aqwaes12345
Response 1
The 605 vs 609 BCE cannot be construed to be of a minor difference for it undermines the integrity of secular chronology and its history. WT critics are very dogmatic that our beginning of the 70 years is wrong but they cannot give a definite beginning of the 70 years. Further, as you outline, there are many interpretations of the 70 years, each one differs to the other so you cannot be dogmatic that the JW interpretation is wrong.
Your claim that the 70 years ended in 539 BCE with the Fall of Babylon is wrong as it disagrees with Ezra in his 2 Chron 36:22 where he ends the 70 years with the Cyrus' first year.
Further, your scholarship faces a major problem with the 586 or 587 Bce as to what precise year Jerusalem fell. So, you cannot define the precise year when the 70 years began nor can you define exactly the year of Jerusalem's fall.
Respose 2
A careful reading, even a casual reading, proves that the 70 years pertain to Judah and only in part refers to Babylon's dominance by means of the expression serve the king of Babylon.
You fail to recognize the distinction contextually between vs. 11 and 12, with the former is a judgment against Judah and the latter being a judgment against Babylon, which is clearly shown in a recent commentary on Jeremiah -Word Biblical Commentary, Vol.26, pp.361, 367.
Jer. 29:10 clearly is addressed to those future Exiles in Babylon that they would remain in exile for 70 years under Babylon's domination hence 'for Babylon' which indicates relation or 'at Babylon' indicating location.
The 70 years can only be viewed as a definite historic period of three elements:
Period of servitude to Babylon
Period of Exile at Bbabylon
Period when the land of Judah lay desolate and depopulated.
The 70 began with a definite event, namely the Fall of Jerusalem under the reigns of Zedekiah and Neb and ended with Cyrus; thus, the 70 years is bookended with a precis historical beginning and a precise historical end without scholarly fuzziness.
Response 3.
The 70 years could not have ended with the Fall of Babylon in 539 BCE because the Jews were still captive to Babylon for it was not until the jews were released by means of Cyrus' Decree that they returned home in 537 BCE and all of this was confirmed by Josephus.
2 Chron. 36: clearly shows that the 70 years ended when the kingdom of Persia began to reign which was in fact Cyrus' first year after Babylon fell in 539 BCE with the ist year of Cyrus who gave the Decree. The text reads, "In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia in order that Jehovah's word spoken by Jeremiah would be fulfilled" and that word mentioned in vs.21 makes no mention of Babylon or its fall but refers to the desolate land paying off its sabbaths.
In summary, the idea that 70 years represents solely Babylon domination is false and a blatant lie.
Response 4.
Josephus makes several references to the 70 years, and his description mirrors the biblical description of the 70 years as one of exile-servitude and desolation. He makes mention of fifty years but in this context, he is simply quoting the words of Berossus. Nothing to see here for the reader can makes his or her own judgement.
Response 5.
There is no overwhelming evidence that refutes 607 nor is their overwhelming convergence of evidence for 586 or 587 for much of this can easily be used in support of 607 BCE albeit with a little 'fine tuning'..
Not one of the examples you present make any mention of the 70 years so these documents have little value for Chronology except for reasons of culture.
Regarding archaeology, these scholars prefer 586 rather than 587 and have evidence that Judah experienced destruction - a catastrophe is how one scholar described what happened in Judah during the late neo-Babylonian period.
The said scholar undertook a short course in biblical archaeology under the auspices of the Tel Aviv University and the textbook for this course was The Fall and Rise of Jerusalem by Obed Lipschits, 2995, Eisenbrauns. I suggest you do this course and read the textbook.
Response 6.
VAT 4956 has been subject to investigation and it is shown that the lunar and planetary observations for Neb's 37 the year are a better fit for 588 BCE rather than 586 BCE traditionally viewed. If this is correct then this would indeed validate 607 for the Fall of Jerusalem in Neb's reign.
Such analysis by Dr. Rolf Furuli a linguist in Semitics and used several astro programs was able to determine the following:
13 sets of lunar observations matched 588 BCE and not 586 BCE
15 sets of planetary observations were backward calculations made to fit 586 for Neb's 37 the year
Regarding the solstice, there remains the possibility that an intercalary month was inserted to fit the observations and the fact that solstices were not observed but calculated as stated by experts in ancient astronomy such as O. Neugebauer, A Sachs and R. Newton.
WT researchers carried out an independent assessment of Furuli's research and were able to verify his claim that the 37 the of Neb should be properly assigned not to 568 BCE but 588 BCE
Regarding BM 32312, Furuli has shown that there are three possible interpretations, one of which is that observations were not made in 652/51 but were retro fitted to conform to a astrolger's belief. Naughty fellow!!!
Response 7.
The fact is that Neb's vacancy is not part of Babylonian history which raises questions about the reliability of Neo-Babylonian chronology. If the records are incomplete or inaccurate, then how then can any chronology be trusted?
The fact is that the Bible describes an important event during Neb's reign which was a vacancy of at least 7 years that is unaccounted for in Babylonian chronology and its history. One should adhere to the Bible as more reliable source rather than depending on poor or inadequate secular history especially when dealing with events in biblical history.
Response 8.
I have read Coj's GTR, I have several of his editions, I have an autographed copy of his Third edition, I know his website and I have corresponded with him and spoken to him by telephone.
I repeat the major flaw in his research is that he does not address the issue of the Jewish Exile as he does not believe it with regard to the 70 years.
Response 9.
The doctrine or teaching of the Gentile Times is well established from the Bible and confirmed by modern history.It is based on a flawless chronology and in agreement with both ancient and modern history. it is bookended with the catastrophic events in the ancient world, namely the Fall of Jerusalem in 607 BCE and the catastrophic Great War in 1914 CE The doctrine is simple to explain and understand and is based on the interpretation that Dan 4 had both dual fulfilment proved both in terms of linguistics, history,and theology.
Response 10
You have failed to provide a ONE single line of evidence that refutes 607 BCE Rather than relying on 6 lines of opinion which can easily converted to an alternative viewpoint - namely in support of 607 BCE You should be able to provide ONE line of evidence that falsifies 607 BCE other wise all that you have is smoke and mirrors.
A magicians's trick is all that you have based on a deception namely that the 70 years was solely a period of Babylonish domination. What utter rubbish!!!!!!
scholar JW