Additional Dated Events contributing towards a better understanding of the timeline in the N

Statement of belief: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17 KJV)

Last edited 5928± 10 29 2024 [2008-01-09]

Roman Kings over Judea

contributing towards a better understanding

of the timeline in the N.T.:

Abstract:

Once the year of the Passover of Crucifixion is established it becomes a relatively easy matter to place many other events more or less firmly in time. Under the guidance of Yahweh and based upon an 18 CE crucifixion, and/or upon 18± celestial events dated using astronomical tables, a number of New Testament events, various rulers over Israel and Judaea, the War and the Destruction of Jerusalem, and also the Regnal Years and Dates of all Roman Emperors from Julius Caesar through Caesar Domitian, have been identified and dated.

I. Antiocus Epiphanes

Cf. this time table! (These Olympiad years are anchored upon the total solar eclipse November 24, 29 CE.)

Quoting Josephus:

“3. King Antiochus returning out of Egypt (16) for fear of the Romans, made an expedition against the city Jerusalem; and when he was there, in the hundred and forty-third year of the kingdom of the Seleucidse, he took the city without fighting, those of his own party opening the gates to him. And when he had gotten possession of Jerusalem, he slew many of the opposite party; and when he had plundered it of a great deal of money, he returned to Antioch.

“4. Now it came to pass, after two years, in the hundred forty and fifth year, on the twenty-fifth day of that month which is by us called Chasleu, and by the Macedonians Apelleus, in the hundred and fifty-third olympiad, that the king came up to Jerusalem, and, pretending peace, he got possession of the city by treachery; at which time he spared not so much as those that admitted him into it, on account of the riches that lay in the temple; but, led by his covetous inclination, (for he saw there was in it a great deal of gold, and many ornaments that had been dedicated to it of very great value,) and in order to plunder its wealth, he ventured to break the league he had made. So he left the temple bare, and took away the golden candlesticks, and the golden altar [of incense], and table [of shew-bread], and the altar [of burnt-offering]; and did not abstain from even the veils, which were made of fine linen and scarlet. He also emptied it of its secret treasures, and left nothing at all remaining; and by this means cast the Jews into great lamentation, for he forbade them to offer those daily sacrifices which they used to offer to God, according to the law. And when he had pillaged the whole city, some of the inhabitants he slew, and some he carried captive, together with their wives and children, so that the multitude of those captives that were taken alive amounted to about ten thousand. He also burnt down the finest buildings; and when he had overthrown the city walls, he built a citadel in the lower part of the city, (17) for the place was high, and overlooked the temple; on which account he fortified it with high walls and towers, and put into it a garrison of Macedonians. However, in that citadel dwelt the impious and wicked part of the [Jewish] multitude, from whom it proved that the citizens suffered many and sore calamities. And when the king had built an idol altar upon God's altar, he slew swine upon it, and so offered a sacrifice neither according to the law, nor the Jewish religious worship in that country. He also compelled them to forsake the worship which they paid their own God, and to adore those whom he took to be gods; and made them build temples, and raise idol altars in every city and village, and offer swine upon them every day. He also commanded them not to circumcise their sons, and threatened to punish any that should be found to have transgressed his injunction. He also appointed overseers, who should compel them to do what he commanded. And indeed many Jews there were who complied with the king's commands, either voluntarily, or out of fear of the penalty that was denounced. But the best men, and those of the noblest souls, did not regard him, but did pay a greater respect to the customs of their country than concern as to the punishment which he threatened to the disobedient; on which account they every day underwent great miseries and bitter torments; for they were whipped with rods, and their bodies were torn to pieces, and were crucified, while they were still alive, and breathed. They also strangled those women and their sons whom they had circumcised, as the king had appointed, hanging their sons about their necks as they were upon the crosses. And if there were any sacred book of the law found, it was destroyed, and those with whom they were found miserably perished also. “

(Josephus, Flavius, Antiquities of the Jews - Book XII:5:3.)

“6. When therefore the generals of Antiochus's armies had been beaten so often, Judas assembled the people together, and told them, that after these many victories which God had given them, they ought to go up to Jerusalem, and purify the temple, and offer the appointed sacrifices. But as soon as he, with the whole multitude, was come to Jerusalem, and found the temple deserted, and its gates burnt down, and plants growing in the temple of their own accord, on account of its desertion, he and those that were with him began to lament, and were quite confounded at the sight of the temple; so he chose out some of his soldiers, and gave them order to fight against those guards that were in the citadel, until he should have purified the temple. When therefore he had carefully purged it, and had brought in new vessels, the candlestick, the table [of shew-bread], and the altar [of incense], which were made of gold, he hung up the veils at the gates, and added doors to them. He also took down the altar [of burnt-offering], and built a new one of stones that he gathered together, and not of such as were hewn with iron tools. So on the five and twentieth day of the month Casleu, which the Macedonians call Apeliens, they lighted the lamps that were on the candlestick, and offered incense upon the altar [of incense], and laid the loaves upon the table [of shew-bread], and offered burnt-offerings upon the new altar [of burnt-offering]. Now it so fell out, that these things were done on the very same day on which their Divine worship had fallen off, and was reduced to a profane and common use, after three years' time; for so it was, that the temple was made desolate by Antiochus, and so continued for three years. This desolation happened to the temple in the hundred forty and fifth year, on the twenty-fifth day of the month Apeliens, and on the hundred fifty and third olympiad: but it was dedicated anew, on the same day, the twenty-fifth of the month Apeliens, on the hundred and forty-eighth year, and on the hundred and fifty-fourth olympiad. And this desolation came to pass according to the prophecy of Daniel, which was given four hundred and eight years before; for he declared that the Macedonians would dissolve that worship [for some time].

