Seder Olam Rabbah

Seder Olam Rabbah(Hebrew:סדר עולם רבה,"The Great Order of the World" ) is a 2nd-century CEHebrew languagechronology detailing the dates of biblical events fromcreationtoAlexander the Great's conquest of Persia. It adds no stories beyond what is in the biblical text, and addresses such questions as the age ofIsaacat hisbindingand the number of years thatJoshualed the Israelites. Tradition considers it to have been written about 160 CE byJose ben Halafta,but it was probably also supplemented and edited at a later period.

Name

In theBabylonian Talmudthis chronicle is several times referred to simply asSeder Olam,and it is quoted as such by the more ancient biblical commentators, includingRashi.But starting in the 12th century, it began to be designated asSeder Olam Rabbahto distinguish it from a later, smaller chronicle,Seder Olam Zuṭa;it was first so designated byAbraham ben Nathan Ha-Yarhi.

Structure

In its present form,Seder Olam Rabbahconsists of 30 chapters, each 10 chapters forming a section or "gate."

The work is a chronological record, extending fromAdamto therevolt of Bar Kokbain the reign ofHadrian,thePersian periodbeing compressed into 52 years.The chronicle is complete only up to the time ofAlexander the Great;the period from Alexander toHadrianoccupies a very small portion of the work—the end of the 30th chapter.

Many passages quoted in theTalmudare missing in the edition ofSeder Olamwhich has survived.

Methodology

The author probably designed the work for calendrical purposes, to determine the era of thecreation;his system, adopted as early as the 3rd century CE, is still followed.Adhering closely to the Pharisaic interpretations ofBibletexts, he endeavored not only to elucidate many passages, but also to determine certain dates which are not indicated in the Bible, but which may be inferred by calculation.He also recognized the importance of theJubileeandSabbaticalcycles as a long-term calendrical system, and attempted at various places to fit the Sabbatical and Jubilee years into its chronological scheme.

In many cases, however, he gave the dates according to tradition, and inserted, besides, the sayings andhalakhotof preceding rabbis and of his contemporaries. In discussingbiblical chronologyhe followed three principles:

1. To assume that the intention of the biblical author was, wherever possible, to give exact dates
2. To assign to each of a series of events the shortest possible duration of time, where necessary, in order to secure agreement with the biblical text
3. To adopt the lesser of two possible numbers.

Chronology

See also:Missing years (Jewish calendar)

The Jewish calendar's reference point is traditionally considered to be about one yearbeforethe creation of the world.

The currentHebrew calendaryear numbering system, which counts years from thecreation,has been in use for more than 1000 years.Thedatingsystem of numbering the years from creation was adopted sometime before 3925Anno Mundi(165 CE), and based on the calculation of RabbiYose ben Halaftaduring about 160 CE in the bookSeder Olam Rabbah.

These years are based on the computations of dates and periods found in theHebrew Bible.In Jewish tradition, "Year 1" is considered to have begun on the 25 ofElul,5 days before the beginning of "Year 2" on the first ofTishrei,whenAdamwas created. The new moon of its first month (Tishrei) is designatedmolad tohu(meaning new moon of chaos or nothing). By Halafta's calculationAdamwas created during the year3761 BCE.However,Seder Olam Rabbahtreats the creation of Adam as the beginning of "Year Zero". This results in a two-year discrepancy between the years given inSeder Olam Rabbahand the Jewish year used now. For example,Seder Olam Rabbahgives the year ofthe Exodusfrom Egypt as 2448AM;but, according to the current system, the year would be 2450 AM.

Despite the computations by Yose ben Halafta, confusion persisted for a long time as to how the calculations should be applied.During 1000, for example, the Muslim chronologistal-Biruninoted that three different epochs were used by various Jewish communities being one, two, or three years later than the modern epoch.The epoch seems to have been settled by 1178, whenMaimonides,in his workMishneh Torah,described all of the modern rules of the Hebrew calendar, including the modern epochal year. His work has been accepted by Jews as definitive, though it does not correspond to the scientific calculations. For example, the Jewish year for the destruction of theFirst Templehas traditionally been given as 3338 AM or 423/2 BC.This differs from the modern scientific year, which is usually expressed using theProleptic Julian calendaras 587 BC. The scientific date takes into account evidence from the ancient Babylonian calendar and its astronomical observations. So, too, according to Jewish computation, the destruction of theSecond Templeoccurred in the lunar month of Av inanno68 CE, rather than in 70 CE.In this and related cases, a difference between the traditional Jewish year and a scientific date in a Gregorian year or in aproleptic Julian calendardate results from a disagreement about when the event happened—and not simply a difference between the Jewish and Gregorian calendars (seethe "Missing Years" in the Jewish Calendarand below,Excursus: Jewish Chronology in the Scroll of Antiochus).

