I have searched the forum and I have read Alan's
"http://corior.blogspot.com/2006/02/refutation-of-appendix-in-let-your.html"
I have it as a bookmark!
I have not found or maybe I am just can't focus enough to read anymore.
But I have a couple of specific questions, References or quotations of earlier works will be just fine.
Thanks in advance also.
[First]
In the paragraph which starts on page 188 and ends on page 189 it states
But the Bible itself provides even more telling evidence against the claim that the 70 years began in 605 B.C.E. and that Jerusalem was destroyed in 587/6 B.C.E. As mentioned, if we were to count from 605 B.C.E., the 70 years would reach down to 535 B.C.E. However, the inspired Bible writer Ezra reported that the 70 years ran until “the first year of Cyrus the king of Persia,” who issued a decree allowing the Jews to return to their homeland. (Ezra 1:1-4; 2 Chronicles 36:21-23) Historians accept that Cyrus conquered Babylon in October 539 B.C.E. and that Cyrus’ first regnal year began in the spring of 538 B.C.E. If Cyrus’ decree came late in his first regnal year, the Jews could easily be back in their homeland by the seventh month (Tishri) as Ezra 3:1 says; this would be October 537 B.C.E.
It speaks of Cyrus "first" year. Now is a switch-a-roo being pulled here? Did Cyrus' first year start in 539 (accession) or did it start in 538 (regnal). I know that 538 would be the first regnal year but when the Bible speaks about his "first year" would that refer to his accession or regnal year? Did the Persians count accession year?
[Second]
Has anyone pointed out the inconsistency between the claim in the above paragraph
:
:"the 70 years ran until “the first year of Cyrus the king of Persia,”"
:
****This would be 539 or 538 (accession or regnal)---dependent on the answer to the above.
AND the statement in the last paragraph
:
:
that the 70 years began with the complete desolation of Judah after Jerusalem was destroyed.****The complete desolation did not come until years after Jerusalem was destroyed*****
:...
:
counting back 70 years from when the Jews returned to their homeland in 537 B.C.E:
******This ignores their argument just a few paragraphs above.
******This also ignores the laps of time between the destruction of Jerusalem and
******the desolation of Judah that they JUST stated in the same paragraph.
I swear I had another one but I think I have been reading too much.
-r
*****I had to edit the post because firefox removed all my spacing and someone would have said that paragraphs are our friends. ;)
