A Chronology of The Herods

6/20/2018 A Chronology of the Herods
charlesasullivan.com
Ancient Literature, Language, Religion and More. . .
A Chronology of the Herods

December 12, 2010 last updated on: January 25, 2018 Calendar Systems
Charting the dates and lives of the Herods in relation to the birth of Christ and making
sense of the differences between competing histories.
Herod the Great was a living character described by the Bible narrators in reference to the birth
of Christ,1 therefore the reign dates of this leader and his family are of particular value.
Herod the Great, founder of a

family dynasty in the Middle
East.
However, there are conflicting time-frames in the major historical sources; especially between
the first century Jewish-Roman historian Josephus and a number of ancient church accounts.
The goal of this work is to first define what exactly Josephus and the church authorities wrote
on the subject, compare the dates, find any common patterns, and hopefully reconcile the
differences.
The original writers of the Gospels never related time in relationship to the Herod dynasty.
This was likely done on purpose because the Gospels were directed to a universal audience
who wouldn’t know or even care about the Herod family. Neither did the christian writers
want to refer them in relation to time because they were so cruel and barbarous. This action
would be too honorific.
×
Table of Contents  ❯ Privacy Preferences I Agree
https://charlesasullivan.com/1953/chronology-herods/ 1/19
Josephus’ Account of the Herods
An 18th century woodcut portrait

of Josephus
Here is a chart to visually demonstrate Josephus’ dating. An explanation and analysis is given
afterwards:
Josephus’ First Century Account of the Herods
NAME START DATE END DATE TOTAL REIGN
Herod the Great 37 B.C. 3 B.C. 34 years
Archelaus 3 B.C. 7 A.D. 10 years
Philip 3 B.C. 34 A.D. 37 years
Herod the Tetrarch 3 B.C. 38 A.D. 41 years
Lysinias N/A 38 A.D. N/A
Agrippa I 39 A.D. 44 A.D. 5 years
Agrippa II Not Sure Not Sure –

×
❯ Privacy Preferences I Agree
An explanation of Josephus’ calculations.
Josephus wrote the most detailed accounts of the Herods, starting with the rise of Herod the
Great’s father, and then installation of Herod as the defacto leader of the Jews and about his
later posterity. No other ancient manuscript available today contains the same amount of
details as his does. He dated the inception of Herod with this statement:
“And thus did this man [Herod] receive the kingdom,

having obtained it on the hundred and eighty-fourth
Olympiad, when Caius Domitius Calvinus was consul
the second time, and Caius Asinius Pollio [the first
time]”2
The 184th Olympiad would traditionally date anywhere from 44/43 to 41/40 BC. However, the
mentioning of Caius Domitius Calvinus and Caius Asinius Pollio, who were consuls together at
Rome during the year of 40 BC only, strengthens Josephus command that Herod was installed
at 40 BC.3
Josephus believed that the Romans and the Jews had two totally different concepts of
measuring time and to rule out any uncertainty, he had to address both groups. He knew that
the 40 BC installation date by Rome was not recognized by the Jewish people. It was common
belief by the Jews that rulership only began with the death of their leader.
He remedied this problem by addressing both issues. Josephus claimed that Herod lived 37
years after the Romans had declared him king4 and 34 years after the death of Antigonus, the
last Jewish leader.
He documented the fall of Jerusalem and the death of Antigonus at 37 BC: “The destruction befell
the city of Jerusalem when Marcus Agrippa and Caninius Gallus were consuls at Rome, on the hundred
and eighty-fifth Olympiad, on the third month, on the solemnity of the fast”5 The politicized death of
Antigonus was also documented with the fall of Jerusalem. The fast reference is unknown at
this time as to what it means, though Josephus intended it for targeting a specific date. The
Olympiad puts the destruction of Jerusalem anywhere between 40 and 36 BC but the
mentioning of the consuls explicitly dated it at 37 BC.
Either way, whether 37 years from the instalment of Herod by Rome at 40 BC or 34 years from
the death of Antigonus at 37 BC, it would place Herods death at 3 BC. This forces historians to
place Christ’s birth before 3 BC and not 2 BC or later stated by many ancient christian writers.
Josephus wrote clearly about the dynasty of the Herods, the length of time each one served,
when and the important politics that surrounded their offices.
×
“But in the tenth year of Archelaus’s government…

