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is truth.” (John 17:17 KJV)
Updated 5927± 07 22 2023 [2007-10-05]
An Analysis of Where Exactly
Nero’s 12th Year of Reign
Must Be Placed
-
(51 CE)
Abstract:
From the Greek text of Josephus, which is a translation from an original Hebrew,
it is clear that Josephus is to a large extent naming the days of the week
rather than non-specifically giving reference to a series of so many days, as
usually translated into the English language. The basis for this mix up by the
translators is a complex constellation of that which is allowable by the Greek
grammar, the relative unfamiliarity of the translators with the Hebrew/biblical
calendar, and a lack of understanding of a correct chronology for the 1st
century.
In Josephus’ book The Wars of the Jews is found some twenty specific time references relative to Nero’s 12th year of reign, many of which may be directly correlated with one another and which, most importantly, may be further correlated with astronomical events such as the phases of the moon.
Because of these correlations it
is possible in the final analysis, as based also upon my prior chronology
findings re the Caesars from Julius through Claudius and most importantly that
which is given in the New Testament, to pinpoint exactly when Nero’s 12th
year of reign must be placed. This is a most important discovery, considering
that the chronology surrounding Nero’s reign has been very effectively
obfuscated, and apparently intentionally so by Nero himself, as quite clearly
indicated by Josephus.
Considerations:
[This paragraph may be disregarded as of little consequence: The
below referenced, and below studied, date combination in The Wars of the
Jews, II:17:7-10 [i.e. “the
sixth day of the month Gorpieus [Elul] ” (The Wars of the Jews, II:17:7) being also the
Sixth Day of the week as conceivably suggested by the words “on the next day… on the
sabbath day” (Josephus, The Wars of the Jews, II:17:8, 10)] is somewhat
suggested by Josephus record, as I understand those records, yet, because it is
highly questionable [especially since the words “on the sabbath day” are much more likely to be referencing instead the
Sabbath immediately preceding the sequence of events following in The Wars
of the Jews, II:18&19,] this date combination is not required for the results otherwise arrived at
for these events. If this date combination does not fall into the test solution
here found, nonetheless it does not refute my findings re the timing of these
events.]
The first date combination
of importance to consider here is the one indicated by the fact that Josephus
places the festival of Xylophory on Av 14 rather than
Av 15 (Josephus, The Wars of the Jews, II:17:6-7,) which to me is a
strong indication that Av 15 fell on a Shabbat, considering that the
festival of Xylophory is in fact a
festival involving a lot of physical work, i.e. carrying much wood. As
noticed below, among the years 49-52 CE, only the years 50 and 51 CE provides a
reasonably likely solution allowing for both a concurrent Av 15 and a weekly
Shabbat and also a concurrent 4th Day of the week and “thirtieth of the month Hyperbereteus, [Tisri]” (cf.
below!) A 50 CE scenario
fits perfectly as expected and a 51 CE scenario requires
only that the weather was bad two months (July 28 & August 27) in a row
plus November 24th, and that the spring was
very late (Aviv not yet ripe on March 30, 51 CE.)
[This paragraph may be disregarded as of little consequence: Attempting to place Av 15 on the Shabbat August 14, 51
CE would only add to the already most unlikely scenario for a 51 CE “thirtieth
of the month Hyperbereteus, [Tisri.]”]
A 53 CE date combination
may be possible, but seems outside of the range of interest for our present
purposes since Nero’s
reign is already quite firmly established within this study.
The second date combination
in The Wars of the Jews, II:17:10; 18:1, 3; 19:4-9, being a most firmly
anchored date combination with a lengthy record of 16 consecutive time
references (eight (8) naming specific week days and two (2) giving specific
dates within a named month) relating to what is obviously one event over so
many days, is a most specific and, I believe, incontrovertible fact provided us
by Josephus record, and this particular date combination is required for any
valid placement of these events into real time.
From a study of the
calendars below I find that 50, 51, and 53 CE, do allow for both of the above
referenced date combinations [i.e. Josephus, The Wars of the Jews, II:17:6-7 (II:17:7-10 may be disregarded,)
and The Wars of the Jews, II:19:4-9.] Of these, the 53 CE solution, albeit fitting the data, may be excluded because
it does not come close to Nero’s 12 year as determined elsewhere.
