The Reconstructed Chronology of the Divided Kingdom

Book excerpt: The common response to any attempt to read the chronological notations associated with the kings of Israel and Judah in the time of the divided monarchy is, perhaps, a shrug of the shoulders, or a statement to the effect that the problem is insoluble. Not only are the apparently contradictory--or confusing--notations of the MT a consideration, but the evidence of the other major versions seriously complicates any such undertaking. In the twentieth century, Edwin R. Thiele attempted to reconcile and wrangle all of the numbers into a semblance of order, with results that were far from convincing to his readers. Now Christine Tetley has attacked this knottiest of problems with fresh vigor and assayed a new solution. There is no doubt that this book will be controversial; nevertheless, it will be required reading for anyone who wishes to pin archaeological and historical data within the framework of an absolute chronology.