[Caesar] banished him, and appointed Vienna, a city of
Gaul, to be the place of his habitation.”6
Archelaus reigned according to Josephus from approximately 3 BC to 7 AD.
He also stated that Archelaus was willed the whole Herodian empire, but due to his
ruthlessness and an appeal to Caesar by some dignitaries, it was never completely fulfilled.
Instead, Caesar decided that Archelaus would rule half of what Herod the Great occupied, “But
for the other half, he divided it into two parts, and gave it to two other of Herod’s sons, to Philip and to
Antipas, that Antipas who disputed with Archelaus for the whole kingdom.”7
Philip’s 37 year reign then was from approximately 3 BC to 34 AD. This was understood from
the following: “…Philip, Herod’s brother,8 departed this life, in the twentieth year of the reign of
Tiberius”.9
Josephus did not give a clear end-date for Antipas, who was known by two other names:
Herod, and Herod the Tetrarch. It is easy to suggest that Josephus believed the start to be 3 BC,
and judging from some clues in his book, Antiquity of the Jews, Book XVIII:VII,10 his end rule
to be the first or second year of Caligula, whom banished him and handed over the tetrarchy to
a nephew, Agrippa. His reign likely lasted 41 years from 3 BC to 38 AD.
Herod Agrippa, grandson of Herod the Great, received fortune instead of prison bars at the
death of Tiberius due to the rise of his friend Caligula to the throne. He initially received
Philip’s and Lysinias’ tetrarchs in 38 or 39 AD, then acquired Herod the Tetrarch’s territory
from Caligula, and finally granted the whole kingdom of Herod the Great by the emperor
Claudius. Three years into the reign of Claudius, Agrippa died.11 This would make a five or six
year rule from 38 or 39 AD to 44 AD.
The whole kingdom should naturally go to Agrippa’s son, Agrippa II, but was initially denied
by the Emperor Claudius, due to Agrippa II’s young age.12 Agrippa II was later given the
Tetrarchy of Philip and a bit more13 by Claudius, and his estate was minorly enlarged by
Claudius’ successor Nero.14
Josephus was very scant on information concerning Herod the Tetrarch and Lysinias. He does
not give any information on how they received their respective tetrarchies, nor does he make
any reference to Lysinias as being a relative of the Herod family.
The Christian Chronographies on ×

the Herodian dates.
Turning now to the ancient christian chronologies. They all demonstrate later dates on Herod
the Great and the majority of his posterity. These chronologies will be graphed, documented
and compared to Josephus and will attempt to answer the question, why are they different?
The first impression concerning the difference is an internal theological influence. Julius
Africanus, Tertullian, Eusebius, Jerome and later the Chronicon Paschale represent historical
chronologies heavily influenced by the interpretation of an ancient Biblical prophecy found in
the Book of Daniel.
An important exception is the Venerable Bede, the great 8th century chronographer and his
portrait is covered in detail later on in this article.
Daniel was a Jewish prophet that lived around the 6th century BC. He had a dream about the
future of Israel. God spoke to him and concluded that 70 weeks were required for the
restoration of Israel to everlasting righteousness.15 The term 70 weeks is controversial and a
ubiquitous meaning in scholarly, orthodox, or fundamentalist camps has never been
established.
The ancient chronographers came up with various numbers to figure out the 70 weeks. Some
calculated 475, while others have 483 or 490 years, depending on how they interpreted the
vision. Whatever number they used became a basis for their calendar system. This influence
can often be found in the various dating systems: whether the birth of Christ, the passion of
Christ, the destruction of Jerusalem, or combination of these.
Many documents relating to historic events between 521 BC to 70 AD owe its existence to this.
Tertullian stretched some historical facts to make it work. For example his dating the first year
of office for Darius the Great was dated at 437 BC rather than the recognized 521 BC.
From their concern on correlating this dream with actual timed events, one can find ancient
publications highly focused on identifying the actual dates of the Herods with the life of Christ.
The chronological work of Julius Africanus never became authoritative due to perceived flaws
in his Daniel calculations. Later Church writers did not reference Tertullian’s claims. The work
of Eusebius, which is now only known to us from the liberal usage by Jerome, became the
standard.
The Life of Herods According to Jerome

Jerome lived in Bethlehem during the fourth-century. He is considered a theological and
historical literary giant. His writings combined elements of the sacred and vulgar, and also
synthesized Greek, Hebrew and Latin works.
×
Jerome’s Fourth Century Chronological Table
Herod the Great 33/32 B.C. 3/4 A.D. 36 years
Archelaus – – –
Philip – – –
Herod the Tetrarch – – –
Lysinias – – –
Agrippa I 37/38 A.D. 44/45 A.D. 7 years
Agrippa II 44/45 A.D. 70/71 A.D. 26 Years
A commentary on Jerome’s Herodian dynasty

calculations.
One must realize that Jerome and many of the Church fathers were not so much concerned
about historical correctness to dating accuracy of the Herods, but their main emphasis was to
align Daniel’s prophecy within a historical framework.
Jerome argued that time period Daniel prophesied began from the rebuilding of the Temple at
the 65th Olympiad or 520/519 BC, and ended at the last successive High Priest in Olympiad
186.4 (33/32 BC).
“The rule of the high priests comes to an end, and