“7. Now Judas celebrated the festival of the restoration of the sacrifices of the temple for eight days, and omitted no sort of pleasures thereon; but he feasted them upon very rich and splendid sacrifices; and he honored God, and delighted them by hymns and psalms. Nay, they were so very glad at the revival of their customs, when, after a long time of intermission, they unexpectedly had regained the freedom of their worship, that they made it a law for their posterity, that they should keep a festival, on account of the restoration of their temple worship, for eight days. And from that time to this we celebrate this festival, and call it Lights. I suppose the reason was, because this liberty beyond our hopes appeared to us; and that thence was the name given to that festival. Judas also rebuilt the walls round about the city, and reared towers of great height against the incursions of enemies, and set guards therein. He also fortified the city Bethsura, that it might serve as a citadel against any distresses that might come from our enemies. “

(Josephus, Flavius, Antiquities of the Jews - Book XII:7:6-7.)

Notice re Daniel’s prophecy vs. Antiocus Epiphanes: Josephus is claiming that “the prophecy of Daniel…” [cf. Daniel 8:11-14; 11:31; 12:11-12] “came to pass” by this event. But is this it? Or are there others?

II. Antiocus II

Cf. this time table! (These Olympiad years are anchored upon the total solar eclipse November 24, 29 CE.)

Quoting Josephus:

III. Hyrcanus

Cf. this time table! (These Olympiad years are anchored upon the total solar eclipse November 24, 29 CE.)

Quoting Shem Tov’s Hebrew Matthew 2:22 “Then he heard that Horcanus, his name is Argelaus, reigned in Judah in the place of Herod his father…” Cf. below!

Quoting Josephus:

IV. Aristobulus

Cf. this time table! (These Olympiad years are anchored upon the total solar eclipse November 24, 29 CE.)

Quoting Shem Tov’s Hebrew Matthew 2:22 “Then he heard that Horcanus, his name is Argelaus, reigned in Judah in the place of Herod his father…” Cf. above!

Quoting Josephus:

V. Pompey

Cf. this time table! (These Olympiad years are anchored upon the total solar eclipse November 24, 29 CE.)

Quoting Josephus:

VI. Herod the Great

Cf. this time table! (These Olympiad years are anchored upon the total solar eclipse November 24, 29 CE.)

A. Herod’s inauguration in Rome as king over Judea

Herod was inaugurated in Rome as king over Judea at the time for the Feast of Unleavened Bread, 46 BCE. (Cf. my study re the 46^th year of building the temple!)

B. Herod’s capture of Jerusalem:

Once the date of the lunar eclipse preceding Herod the Great’s death is established [Cf. below,] the exact placement of the Olympiad calendar may be established based upon Josephus’ references to the Olympiad calendar during the reign of Herod the Great [Cf. “Quotes from Origen” and “Quotes from… Ronald L. Conte Jr.” below.]

Based mostly upon the 9 BCE lunar eclipse, and upon the solar eclipse in 29 CE, upon Josephus’ consistent practice of not including the accession year etc., and upon the quotes below, I conclude that Herod captured Jerusalem Tishri 10, 43 BCE [September 13 or October 12 or 13, 43 BCE.]

Quotes from Josephus:

“4. This destruction befell the city of Jerusalem when Marcus Agrippa and Caninius Gallus were consuls of Rome (30) on the hundred eighty and fifth olympiad, on the third month, on the solemnity of the fast, as if a periodical revolution of calamities had returned since that which befell the Jews under Pompey; for the Jews were taken by him on the same day, and this was after twenty-seven years' time. So when Sosius had dedicated a crown of gold to God, he marched away from Jerusalem, and carried Antigonus with him in bonds to Antony; but Herod was afraid lest Antigonus should be kept in prison [only] by Antony, and that when he was carried to Rome by him, he might get his cause to be heard by the senate, and might demonstrate, as he was himself of the royal blood, and Herod but a private man, that therefore it belonged to his sons however to have the kingdom, on account of the family they were of, in case he had himself offended the Romans by what he had done. Out of Herod's fear of this it was that he, by giving Antony a great deal of money, endeavored to persuade him to have Antigonus slain, which if it were once done, he should be free from that fear. And thus did the government of the Asamoneans cease, a hundred twenty and six years after it was first set up. This family was a splendid and an illustrious one, both on account of the nobility of their stock, and of the dignity of the high priesthood, as also for the glorious actions their ancestors had performed for our nation; but these men lost the government by their dissensions one with another, and it came to Herod, the son of Antipater, who was of no more than a vulgar family, and of no eminent extraction, but one that was subject to other kings. And this is what history tells us was the end of the Asamonean family.” Josephus, Antiquties, XIV:16:4.