In Jewish thought the counting is usually considered to be from the creation of the world, as has been emphasized in many ancient texts dealing with creation chronology,viz.that the six days of creation till man are literal days—including the days before the creation of the sun and earth.However, some understand these days metaphorically.

Genesis to the period of the Judges

According toGenesis,theconfusion of languagestook place in the days ofPeleg.Seder Olamattempts to identify when exactly in Peleg's life this occurred. It concludes that the first year of Peleg's life cannot be meant (as at the time of the confusion Peleg had a younger brother, Joktan, who had several children); nor could it have occurred during the middle years of his life (for the designation "middle years" is not an exact one; had the Bible intended to indicate only a general period, it would have used the phrase "in the days of Peleg and Joktan" ). The Bible must therefore mean that the confusion of languages took place in the last year of Peleg's life, which (based on the dates of the previous generations in Genesis) occurred 340 years after theFlood,or 1996 years after the creation of the world.

After dealing in the first 10 chapters with the chronology of the period from the creation of the world to the death ofMoses,the writer proceeds to determine the dates of the events which occurred after theIsraelites,led byJoshua,entered theHoly Land.Here biblical chronology presents many difficulties, dates not being clearly given, and in many casesSeder Olamwas used by later biblical commentators as a basis of exegesis. It is known that from the entry of the Israelites into the Holy Land to the time ofJephthaha period of 300 years elapsed.By computing the life periods of theJudgesand assuming that Jephthah sent his message (alluding to the 300 years) in the second year of his rule,Seder Olamconcludes that the reign of Joshua lasted 28 years. The work places two events in the Book of Judges whose date is unclear (the making of the image forMicahandBattle of Gibeahepisode) in the time ofOthniel.

I Kingsstates thatSolomonbegan to build theTemple in Jerusalemin the fourth year of his reign, 480 years after theExodus,that is, 440 years after theIsraelitesentered theHoly Land.Thus 140 years passed from the second year of Jephthah to the building of the Temple.Seder Olamconcludes that the forty years during which the Israelites were harassed by thePhilistinesdid not begin after the death ofAbdon,as it would seem, but after that ofJephthah,and terminated with the death ofSamson.Consequently, there was a period of 83 years from the second year of Jephthah to the death ofEli,who ruled 40 years,the last year of Samson being the first of Eli's judgeship. At that time theTabernaclewas removed fromShiloh,whither it had been transferred fromGilgal,where it had been for 14 years underJoshua;consequently it remained at Shiloh for a period of 369 years, standing all that time on a stone foundation. It is also to be concluded that Samuel judged Israel for 11 years, which with the two years ofSaul,the 40 of David's reign,and the four of Solomon's reign, make 57 years, during which the Tabernacle was first atNob,then atGibeon.

Period of the monarchy

The chronology of the Kings was more difficult, as there were differences to reconcile between thebook of Kingsandbook of Chronicles.Here especially the author applied the principle of "fragments of years" ( "shanim mekutta'ot" ), by which he regarded the remainder of the last year of any king's reign as identical with the first year of his successor's. In chapter 20, which closes the second part ( "Baba Meẓia" ), the author deals with the forty-eight prophets that flourished in theland of Israel.Beginning withJoshua,the author reviews the whole prophetic period which terminated withHaggai,Zechariah,andMalachi,elucidating as he proceeds many obscure points. Thus, the prophet mentioned in Judges 6:8 was, according toSeder Olam,Phinehas,and the man of God that came to EliwasElkanah.

According toSeder Olam,the prophecy ofObadiahoccurred in the time ofAmaziahand those ofJoel,Nahum,andHabakkukin the reign ofManasseh.After devoting the 21st chapter to the prophets that lived before the conquest of the land, to the seven prophetesses, and to the seven prophets of the Gentiles,Seder Olamresumes the chronology of the Kings. This continues until the end of chapter 27, where it is calculated that the destruction of theTempleoccurred after it had existed 410 years, or 3,338 years after the creation of the world.

Several vital clues are provided by the 2nd-century authors of Seder Olam and theTosefta,as to the placement of events in relation to theJubileeandseven yearcycle. Although no dates are provided in ancient records, general time-frames for certain events are provided by an inference to their relation to either the First Temple's building or to the First Temple's destruction, and which Temple is said to have stood 410 years.Since, according to Jewish oral tradition, the destruction of the First Temple occurred in 422 BCE,a year which also corresponded to the 1st-year of the seven-year cycle,scholars have sought to plot all events described in the Hebrew Scriptures based on these reference points. Other references include such facts (as brought down in Seder Olam) that the 11th-year ofSolomon's reign, when he completed his building of the First Temple, was in the 4th-year of the seven-year cycle,or, similarly, thatJehoiachin's exile began 25 years before the next Jubilee and during the fourth year of a Sabbatical year,or that the 18th-year ofJosiah's reign was the year ofJubilee,and that the 14th-year after the First Temple's destruction was also a Jubilee.