Herodes, a foreigner, became King of the Jews for 37
years.”16
520 to 33 BC is 487 years. What the 487 signifies, and why the symbolic religious numbers of
490 or 483 were not used is not known.
According to Jerome, the first appointment of Herod by Augustus as King of Judea was a
ceremonial recognition in 35 BC. Then in 33 BC, when Herod killed all the remnants of the
Hyrcanian dynasty, he gained ultimate control, and was not only ceremonially King, but
×
defacto. The term King of the Jews is then used as his
❯ Privacy title. I think hereIthe
Preferences significance by Jerome
Agree
of the second 33/32 BC date is the emphasis on the destruction of the Hyrcanian dynasty and
the fulfillment of Daniels prophecy.
In trying to match the Daniel prophecy with the incarnation of Christ, we learn Jerome and/or
Eusebius believed that Herod the Great reigned 33/32 BC to 3/4 AD.
There is a dating problem between Jerome’s Chronological Tables and Josephus’ account. Both
agree that Herod reigned 37 years but they disagree on the start date and whose death to go by.
Josephus believed that Herod the Great’s reign began when he was appointed by Rome at 40
BC, and that Antigonus, the last bloodline Jewish King died at 37 BC. The Chronological Tables
boldly state that the 37 years should begin 33/32 BC at the death of the last traditional Jewish
High Priest called Hyrcanus. This was surprising to find a contradiction with Josephus, as
Jerome and Eusebius were aware of his writings and even quoted him. For example, Jerome
thought it important to pen the arrival of his books in his Chronological Tables, “In these days
Flavius Josephus writes the twenty books of the Antiquities.”17 He dated the time of publication at 93
AD Perhaps he simply did not agree with Josephus’ chronology, or the Josephus manuscript he
read from was different than ours. It is odd why the ancient christian authors never
acknowledged a difference in dating between the accounts.
The discrepancy between Josephus and Church accounts is puzzling.
The Chronicon Paschale
“Chronicon Paschale (the Paschal Chronicle), also called

Chronicum Alexandrinum, Constantinopolitanum or
Fasti Siculi) is the conventional name of a 7th-century
Greek christian chronicle of the world. Its name comes
from its system of chronology based on the christian
paschal cycle; its Greek author named it Epitome of the
ages from Adam the first man to the 20th year of the
reign of the most August Heraclius.”18
Chronicon Paschale’s Seventh Century account of the Herods
NAME START DATE END DATE TOTAL REIGN ×

Herod the Great ❯ Privacy Preferences
34 B.C. 3 B.C. I Agree
37 years
Archelaus 4 A.D. 13 A.D. 9 years
Philip – – –
Herod the Tetrarch 14 A.D. 42 A.D. 28 years
Agrippa I – – –
Agrippa II – – –
A commentary on Chronicon Paschale’s Herodian

dynasty calculations.
The Chronicon Paschale discarded Jerome’s assertion that Daniel’s prophecy had ended at 33
BC with the death of the last Hyrcanian leader and instead it was at the death of the last
Hasmonean priest, Alexander Jannaeus in 74 BC.
“The anointed leaders lasted from Cyrus the king of the

Persians up until Janneaus Alexander, for 483 years,
which is 69 “sevens” of years, which were foretold by
Daniel in this way”.19
The first year of Augustus Caesar’s reign according to this table was 42 BC, therefore the start
reign of Herod was 34 BC, if calculating from the start reign of Augustus, or 35/34 BC based on
the Olympiads. “In the 8th year of Augustus Caesar, the Romans gave the kingdom of Judaea to
Herodes the son of Antipar and of Cypris, an Arabian woman. Herodes killed Hyrcanus and bestowed
the high priesthood not according to the traditional succession, but to some insignificant men.”20
It does succinctly state that in Olympiad 186.2 (35/34 BC), “In the 8th year of Augustus Caesar, the
Romans gave the kingdom of Judaea to Herodes the son of Antipar and of Cypris, an Arabian woman.
Herodes killed Hyrcanus and bestowed the high priesthood not according to the traditional succession,
but to some insignificant men.”21 The first year of Augustus Caesar’s reign according to this table
was 42 BC, therefore the start reign of Herod was 34 BC, if calculating from the start reign of
Augustus, or 35 BC based on the Olympiads.
The Chronicon Paschale then follows with the statement, “Herodes was king of the Jews for 37 years. ×
In his 35th year, Jesus Christ was born at Bethlehem in Judea”.22 This passage had an earlier
illustration that Herod was installed in the “8th year of Augustus Caesar”,23 which subtracted
from 42 BC, according to the Chronicon Paschale, would make Herod the Great’s rule from 34
BC to 3 AD and the birth of Christ at 1 AD.
The Venerable Bede

