The Chronology of the Reign of Herod the Great  1966 Journal of Theological Studies

(pp. 283-298)

W.E. Filmer

[Editor’s Note: Filmer’s work re-opened the issue of the year of Christ’s birth by demonstrating the impossibility that Herod died in 4 B.C., which had previously been widely supposed. Filmer’s conclusion that Herod died in 1 B.C. is correct, but his conclusion that Herod died in the month of January probably cannot reconciled with scripture. Luke’s account states that the holy family returned to Nazareth after performing the customary rites at the temple forty days after Jesus’ birth (Lk. 2:22, 39; Ex. 13:2; Lev. 12). Assuming Christ was born Casleu 25, 2 B.C., forty days would place the holy family in Jerusalem Shebat 6 on the Jewish calendar, or February 3, on the Julian. The fact that the holy family departed from Bethlehem forty days after Christ’s birth and then returned to Nazareth means that it was from Nazareth that Joseph fled to Egypt, and not from Bethlehem. Thus, the better view is that the Magi arrived soon after the holy family’s return to Nazareth, where they were guided by the Star, rather than Bethlehem where Herod sent them (Matt. 2:8-10). Roman records of the census would have recorded the presence of Joseph and Mary in Bethlehem and the birth of their child, and would have indicated that Nazareth was where they made their home. Realizing that the child may not have remained in Bethlehem for two years, the earliest date of his birth based upon the Star that appeared to the Magi in the east, Herod would likely have consulted the Roman census to discover all male children born there during the relevant period. The angel’s warning that Herod would «seek the young child» (Matt. 2:13) indicates that Slaughter of the Innocents in Bethlehem would not exhaust his search, requiring Joseph to leave Herod’s jurisdiction entirely. As indicated by Josephus, Herod died shortly before Passover 1 B.C.] Читать далее →