Notice that Josephus begins his reckoning of each civil year with Tishri 22 as proven by Josephus, Antiquties, XIV:16:4 and Origen, "Contra Celsus" in conjunction with the solar eclipse that occurred at noon November 24, 29 CE! Cf. the above passage and also the biblical basis for the beginning and end of the year!

“When he had done these things, he died, the fifth day after he had caused Antipater to be slain; having reigned, since he had procured Antigonus to be slain, thirty-four years; but since he had been declared king by the Romans, thirty-seven.” Josephus, Antiquties, XVII:6:4.

Quotes from Origen (“ca. 185–ca. 254”:)

"(33) And with regard to the eclipse in the time of Tiberius Caesar, in whose reign Jesus appears to have been crucified, and the great earthquakes which then took place, Phlegon too, I think, has written in the thirteenth or fourteenth book of his Chronicles;" (Origen, "Contra Celsus")

"And Phlegon also who compiled the Olympiads writes about the same things in his 13th book in the following words: 'In the fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad (AD 32-33), and eclipse of the Sun took place greater than any previously known, and night came on at the sixth hour of the day, so that stars actually appeared in the sky; and a great earthquake took place in Bithynia and overthrew the greater part of Niceaea;" (Origen, "Contra Celsus")

Quotes from Josephus by and trough Ronald L. Conte Jr.:

“Josephus states that the city of Jerusalem was captured by Herod “on the hundred eighty-fifth olympiad, on the third month, on the solemnity of the fast….”⁷⁴² The solemnity of the fast is the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), one of the holiest days in the Jewish faith (Lev 23:26-32). The Olympiad year begins on July 1, so that the third month is September. Thus, Josephus tells us that Jerusalem was captured by Herod in a year when the Day of Atonement (which is Tishri 10) occurred in September.” (Conte Jr., Ronald L., Important Dates in the Lives of Jesus and Mary, p. 171.)

⁷⁴² Josephus, The Antiquities of the Jews, XIV:16:4.

“The Length of Herod’s Reign

“Josephus describes Herod’s reign as lasting 34 years, from his capture of Jerusalem to his death. At the time that Herod captured Jerusalem, he also took prisoner its former ruler, Antigonus, and sent him to Marc Antony, who eventually had him beheaded.⁷⁵³ Josephus counts Herod’s actual reign over Jerusalem as beginning with his capture of Jerusalem and Antigonus’ death, and ending with Herod’s own death. “When he had done those things he died…having reigned, since he had procured Antigonus to be slain, thirty-four years….” ⁷⁵⁴ “(Conte Jr., Ronald L., Important Dates in the Lives of Jesus and Mary, p.173 )

⁷⁵³ Josephus, The Antiquities of the Jews, 15.1, 15.8-9.

⁷⁵⁴ Josephus, The Antiquities of the Jews, 17.191.

“In the winter of 9 B.C. to 8 B.C., there is only one lunar eclipse to consider, the lunar eclipse of Nov. 28 in 9 B.C. This total lunar eclipse lasted 3 hours and 38 minutes, reaching its height at the mid-point of 21:02 hours Jerusalem time. The eclipse began at 19:13 hours (7:13 p.m.). This eclipse would have been easily noticed by the inhabitants of Israel, because it was a long-lasting total eclipse, and because it began early in the evening, not long after sunset. A more noticeable eclipse is more likely to have been remembered and associated with the events of the previous day (the burning of the Jewish martyrs).” (Conte Jr., Ronald L., Important Dates in the Lives of Jesus and Mary, p.178 )

“The fourth year of the 202 Ol. would be AD 29, by my calculations... There was a spectacular solar eclispse that year, Nov. 24, AD 29, in late morning. It covered all of the Roman empire and was particularly spectacular from Jerusalem, and points to the east such as Turkey. The stars would have been visible, according to RedShift3.” (Conte Jr., Ronald L., Private correspondence dated “Wednesday 3/10/2004 11:08 PM”.)

From the quote of Origen (above) I conclude that the 202^nd Olympiad began July 1, 26 CE. Thus, the 185^th Olympiad (cf. Josephus above) began on July 1, 68 years prior ( (202-185) x 4 = 17 x 4 = 68,) which is the astronomical year – ( 68 – 26 ) = -42 = 43 BCE. Thus, the 185^th Olympiad, the Olympic year of Herod’s destruction of Jerusalem, began July 1, 43 BCE. For a detailed analysis of possible correlations between the Olympiad calendar and NASA’s solar eclipse pages please cf. this link!

Consistent with Josephus’ method of reckoning, the first of the 34 years of Herod the Great’s de facto reign over Jerusalem began Tishri 22, 43 BCE, and the 34^th year of his reign began Tishri 22, 9 BCE. This is consistent with the lunar eclipse described by Josephus, which is identified by Ronald L. Conte Jr. and which occurred November 29, 9 BCE.