49 CE and 52 CE do not, as
far as I can see, allow for any of the above specified date combination, let
alone two of them. To me this means that the corresponding events could
definitely not have happened during 49 or 52 CE.
Thus also, I perceive the
50 and 51, CE solutions as a confirmation that the events referenced in The
Wars of the Jews, II:19:4-9 definitely happened
within one of those years, as indicated by the results I have arrived at
elsewhere re the reign for Caesar Nero, i.e. Nero’s 1st civil year of reign began Tishri 1, 39 CE and
Nero reign, as perceived by Josephus, ended on Aviv 9, 53 CE. The fact that Suetonius places Nero’s death in
January, while giving Nero an almost 14 year long reign, vs. the data provided
by Josephus, makes it clear to me in the end that the 12th year of
Nero is not 50 CE but 51 CE.
Further, if the events
recorded in The Wars of the Jews, II:14:4 precedes
the events recorded in The Wars of the Jews, II:19:4-9, (a fact
which I find confirmed by Josephus’ record as quoted below,) then I find myself
forced to conclude that Josephus is, within those passages, referencing a
sacred year calendar beginning with Aviv and ending with Adar, in
contradistinction to a civil year from Tishri through Elul. If so, then more
specifically, within The Wars of the Jews, II:14:4 through The Wars
of the Jews, II:19:4, 9, either the Elul events must be attributed to
Nero’s 11th civil year of reign, or else the Tishri events must be
attributed to Nero’s 13th civil year of reign. If the Elul events
are attributed to Nero’s 11th civil year, then the 50 CE solution
found below and referenced above is the correct one. If, on the other hand, the
Tishri and Heshvan events are attributed to Nero’s 13th civil year,
then the very unlikely 51 CE solution found below and referenced above is
likely the correct one. I find that Josephus leaves us in no doubt that the
above referenced records of his are placed in sequence in accord with real
time:
“This defeat happened on
the eighth day of the month Dius, [Marchesvan,] in the twelfth year of the reign of Nero.” Josephus, The Wars of the
Jews, II:19:9.
“1. AFTER this calamity had befallen Cestius, many of the most eminent of the Jews swam
away from the city, as from a ship when it was going to sink; Costobarus, therefore, and Saul, who were brethren,
together with Philip, the son of Jacimus, who was the
commander of king Agrippa's forces, ran away from the city, and went to Cestius. But then how Antipas, who had been besieged with
them in the king's palace, but would not fly away with them, was afterward
slain by the seditious, we shall relate hereafter. However, Cestius
sent
Saul and his friends, at their own desire, to Achaia, to Nero, to inform him
of the great distress they were in, and
to lay the blame of their kindling the war upon Florus, as hoping to alleviate his own danger, by provoking
his indignation against Florus.” Josephus, The
Wars of the Jews, II:20:1.
Considering the quoted
record above, it is impossible to conclude that Josephus’ words “kindling the war” and “…at
the same time began the war”can reference a point
in time before “…this calamity had befallen Cestius” since Josephus clearly states that the “kindling [of] the war” had already happened at this time immediately “AFTER
this calamity had befallen Cestius,” i.e. immediately
after “the eighth day of the month Dius, [Marchesvan,] in the twelfth year of the reign of Nero”
(Josephus, The Wars of the Jews,
II:19:9.)
The last quoted date must therefore follow, not precede, ” 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.
Thus it is apparent that
Josephus is here using a sacred year calendar. But an important question
remains: Within the count of Nero’s regnal years, which begins first, the sacred year or the civil year? We have established that the 51 CE date combinations
above are by far the only one’s that seem consistent with reality. Accordingly,
Nero’s
12th sacred
year of reign began with Aviv 1, 51 CE,
but we have already established that Nero’s 12th civil year of reign began with Tishri 1, 50
CE. This relative arrangement,
between Nero’s sacred and civil years of reign, was not the same as the
arrangement previously
assumed,
but has required two thorough reviews, and corrections, such that the correct Julian years are now
attributed to each event in accord with the current findings.