Bede was an eighth-century monk who lived in the Kingdom of Northumbria (northern
England, south-east Scotland). He had a comprehensive set of skills from music, astronomy,
theology, to natural studies. He is best known for his Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum —
The Ecclesiastical History of the English People. He had a particular interest in calendar systems
and is one of the best sources on the subject.
The Venerable Bede’s Late Seventh Century account of the Herods
Herod the Great 35 B.C. 1 A.D. 36 years
Archelaus 1 A.D. 10 A.D. 9 years
Philip – – –
Agrippa I – – –
Agrippa II – – –
A commentary on the Venerable Bede’s Herodian

The Venerable Bede’s chronology of the Herods published in his De Tempore Ratione noted that
Herod the Great received his title in 35 BC and reigned for 36 years:
“Lacking in the 11th year of Augustus a principle leader

in Judaea, Herod has no relation to go with, since indeed
is the son of Antipatri of Ascalon and of Cyprid of
×
Arabia, he assumed the leadership of Judaea under the
Romans, which he held fast for 36 years.” 24
The text here relates the difficulty that Herod had in becoming a recognized King, as he was
not a Jew by lineage, and his title was forced upon the Jewish nation by Rome. One must note
that there was no reference to the death of the high priest as a reference point similar to what
previous christian authorities had done. Herod’s year of death was clarified by his statement,
“In the 47th year of Augustus, Herod with a disease of intercuris25 water, and worms gushing all over
the body, miserably and worthily died.”
He further wrote:
“. . .Archelaus, he reigned 9 years, that is, until the end of

Augustus himself. But certainly at this time does not
carry on beyond for the ferocity of the Jews against him
in the accusations before Augustus, he was exiled to
Vienna, a city of the Gauls and for the purpose of
reducing the power of the kingship of the Jews, for the
arrogance had to be subdued, tetrarchies were made for
the four brothers instead of him; Herod, Antipar,
Lysias26 and Philip, of which Philip and Herod who was
first called Antipas, the tetrarchies were also allotted
from the living Archelaus.”
This would make the time of Archelaus reign from 1 – 10 AD.
The text concerning the tetrarchy is confusing. Bede suggests that the tetrarchy, which literally
means divided by four, was given immediately to the four brothers from Archelaus, but if one
reads further, especially the last sentence, Philip and Herod Antipas (later known as Herod the
Tetrarch) received their allotment sooner.
This contradicts Josephus. Josephus believed the area of Judea, including Jerusalem, became a
Roman protectorate, never being restored to the Herods again. This is not included in Bede’s
analysis.
Then Bede proceeded to state, “Herod the Tetrarch27 holds on as leader of the Jews for 24 years”.28
This would make Herod the Tetrarch’s reign from 10 AD to 34 AD. ×
The dates given by Bede have been adjusted to correlate with his view that the Church’s
conception of 1 AD was wrong and believed the real 1 AD started at our 2 BC. For more
information see Bede on the Problem of 1 AD
Bede’s table in this article did not originally have this incorporated in the table and it has been
updated.
Hippolyti Thebani
Hippolyti Thebani, otherwise known in English as Hippolyti of Thebes, is an elusive one to
describe. The EJ Brill website describes him this way:
6th-9th century. Greece. Author of a universal chronicle

(Χρονικόν) in Greek prose, which survives only in
fragments. The only clues to the date of composition are
doctrinal information apparently known to the author,
which places him not earlier than the sixth century, and
the manuscript tradition, which begins in the ninth. As
he apparently was not familiar with Egyptian geography,
we conclude that the Thebes in his toponym is Thebes in
Greece (Boeotia).29
Hippolytus of Thebes early 11th Century account of the Herods
Herod the Great – – –
Archelaus – – –
Philip – – –
×
Agrippa I 34 A.D. 41 A.D.
❯ Privacy Preferences 7 years
I Agree
Agrippa II 41 A.D. 67 A.D. 26 years
A commentary on Hippolyti Thebani’s Herodian