However, the capture of Jerusalem by Herod would have occurred in his accession year prior to Tishri 22, 43 BCE, i.e. on Tishri 10, 43 BCE [September 13 or October 12 or 13, 43 BCE, which date is, BTW, close to Augustus’ 24^th birthday (September 23) and which date occurred close to the end of Augustus’ 4^th year of reign – jointly with Marc Antony – as it would have been counted by Josephus.]

Obsolete but interesting memo: I see no reason why Josephus would not have considered every sabbatical year as concurrent with the Sacred Calendar Year, i.e. Aviv through Adar, consistent with the Torah instructions, and thus both the summer and the subsequent Day of Atonement [Tishri 10] were part and parcel of a sabbatical year if both Zuckermann/Blosser and Wacholder are partly correct in assigning their sabbatical years [Cf. Conte Jr., Ronald L., Important Dates in the Lives of Jesus and Mary, Chapter 16: Sabbatical Years.]

Consistent with the above, the first year of the 37 years of Herod the Great’s de jure reign over Judea began Tishri 22, 46 BCE. This agrees perfectly with Herod’s appointment in Rome as king over Judea, which took place then in the biblical year beginning Tishri 22, 47 BCE, [in the Olympic year July 1, 47 BCE through June, 46 BCE, and most probably in the fall 47 BCE near the beginning of the rainy season.] It follows that Herod the Great’s last year of reign, his 37^th/34^th began Tishri 22, 10 BCE.

C. Herod’s two projects re the Jerusalem Temple and the beginning of the “forty and six years” in John 2:20:

D. Herod the Great’s death:

Quoting Josephus:

“But as for Herod, he dealt more mildly with others [of the assembly] but he deprived Matthias of the high priesthood, as in part an occasion of this action, and made Joazar, who was Matthias's wife's brother, high priest in his stead. Now it happened, that during the time of the high priesthood of this Matthias, there was another person made high priest for a single day, that very day which the Jews observed as a fast. The occasion was this: This Matthias the high priest, on the night before that day when the fast was to be celebrated, seemed, in a dream, (7) to have conversation with his wife; and because he could not officiate himself on that account, Joseph, the son of Ellemus, his kinsman, assisted him in that sacred office. But Herod deprived this Matthias of the high priesthood, and burnt the other Matthias, who had raised the sedition, with his companions, alive. And that very night there was an eclipse of the moon.” Josephus, Antiquities, XVII:6:4.

“When he had done these things, he died, the fifth day after he had caused Antipater to be slain; having reigned, since he had procured Antigonus to be slain, thirty-four years; but since he had been declared king by the Romans, thirty-seven.” Josephus, Antiquities, XVII:8:1.

The date for Herod the Great’s death: Which lunar eclipses could possibly fit the criteria for the one described by Josephus as preceding the death of Herod the Great within this time frame? Listing backwards in time from the one favored by Earnest L. Martin in 1 BCE we have only the following which might possibly be of interest:

Eclipse data below from

Phases of the Moon: 1 to 100 CE

# Year Bibl. month & Julian date of lunar eclipse

0 (1 BCE) 10 Jan 9 22:57 t - Favored by Dr. Earnest L. Martin.

7 -1 (2 BCE) 11 Jan 20 11:33 p – daytime… not seen

6 -7 (8 BCE) 9 Nov 18 03:03 p – 5:24 JST shortly before dawn (sunrise 06:32 JST)

5 -8 (9 BCE) 9 Nov 28 18:41 t – (21:02 JST) Favored by Ronald L. Conte Jr.

4 -9 (10 BCE) 9 Dec 10 04:29 p – 6:50 JST at sunrise (sunrise is also 06:50 JST)

3 -10 (11 BCE) 11 Jan 29 15:00 p – daytime… not seen

2 -11 (12 BCE) 11 Feb 9 12:30 t – daytime… not seen

1 -12 (13 BCE) 12 Feb 21 12:41 p – daytime… not seen

-18 (17 BCE) 9/10 Dec 19 05:33 p – 7:54 JST near sunrise

-19 (20 BCE) 10 Dec 29 14:13 t – daytime… not seen

-19 (20 BCE) 10 Jan 9 03:15 p – 5:36 JST shortly before dawn

Moving forwards in time from July 15 BCE we find (Cf. Blue numbers above):

1. The eclipse on Feb 21 in -12 (13 BCE), is only two months (including an Adar II) prior to the following Passover. Earnest L. Martin found the one in 0 (1 BCE) fitting his criteria quite tightly when given three months time. Also this one is only a partial eclipse. All three of the days referenced by Martin from Megillath Taanith (in his book The Star that Astonished the World) are necessarily prior to this eclipse and this year is incompatible with the death of Herod

2. The eclipse on Feb 9 in -11 (12 BCE) is a total eclipse but is also only two months prior to the following Passover, unless an unusually late Aviv ripening would occur. All three of the days referenced by Martin from Megillath Taanith are necessarily prior to this eclipse and thus this year is incompatible with the death of Herod unless there was an extremely late Aviv in 13 BCE.