Moreover, the interval between the First Temple's destruction in 422 BCE and the Second Temple's destruction in 68 CE is put at 490 years.

In the Jewish custom of recollecting regnal years of kings, the 1st day of the lunar monthNisanmarks a New Year for kings, meaning, from this date was calculated the years of the reign of Israelite kings; thus if a king was enthroned in the preceding month,Adar,he begins his second year of reign in the next lunar month, following the 1st of Nisan.Based on this unique way of reckoning regnal years, ifKing Xdied in the lunar month Nisan in the year 2022, andKing XXsucceeded him on the throne in Nisan of 2022, both kings are reckoned as having reigned one year in 2022. All dates provided in the following table showing King David's line of succession are, therefore, made subject to this caveat.

Seder Olam's delineation of David's dynasty (click to open)

Seder Olam's delineation of David's dynasty(based onRAVAD's calculations) Event AnnoBCE Seven Year Cycle / Jubilee Davidbecomes king of Judah, after the death of King Saul.Reigned 40 years. 896 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 895 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 894 BCE Sabbatical year 893 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 892 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 891 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 890 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 889 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle Eighth year of David's reign. David moves to Jerusalem and begins to reign over all the tribes of Israel. 888 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 887 BCE Sabbatical year 886 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 885 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 884 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 883 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 882 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 881 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 880 BCE Sabbatical year 879 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 878 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 877 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 876 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 875 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 874 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 873 BCE Sabbatical year 872 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 871 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 870 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 869 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 868 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 867 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 866 BCE Sabbatical year 865 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 864 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 863 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 862 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 861 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 860 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 859 BCE Sabbatical year 858 BCE Jubilee 857 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle Solomonascends the throne of Judah.Reigned 40 years. 856 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 855 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 854 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 853 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle Solomon lays the foundation of the Temple in the 4th year of his reign.Solomon marries the daughter of Pharaoh. 852 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 851 BCE Sabbatical year 850 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 849 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 848 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 847 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 846 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle Year marks the 11th-year of Solomon's reign. First Temple completed. (Ravad, deviating from the tradition held in theTosefta(Zevahim13:6), wrote that the First Temple stood 427 [sic] years [424 years], namely, from 846/845 BCE to 422 BCE) 845 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 844 BCE Sabbatical year 843 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 842 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 841 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 840 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 839 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 838 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 837 BCE Sabbatical year 836 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 835 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 834 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 833 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 832 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 831 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 830 BCE Sabbatical year 829 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 828 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 827 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 826 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 825 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 824 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 823 BCE Sabbatical year 822 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 821 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 820 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 819 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 818 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 817 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle Rehoboambegins reign over Judah.Reigned 17 years. 816 BCE Sabbatical year 815 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 814 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 813 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 812 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle Shishak,king of Egypt, invades Judah. 811 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 810 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 809 BCE Sabbatical year 808 BCE Jubilee 807 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 806 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 805 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 804 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 803 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 802 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 801 BCE Sabbatical year 800 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle Abijah(also called Abiam) begins reign over Judah.Reigned 3 years. 799 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 798 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 797 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle Asabegins his rule over Judah.Reigned 41 years. 796 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 795 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 794 BCE Sabbatical year 793 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 792 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 791 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 790 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 789 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 788 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 787 BCE Sabbatical year 786 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 785 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 784 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 783 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 782 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 781 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 780 BCE Sabbatical year 779 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 778 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 777 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 776 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 775 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 774 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 773 BCE Sabbatical year 772 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 771 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 770 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 769 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 768 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 767 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 766 BCE Sabbatical year 765 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 764 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 763 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 762 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 761 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 760 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 759 BCE Sabbatical year 758 BCE Jubilee 757 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 756 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle Jehoshaphatbecomes king of Judah.Reigned 25 years. 755 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 754 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 753 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 752 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 751 BCE Sabbatical year 750 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 749 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 748 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 747 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 746 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 745 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 744 BCE Sabbatical year 743 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 742 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 741 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 740 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 739 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 738 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 737 BCE Sabbatical year 736 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 735 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 734 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 733 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 732 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 731 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle Jehorammade king over Judah.Reigned 8 years. 730 BCE Sabbatical year 729 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 728 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 727 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 726 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 725 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 724 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 723 BCE Sabbatical year Ahaziahmade king over Judah.Reigned 1 year. 722 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle Athaliahusurps authority as queen over Judah.Reigned 6 years. 721 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 720 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 719 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 718 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 717 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 716 BCE Sabbatical year Jehoashmade king of Judah.Reigned 40 years. 715 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 714 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 713 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 712 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 711 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 710 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 709 BCE Sabbatical year 708 BCE Jubilee 707 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 706 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 705 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 704 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 703 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 702 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 701 BCE Sabbatical year 700 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 699 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 698 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 697 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 696 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 695 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 694 BCE Sabbatical year 693 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle Year marks 23rd year of Jehoash's reign. During this year, he refurbished the Temple, which year fell out 155 [sic] [154] years after Solomon completed the Temple (in 846/845 BCE). 692 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 691 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 690 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 689 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 688 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 687 BCE Sabbatical year 686 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 685 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 684 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 683 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 682 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 681 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 680 BCE Sabbatical year 679 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 678 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 677 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 676 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle Amaziahbegins to reign over Judah.Reigned 29 years. 675 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 674 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 673 BCE Sabbatical year 672 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 671 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 670 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 669 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 668 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 667 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 666 BCE Sabbatical year 665 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 664 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 663 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 662 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 661 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 660 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 659 BCE Sabbatical year 658 BCE Jubilee 657 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 656 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 655 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 654 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 653 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 652 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 651 BCE Sabbatical year 650 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 649 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 648 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 647 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle Azariah,also called Uzziah, begins to reign over Judah.Reigned 52 years. 