[The expected New Moon Days, i.e. the 1st of the lunar month are indicated on the Julian calendar
days by bolded font dates. The key date combination dates are indicated with green highlighting.
Biblical Shabbats and the great Feast days are indicated in bold red font.]
Av 49 CE ?
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2
3 4 5
6
7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
1
2 3 4
5 6
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
7
8 9 10 11
27 28 29 30 31
Av 49 CE ?
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
12 13
1 2
14 15 16 17 18 19 20 – No (re Av 15,) August 3 or 4, 49 CE was
not the Seventh Day of the week.
3 4
5 6 7 8 9
21 22 23 24 25 26
27
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
28 29 1
2 3 4 5
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
6
7 8 9 10 11 12
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
13
31
Gorpieus [Elul]?
Su Mo
Tu We Th Fr Sa
14 15 16 17 18 19 – No (re Av 15,)
1 2
3 4 5 6
20 21 22 23 24 25
26
7
8 9 10 11 12 13
27 28 29 30 1
2 3
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
4
5 6 7
8 9 10
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
11 12 13
28 29 30
“Hyperbereteus, [Tisri]” ?
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
14 15 16 17
1
2 3 4
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
25 26 27 28 29 1
2 - No, the 30th of this
month, i.e. (Thursday or) Friday
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 October (16 or) 17, 49 CE is not “the Fourth Day” of the week!
3 4
5 6 7
8 9
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
10 11 12 13 14 15
26 27 28 29 30 31
“Hyperbereteus, [Tisri]” ?
Su Mo Tu We Th
Fr Sa
16
1
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
2
3 4 5
6 7 8
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 -
No, the 30th of this month, i.e. Saturday
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 November 15, 49 CE is not “the
Fourth Day” of the week!
1 2
3 4 5
6 7
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
8
9 10 11 12 13 14
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
15
30
Aviv & Zif 50 CE?
May 50 CE
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2
3
4 5 6
7 8 9
1
2 3 4 5
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
6
7 8 9 10 11 12
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
13
14 15 16 17 18 19
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
20
31
Zif & Sivan 50 CE?
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
21 22 23 24 25 26
1
2 3 4 5 6
27
28 29 1
2 3 4
7
8 9 10 11 12 13
5
6 7 8 9 10
11
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
12
13 14 15 16 17 18
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
19
20 21
28 29 30
Sivan
& Tammuz 50 CE?
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
22 23 24 25
1
2 3 4
26 27 28 29 1 2 3
5 6
7 8 9 10
11
4 5
6 7 8 9 10
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 – No (re
Av 15,) July 23 or 24, 50 CE was not the Seventh Day of the week, but
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
18
19 20 21 22 23
26 27 28 29
30 31
Tammuz & Av 50 CE?
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
24
1
25 26 27 28 29 30 1
2 3
4 5 6 7 8
2 3
4 5 6 7 8 – Yes
(re Elul,) the 6th of this month, i.e.
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 the Sixth Day of the Week - if the New Moon was not observed on August 7,
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 when, if the weather was good, it should
have been visible!
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 – Yes (re Av 15,) August 22, 50 CE was the Seventh Day
Shabbat of the week!
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
23
24
30 31
Av 50 CE and Gorpieus [Elul]?
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
25 26 27 28 29 -
No, the 30th of this month, i.e. Sunday or Monday
1 2
3 4 5 September
6 or 7, 50 CE is not “the Fourth Day” of
the week!
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 – Yes
(re Elul,) the 6th of this month, i.e. Friday September 11, 50 CE, was the Sixth Day of the week.
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
8 9 10
11 12 13 14
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
15
16 17 18 19 20 21
20 21 22 23
24 25 26
22
23 24 25
27 28 29
30
Gorpieus [Elul] & “Hyperbereteus,
[Tisri]” ?
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
26 27 28
1 2 3
29 30 1
2 3 4 5 -
No, the 30th of this month, i.e. Monday or Tuesday
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 October 5 or 6, 50 CE is not “the Fourth Day” of the week!
