Gershon Galil, «The Chronological Framework of the Deuteronomistic History», Vol. 85 (2004) 413-421
This article points out that the series of the minor judges were not included in the deuteronomistic edition of the Book of Judges, and therefore did not form part of the Dtr’s chronology. In the author’s opinion the Dtr constructs a chronological framework spanning 480 years from the Exodus to the establishment ofthe Temple (1Kgs 6,1) and correlates it with the chronological data in Deuteronomy–Samuel.
The Chronological Framework of the Deuteronomistic History 417
In the following pages I would like to present my reconstruction of the
correlation between the note in 1 Kgs 6,1 and the chronological data in
Deuteronomy-Samuel. The discussion will be divided into three main parts:
(1) The chronological information relating to the beginning and to the closing
of the period from the Exodus to the establishment of the Temple; (2) The
chronology of the period from Cushan-rishathaim to the Philistine
oppression; (3) The correlation between these two periods.
*
**
It is generally held that the wandering of the Israelites in the wilderness
lasted 40 years (Deut 1,3; 2,7; 8,2.4; 29,4). The Exodus was the starting
point of the DH, and the first 40 years are clearly divided into three main
sub-periods: (1) The first year (the Exodus; Horeb; from Horeb to Kadesh-
barnea; the spies; the sin and the judgment; back to the desert); (2) 38 years
of wandering from Kadesh-barnea to the brook of Zered, “until the whole
generation ... had passed away†(Deut 2,14); (3) The last year (“the fortieth
yearâ€): the conquest of Transjordan; the last speech of Moses, at the
beginning of the 11th month (Deut 1,3); and the death of Moses, at the age
of 120 (Deut 31,2; 34,7). The chronology of the final period of the
schematic framework of 480 years is similarly also clear: the Dtr assigns
David a reign of 40 years (1 Kgs 2,11, cf. 2 Sam 5,4-5), and the Temple
was established in the fourth year of Solomon. It is mentioned explicitly
that Solomon was crowned while David was still alive. This clear co-
regency is very important for understanding of the Dtr’s chronology of the
monarchic period. In my opinion, the Dtr has no doubt used the postdating
system for the reigns of the Kings of the house of David, as was evidently
the custom in the last years of Judah, a period with which he personally
was closely familiar. It is reasonable to suppose that the Dtr considered the
last year of David as the accession-year of Solomon, suggesting a few
months of co-regency.
The figure given for Saul’s reign in 1 Sam 13,1 (“two yearsâ€), is
evidently too low to be historically possible. It is generally considered to be a
textual corruption (15). Still, in my opinion, the Dtr found this date in his
sources, which were written by scribes related to the house of David. These
scribes intended to present Saul’s reign as a very brief and unsuccessful
episode, between the glorious days of Samuel, on the one hand, and the
climax in the reign of David, on the other hand. This brings the final period of
the 480 years to a total of 46 years (see table).
The “period of the judges†described in the deuteronomistic edition of the
Book of Judges, lasted 314 years, 200 years of peace, 111 years of oppression
by a foreign enemy, and the three years of Abimelech. This period is divided
into seven sub-periods by a pattern of four and three, as follows: four full
theological cycles may be observed in chapters 3–8: (1) The first cycle lasted
(15) For the chronological note in 1 Sam 13,1 see H.W. HERTZBERG, I and II Samuel
(OTL; London 1964) 103; R.W. KLEIN, 1 Samuel (WBC 10; Waco, TX 1983) 122-125;
V.P. LONG, The Reign and Rejection of King Saul. A Case for Literary and Theological
Coherence (SBLDS 118; Atlanta, GA 1989) 71-75.