646 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 645 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 644 BCE Sabbatical year 643 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 642 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 641 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 640 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 639 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 638 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 637 BCE Sabbatical year 636 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 635 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 634 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 633 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 632 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 631 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 630 BCE Sabbatical year 629 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 628 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 627 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 626 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 625 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 624 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 623 BCE Sabbatical year 622 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 621 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 620 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 619 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 618 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 617 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 616 BCE Sabbatical year 615 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 614 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 613 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 612 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 611 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 610 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 609 BCE Sabbatical year 608 BCE Jubilee 607 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 606 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 605 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 604 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 603 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 602 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 601 BCE Sabbatical year 600 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 599 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 598 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 597 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 596 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 595 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle Jothambegins to reign over Judah.Reigned 16 years. 594 BCE Sabbatical year 593 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 592 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 591 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 590 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 589 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 588 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 587 BCE Sabbatical year 586 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 585 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 584 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 583 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 582 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 581 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 580 BCE Sabbatical year 579 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle Ahazbecomes the king of Judah.Reigned 16 years. 578 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 577 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 576 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 575 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 574 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 573 BCE Sabbatical year 572 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 571 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 570 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 569 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 568 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 567 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 566 BCE Sabbatical year 565 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 564 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 563 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle Hezekiahis made the king of Judah.Reigned 29 years. 562 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 561 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 560 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 559 BCE Sabbatical year Shalmaneserlays siege toSamaria 558 BCE Jubilee 557 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle Year marks the 6th year of Hezekiah's reign, whenShalmanesercapturedSamariaand exiled the northern kingdom of Israel and brought them intoAssyria. 556 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 555 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 554 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 553 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 552 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 551 BCE Sabbatical year 550 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 549 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle Year marks the 14th year of Hezekiah's reign, whenSennacheribcaptured the fortified cities of Judah. 548 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 547 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 546 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 545 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 544 BCE Sabbatical year 543 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 542 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 541 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 540 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 539 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 538 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 537 BCE Sabbatical year 536 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 535 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 534 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle Manassehis made the king of Judah.Reigned 55 years. 533 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 532 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 531 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 530 BCE Sabbatical year 529 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 528 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 527 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 526 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 525 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 524 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 523 BCE Sabbatical year 522 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 521 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 520 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 519 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 518 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 517 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 516 BCE Sabbatical year 515 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 514 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 513 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 512 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 511 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 510 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 509 BCE Sabbatical year 508 BCE Jubilee 507 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 506 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 505 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 504 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 503 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 502 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 501 BCE Sabbatical year 500 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 499 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 498 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 497 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 496 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 495 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 494 BCE Sabbatical year 493 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 492 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 491 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 490 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 489 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 488 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 487 BCE Sabbatical year 486 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 485 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 484 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 483 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 482 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 481 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 480 BCE Sabbatical year 479 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle Amonbecomes king of Judah.Reigned 2 years. 478 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 477 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle Josiahbegins to reign over Judah.Reigned 31 years. 476 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 475 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 474 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 473 BCE Sabbatical year 472 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 471 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 470 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 469 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 468 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 467 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 466 BCE Sabbatical year 465 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 464 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 463 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 462 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 461 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 460 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 459 BCE Sabbatical year Year marks the 18th-year of Josiah's reign, mentioned in Seder Olam as a year of Jubilee.During this same year, a Torah scroll was found in the Temple and brought to the king. 458 BCE Jubilee 457 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 456 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 455 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 454 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 453 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 452 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 451 BCE Sabbatical year 450 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 449 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 448 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 447 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 446 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 445 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle Jehoahazis made king of Judah, but after reigning for 3 months he is deposed byPharaoh Nechoand is taken down to Egypt.Jehoiakim(also known as Eliakim) is made king of Judah.Reigned 11 years. 444 BCE Sabbatical year 443 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 442 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle Year marks the 4th year of Jehoiakim's reign, whenNebuchadnezzarascended the throne in Babylonia. 441 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle Nebuchadnezzar, after defeating the Egyptians, begins to exercise hegemony over Syria, which includes the land of Judah. 440 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 439 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 438 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 437 BCE Sabbatical year 436 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 435 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 434 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle Jehoiachinmade king of Judah, but he is deposed after reigning for only 3 months.Zedekiah(formerly called Mataniah) made king of Judah.Reigned 11 years. Year corresponds with 8th- year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign. 433 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 432 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 431 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 430 BCE Sabbatical year 429 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 428 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 427 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 426 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 425 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 9th-year of Zedekiah's reign. Nebuchadrezzar lays siege to Jerusalem, because of Zedekiah's rebellion. 424 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 423 BCE Sabbatical year Destruction of First Temple. Zedekiah's 11th year reign comes to an end.Year marks the city's capture after a siege of 18 months.Year corresponds with 19th-year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign. 422 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 421 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 420 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 419 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle Nebuchadnezzar exiles an additional 745 people from Judah. 418 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 417 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 416 BCE Sabbatical year 415 BCE 1st-year of seven-year cycle 414 BCE 2nd-year of seven-year cycle 413 BCE 3rd-year of seven-year cycle 412 BCE 4th-year of seven-year cycle 411 BCE 5th-year of seven-year cycle 410 BCE 6th-year of seven-year cycle 409 BCE Sabbatical year Year marks the 14th-year after the First Temple's destruction, and the 25th year after the people's exile under Jehoiachin. Year also a Jubilee. 408 BCE Jubilee

