It may also be remarked that even the ancient versions, as they at present exist, do not agree in the number. The present copies of the Septuagint, for instance, have 44o, not 4S0 years ; on which and other grounds some scholars, who have hesi tated to regard the text as an interpolation, have deemed themselves authorized to alter it to 592 years instead of 4So, producing in this way the same result which would be obtained if the text had no existence. This, it has been already re marked, is the number given by Josephus (Antiq. viii. 3. I), and is in agreement with the statement of St PauL The computation a the Jews in China has also been produced in support of it (see Isaac Voss, Dissert. are LXX. Interp. eorunque translatione chronologia, HagE.e Cornit. 1664. 4 ; Michaelis, Orientalische Bibliothek, v. 81). There would then be for the period from Moses's death to Saul's accession 468 years, and the whole period of the judges from the death of Joshua to that of Samuel might be estimated at 450 years, agreeably to Acts xiii. zo. If we add to these 450 years forty years for the march in the desert, eighty-four years for the reign of Saul, David, and Solomon, until the foundation of the temple, the amount would be 574 years. For the time when Joshua acted as an independent chieftain, eighteen years may be counted, which added to 574 would make up the above number of 592 years (comp. Michaelis, Orientalische Bibliothek, v. 228, whose arrange ment of years differs in some points from the above). It must, however, be observed that the number of 450 years represents only the sum total of all chronologically specified facts of our book down to the death of Eli, and does not include the intervals of time of which the years are not given. The statement of Josephus above referred to re,t.i only on his own individual computation, and is contrary to another statement of the same author ("Mag. xx. o ; Cont. ii. 2).
One of the latest attempts towards settling the chronology of the Judges is that of Dr. Keil, in his work Derptsche Beitrage zn a'en 7'heologischen Wissenschaften, or, Contributions towards the furtherance of the theological sciences,' by profes sors of the university of Dorpat. He supports the number of 48o years in Kings vi. 1, and from the invasion of Cushan-rishathaim to Jair (Judg.
x.) retains the chronological statements of our book for events which he considers successive. But the period of the domination of the Philistines over the (western) Israelites until the death of Saul, a space of seventy-nine yearS, he considers con temporaneous with the time of oppression and deliverance of the eastern and northern tribes, for which (Judg. x. 12) are reckoned forty years. He
next estimates the period from the distribution of the land under Joshua to the invasion by the king of Mesopotamia at ten years, and the period from the time when the Philistines were conquered until the death of Saul at thirty-nine years, thus inaking up the above number of 48o years. In this attempt at settling the chronology of the book of Judges Dr. Keil evinces great ingenuity and learning ; but it appears that his computations rest on historical and chronological assumptions which can never be fully established. In order satisfactorily to settle the chronology we lack sufficient data, and the task has therefore been abandoned by the ablest modern critics, as Eichhorn, De Wette, and others. Nothing beyond general views is attainable on this subject.
Having explained this matter, it only remains to arrange the (Efferent systems of the chronology of this period so as 'to exhibit them in one view to the eye of the reader. It has been deemed right, for the better apprehension of the differences, to make the table embrace the whole period from the exode to the building of Solomon's temple. The headings are taken .from Hales, simply because, from being the most copious, they afford a frame work within which all the explanations may be inserted.
The authorities for this table are: Joseph—A/1aq. v. I.-to ; Theophilus, Bp. of Antioch, A.D. 330, Epist. ad Antolyczun,iii.; Eusebius, A. D. 330, Prtr paratth Evangclica, x. 14 ; Usher, 1650, Chrono log-Ur Sacra, p. 71 ; Jackson, 1752, Chronological Antiquities, p. 145 ; Hales, 1311, Analysis of Chro noky, lot ; Russell, 1827, Connection of Sacred and Profizne Histoty, i. 147. In the last work the full tables, with others, are given ; and we have here combined them for the sake of comparison. Other authorities on the subject of this article are : Herzfeld, Chronologia Yudieunt, Berol. 1836; Mol denhauer, Gedambetz fiber die Zeitrechnung int Buck der Richter, p. 15, s9. ; Ditmar, Geschichte der Israeliten, p. 91 ; Hug, in the Freiburger Zeit schrift, i. p. 129, sq. ; Carpzov, Introduct. V. T., 169 j Simon, Hist. Crit. du V. Test. ; Jahn, Bib/. Archdolog. ii. 1. 85; De Wette, lehrbuth, p. 30. [CHRoNoLoGv.]—J. K.