According to Menander’s history, as preserved by Josephus…
““According to Menander’s history, as preserved by Josephus, Hiram began his reign 155 years before the founding of Carthage, and according to the Greek historian Timaeus, Carthage was founded in 814 B.C. This sets the beginning of Hiram’s reign at 969 B.C. (Liver, 1953, 116). Josephus then dates the beginning of the construction of Solomon’s temple to either the 11th (according to Against Apion i 126) or the 12th (according to Jewish Antiquities viii 62) years of Hiram’s reign. ””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The passage reconciles differing ancient chronologies to date Hiram’s reign and Solomon’s temple construction.
In simple terms: Ancient sources are compared to estimate historical dates.
Key Takeaway
Use multiple sources to cross‑verify historical timelines.
Themes
history
chronology
ancient Near East
Mood
analytical
inquisitive
Type
explanatory
academic
When to use this quote
- academic research
- archaeology
- religious studies
Key Concepts
biblical studies
historical methodology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do differing ancient records affect modern historical understanding?
- What methods improve dating accuracy?
A Different Perspective
Dates are approximate and depend on source reliability.