The seventy years of exile

According to Seder Olam, the 70-year period spoken of byJeremiah 25:11,Jeremiah 29:10andDaniel 9:2began in the first year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, in 441 BCE,and ended in the year 370 BCE, with the beginning of the return of the exiles underCyrus.

Aside from the disparity between the traditional Jewish method of dating Nebuchadnezzar's year of ascension (put at 441 BCE) and the conventional method of dating for Nebuchadnezzar's first-year of reign (put at 605 BCE) – a disparity of 164 years, there are also historic discrepancies in the chronological list of successive Babylonian kings mentioned by Seder Olam. Seder Olam's assignment of regnal years for the Babylonian kings in that period differs from those assigned byBerossus the Chaldeanfor the same period. The major difference being that in Seder Olam's chronology (which teaching is followed by theBabylonian Talmud,Megillah11b) the seventy-year period was defined by only three Babylonian kings, namely:Nebuchadnezzarwho reigned 45 years,Evil-merodachwho reigned 23 years andBelshazzarwho reigned 3 (for a total of 71 years, with one year deducted), whereas Berossus mentions five Babylonian kings for the same period, and that Nebuchadnezzar reigned only 43 years,followed by Evil-merodach who reigned 2 years, who, in turn, was succeeded byNeriglissarwho reigned 4 years, followed byLaborosoarchodwho reigned 9 months, and, finally, byNabonnedus(also known as Belshazzar)who reigned 17 years (for a total of 67 years). It is presumed that the author of Seder Olam had not seen the ancient chronological record of Berossus who lists these five Babylonian kings by name, and that the author of Seder Olam copied only those names of Babylonian kings that he could glean from the Hebrew Scriptures, without any knowledge of the fact that the Hebrew Scriptures had merely mentioned those kings directly related to major events in Jewish history, while omitting the rest.Moreover, the actual number of years given for the kings' individual reigns is not mentioned in the Hebrew Scriptures, and is only had either through the record of Berossus, as transmitted byJosephus,or else by those contradictory figures given in the Talmud.

The Babylonian kings' list in Seder Olam is explained by medieval biblical exegeteSaadia Gaon(892–942). In hisJudeo-Arabiccommentary on theBook of Daniel(9:2), he begins by explaining what is meant by accomplishing "seventy years in the desolation of Jerusalem," saying that this seventy-year period refers not to the destruction of Jerusalem,per se,but rather to the Kingdom of Babylon,in accordance with the biblical verse: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will remember you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place"(Jeremiah 29:10).Saadia wrote that these seventy years begin with Nebuchadnezzar's ascension to the throne and that he reigned 45 years, and that his son Evil-merodach reigned after him 23 years, and that his son's son after him reigned 3 years, for a total of seventy years.The way in which the rabbis derived 45 years for Nebuchadnezzar's reign was by calculating the beginning of the reign of Evil-merodach which was thought to have been in the 37th year ofJehoiachin's captivity, in accordance with the verse(Jeremiah 52:31):"In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-fifth day of the month, Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year of his kingship, he freed Jehoiachin king of Judah and brought him out of prison." The same event is explained in2 Kings 25:27as meaning that Jehoiachin was released "in the year that he (Evil-merodach) began to reign" (Hebrew:בשנת מלכו).When Jehoiachin was first exiled in 433 BCE, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had already been in power eight years;(hence: 8 + 37 = 45). At any rate, Evil-merodach is thought by Seder Olam to have begun his reign in 396 BCE, when Jehoiachin was released from his bonds.