“For in the fifteenth year of the year of Tiberius was the

Divine crucifixion and the Creator of Life was made alive
from the dead. And thus Antipas, the son of Herod
reigned for 24 years [The Latin reads 23 years]. This is
clearly the Herod who struck down the Forerunner [John
the Baptist] and on the occasion of the passion of the
divine in Jerusalem, he took audience and judged the
Lord. And he reigned for another five years after the
Creator of Life rose from the dead. He was sent into exile
with Herodias to Vienne. After him Agrippas reigned, a
descendant of Herod, the son of Aristoboulous, from
Miriam, of the son of the first Herod. For this Agrippa,
also of Herodian descent, is the one who put to death
Jacob Zebedaiah. And he wished to put to death Peter
the leader of the Apostles, in order that he would be
accepted by the Jews. For he reigned seven years. And
after him Agrippa II reigned, under whom Paul was
judicially examined along with Festus, 26 years.”30
He based all his calculations on the emperorship of Tiberius Caesar, whom we know began his
reign in AD 14. The crucifixion of Christ would then have happened at AD 29. This is a very
tight date, as Jesus’ baptism was in the same year, based on the fact that the author Luke said
He was baptized in the 15th year of Tiberius Caesar and the Apostle John wrote that lived on
earth three passovers after this.31 Hippolyti then goes on to write that Herod Antipas reigned
24 years before the crucifixion, which would make the beginning of his reign at 4 or 5 AD. He
adds that Antipas reigned 5 years after the crucifixion, which would make the end of his rule to
be 34 AD, while most historians mark his end at 39 AD. ×
The start and end-date of Herod the Tetrarch has an 11-year discrepancy between Josephus and
himself.
Hippolyti also left Archelaus totally out of his history. He may have rightly argued that his
rulership was not important to his chronology and that Herod the Tetrarch was the central
figure in the Biblical narrative.
But there is something unusual going on between the Greek and Latin parallel text in Migne
Patrilogia. The Greek states that Antipas reigned 24 years before the crucifixion, and the Latin
reads 23. Why? Was the Latin translator aware that there was some error or some history that
we do not have today that he had to correct the text? Shouldn’t he have added years than
decrease them? A reply to this question cannot be made as we do not have this alternate
version available.32
But this problem may have just been a transcription error.
Agrippas I then reigned for seven years after him, which would make his rule from 34/35 to
41/42 AD. The chronology of seven years is correct with most historians, but many note his
rule was from 37-44 AD not Hippolyti’s calculation as above,33 though it is very close.
Then after Agrippa I’s reign came Agrippa II, whom many historians tend to date his rulership
to begin six years after the end of Agrippa I’s reign, 50-100 AD. The six-year lapse was
explained by Josephus to be a time in waiting for the young Agrippa II, who was then only 17,
to mature. The Romans reduced this region to a province during this interval.34
Hippolyti doesn’t give a six-year interval at all and begins his reign directly after Agrippa I’s.
Hippolyti puts his reign from 41 to 67 AD. A total of 26 years compared to 50 years by many
historians. The end date according to Hippolyti is likely according to Jewish, not Roman
calculations. If using Josephus’ previous Jewish example where he dated Herod the Great’s
reign from the fall of Jerusalem, then Agrippa II would be dated to end according to the fall of
Jerusalem. Agrippa II lost his power when the revolt began in AD 67.
Dating According to a Lunar Eclipse.

Herod died shortly after an eclipse of the moon according to Josephus35 and modern history
has used this passage, along with Whiston’s commentary to define the death date of Herod.
William Whiston, who translated Josephus into English and his edition is ubiquitous in the
English world, boldly asserted:
This eclipse of the moon (which is the only eclipse of ×

❯ Privacy
either of the luminaries Preferences
mentioned I Agree
by our Josephus in
any of his writings) is of the greatest consequence for the

determination of the time for the death of Herod and
Antipater, and for the birth and entire chronology of
Jesus Christ. It happened March 13th, in the year of the
Julian period 4710, and the 4th year before the christian
era. See its calculation by the rules of astronomy, at the
end of the Astronomical Lectures, edit. Lat. p. 451, 452.”
36
Whiston attempted to champion a point not intended by Josephus. Josephus did not write
about the eclipse as a date identifier but as a solemn sign of a significant event. Josephus’
dating by Olympiads and regnants are totally sufficient, making a lunar eclipse an unnecessary
symbol for dating.
He tried to date the eclipse using information and technology from the 1700s and his
conclusion today is questionable. The NASA Eclipse website has a listing of all the historic
eclipses according to mathematical calculations. If these historical solar eclipses are correct then
no eclipse would have been visible in either Rome, or in Israel. from 6 to 1 BC. The lunar eclipse
used by Whiston therefore was incorrect and cannot be used as a valid reference point.
The math doesn’t make sense either. Josephus clearly stated that Herod lived until 3 BC.
Whiston’s attempt to date Herod’s death at 4 BC is in contradiction to Josephus’ account
himself.
For more information on the death of Herod and the lunar eclipse, the following links may be
of help, The Lunar Eclipse of Josephus, and Yet Another Eclipse for Herod.
Jewish Sources
The assumption throughout this essay has been that Josephus and his copious use of Roman
sources is the definitive guide to dating the year of the birth of Christ, and that christian
tradition has based much of its dating presuppositions on faulty logic with the Daniel
prophecy. However, Jewish tradition surprisingly supports the historic christian position.
Both the Talmud Babli and the much later Otzar Midrashim, which is a re-composition of
midrashim texts, succinctly confirm this.
×
Abodah Zarah 9.1 (‫זרה‬ ‫ ) עבודה‬reads:
‫מלכות פרס בפני הבית שלשים וארבע שנה מלכות יון בפני הבית מאה‬
‫ושמונים שנה מלכות חשמונאי בפני הבית מאה ושלש מלכות בית הורדוס‬
37
 ‫מאה‬
Persian rule lasted thirty-four years after the building of