6 7
8 9 10 11 12
However, Wednesday October 7, 50 CE is “the Fourth Day”
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 of the week, and 1. if the New Moon crescent was not seen on
13 14
15 16 17 18 19 the 5th or 6th, and 2. & 3. if the New Moon crescent likewise was not
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 seen as early as expected both in August and September
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
(thus pushing the 30th of the last prior lunar months
forwards by
25
26 27 28 29 30 31
1 day beyond what is usually expected,) then indeed, if all these
conditions are met (i.e. pushing the date forward by 1 day in each
of three consecutive months, August through October,) and this is
indeed possible, then “Hyperbereteus, [Tisri,]
30, 50 CE” is
“the Fourth Day” of the
week!
“Hyperbereteus,
[Tisri],” & Dius (or Marchesvan) [Heshvan]
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa 27 28 29 30 1 2 3 – Yes, the 30th of this month, i.e. Wednesday November 4, 50 CE is “the Fourth Day” of the week!
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 – Yes, the 1st & 2nd of this month, i.e. Thursday & Friday November 5 & 6, 50 CE are “the Fifth & Sixth Days” of the week!
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 – Yes, the 5th and 6th of this month, i.e. Monday & Tuesday November 9 and 10, 50 CE are “the Second and Third Days” of the week!
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30
Aviv & Zif?
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1
1
2
3 4 5
6 7 8
2
3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 1
30 31
Zif
& Sivan?
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
2 3
4 5 6
1 2 3 4
5
7
8 9 10 11 12 13
6
7 8 9 10 11 12
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
28 29 1 2
27 28 29 30
Sivan & Tammuz?
3 4
5
1 2 3
6 7
8 9 10 11 12
4 5
6 7 8 9 10
13 14 15 16 17 18
19 – No (re Av 15,) July 13, 51
CE was not the Seventh Day of the week.
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
27 28 29 30 1 2
3
25 26
27 28 29 30 31
Tammuz & Av?
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
4 5
6 7 8 9 10
1 2
3 4 5 6 7
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 – No (re Av 15,) August 11, 51 CE was not
the Seventh Day of the week.
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Notice that in order to push this 15th
day forward by three days would
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 further add to the problems discussed at
September 3, 51 CE, below!
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
25 26 27 28 29 30 1
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
2 3
4 5 - No, the 6th of this
month, i.e. Wednesday
29 30 31 1
5 6 7 8 –
Pushing the dates forward by 2 days, due, if at all possible, most
likely to recurrent or persistent bad weather for several
1
2 3 4 consequtive
months (at least June, July, and August,) makes the
6th of this month become also the Sixth Day of the week.
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 – Yes, (re Av 15,) September 11, 51 CE was
the Seventh Day of the week,
5
6 7 8 9 10
11 provided only that the weather was bad two months (July 28 & August
27) in a row, and that the spring was very late (Aviv not
ripe on March 30.)
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
23 24 25 26 27 28 29 - No, the 30th of this month,
i.e. Saturday
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
1
2 3 4
5
26 27 28 29 30
Gorpieus [Elul]
& “Hyperbereteus, [Tisri]”
?
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
6 7 – Yes (re Elul,) the 6th of this
month, i.e. Friday October 1, 51 CE, was
the Sixth Day of the week.
1 2 provided only that the weather was bad two
months (July 28 & August 27) in a row, and that the spring was very late
(Aviv not ripe on March 30.)
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
3 4 5
6 7 8 9
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
29 30 1 2
3 4 5 - No,
the 30th of this month, i.e. Sunday or Monday,
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 October 24 or
25,51 CE is not “the
Fourth Day” of the week!
6 However, consider, if necessary, the outside
chance that circumstances reminiscent
31 of those indicated for 50 CE above, albeit much
more extreme, and requiring
1.that no New Moons was seen when expected
since before June, and
2. that after June every New Moon was, as a consequence, assigned by
default
(after the 30th day,) and
3. that the New Moon was pushed
forward by two days each of four
consecutive
months.
Notice also that the winter/rain season in the country
of
scenario even less likely. Thus, this scenario seems highly unlikely
though
perhaps it
cannot be totally ruled out!
“Hyperbereteus, [Tisri],”
& Dius (or Marchesvan)
[Heshvan]
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
7 8 9 10 11 12
1 2
3 4 5 6
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
7 8
9 10 11 12 13
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
27 28 29 30 1 2 3 – Yes, the 30th of this month, i.e. Wednesday November 24, 51 CE is “the Fourth Day” of the week!