Saadia explains, moreover, how Seder Olam derived 23 years, instead of Berossus' 2 years, for Evil-merodach's reign, saying that since the third-year of Belshazzar's reign is referenced in the Scriptureand he is thought by the author of Seder Olam to have died in the third-year of his reign,although the Book of Daniel does not say explicitly that Belshazzar died in the third-year of his reign,it stands to reason that the years in between Nebuchadnezzar's 45-year reign and Belshazzar's 3-year reign, at the least, is collected as 23 years, during which time Evil-merodach reigned.TheTalmudrefers to this as "deductive reasoning" (Hebrew:גמרא).Belshazzar was thought by the author of Seder Olam to be the mere grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, based on the Scripture: "All the nations shall serve him (i.e. Nebuchadnezzar) and his son (i.e. Evil-merodach) and his grandson, etc."(Jeremiah 27:7).Chroniclers have largely rejected Seder Olam's method of assigning regnal years for the Babylonian kings and have relied, instead, on Berossus and on other archaeological records.Still, the 164–165-year disparity between events described in rabbinic tradition and the same events using conventional dating methods has been the subject of intense debate, with Jewish scholars occasionally taking sides.

The Persian period

According to one Jewish tradition, the seventy-year period of exile commences with the beginning of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, and concludes with the rise ofCyrus the Greatwho ordered the rebuilding of Jerusalem.Another Jewish tradition avers that it begins with the destruction of Jerusalem in the 19th-year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign,continuing thereafter for another 52 years of desolation, followed by a 19-year Persian period, where Cyrus is alleged to have reigned for 3 years, followed by Ahasuerus who is said to have reigned for 14 years and, finally, Darius, in whose 2nd year of reign the seventy-year period culminated with the rebuilding of Jerusalem.Persia's hegemonic power over the nation of Israel, according to Seder Olam, is said to have extended until the rise ofAlexander the Great.Seder Olam names only three Persian kings during this time period,viz.:Cyrus(said to have reigned an additional 3 years after conquering Babylon,and who jointly ruled with Darius the Mede), followed by Ahasuerus (who is said to have reigned 14 years),and, lastly, Darius, who succeeded Ahasuerus,and in whose 2nd-year of reign the foundation of the Second Temple was laid.These three Persian kings, from the end of Israel's exile under the Babylonians until the foundation of the Temple was laid in 356 BCE, spanned a period of 19 years. From the time of the Second Temple's building (in 352 BCE) under the Persians, until the rise of Alexander the Great who put away Persian dominion over Israel, the period is put at 34 years,viz.,from 352 BCE to 318 BCE.Some scholars have assumed that the allowance (contrary to historical facts) of only 34 years for the Persian domination is necessary to make the chronology agree with the PharisaicTalmudicalinterpretation (ofDaniel9:24), that the second exile was to take place after 70 Sabbaths of years (= 490 years) from an "issuing forth of a word" to rebuild Jerusalem. If from this period of 490 years the 70 years of the first Captivity is deducted, and the beginning ofAlexander's control of the Land of Israel is placed (in accordance withTalmudictradition) at 386 years before the destruction of the Second Temple, then there remain only 34 for the Persian rule.

Alternatively, what seems to be a historical inaccuracy inSeder Olamhas been explained in a different way. According toRashi,the 34-year Persian period is the time span between the building of the Second Temple under Darius in 352 BC (according toJewish calculations) andAlexander the Great's rise to power in 318 BCE. This time-frame, therefore, does not signify the end of the dynasties in Persia, but rather of their rule and hegemony over Israel before Alexander the Great rose to power. The difficulty besetting this explanation, however, lies in the fact that fromDarius Iwho laid the foundation of theSecond Templeto Alexander the Great, who brought an end to Persian hegemony over Israel, there are collected no less than 190 years.This would suggest that the author of Seder Olam confounded Darius I withDarius III Codomannus,the latter Darius being a contemporary with Alexander the Great.

As with the Seder Olam's record of the Babylonian kings, so is there difficulty reconciling the accounts in Seder Olam with historical records that mention successive Persian kings, such as that which was documented byHerodotus,PtolemyandManetho,beginning with Cyrus' successor,Cambyses(Artaxerxes) the son of Cyrus (who reigned 5 years),followed by theMagi(who reigned 7 months),followed byDarius the son of Hystaspes(who reigned 36 years),and who, in turn, was succeeded byXerxes (Artaxerxes)b. Darius (who reigned 21 years).He, in turn, was succeeded byArtabanus(who reigned merely 7 months),followed byArtaxerxes,the son of Xerxes the Great, who reigned 41 years.He is said to have also borne the nameAhasuerus.The year of accession for this last king herein named (Ahasuerus) would have, therefore, been long after the Second Temple had already been built.