the Temple, Greece ruled one hundred eighty years
during the existence of the Temple, the Hasmonean rule
lasted one hundred three years during temple times, the
House of Herod ruled one hundred three years. Thence
onward, one should go on counting the years as from the
Destruction of the Temple.38
Most importantly, the writer stated that the house of Herod reigned 103 years. This timeframe
was found not only in Abodah Zarah, but also Otzar Midrashim The Diaspora Chapter 5, and
again in Chapter 25. It appears that the different chapters have different authors as the details
of other events do not remain consistent, but the dates of the Herod dynasty are the same. It
was clear from both Abodah Zarah, and the Otzar Midrashim The Diaspora, that the dates were
relevant to the destruction of the Temple. If one subtracts the 103 years of the dynasty of the
Herodian dynasty from the modern accepted date of AD 70 of the destruction of the Second
Temple by Titus and Vespasian, then King Herod’s rule would have begun in 33 BC. There are
no records in the Talmud that give the length of Herod the Great’s rule, though if one adds
either the traditional 34 or 37 year numbers for number of years Herod reigned, this would
make Herod’s death at either 1 or 4 AD.
It can certainly be argued that this 103-year date was sheer conjecture from the Jewish sages, as
good math was abandoned for an important theological statement relating to their perception
of Daniel’s prophecy. It also could be argued that Abodah Zarah, being published in the sixth
century or later, was contaminated by christian influences or forced to render the dates under
severe Church censorship.39
Julius Eisenstein in his 1915 collection of minor midrashims called Otzar Midrashim (‫אוצר‬
‫ )מדרשים‬continued to leave the 103 year phrase with no change. If the concept of 103 years was
forced, it would have been corrected or addressed by the time of Eisenstein’s work.
If one calculates up all the Herods together that Josephus documented, the sum adds up to 107
×
years – 4 years off from the Talmud. ❯ Privacy Preferences I Agree
Conclusion
The research so far has succeeded in one of its two aims. The first goal was to establish exactly
what dates Josephus and the Church leaders selected in their chronologies.
It however fails to resolve why the two parties differ. The Church leaders knew and well-
respected Josephus’ works, but on the issue of historically mapping the dates around the 80 or
so years surrounding the birth of Christ, they differ considerably. None of the Church fathers
make mention of the difference and try to resolve the disparity.
While examining these calendars, along with others not listed here, many, if not most, ancient
histories have a 4–10 year discrepancy in their accounts. A comparison between the accounts
demonstrate the 4–10 year window never appears in the same place. It is difficult to find any
pattern.
One possibility is that the histories did not agree on how to convert older lunar-based accounts
into their solar calendars. The exclusive lunar year was shorter by about 11 days a year. Over a
165 year period, the lunar calendar is off by 5 years. For example starting a history at 200 B.C.
and tracing the history over a 165 year period, the solar date would be 35 B.C. and the lunar
date would be 30 B.C.40 It may be that every account has reconciled the lunar-solar calendar
problem at different points in their histories. This has not been confirmed but it is a possibility
that has to be looked into further.
A second solution may be found in understanding the complete work of the medieval Church
writing, Chronicon Paschale. The Chronicon Paschale has a historical record that dates epochs
earlier than the time of Christ. It also includes a parallel Roman consular list. The comparing of
the Chronicon’s consular list with a Roman-based one, especially the Fasti Consulares and the
Varronian Chronology may uncover the difference between Josephus and other accounts.
A third alternative is based on a theological conflict. Many of the Church writers wrote a
chronological history to align with a prophecy given by a prophet named Daniel in 580 BC that
is slightly obscure but perceived to be fulfilled near the arrival or passion of Christ, the
destruction of Jerusalem or a mixture of these and other elements. The Church fathers were not
so much concerned about historical correctness regarding accuracy of the Herods, but their
main emphasis was to align Daniel’s prophecy within a historical framework.
The attempt to explain the difference because of the theological influence of Daniel’s vision in
christian writings appeared tenable, but the Talmud weakened such an argument.
Another answer is that of perspective. Maybe the ancient christian chronographers never
recognized the Church’s authoritative stance that Christ only lived 30 years before His passion,
and held onto the idea that it was 33 years. This would mean most ancient Christian ×
chronologies understood 1 AD to be our 2 BC. This means that modern historians should
always should calculate this variance in all their citations.
This problem of a 4 – 10 year variance in historical chronographies cannot be solved by doing a

comparative literature study on the lives of the Herods. The answer is found somewhere else,
but that somewhere still remains a mystery.
For more information:

The Venerable Bede on the Problem of 1 AD
For a full range of articles on Christian calendars, especially as it relates to the birth of
Christ, see: Christian Calendar Systems
Footnotes
1. See Matthew chapter 2 

2. Flavius Josephus. Antiquities of the Jews. William Whiston trans. USA:
Hendrickson Publishers. 1982. Book XIV:XIV:5, p. 366 
3. http://ancienthistory.about.com/library/bl/bl_consuls_endofrepublic.htm, and
The Project Gutenberg EBook of Dio’s Rome, Vol. III, by Cassius Dio, [-15],
http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/0/1/6/10162/10162.txt 
4. William Whiston trans. AOJ Book VII:VIII:1, p. 366 
5. William Whiston trans. AOJ Book XIV:XVI:4, p. 313 
6. IBID Whiston, AOJ Book XVII:XIII:2, pg. 375 
7. IBID Whiston, AOJ Book XVII:XI:4, pg. 373 
8. What exactly he means here by “Herod’s brother” is not altogether clear, though I
think it is referring to Herod Antipas. 
9. IBID Whiston, AOJ Book XVIII:IV:6, pg. 381 
10. IBID Whiston, AOJ Book XVIII:VI:11: Josephus accounts that Agrippa left from
Rome back to Judea in the 2nd year of Caligula. The events of Herod the
Tetrarchs banishment occur shortly thereafter. AOJ Book XVIII:VII:1 suggests that
it may likely have happened in the first or second year of Caligula, but it is not
certain. 
11. Inheriting Philips kingdom, IBID Whiston, AOJ Book XVIII:VI:4, pg. 363;
Receiving Herod the Tetrarchs territory, AOJ XVIII:VII:2, pg. 388; Received the
whole Kingdom through Claudius, XIX:V:1, pg. 409. Three years into the reign of
Claudius, AOJ XIX:VII:2, pg. 412 and 413 
12. IBID Whiston, AOJ XIX:VIII:2, pg. 412 and 413. 
13. IBID Whiston, AOJ XX:VII:1, pg. 420 
14. IBID Whiston, AOJ XX:VIII:4, pg. 421. Nero gave him a “certain part of Galilee,
Tiberius and Taricheae, and ordered them to submit to his jurisdiction. He gave
him also Julias, a city of Perea, with fourteen villages that lay about it”. 
15. Daniel 9:24 
16. http://attalus.org/translate/jerome2.html. St. Jerome ( Hieronymus ):
Chronological Tables 
17. http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/jerome_chronicle_03_part2.htm 
×
❯ Privacy Preferences
18. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronicon_Paschale I Agree

19. http://www.attalus.org/translate/paschal.html: See Olympiad 201.4 

22. IBID http://www.attalus.org/translate/paschal.html: See Olympiad 186.2 
23. IBID http://www.attalus.org/translate/paschal.html
http://www.attalus.org/translate/paschal.html 
24. Bede, De Temporum Ratione, MPL. Vol. 90, pg. 544. Translation is mine 
25. I am assuming here ‘intercuris acquae’ means infection, but can’t be sure. Can’t
find a meaning for intercuris, and the copy I am working from is very faint, and I
may have even misspelled it. 
26. Most modern scholars believe Lysias, Tetrarch of Abiline, to be incorrect and
exclude him from any official designation. 
27. Why Bede calls Antipas “Herod the Tetrarch” and not “Herod Antipas” as
commonly used today, is not known. One can only surmise, but perhaps it is
because Bede believed there were perceived gaps in the Herodian chronology and
just to be safe, he leaves this title ambiguous. 
28. IBID Bede, De Temporum Ratione 
29. http://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/encyclopedia-of-the-medieval-
chronicle/hippolytus-of-thebes-EMCSIM_000918?s.num=5 
30. MPG: Fragmenta, Vol. 117, Ch. IX, Col. 253 
31. Some argue that the Book of John suggests three Passovers after Christ’s Baptism,
Jn 2:13, Jn 6:4, Jn 11:55ff; This appears to be sound logic. 
32. MPG: Fragmenta, Vol. 117, Ch. IX, Col. 253 
33. For this portion of comparisons with standard historical dating of the Herods, I
am referring to the dates given in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia,
Vol. 2 pg. 695ff, “Herods” written by H.W. Hoehner. 
34. William Whiston trans. AOJ Book XIX:IX:2, p. 413 
35. William Whiston trans. The Works of Josephus, “The Antiquities of the Jews”
Book XVII: VI:4, p. 365 
36. This footnote in Whiston’s publication only appears in its entirety in the 1895
version used by Perseus. My 1982 version published by Hendrickson does not
have it. The reference Flavius Josephus. The Works of Flavius Josephus.
Translated by. William Whiston, A.M. Auburn and Buffalo. John E. Beardsley.
1895 is found at Perseus website. 
37. http://he.wikisource.org/wiki/‫ עבודה_זרה_ט_א‬
38. http://instonebrewer.com/RabbinicTraditions/ 
39. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avodah_Zarah 
40. Here’s the formula I used for this calculation based on 354.37 days per lunar year
and 365.24 days per solar year. 165 (365.25)=x(354.37), x=170.06. 200-170=30 
Charles A. Sullivan
Charles Sullivan is a researcher and writer on topics of textual