3. The eclipse on Jan 29 -10 (11 BCE) is only partial and only two month prior to the following Passover, though a late Aviv ripening is less unlikely than in the prior year. All three of the days referenced by Martin from Megillath Taanith are necessarily prior to this eclipse and thus this year is incompatible with the death of Herod unless there was an unusually late Aviv in 12 BCE.

4. The eclipse on Dec 10 -9 (10 BCE) is only partial but is a full four months prior to the next following Passover. Schebat 2 occurs (half a month to) one and one half month after this eclipse. Kislev 7 occurred on December 3, 10 BCE and did in fact occur at least 6 days prior to this eclipse. Tebeth 9 followed the eclipse in 10 BCE unless the Aviv was unusually early, in which case Tebeth 9 was on December 5, 10 BCE and Kislev 7 was on November 3, 10 BCE. Thus, this is an eclipse compatible with Dr. Earnest L. Martins criteria. This eclipse is also compatible with the criteria given by Ronald Conte Jr. in his book Important Dates in the Lives of Jesus and Mary, p. 173-177, i.e. except that it occurred at dawn and moonset, in contradistinction to the evening eclipse described by Josephus, see p. 178.

5. The eclipse on Nov 28 -8 (9 BCE) is total and is four to five full months prior to the next following Passover. Schebat 2 occurs one and a half months [January 14 or 15] (to two and one half months [February 13 or 14]) after this eclipse. Kislev 7 occurred on November 21, 9 BCE and did almost certainly occur 7 days prior to this eclipse. [Tebeth 9 followed the eclipse in 9 BCE on December (22 or) 23, and cannot be what Dr Martin suggested it could have been.] Thus, this is an eclipse compatible with Dr. Earnest L. Martins criteria. This is also the eclipse favored by Ronald Conte Jr. in his book Important Dates in the Lives of Jesus and Mary, p. 94:1.

6. The eclipse on Nov 18 -7 (8 BCE) is only partial but is five full months prior to the next following Passover. Schebat 2 occurs (half a month to) one and one half month after this eclipse. Kislev 7 occurred on November 10, 8 BCE and did likely occur 8 days prior to this eclipse. [Tebeth 9 followed the eclipse in 8 BCE on December 12.] Thus, this is an eclipse compatible with Dr. Earnest L. Martins criteria i.e. except that it occurred at dawn, at 5:24 Jerusalem solar time, and moonset in contradistinction to the evening eclipse described by Josephus.

7. Finally we have an eclipse on Jan 20 -1 (2 BCE) which is only partial and which is also three months prior to the next following Passover. Schebat 2 may have followed this eclipse on February 8, 2 BCE. If so, then Kislev 7 occurred on December (15 or) 16, 3 BCE and did then occur 5 to 6 days prior to this eclipse. Likewise Tebeth 9 would then have preceded the eclipse on January 16 or 17, 3 BCE. Thus, this is an eclipse compatible with Dr. Earnest L. Martins criteria i.e. except that it was not visible from Jerusalem since it occurred at noon, at 1:54 PM Jerusalem solar time, in contradistinction to the evening eclipse described by Josephus.

One may conclude, based upon the above, that the date for Herod the Great’s death is most likely Schebat 2, 8 BCE [January 14 or 15, 8 BCE.] This makes Yeshua 7 years and 4 months old at the time of the death of Herod the Great, counting from conception.

Based upon the above conclusion, and upon the above quotes out of Josephus, we may then calculate the beginning of the first de jure and the first de facto year of Herod’s reign. Given that Tishri 22, 9 BCE constitutes the beginning of Herod’s 38^th de jure year and the beginning of his 35^th de facto year of reign, his 1^st de jure year of reign must begin with Tishri 22, 46 BCE and his 1^st de facto year of reign must begin with Tishri 22, 43 BCE. Herod’s accession years preceded both of these dates, which is consistent with Herod capturing Jerusalem on Tishri 10, 43 BCE and being appointed as king over Judea at the beginning of the rainy season, probably in the month Heshvan, 47 BCE [Cf. above!]

Notice that the November 28, 9 BCE eclipse vs. the above quote re Herod the Great is confirmed also by the above (more or less) independent calculations re the beginnings of Herod’s reign vs. the Olympic Years and the November 24, 29 CE total solar eclipse!

VII. Agrippa’s (I) reign (The Herod of Acts 12):

“11. Now, in the second year of the reign of Caius Caesar, Agrippa desired leave to be given him to sail home, and settle the affairs of his government; and he promised to return again, when he had put the rest in order, as it ought to be put. So, upon the emperor's permission, he came into his own country, and appeared to them all unexpectedly as asking, and thereby demonstrated to the men that saw him the power of fortune, when they compared his former poverty with his present happy affluence; so some called him a happy man, and others could not well believe that things were so much changed with him for the better. Josephus, Antiquities, XVIII:6:11

CHAPTER 7.

HOW HEROD THE TETRARCH WAS BANISHED.

