Nebuchadnezzar's 37th year matches the year 588 or 568 BC?

by Vanderhoven7 150 Replies latest watchtower bible

• 

  Vanderhoven7

  Anybody know something about Vat 4956?

  
  

  Nebuchadnezzar's 37th year matches the year 588 BC? Any independant astronomer can test it and it only matches 568 BC.

  Originally Answered: Why do Jehovah's Witnesses claim that VAT 4956, written in Nebucadnezzar's 37th year matches the year 588 BC? Any independant astronomer can test it and it only matches 568 BC.

  there are 13 sets of lunar observations on the tablet and 15 planetary observations. These describe the position of the moon or planets in relation to certain stars or constellations.18 There are also eight time intervals between the risings and settings of the sun and the moon.18a

  Because of the superior reliability of the lunar positions, researchers have carefully analyzed these 13 sets of lunar positions on VAT 4956. They analyzed the data with the aid of a computer program capable of showing the location of celestial bodies on a certain date in the past.19 What did their analysis reveal? While not all of these sets of lunar positions match the year 568/567 B.C.E., all 13 sets match calculated positions for 20 years earlier, for the year 588/587 B.C.E.

  Clearly, much of the astronomical data in VAT 4956 fits the year 588 B.C.E. as the 37th year of Nebuchadnezzar II. This, therefore, supports the date of 607 B.C.E. for Jerusalem’s destruction—just as the Bible indicates.

  ▪ The tablet describes astronomical events that occurred in the 37th year of the rule of King Nebuchadnezzar II.

  ▪ Nebuchadnezzar II destroyed Jerusalem in his 18th regnal year.—Jeremiah 32:1.

  If the 37th year of Nebuchadnezzar II was 568 B.C.E., then Jerusalem was destroyed in 587 B.C.E.

  610 B.C.E.

  600

  590

  580

  570

  560

  If his 37th year was 588 B.C.E., then Jerusalem was destroyed in 607 B.C.E., the date that is indicated by Bible chronology.

  ▪ VAT 4956 points more convincingly to 607 B.C.E.
• 

  Phizzy

  1. Astronomical diaries
  1. VAT 4956 fixes the 37th year of Nebuchadnezzar to 568 BC by a unique set of astronomical observations, establishing his accession year in 605 BC.
  2. BM 32312 plus the Akitu Chronicle pin the 16th year of Shamashshumukin (a Babylonian king before the Neo-Babylonian period) to 652/1 BC This, combined with business documents, Ptolemy's canon, the Akitu Chronicle and the Uruk King List combine to date Nebuchadnezzar's reign to 605/4-562/1, with his 18th (destruction of Jerusalem, Jer. 52:28-30) year in 587/6 BC
• 

  Phizzy

  For detailed evidence from Assyrian and Babylonian records proving that Jerusalem was destroyed in 587 B.C., see the book The Gentile Times Reconsidered.
  
• 

  St George of England

  I think the original quote above is probably from the Oct/Nov 2011 WT which was a two part discussion "proving" 607 BCE. As I recall it was written by Rolf Furuli whose academic work has long been discredited.

  A couple of years ago he saw through the GB and wrote a book exposing them for which he was disfellowshipped.

  There is a YouTube video that shows how to calculate Jerusalem's destruction was 586/7 using only WT sources.

  George
• 

  Bobcat

  Just to add to Phizzy's link, here is GTR from Jonsson's own website. And here is another copy of GTR in a single PDF. (The first link is a series of PDFs linked together. So if you want a single PDF to download the second link is better for that.)

  Here is a reverse listing of Babylonian kings starting with Nabonidus (& Belshazzar, who were the last Babylonian kings) and working backwards to Nebuchadnezzar II. This listing was originally on this site (JWN). I just copied it over to the DTT site and expanded the list to go back to Nebuchadnezzar's 1st year. What is ironic about the list is that the vast majority of it is agreed upon by the WT.

  This post (off site and, admittedly, somewhat long) shows how WT's 20 year difference in chronology shrinks to 18 years at the exile of the ten tribe kingdom, and then expands to 67 years at the split in the Jewish kingdom after Solomon.

  This post (off site) lists major problems with the WT's 607 BCE and Daniel chapter 4 interpretation.