criticism, linguistics, theology, Christian mysticism and philosophy. ×
He also frequently likes to delve into contemporary
I Agreesocial and ethical
❯ Privacy Preferences
issues from a faith perspective.
×

A Chronology of The Herods - Sullivan

Загружено:

Сведения о документе

Оригинальное название

Авторское право

Доступные форматы

Поделиться этим документом

Поделиться или встроить документ

Параметры публикации

Этот документ был вам полезен?

Это неприемлемый материал?

Авторское право:

Доступные форматы

A Chronology of The Herods - Sullivan

Загружено:

Авторское право:

Доступные форматы

6/20/2018 A Chronology of the Herods

Herod the Great, founder of a

Josephus’ Account of the Herods

An 18th century woodcut portrait

Josephus’ First Century Account of the Herods

NAME START DATE END DATE TOTAL REIGN

Herod the Great 37 B.C. 3 B.C. 34 years

Archelaus 3 B.C. 7 A.D. 10 years

Philip 3 B.C. 34 A.D. 37 years

Herod the Tetrarch 3 B.C. 38 A.D. 41 years

Lysinias N/A 38 A.D. N/A

Agrippa I 39 A.D. 44 A.D. 5 years

Agrippa II Not Sure Not Sure –

“And thus did this man [Herod] receive the kingdom,

“But in the tenth year of Archelaus’s government…

Archelaus reigned according to Josephus from approximately 3 BC to 7 AD.

The Christian Chronographies on ×

The Life of Herods According to Jerome

Jerome’s Fourth Century Chronological Table

NAME START DATE END DATE TOTAL REIGN

Herod the Great 33/32 B.C. 3/4 A.D. 36 years

Herod the Tetrarch – – –

Agrippa I 37/38 A.D. 44/45 A.D. 7 years

Agrippa II 44/45 A.D. 70/71 A.D. 26 Years

A commentary on Jerome’s Herodian dynasty

“The rule of the high priests comes to an end, and

The discrepancy between Josephus and Church accounts is puzzling.

The Chronicon Paschale

“Chronicon Paschale (the Paschal Chronicle), also called

Chronicon Paschale’s Seventh Century account of the Herods

NAME START DATE END DATE TOTAL REIGN ×

Archelaus 4 A.D. 13 A.D. 9 years

Herod the Tetrarch 14 A.D. 42 A.D. 28 years

A commentary on Chronicon Paschale’s Herodian

“The anointed leaders lasted from Cyrus the king of the

The Venerable Bede

The Venerable Bede’s Late Seventh Century account of the Herods

NAME START DATE END DATE TOTAL REIGN

Herod the Great 35 B.C. 1 A.D. 36 years

Archelaus 1 A.D. 10 A.D. 9 years

Herod the Tetrarch 10 A.D. 34 A.D. 24 years

A commentary on the Venerable Bede’s Herodian

“Lacking in the 11th year of Augustus a principle leader

“. . .Archelaus, he reigned 9 years, that is, until the end of

This would make the time of Archelaus reign from 1 – 10 AD.

6th-9th century. Greece. Author of a universal chronicle

Hippolytus of Thebes early 11th Century account of the Herods

NAME START DATE END DATE TOTAL REIGN

Herod the Great – – –

Herod the Tetrarch 4 A.D. 34 A.D. 30 years

Agrippa II 41 A.D. 67 A.D. 26 years

A commentary on Hippolyti Thebani’s Herodian

“For in the fifteenth year of the year of Tiberius was the

But this problem may have just been a transcription error.

Dating According to a Lunar Eclipse.

This eclipse of the moon (which is the only eclipse of ×

any of his writings) is of the greatest consequence for the

Persian rule lasted thirty-four years after the building of

This problem of a 4 – 10 year variance in historical chronographies cannot be solved by doing a

For more information:

1. See Matthew chapter 2 

20. http://www.attalus.org/translate/paschal.html: See Olympiad 186.2 