When many today prefer the Chronology of the Septuagint instead of the Hebrew Bible, it is good to examine this subject closely.

The Septuagint is the oldest known Greek translation of the Old Testament. It is believed to have been done by 72 educated Jews of Alexandria in Egypt in the third to the first century before Christ. They have departed considerably from the Chronology of the Hebrew Bible. Each generation from Adam to Enoch has been increased in length a hundred years, by increasing the age of the father to the birth of the listed son by 100 years. So Adam is listed at 230 years instead of 130, Seth 205 instead of 105, and so on. Lamech’s number is changed from 182 to 188. Arphaxad is said to be born 102 years after the Flood instead of 2. Also every generation from Arphaxad to Serug has in the same manner been increased 100 years. Against the Hebrew text a person has been mentioned, Kenan, between Arphaxad and Sela, who should have been born, when Kenan was 130 years old. For Nahor is mentioned 179 years.

Since the days of the Apostles, some have been of the understanding that the last day should come 6000 years after the creation of Adam. If the Chronology of the Septuagint was right, the last day would already have gone by. Because of this longer Chronology, it was also expected by many that it should start some 400 or 500 years after Christ. So when Jesus did not return, some made the wrong conclusion that it never was meant that Jesus himself should rule the people on earth on the last day, in the 7th millennium, but his ruling should be done by a deputy, the Pope in Rome. The Swedish Poet and Author Biktor Rydberg has touched this subject and clearly shown that the 70 translators in Alexandria changed the chronology of the Hebrew text to agree with the Egyptian historical chronology. Of course this was a dishonest way of doing things, whatever the motive. To prefer the worldly chronology before the words of God, when these are clear, is as putting aside the words of God. If the Hebrew Old Testament is not reliable, there is no way for us to determine the exact time for the beginning of the last day. The Apostle Paul said: “ I believe everything laid down by the law or written by the prophets” (Acts 24:14). Such a remark means that we must choose the words of God before knowledge of the world where this last one parts itself from the first one.

Before the days of Jesus, God had entrusted the truths of the Old Testament to be taken care of by the Jews, and still today especially the orthodox among them, seem considerately and truly, to keep the very old scriptures. It is very often so that an educated person prefers the wisdom of mankind before the words of God. This concerns also the Jews. The 70 translators had in all probabilities been infected by the heathen culture of their time, so as to prefer the chronology of Egypt before the one of the Bible. In our time, for example, it is not so easy to convince either educated Jews or other educated people that Adam was created just somewhat over 6000 years ago, even if one proves it ever so clearly by the words of the Bible. Partly they are stuck with the theory of evolution or they believe in men of science, who find old bones from human beings and monkeys and from that judge the age of humanity to be millions of years. Concerning the Jews, the Scriptures say: “You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities” (Amos 3:2)

This remark concerns mainly the time before Christ: “He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.” He has not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them” (Psalms 147:19, 20)

Then what advantage have the Jews? Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the Oracles of God (Romans 3:2). They are Israelites and to them belong the stewardship, the glory of the covenants, the giving of the Law, the worship and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs and to their race according to the flesh came Christ, who is over all, God blessed for ever (Romans 9:4, 5). It is clear that the Hebrew text is the word of God, and a change from that is infidelity to the Word. The Chronology of the Septuagint has been changed to agree with the Egyptian, but the information of heathen history writers or heathen priests cannot have the same value or greater value than the words of God.

From what is said above, we believe for our part, that it would be most sensible to keep to the Hebrew text. Also the Chronology in the text of the Samaritans is a change from the Hebrew text, but the Samaritans, who were a mixture of Jews and heathen, have not received the commission to serve the truths of God in the Old Testament, which commission alone has been given to the Jews (before Christ).

– H. Karlan, 1946, translated from Swedish

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