21 22 23 24 25 26
27 – Yes, the 1st & 2nd of this month, i.e.
Thursday & Friday November 25 & 26, 51 CE are “the Fifth & Sixth Days”
of the week!
4 5
6 – Yes, the 5th and 6th
of this month, i.e. Monday & Tuesday November 29
and 30, 51 CE are “the Second and Third Days” of the week!
28 29 30 provided only that the weather was bad two months (July 28 &
August 27) in a row plus November 24th, and that the spring was very
late (Aviv not ripe on March 30.)
1
2
3 4 5
6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
1 2 3 4
5 6
16 17
18 19 20 21 22
7 8 9 10
11 12 13
23
24 25 26 27 28 29
14 15 – No
(re Av 15,)
30 31
Gorpieus [Elul]?
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
16 17 18 19 20
1
2 3 4 5
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
6
7 8 9 10 11 12
28 29 1
2 3 4 5
13
14 15 16 17 18 19
6
7 8 9 10 11 12 - No, the 6th of this month, i.e.
20
21 22 23 24 25 26
13 14 15 16 17 – No
(re Av 15,)
27 28 29 30 31
Gorpieus [Elul]?
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
18 19
1 2
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
3
4 5 6
7 8 9
27 28 29 30 1
2 3
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
4
5 6 7
8 9 10 - No,
the 6th of this month, i.e. Tuesday
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
“Hyperbereteus, [Tisri]” ?
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
1
2 3 4 5 6 7
25 26 27 28 29 1 2 - No, the 30th of this month, i.e.
Thursday or Friday,
8 9 10
11 12 13 14 October 12 or
13,52 CE is not “the
Fourth Day” of the week!
3 4
5 6 7
8 9
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
17 18 19
29 30 31
“Hyperbereteus, [Tisri]” ?
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
20 21 22 23
1
2 3 4
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
5
6 7 8 9 10
11
1
2 3 4
5 6 7 - No, the 30th of this month, i.e.
Saturday or Sunday,
12
13 14 15 16 17 18 November 11 or 12, 52 CE is not “the Fourth
Day” of the week!
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
15 16 17 18 19
26 27 28 29 30
Av 53 CE?
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1
1
2 3 4
5 6 7
2
3 4 5
6 7 8
8 9 10
11 12 13 14
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 – No
(re Av 15,)
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 that such a date could agree with the find at
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
23 24 25
29 30 31
Av/Elul 53 CE? or
Gorpieus [Elul]/Tishri ?
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
26 27 28 29
1 2 3 4
1
2 3 4 5 6
7 – Yes (re Elul,) the 6th of this
month, i.e.
5 6
7 8 9 10 11 the Sixth Day of the Week (however, the 6th could also have
occurred
8 9 10
11 12 13 14 on Thursday, the day before.)
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
15 16 17 18 19 20 21 - No (re Av 15,)
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 August 18, CE, was a Seventh Day of
the week, a Shabbat.
22 23 24 25 26 27
26 27 28 29 30 31
Gorpieus [Elul] & “Hyperbereteus, [Tisri]” ?
28
1
29 30 1
2 3 4 5 - No,
the 6th of this month, i.e.
2 3
4 5
6 7 8
is not the Sixth Day of the Week!
6
7 8 9 10 11 12 (Cf. note re Elul II at
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
16 17 18 19
20 21 22
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
23 24 25 26
27 28 29
27
30
“Hyperbereteus, [Tisri]” & Dius [Heshvan]?
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
28 29 30 3 4 5 - No, the 30th of this month, i.e. Tuesday,
1 2 3 4 5 6
6
7 8 9 10 11 12 However, if
7
8 9 10 11 12 13 on
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 about 50/50 that the New Moon crescent is at all visible on
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
20 21 22 23 24 25 26 [Tisri,]” 30, 53 CE
to be also “the Fourth Day” of the week
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 - and so remain is the weather was bad on
27 28 29 30 - Yes, the 30th of this month,
28 29 30 31 1 Day” of the week! However, this becomes interesting only if
there was an Elul II inserted into the calendar here referenced by
Josephus.