“1. BUT Herodias, Agrippa's sister, who now lived as wife to that Herod who was tetrarch of Galilee and Peres, took this authority of her brother in an envious manner, particularly when she saw that he had a greater dignity bestowed on him than her husband had; since, when he ran away, it was because he was not able to pay his debts; and now he was come back, he was in a way of dignity, and of great good fortune. She was therefore grieved and much displeased at so great a mutation of his affairs; and chiefly when she saw him marching among the multitude with the usual ensigns of royal authority, she was not able to conceal how miserable she was, by reason of the envy she had towards him; but she excited her husband, and desired him that he would sail to Rome, to court honors equal to his; for she said that she could not bear to live any longer, while Agrippa, the son of that Aristobulus who was condemned to die by his father, one that came to her husband in such extreme poverty, that the necessaries of life were forced to be entirely supplied him day by day; and when he fled away from his creditors by sea, he now returned a king; while he was himself the son of a king, and while the near relation he bare to royal authority called upon him to gain the like dignity, he sat still, and was contented with a privater life. "But then, Herod, although thou wast formerly not concerned to be in a lower condition than thy father from whom thou wast derived had been, yet do thou now seek after the dignity which thy kinsman hath attained to; and do not thou bear this contempt, that a man who admired thy riches should he in greater honor than thyself, nor suffer his poverty to show itself able to purchase greater things than our abundance; nor do thou esteem it other than a shameful thing to be inferior to one who, the other day, lived upon thy charity. But let us go to Rome, and let us spare no pains nor expenses, either of silver or gold, since they cannot be kept for any better use than for the obtaining of a kingdom."

2. But for Herod, he opposed her request at this time, out of the love of ease, and having a suspicion of the trouble he should have at Rome; so he tried to instruct her better. But the more she saw him draw back, the more she pressed him to it, and desired him to leave no stone unturned in order to be king; and at last she left not off till she engaged him, whether he would or not, to be of her sentiments, because he could no otherwise avoid her importunity. So he got all things ready, after as sumptuous a manner as he was able, and spared for nothing, and went up to Rome, and took Herodias along with him. But Agrippa, when he was made sensible of their intentions and preparations, he also prepared to go thither; and as soon as he heard they set sail, he sent Fortunatus, one of his freed-men, to Rome, to carry presents to the emperor, and letters against Herod, and to give Caius a particular account of those matters, if he should have any opportunity. This man followed Herod so quick, and had so prosperous a voyage, and came so little after Herod, that while Herod was with Caius, he came himself, and delivered his letters; for they both sailed to Dicearchia, and found Caius at Bairn, which is itself a little city of Campania, at the distance of about five furlongs from Dicearchia. There are in that place royal palaces, with sumptuous apartments, every emperor still endeavoring to outdo his predecessor's magnificence; the place ,also affords warm baths, that spring out of the ground of their own accord, which are of advantage for the recovery of the health of those that make use of them; and, besides, they minister to men's luxury also. Now Caius saluted Herod, for he first met with him, and then looked upon the letters which Agrippa had sent him, and which were written in order to accuse Herod; wherein he accused him, that he had been in confederacy with Sejanus against Tiberius's and that he was now confederate with Artabanus, the king of Parthia, in opposition to the government of Caius; as a demonstration of which he alleged, that he had armor sufficient for seventy thousand men ready in his armory. Caius was moved at this information, and asked Herod whether what was said about the armor was true; and when he confessed there was such armor there, for he could not deny the same, the truth of it being too notorious, Caius took that to be a sufficient proof of the accusation, that he intended to revolt. So he took away from him his tetrarchy, and gave it by way of addition to Agrippa's kingdom; he also gave Herod's money to Agrippa, and, by way of punishment, awarded him a perpetual banishment, and appointed Lyons, a city of Gaul, to be his place of habitation. But when he was informed that Herodias was Agrippa's sister, he made her a present of what money was her own, and told her that it was her brother who prevented her being put under the same calamity with her husband. But she made this reply: "Thou, indeed, O emperor! actest after a magnificent manner, and as becomes thyself in what thou offerest me; but the kindness which I have for my husband hinders me from partaking of the favor of thy gift; for it is not just that I, who have been made a partner in his prosperity, should forsake him in his misfortunes." Hereupon Caius was angry at her, and sent her with Herod into banishment, and gave her estate to Agrippa. And thus did God punish Herodias for her envy at her brother, and Herod also for giving ear to the vain discourses of a woman. Now Caius managed public affairs with great magnanimity during the first and second year of his reign, and behaved himself with such moderation, that he gained the good-will of the Romans themselves, and of his other subjects. But, in process of time, he went beyond the bounds of human nature in his conceit of himself, and by reason of the vastness of his dominions made himself a god, and took upon himself to act in all things to the reproach of the Deity itself.” Josephus, Antiquities, XVIII:7:1-2

“1. NOW when Claudius had taken out of the way all those soldiers whom he suspected, which he did immediately, he published an edict, and therein confirmed that kingdom to Agrippa which Caius had given him, and therein commended the king highly. He also made all addition to it of all that country over which Herod, who was his grandfather, had reigned, that is, Judea and Samaria.,..” Josephus, Antiquities, XIX:5:1

