Margot

19 hours ago, admin said:

Here it is ok to talk about random non-sequiturs or pretty much anything you want. Enjoy.

My husband's definition of a "friend" A friend is a person who holds your hand and is cortical of you, is more loved than the friend who stays away.

Thanks. I have and read the same references. The question in the article states: Is “the twentieth year” mentioned in these two verses counted from the same reference point? The way I read it, and others too, there is a four months difference not of the same year. Therefore it could not be "the same reference point"

The question was somewhat rephrased in the "Treasures from God's word"  It asks the question this way: "Why can we conclude that the 20th year mentioned......is counted from the same starting point? These two questions lead to different conclusions.

When someone says 'Starting point' it is definite, whereas 'reference point' it is variable.

Margot

2 hours ago, Epiraima said:

1:1; 2:1—Is “the twentieth year” mentioned in these two verses counted from the same reference point? Yes, the 20th year is that of the reign of Artaxerxes the king. However, the method of counting used in these verses is different. Historical evidence points to 475 B.C.E. as the year of Artaxerxes’ ascension to the throne. Since the Babylonian scribes customarily counted the years of the Persian kings’ reign from Nisan (March/April) to Nisan, Artaxerxes’ first regnal year began in Nisan of 474 B.C.E. Hence, the 20th year of rulership mentioned at Nehemiah 2:1 began in Nisan of 455 B.C.E. The month of Chislev (November/December) mentioned at Nehemiah 1:1 logically was the Chislev of the preceding year—456 B.C.E. Nehemiah refers to that month as also falling in the 20th year of Artaxerxes’ reign. Perhaps in this case, he was counting the years from the accession date of the monarch. It could also be that Nehemiah was counting time by what the Jews today call a civil year, which begins in the month of Tishri, corresponding to September/October. In any case, the year in which the word went out to restore Jerusalem was 455 B.C.E.
 

wt 06 2/1 p8 pp5