Azariah dei Rossi,one of the first to address the discrepancy between Seder Olam's recollection of only three Persian kings (for the period ofPersian hegemonyover Israel) versus conventional chronology where there were more than 10 Persian kings for the same period, suggests that theSages of Israelmay have chosen to include in their chronology only those years of the period of Persian dominion that were clearly expressed or implied in theBible.

Seder Olam versus Conventional chronology

Successive Chaldean rulers	Conventional chronology	Seder Olam's chronology
Nebuchadnezzar	43 years	45 years
Amel-Marduk	2 years	23 years
It is to be noted here that where conventional chronology goes on to cite another 3 successive Chaldean kings (spanning a period of nearly 22 years), Talmudic chronology cites only one Chaldean king that reigned after Amel-Marduk, namely,Baltasar(co-regent withNabonidus), and who is said by the Talmudic record to have reigned a mere 3 years.
Neriglissar	4 years	---
Labosordacus	9 months	---
Nabonidus(Baltasar)(Note:Others see Baltasar asNabonidus' sonand co-regent)	[Nabonidus] 17 years	[Baltasar] 3 years
Total number of years:	67 years	71 years

Successive Persian rulers	Conventional chronology	Seder Olam's chronology
Herodotusnotes in hisHistoriesthat Cyrus the Great reigned 29 years.However, from Cyrus' taking of Babylon in the 17th year of the reign ofNabonidus,only 9 years remained of Cyrus' 29-year reign.This view is corroborated by Ptolemy'sCanon.The nine years of Cyrus' reign as mentioned by him only reflect the number of regnal years remaining after Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon in 539 BCE. Cyrus is thought to have died in 530 BCE.
Cyrus the Great	29 years	3 years
Cambyses(Note:In the Talmud (Megillah11b), Cambyses is not mentioned, but is replaced by Ahasuerus who is thought to have succeeded Cyrus the Great)	[Cambyses] 7 years and 5 months	[Ahasuerus] 14 years
TheMagi	7 months	---
Darius,the son of Hystaspes	36 years	2 years [36 years]
Xerxes(Artaxerxes), the Great, b. Darius	21 years	---
Artabanus	7 months	---
Artaxerxes(Cyrus) b. Xerxes the Great (Ahasuerus)	41 years	---
Xerxes	2 months	---
Sogdianus	7 months	---
Darius,the son of Xerxes	19 years	---
Artaxerxes IIMnemon	46 years	---
Artaxerxes IIIOchus	21 years	---
Artaxerxes IVArses	2 years	---
Darius IIICodomannus	4 years	---
Total number of years:	228 years + 4 mo.	53 years

Second Temple and post-destruction period

See also:Missing years (Jewish calendar)

The narration continues after the 70 years of theBabylonian captivitywith the building of theSecond Templewhich stood 420 years, and which was destroyed, as may be seen, in the year 3828 of the creation. The 420 years of the Second Temple are divided into the following periods: 34 years ofPersianrule while the Temple stood; 180 years of theGreeks;103 years of theMaccabees;103 years of theHerods.The period of Herodian rule over Israel, namely, 103 years, refers merely to its hegemony over Israel while the Temple was still standing. The beginning of this period is reckoned during Herod the Great's reign in 35 BC and ends in 68 CE with the destruction of the Second Temple (based on Jewish computations).

From the destruction of the Second Temple, which (according toSeder Olam,ch. 30) occurred at the departure of the Sabbatical year (meaning, the beginning of the 1st-year in a seven-year cycle), to the suppression of theBar Kokhba revolt(or the destruction ofBethar) is given as a period of 52 years. But the text here is very confused and has given rise to various emendations and interpretations, as the historical date for the destruction of the Second Temple is 70 CE and that for the conclusion of the Bar Kochba revolt is 135 CE.

Authorship

Assuming that thisSeder Olamis the same as theSeder Olammentioned in theTalmud,Jewish authorities generally ascribe its authorship to the well-known TalmudistJose b. Halafta,on the strength ofR. Johanan's statement, "ThetannaofSeder Olamwas R. Jose ".Johanan's comment is supported by the fact that Jose was known as one who occupied himself withJewish chronology;further, many sayings of R. Jose's quoted in the Talmud are paralleled inSeder Olam.

However, Ratnersaid thatSeder Olamoften conflicts with Jose's opinions in the Talmud, that it refers to Jose in the third person ( "R. Jose said" ), and finally it mentions Talmudists who lived later than Jose. For these reasons, he concluded that Jose wasnotits author; he says that Jose was only the principal authority ofSeder Olam,and that Johanan's statement, mentioned above, is similar to another statement he made— "Any anonymous opinion in theMishnahbelongs toRabbi Meir",although the redactor of the Mishnah wasJudah I.Ratner further supposes that R. Johanan himself compiled the work, following generally the opinion of R. Jose. He tries to prove this by showing that many sayings of R. Johanan are taken fromSeder Olam.