“2. Now when Agrippa had reigned three years over all Judea, he came to the city Cesarea, which was formerly called Strato's Tower; and there he exhibited shows in honor of Caesar, upon his being informed that there was a certain festival celebrated to make vows for his safety. At which festival a great multitude was gotten together of the principal persons, and such as were of dignity through his province. On the second day of which shows he put on a garment made wholly of silver… And when he had been quite worn out by the pain in his belly for five days, he departed this life, being in the fifty-fourth year of his age, and in the seventh year of his reign; for he reigned four years under Caius Caesar, three of them were over Philip's tetrarchy only, and on the fourth he had that of Herod added to it [cf. Josephus, Antiquities, XVIII:6:11 through XVIII:7:2 quoted above;] and he reigned, besides those, three years under the reign of Claudius Caesar; in which time he reigned over the forementioned countries, and also had Judea added to them, as well as Samaria and Cesarea” Josephus, Antiquities, XIX:8:2

“21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. 22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. 23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.” Acts 12:21-23 (KJV.)

Conclusions:

For the details re the timing of Agrippa’s crowning, reign, and death, please cf. the discussion under the study re the timing for Caius' accession: Agrippa died in the 4^th year of Claudius Caesar as recounted by Josephus. The 1st year of Claudius (and the 4^th of Agrippa) per Josephus is the civil year beginning Tishri 22, 27 CE, thus the 4^th year of Claudius and the 7th year of Agrippa is the civil year starting Tishri 22, 30 CE. In Agrippa’s 3rd year, i.e. Claudius’ accession year, Judea, Samaria, and Cesarea were added to Agrippa’s domain. Agrippa(I)’s rule began not long after the death of Caesar Tiberius, who died on 4 Adar I/Adar II, 23 CE [March 16, 23 CE,] but subsequent to Tishri 22, 23 CE, and ended within the civil year beginning on Tishri 22, 30 CE, some time subsequent to the Feast of Unleavened Bread in 31 CE [between April 3 and October 28, 31 CE.]

Based upon Josephus’ statement, “Agrippa… departed this life, being in the fifty-fourth year of his age” (Josephus, Antiquities, XIX:8:2,) and upon the above, I further find that Agrippa’s life began in the civil year beginning Tishri 22, 24 BCE, i.e. as reckoned by Josephus.

The civil years of age (and reign) attributed by Josephus to Agrippa(I,) and the Roman Caesars ruling during Agrippa's life:


Each of the below civil years begins with Tishri 22 [within the Julian year:]
24	23	22	21	20	19	18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31
Caesar Augustus
26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40	41	42	43	44	45	46	47	48	49	50	51	52	53	54	55	56	57	58

Caesar Tiberius

																						ac	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23
																																													Caesar Gaius
																																													ac	1	2	3	4
																																																	Caesar Claudius
																																																	ac	1	2	3	4	5
																																														Agrippa(1)'s civil years of reign
																																														ac	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Agrippa(I)'s (civil) years of life:
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40	41	42	43	44	45	46	47	48	49	50	51	52	53	54

VIII. Agrippa (Jr):

“1. AND thus did king Agrippa depart this life. But he left behind him a son, Agrippa by name, a youth in the seventeenth year of his age” Josephus, Antiquities, XIX:9:1.

“…at the same time began the war, in the twelfth year of the reign of Nero, and the seventeenth of the reign of Agrippa, in the month of Artemisins [Jyar.]” Josephus, The Wars of the Jews, II:14:4 (2.284.)

1. Becoming Governor over Chalcis

“2. Then came Tiberius Alexander as successor to Fadus… And now it was that Cumanus came as successor to Tiberius Alexander; as also that Herod, brother of Agrippa the great king, departed this life, in the eighth year of the reign of Claudius Caesar. He left behind him three sons; Aristobulus, whom he had by his first wife, with Bernicianus, and Hyrcanus, both whom he had by Bernice his brother's daughter. But Claudius Caesar bestowed his dominions on Agrippa, junior.” Josephus, Antiquities, XX:5:2

It follows that Agrippa jr succeeded Herod’s kingship (of Chalcis, cf. Josephus, Antiquities, XIX:8:3) as governor (cf. Josephus, Antiquities, XX:7:1) starting in the year beginning with Tishri 22, 33 CE, Agrippa jr being about this time in his 21^st year of life.

2. Becoming King over the tetrarchy of Philip, Batanea, Trachonites, and Abila

“1. SO Claudius sent Felix, the brother of Pallas, to take care of the affairs of Judea; and when he had already completed the twelfth year of his reign, he bestowed upon Agrippa the tetrarchy of Philip and Batanea, and added thereto Trachonites, with Abila; which last had been the tetrarchy of Lysanias; but he took from him Chalcis, when he had been governor thereof four years. And when Agrippa had received these countries as the gift of Caesar, he gave his sister Drusilla in marriage to Azizus, king of Emesa, upon his consent to be circumcised; for Epiphanes, the son of king Antiochus, had refused to marry her, because, after he had promised her father formerly to come over to the Jewish religion, he would not now perform that promise.” Josephus, Antiquities, XX:7:1

It follows that the above quoted events re Agrippa jr occurred within the year beginning Tishri 38 CE (and also that Felix was “sent… to take care of the affairs of Judea” within the year beginning Tishri 37 CE and before Tishri 22, 38 CE. Cf. Josephus, Antiquities, XX:7:1 above!)

