doubt that the pious and learned Archbishop was influenced in his determination to adopt the Masorete chronology, contrary to his better judgment, by a tradition current among the Jews from a very early period, which appears to be only a corruption of the more ancient one referred to at the beginning of this Dissertation. After their rejection of Jesus Christ as the true Messiah, the Jews, in order to cover their retreat from the truth, gave out in their Talmud the following gloss on the universal belief of the Church:—“Traditio Domus Eliæ: Mundus sex millibus annis durabit; duobus millibus inanitas; duobus millibus lex; duobus millibus tempus Messiæ;”—the meaning of which is, that according to the tradition of the house of Elias, the world shall last 6000 years; of which 2000 shall pass without the law; 2000 under the law; and 2000 under the Messiah. It is proper to observe that the inventor of this tradition was neither Elijah the Tishbite, nor his antitype, John the Baptist, but a certain famous doctor of the Jewish schools, who flourished after the Messianic age; and, that not the slightest trace of the tradition itself is to be found in the Holy Scriptures! As some writers, however, consider it a confirmation of the modern Hebrew chronology, we may show that it is not only quite erroneous, but inconsistent with itself, even in its details. Referring to Mr. Cuninghame’s “Chart of Sacred Chronology,” in which he has arranged the Hebrew and Septuagint chronologies in parallel columns, and exhibited the most remarkable events in ancient history, both according to the years of the world and before Christ, we see that according to the Masorete text, the law was delivered on Mount Sinai in A.M. 2513, more than 500 years after the time said to be predicted by Elias! Hence, it follows that the interval from that epoch till the end of the next 2000 years, is less than 1500 years, and terminated in A.M. 4000, when, according to the tradition, the Messiah was _expected to appear_! With respect to the 2000 years allotted to the reign of the Messiah, they are, on their own showing, nearly past; inasmuch as 1844 years of this period have already elapsed, and yet, according to their opinion, _he is not come_! The reason assigned by the Jewish Rabbis for this long delay, is that their sins have prevented his coming! This grievous falsification of their famous Doctor’s prediction, has made them so ashamed of their traditions, that they have pronounced a curse upon all who dare to calculate the times: ‏קצין מחשבי תפחרוחן של‎—“Animam exhalent illi qui supputant terminos.” On this and other curious matters relating to the Hebrew chronology, see Father Le Quien’s “Defense du Texte Hébreu et de la Vulgate,” reprinted in the “Cours Complet,” vol. iii. pp. 1525–1586.[33]