  And here is Carl Olaf Jonsson's home page with numerous other documents including his reply to the two part WT articles on 607 BCE in 2011.

  Just as an aside, I think Vanderhoven is simply opening up a discussion. I don't believe he agrees with 607 BCE as the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon. I have noticed that some JWs get their FS time in posting on Quora.

  One final irony: A few years ago I told myself that all this arguing over whether 607 was correct was too involved for me and I would just leave it to others to sort it out. 'Famous last words!'
• 

  joey jojo

  "Because of the superior reliability of the lunar positions, researchers have carefully analyzed these 13 sets of lunar positions on VAT 4956. They analyzed the data with the aid of a computer program capable of showing the location of celestial bodies on a certain date in the past.19 What did their analysis reveal? While not all of these sets of lunar positions match the year 568/567 B.C.E., all 13 sets match calculated positions for 20 years earlier, for the year 588/587 B.C.E."

  This is deceptive and misleading.

  There are dozens of positions of planets in relation to constellations cited on the tablets. These are incredibly accurate and astronomers have used those positions and pinpointed 586/7 as Jerusalem's fall.

  The position of a planet in relation to a constellation is like an astronomical fingerprint, and conjunctions of multiple planets in relation to a constellation are so unique, they may have not occurred at any other time in all of human history in that particular configuration.

  Lunar eclipses are not rare and are far more easily open to interpretation and confusion.

  Saying lunar eclipses are superior proof is more WT fudging to hang onto their beloved 607, without which, there is no beloved 1914.
  
  
• 

  Rocketman123

  Saying lunar eclipses are superior proof is more WT fudging to hang onto their beloved 607, without which, there is no beloved 1914.

  Yes nicely put, twisting selective information is the way the WTS confirms their dating, intellectual honesty is not their agenda.

  Not surprising
  

  Rolf Furuli was just doing what a JWS was suppose to do and that is support the WTS's doctrines.

  Eventually he openly opposed their doctrines and is now disfellowshipped.
  

  
  
• 

  notsurewheretogo

  Eventually he openly opposed their doctrines and is now disfellowshipped.

  True but he still supports 607 BCE as the destruction of Jerusalem.
  
  
• 

  scholar

  Vanderhoven

  Originally Answered: Why do Jehovah's Witnesses claim that VAT 4956, written in Nebucadnezzar's 37th year matches the year 588 BC? Any independant astronomer can test it and it only matches 568 BC.

  there are 13 sets of lunar observations on the tablet and 15 planetary observations. These describe the position of the moon or planets in relation to certain stars or constellations.18 There are also eight time intervals between the risings and settings of the sun and the moon.18a

  Because of the superior reliability of the lunar positions, researchers have carefully analyzed these 13 sets of lunar positions on VAT 4956. They analyzed the data with the aid of a computer program capable of showing the location of celestial bodies on a certain date in the past.19 What did their analysis reveal? While not all of these sets of lunar positions match the year 568/567 B.C.E., all 13 sets match calculated positions for 20 years earlier, for the year 588/587 B.C.E.

  Clearly, much of the astronomical data in VAT 4956 fits the year 588 B.C.E. as the 37th year of Nebuchadnezzar II. This, therefore, supports the date of 607 B.C.E. for Jerusalem’s destruction—just as the Bible indicates.

  ▪ The tablet describes astronomical events that occurred in the 37th year of the rule of King Nebuchadnezzar II.

  ▪ Nebuchadnezzar II destroyed Jerusalem in his 18th regnal year.—Jeremiah 32:1.

  If the 37th year of Nebuchadnezzar II was 568 B.C.E., then Jerusalem was destroyed in 587 B.C.E.

  610 B.C.E.

  600

  590

  580

  570

  560

  If his 37th year was 588 B.C.E., then Jerusalem was destroyed in 607 B.C.E., the date that is indicated by Bible chronology.

  ▪ VAT 4956 points more convincingly to 607 B.C.E

  ---

  Absolutely, Well said!

  scholar JW
• 

  Rocketman123

  True but he still supports 607 BCE as the destruction of Jerusalem.

  Then he must be tritely stupid for there is a overwhelming amount of information from various sources to support the year 586 BCE.

  Or perhaps out of his league in dealing with ancient history like apostate Scholar who pops up ever time you discuss 607 BCE. by the lying corrupt JWS.