Commentaria in I Regum (I Samuelis)
Sacred and Profane Chronology of the Kings
After Moses, Josue ruled Israel 17 years, then the Judges down to Samson inclusive for 999 years, as I showed at the beginning of Josue and Judges. To the Judges, namely to the last, Samson, Heli immediately succeeded, for 40 years. Next Samuel and Saul for as many years, then David for as many, and to David Solomon for as many likewise. Wherefore from the death of Moses and the entry of the Hebrews into Chanaan down to Heli, with whom the Books of Kings begin, 346 years flowed by. Wherefore, since Moses died in the year of the world 9495, and in the same year the Hebrews under Josue’s leadership entered the promised land, it follows that Heli began to rule Israel in the year of the world 2811. For in that year Samson died and Heli succeeded him, which was the year before the birth of Christ 1357. After the capture of Troy (from which all the Gentiles reckon their histories), 29. All these things I have arranged according to the chronological table which I prefixed to the Pentateuch. Moreover St. Cyril of Alexandria, the most learned of the Greeks, book 1 Against Julian, assigns this synchronism, or combination of sacred history with profane: Troy, he says, was taken after Moses in the year 410, when Esebon was judge among the Hebrews, Vaphres among the Egyptians, Teutamus among the Assyrians, Agamemnon among the Greeks.
In the fifth year after the capture of Troy, Aeneas reigned among the Latins, Samson was Judge among the Hebrews.
In the year 65 after the capture of Troy Heli the High Priest died, Samuel prophesies, Saul reigns.
In the year 163 after the capture of Troy flourished Homer and Hesiod, and among the Latins Alba Sylvius.
In the year 268 after the capture of Troy lived Elias and Eliseus, when Joram reigned among the Hebrews.
In the year 275 after the capture of Troy Lycurgus gave laws to the Spartans, and Procas Sylvius was king of the Latins.
In the year 280 after the capture of Troy prophesied Osee, Amos, Isaias.
From the capture of Troy, then, to the first Olympiad, 815 years.
In the first Olympiad Romulus and Remus are born, Joatham reigning among the Hebrews, and Phacee in Israel.
In the 35th Olympiad lived Thales of Miletus, and he lived to the 58th Olympiad.
In the 36th Olympiad Jeremias and Sophonias prophesy.
In the 46th Olympiad Solon gave laws to the Athenians, and the laws of Draco.
In the 49th Olympiad, when the Jews were in Babylon, Daniel and Ezechiel prophesy.
In the 50th Olympiad flourished the seven Sages and Anaximander.
In the 56th Olympiad Cyrus reigns, Aggeus and Zacharias prophesy. All this St. Cyril says, and more.
Note that in this reckoning of St. Cyril the Judge Esebon is Abesan. For the Septuagint call him Ebesan, for which Cyril’s manuscript corruptly has Ebeson, under whom Cyril places the capture of Troy, although Eusebius, Salianus and others think that Troy was taken precisely in the last year of the judge Ahialon, who immediately succeeded Abesan; but in so great a number and reckoning of ancient years this is a slight difference, and can be reconciled by saying that Troy was besieged by the Greeks for ten years: so that it began to be besieged under Abesan, and this is what Cyril means, while it was taken under Ahialon, and this is what Eusebius, Salianus and others mean. Again, Cyril from the capture of Troy to Samson reckons five years: wherefore for Esebon in Cyril we seem to have to read Abdon. For he succeeded the Judge Ahialon and ruled for eight years (Judges chapter 12, 8 and following). To Abdon, moreover, Samson succeeded. For this was the order: Abesan ruled Israel seven years; after him Ahialon ten years; after him Abdon eight years; after him Samson 20 years. Cyril assigns to his Esebon or Abdon only five years. Hence again he asserts that in the year 65 after the capture of Troy Heli died and Samuel succeeded him, whereas this happened precisely in the year 69 after the capture of Troy, as is plain from what has been said.