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Theophilus to Autolycus

Chapter XXV.--From Saul to the Captivity.

And after the judges they had kings, the first named Saul, who reigned 20 years; then David, our forefather, who reigned 40 years. Accordingly, there are to the reign of David [from Isaac] 496 years. And after these kings Solomon reigned, who also, by the will of God, was the first to build the temple in Jerusalem; he reigned 40 years. And after him Rehoboam, 17 years; and after him Abias, 7 years; and after him Asa, 41 years; and after him Jehoshaphat, 25 years; and after him Joram, 8 years; and after him Ahaziah, 1 year; and after him Athaliah, 6 years; and after her Josiah, 40 years; and after him Amaziah, 39 years; and after him Uzziah, 52 years; and after him Jotham, 16 years; and after him Ahaz, 17 years; and after him Hezekiah, 29 years; and after him Manasseh, 55 years; and after him Amon, 2

years; and after him Josiah, 31 years; and after him Jehoahaz, 3

months; and after him Jehoiakim, 11 years. Then another Jehoiakim, 3

months 10 days; and after him Zedekiah, 11 years. And after these kings, the people, continuing in their sins, and not repenting, the king of Babylon, named Nebuchadnezzar, came up into Judaea, according to the prophecy of Jeremiah. He transferred the people of the Jews to Babylon, and destroyed the temple which Solomon had built. And in the Babylonian banishment the people passed 70 years. Until the sojourning in the land of Babylon, there are therefore, in all, 4954 years 6

months and 10 days. And according as God had, by the prophet Jeremiah, foretold that the people should be led captive to Babylon, in like manner He signified beforehand that they should also return into their own land after 70 years. These 70 years then being accomplished, Cyrus becomes king of the Persians, who, according to the prophecy of Jeremiah, issued a decree in the second year of his reign, enjoining by his edict that all Jews who were in his kingdom should return to their own country, and rebuild their temple to God, which the fore-mentioned king of Babylon had demolished. Moreover, Cyrus, in compliance with the instructions of God, gave orders to his own bodyguards, Sabessar and Mithridates, that the vessels which had been taken out of the temple of Judaea by Nebuchadnezzar should be restored, and placed again in the temple. In the second year, therefore, of Darius are fulfilled the 70

years which were foretold by Jeremiah.

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À Autolyque

XXV.

Aux juges succédèrent les rois, dont le premier fut Saül, qui régna vingt ans ; David, notre père, régna quarante ans. Ainsi, depuis Isaac jusqu'au règne de David, il s'est écoulé quatre cent quatre-vingt-quinze ans. David, comme nous l'avons dit, régna quarante ans ; Salomon, fondateur du temple, quarante ans ; Roboham, dix-sept ans ; Abias sept ans ; Asa, quaranteun ; Josaphat, vingt-cinq ; Joram, huit ; Ochozias, onze ; Gotholia, six ; Josias, quarante ; Amalias, trente-neuf ; Ozias, cinquante-deux ; Joatham, seize ; Achaze, dix-sept ; Ezechias, vingt-neuf ; Manassé, cinquante-cinq ; Amos, deux ; Josias, trente ;et un ; et Ochas, trois mois ; après lui, Joachim régna onze ans ; un autre Joachim régna trois mois et douze jours, Sédécias enfin régna onze ans. A cette époque, comme le peuple Juif persévérait tou-jours dans l'iniquité, et qu'il ne faisait point pénitence, Nabuchodonosor, roi de Babylone, s'avança contre la Judée, selon la prédiction du prophète Jérémie ; il transporta le peuple à Babylone et réduisit en cendres le temple de Salomon. Les Juifs restèrent à Babylone soixante-dix ans.

Ainsi le temps qui s'est écoulé depuis la création de l'homme jusqu'à la captivité de Babylone renferme en tout quatre mille neuf cent cinquante-quatre ans six mois et douze jours. Comme Dieu avait annoncé à son peuple la captivité de Babylone par la bouche de Jérémie, il lui avait aussi annoncé le retour de sa captivité après soixante-dix années ; après ces soixante-dix ans, Cyrus monte sur le trône des Perses, et rend un édit signé l'année précédente, par lequel tous les Juifs qui étaient dans son royaume pouvaient regagner leur patrie, et rétablir le temple de Dieu qui avait été détruit par son prédécesseur ; ce prince, obéissant encore aux ordres de Dieu, commanda à ses gardes Sabessare et Mithridate de rapporter dans le temple les vases qui avaient été enlevés par Nabuchodonosor. C'est donc la seconde année du règne de Cyrus que furent accomplies les soixante-dix années prédites par Jérémie.¹