Other scholars say that inSeder OlamJose preserved the generally accepted opinions, even when they were contrary to his own, as indicated inNiddah46b, and that, like all works of the ancientTalmudists,it underwent alternations in copying. Sometimes, finding that the utterance of a later rabbi agreed withSeder Olam,the copyists inserted the name of that rabbi. A careful examination shows that certain additions are later than the latest midrashim, and it may be thatAbraham ibn Yarḥi,Isaac Lattes,andMenahem Meïri,who seem to place the redaction ofSeder Olamat the time when the Massektot (tractates)Derek Ereẓ Rabbah,theDerek Ereẓ Zuṭa,the Soferim, and other later treatises were composed, may have referred to the work in its present form.

Usage in later rabbinic texts

Besides directly quotingSeder Olam,theTalmudoften alludes to it. A passage inSeder Olam(chapter 30) describing the 420 years of four hegemonic powers (Persian, Grecian, Hasmonean and Herodian) appears almost verbatim in the Babylonian Talmud.Often, the phrases "tanya" (= "we learned" ), "tana" (= "he learned" ), "tanu rabbanan" (= "our teachers learned" ), and "amar mar" (= "the teacher said" ) introduce sentences also found inSeder Olam.In addition, many of its passages have been taken into theMishnahwithout any allusion to their source.Seder Olamis not mentioned in theJerusalem Talmud,although several passages in the latter are based on it. Finally, many of the sayings ofSeder Olamhave been taken into theMekhilta,theSifra,and theSifre.

Acceptance of Seder Olam Rabbah's chronology was not universal. Among the premodern sources whose chronologies contradict Seder Olam Rabbah arePirkei deRabbi Eliezer,Josippon,MidrashLekach Tov,a source quoted byRashi,Ibn Ezra,Baal HaMaor,Radak,Rashba,Ritva,Ralbag,andIsaac Abarbanel.

Editions

• Seder Olam Rabbah(in print) first appeared atMantua,in 1514, together with theSeder Olam Zuta,theMegillat Ta'anit,andAbraham ibn David'sSefer ha-Ḳabbalah.It has been reedited several times since then.
• In 1577Seder Olam RabbahandSeder Olam Zuṭawere published inParis,with a Latin translation byGilbert Genebrard.The former was edited, with aLatin languagetranslation, notes, and introduction, by John Meyer (Amsterdam, 1699).
• Commentaries on the work were written byJacob Emden,byElijah Wilna,and byEnoch Zundel b. Joseph.
• The three latest editions prior to 1906 are those of Ratner,A. Marx (who published the first ten chapters, basing the text upon different manuscripts and supplying it with aGerman languagetranslation and an introduction; Berlin, 1903), and Jeroham Meïr Leiner (containing the commentaries of Jacob Emden and Elijah Wilna, and the editor's annotations under the titleMe'r 'Ayin,Warsaw, 1904).
• Ben Halpetha, Jose(1971). M.D. Yerushalmi (ed.).Seder Olam Rabba(in Hebrew). Gil Publishers, in affiliation with the Haredi Youth Organization.OCLC233091049.
• Heinrich W. Guggenheimer (2005),Seder Olam: The Rabbinic View of Biblical Chronology,Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield (ISBN978-0-7657-6021-0)
• Chaim Milikowsky (2013),Seder Olam: Critical Edition, Commentary, and Introduction(2 vols.), Yad Ben-Zvi: Jerusalem (OCLC857371834)(ISBN9789652173591)

See also

• Missing years (Jewish calendar)
• Traditional Jewish chronology

Bibliography

• This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Singer, Isidore;et al., eds. (1901–1906). "Seder 'Olam Rabbah".The Jewish Encyclopedia.New York: Funk & Wagnalls.
• The Jewish Encyclopaedia cites the following works:
  • Fürst, in Orient, Lit. vii. 547 et seq.;
  • idem, Bibl. Jud. ii. 107–108;
  • Grätz, Gesch.3d ed., iv. 184, and note 14;
  • A. Marx, introduction to his edition of the Seder Olam;
  • B. Ratner, Mabo leha-Seder Olam Rabbah;
  • Steinschneider,Cat. Bodl. cols. 1433–1434;
  • Weiss, Dor,ii. 257 et seq.;
  • Winter and Wünsche, Die Jüdische Litteratur, iii. 299 et seq.;
  • Zunz,G. V. p. 85.
• Strack, H.L.(1991), Stemberger, Günter;Bockmuehl, Markus(eds.),Introduction to the Talmud and Midrash (Google eBook)(1996 ed.), Fortress Press, p. 326,ISBN978-1451409147(Note: page 326 in this edition was p. 354 in 1991).

External links

• English translation of the Seder Olam (INCOMPLETE)
• Seder Olam Rabbah- Gilbert Génébrard's Latin translation (Paris 1578)
• Jewish Encyclopedia article for Seder Olam Rabbah