ark. Deducting from his statement of the world’s age (i. e. 5200) the years of the precession for the sign Taurus, 2160, and it leaves 3040, equal to 608×5, or five Great Neroses to the birth of Christ. This, as we have before noticed, is the correct Samaritan computation, according to Col. Wilford,[1] the mistake of Usher being allowed for, and correct, according to Marsham and Hevelius.
The second system begins at the birth of Shem. The fourth period ends with the death of Shem, who lived exactly 600 years, and who is said[2] to have died in the year of the flood 502. Then, 502+3101 (the duration of the Cali Yug before Christ)=3603; the Neros, that of Shem, being deducted, it leaves 3003, and then Usher’s 4 years for the birth of Christ placed too forward, being also deducted, we have 3000, or five correct Neroses of 600 years each, all but an unit, which we have seen is of no material consequence.
It is a circumstance worthy of observation, that Shem is said by Usher to have died at the 2158th which may be called 2160th year of the world’s age. These were the years of the precession in one sign. This, like other coincidences, could scarcely have been the effect of accident. If we add to 2160, five great Neroses or 3040, we shall have the calculation of Eusebius, the man of all others, since the time of Christ, the most likely to understand the machinery of the system. And this again shews why, in these calculations, the time which the equinox preceded in one sign, viz. 2160 years, ought to be deducted.
Thus we have two systems of the Neros, one of 600, and the other of 608 years each.
Hesiod, in his Works and Days, makes out that he is himself living in the fifth age, that of Iron, the fourth having just passed away. This evidently alludes to the six millenaries, in the fifth of which he lived. A learned and anonymous author of Cambridge (Key to Chronology of the Hindoos) comparing the chronology of the Hindoos and Jews says, speaking of the Works and Days, “The commencement of the fourth age is, if possible, yet more clearly marked. The three first ages having consumed 1000, 800, and 600 years, the fourth commences with A. M. 2400—and to this age is assigned 400 years. Hesiod styles it the age of the Demigods, and represents a part of it as a time of great virtue, justice, and piety.” We may here observe how the ingenious Cantab,[3] who does not in the least understand or even suspect the nature of my theory, stumbles upon my numbers, only mistaking the end of the fourth age, 2400, for its commencement. He thinks Moses answered to Cristna. This alludes to the period which the Samaritans allotted to the bringing of the ark to Shiloh, by Joshua.
It is stated, Joshua x. 12, 13, that he stopped the sun and moon about a day: Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon—and the Sun hasted not to go down about a whole day. Is not this written in the book of Jasher?[4]
The Bible says, “about a day.” I shall endeavour to shew why and for how long a time Joshua stopped it. This stoppage probably continued during the time between the ending of one of Noah’s and one of Shem’s eycles, viz. 98 years: i. e. 98 + 502 = 600. By this means he brought the two cycles together. 98 years would be more than equal to one degree, or the 360th part of the circle, but not quite to one degree and a half. At that time each degree, or 72 years, represented a day, of the year of 360 days long. Every festival would fall back a day in about 72 years.
The circumstance of the Moon being stopped as well as the Sun, is allusive to the double cycle, of Sun and Moon. It was a throwing back the Luni-solar period. If this were not so, why should
- ↑ Asiat. Res. Vol. V. p. 241, Map.
- ↑ Universal History.
- ↑ Vol. II. p. 289.
- ↑ As our version says, but as Josephus says, in the writings laid up in the temple. (See Parkhurst in voce ישר isr, and in voce ספר spr.) But, as I should say with Parkhurst, in the emblematical writing; and, I should also add, of the Saviour ישר isr—from the word ישע iso, to save.