3. Adding the Kingship over 4 cities: 1. Abila, 2. Julias in Perea, 3. Tarichae, and 4. Tiberias of Galilee

“4. For in the first year of the reign of Nero, upon the death of Azizus, king of Emesa, Soemus, his brother, succeeded in his kingdom, and Aristobulus, the son of Herod, king of Chalcis, was intrusted by Nero with the government of the Lesser Armenia. Caesar also bestowed on Agrippa a certain part of Galilee, Tiberias, and Tarichae, (18) and ordered them to submit to his jurisdiction. He gave him also Julias, a city of Perea, with fourteen villages that lay about it.” Josephus, Antiquities, XX:8:4

“2. Nero therefore bestowed the kingdom of the Lesser Armenia upon Aristobulus, Herod's son, (17) and he added to Agrippa's kingdom four cities, with the toparchies to them belonging; I mean Abila, and that Julias which is in Perea, Tarichea also, and Tiberias of Galilee; but over the rest of Judea he made Felix procurator.” Josephus, The Wars of the Jews 2:13:2.

It follows that Agrippa became responsible for “Tiberias of Galilee” in the year beginning Tishri 22, 40 CE.

Re the time references used by Josephus in his The Wars of the Jews, and re the relative time references of Nero, Claudius, and Agrippa Jr:

Nero’s 12^th year = Agrippa’s 17^th year:

“4. Now at this time it happened that the Grecians at Cesarea had been too hard for the Jews, and had obtained of Nero the government of the city, and had brought the judicial determination: at the same time began the war, in the twelfth year of the reign of Nero, and the seventeenth of the reign of Agrippa, in the month of Artemisins [Jyar.]” Josephus, The Wars of the Jews, II:14:2.

Claudius’ 8^th = Agrippa accession year :

Claudius’ 14^th = Nero’s accession year:

“But Claudius himself, when he had administered the government thirteen years, eight months, and twenty days, died, and left Nero to be his successor in the empire.” Josephus, The Wars of the Jews, II:12:8.

But, notice in the table below that the above referenced 12^th year of Nero and the 17^th year of Agrippa Jr don’t seem to be concurrent, whereas in fact they must be, i.e. as per Josephus statement “in the twelfth year of the reign of Nero, and the seventeenth of the reign of Agrippa, in the month of Artemisins [Jyar.]” Josephus, The Wars of the Jews, II:14:2. How can this dilemma be resolved?

Each of the below civil years begins with Tishri 1 [within the Julian year:]
26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40	41	42	43	44	45	46	47	48	49	50	51	52
	Caesar Claudius' years of reign
ac	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14
									Agrippa Jr's years of reign
								ac	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18
															Caesar Nero's years of reign
														ac	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12

I have found that the numbering of the years of reign of Nero relative to both the sacred and the civil calendars are concurrent for only the first six lunar months of the sacred year, i.e. Aviv through Elul. Artemisius [Jyar or Zif] is the 2^nd lunar month. Because of this, when we are referencing an event in Artemisius, the number of Nero’s years of reign will remain the same regardless of whether we use a sacred or a civil calendar.

How about Agrippa Jr’s years of reign? Will the numbering of Agrippa Jr’s years of reign also remain the same when we are referencing an event in Artemisius?

If Agrippa Jr was granted the appointment as king between Tishri 22, 34 CE and the beginning of Aviv 1, 35 CE, i.e. the first six months of Claudius’ 8^th civil year, then Agrippa Jr’s 1^st sacred year of reign began Aviv 1, 35 CE, whereas his 1^st civil year of reign began Tishri 22, 35 CE and an event occurring in Artemisius would be recorded as either in the x^th civil year of Agrippa Jr or else in the (x + 1)^thsacred year of Agrippa Jr (else, if Agrippa Jr’s kingship began between Aviv 1, 35 CE and the beginning of Tishri, 35 CE, then, as for Nero, an event occurring in Artemisius would be recorded within a year numbered the same regardless whether it be a sacred or a civil calendar. ) It follows that the 17^th year of Agrippa Jr began Aviv 1, (34 + 17 =) 51 CE and ended at the beginning of Aviv 1, 52 CE. Nero’s 12^th sacred year began Aviv 1, 52. Thus, here we have a problem, don’t we? Where is it? Is there an error re my prior calculations re Nero? If so where?

Conclusion:

The answer to the above mentioned problems is found in the fact that there was a co-regency between Caesar Nero and Caesar Claudius, which allows Nero’s 12^th year of reign to be concurrent with Agrippa Jr’s 17^th year of reign (Cf. this table.) One may then conclude that Agrippa Jr’s 1^st year of reign began with Tishri 22, 34 CE.

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