7 Crazy Facts About Calendars

 

History & Society

Our Days Are Numbered: 7 Crazy Facts About Calendars

Written by 

Alison Eldridge

Fact-checked by 

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

© Lia Koltyrina/Shutterstock.com

For thousands of years, we humans have been trying to work out the best way to keep track of our time on Earth. It turns out that it’s not as simple as you might think.

• The Devil’s Calendar

  

  Luca Signorelli: detail of The Deeds of AntichristDetail of The Deeds of Antichrist by Luca Signorelli, c. 1505, showing Antichrist directed by Satan; in the Duomo, Orvieto, Italy.

  Sandro Vannini—De Agostini/Getty Images

  The Gregorian calendar—the calendar most widely used today—was named after Pope Gregory XIII, who is credited with introducing it (although he did not come up with its system). It was met with skepticism from Protestants and largely Protestant countries, some of whom believed the calendar was the work of the Antichrist…or at least an attempt to bring them back under the pope’s rule. It was adopted initially in 1582 by several Roman Catholic countries in Europe and spread to most of the rest of the world very gradually thereafter. The last country that adopted the diabolical calendar was Greece, in 1923.

• Sized to Fit

  

  seasonal configuration of Earth and SunDiagram depicting the position of Earth in relation to the Sun at the beginning of each Northern Hemisphere season.

  Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

  Because of the various gyrations of the universe (Earth moving around the Sun, Earth rotating on its axis, other planets influencing the orbit of Earth, the solar system moving around the galaxy, and so on), it’s pretty much impossible to come up with a one-size-fits-all calendar that can be used reliably. Most calendars use what are called “intercalary” days—or even months—that bring them in line with the tropical year (the time it takes Earth to complete its orbit of the Sun). Lunar calendars, which are used in many countries (especially in Asia), require a 13th month to be added every few years. The Mayan calendar had five intercalary days that were said to be unlucky and were observed with fasting and sacrifices.

• Thanks, Latin

  You’re probably pretty familiar with number prefixes that we use in English—uni-, mono-, di-, tri-, hexa-, octo-, and so on. And many of you have undoubtedly been reciting the Gregorian months of the year since before you could tie your shoes. But did you ever stop to think about how these do not match up at all? The first eight months are named after various gods, goddesses, festivals, and rulers. For instance, January (Januarius) is named for Janus, the god of doorways and beginnings. February (Februarius) is named for Februa, a feast of purification. September, on the other hand, literally means “seventh month,” October likewise means “eighth month,” and I’m sure you can see where this is going for November and December. This would be awesome and super easy to remember if those weren’t the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th months, respectively. So what the heck happened? As you may have guessed, the original Roman calendar, said to have been invented by the first king of Rome, had 10 months. It started with March, which may seem kind of strange to us now. Later, Roman ruler Numa Pompilius added January at the beginning and February at the end of the calendar. Eventually February was moved between January and March.

• Leap Year Logistics

  You probably know that the Gregorian calendar requires a leap day, February 29, to be added every four years. This happens so the calendar will match up with the tropical year, which is actually closer to 365 1/4 days. However, that in itself is not enough and, over time, still leads to some creeping dates. So leap years happen during years that are divisible by 4…unless they are divisible by 100, in which case they also need to be divisible by 400. Using this system, the years 1900, 2100, and 2200 are not leap years, but 1600, 2000, and 2400 are.

• February 30

  Trying to avoid doing something? Set your due date for February 30. In the Gregorian calendar, as you probably know, all of the months have 30 or 31 days—except February, which has 28 (or 29 in a leap year). When the Swedish were changing from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian, however, they ended up with a February 30. Most countries, in making the switch, sacrificed a whole row of days. The Swedish plan was to make the change gradually, by omitting leap days for 40 years. It was a good plan, if a long one, but ended up being implemented incorrectly because of the Great Northern War. In 1712 the Swedes decided to just restore the Julian calendar by adding the leap days they had taken out, and they ended up with 28 + 2 days in February. Several decades later the Swedish converted to the Gregorian calendar in the usual way, by taking out the last 11 days of February 1753.

• Starting the Day Right

  

  Montana: Flathead LakeFlathead Lake, northwestern Montana.

  Travel Montana

  Nowadays, when time calculations are pretty strictly controlled, we all agree that a new day starts at midnight. But is that really the best way? For thousands of years, astronomers counted a day from noon to noon. Hindus and Egyptians marked a new day at dawn, but Babylonians, Jews, and Greeks started at sunset. Many people still measure by using these milestones for religious or cultural reasons.

• Eight Days a Week

  A seven-day week corresponds to about a quarter of a moon cycle, so it has been a feature of many calendars throughout history. However, the moon isn’t the only way to count the days. The French republican calendar, which was intended to be a secular replacement for the pope-sponsored Gregorian calendar, had 10-day divisions called décades. The early Romans set the week as their eight-day cycle between market days. Some calendars didn’t bother with weeks at all. What’s a week without a weekend, amirite?

Ten Days That Vanished

 

History & Society: Reposted

Ten Days That Vanished: The Switch to the Gregorian Calendar

Written and fact-checked by 

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

© Jakez/Shutterstock.com

When it comes to calendars, small errors can add up over time. The Julian calendar—the prevalent calendar in the Christian world for the first millennium CE and part of the second millennium—was an improvement over the Roman republican calendar that it replaced, but it was 11 minutes and 14 seconds longer than the tropical year (the time it takes the Sun to return to the same position, as seen from Earth). The result was that the calendar drifted about one day for every 314 years.

One of the most pressing problems caused by the error was the increasing difficulty of calculating the date of Easter, which the Council of Nicaea in 325 had decreed should fall on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox, which at the time fell on March 21. The growing discrepancy between the date set by the council and the actual vernal equinox was noted in the 8th century CE, if not earlier, and a number of proposals for reform were brought before popes in the Middle Ages. But no action was taken, and the Julian calendar, flawed as it was, remained the official calendar of the Christian church.

In its session of 1562–63, the Council of Trent passed a decree calling for the pope to fix the problem by implementing a reformed calendar. But it took another two decades to find a suitable fix and put it into place. After years of consultation and research, Pope Gregory XIII signed a papal bull in February 1582 promulgating the reformed calendar that came to be known as the Gregorian calendar. The reforms were based on the suggestions of the Italian scientist Luigi Lilio, with some modifications by the Jesuit mathematician and astronomer Christopher Clavius.

The most surreal part of implementing the new calendar came in October 1582, when 10 days were dropped from the calendar to bring the vernal equinox from March 11 back to March 21. The church had chosen October to avoid skipping any major Christian festivals. So, in countries that adopted the new calendar, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4, 1582, was directly followed by October 15. France made the transition separately in December.

Something as complex as implementing a new calendar couldn’t go off without some complications, though. The Protestant and Orthodox countries didn’t want to take direction from the pope, so they refused to adopt the new calendar. The result was that Catholic Europe—Austria, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Poland, and the Catholic states of Germany—suddenly jumped ahead of the rest of the continent by 10 days, and traveling across a border often meant traveling forward or backward on the calendar.

Eventually, non-Catholic countries did begin to adopt the Gregorian calendar. The Protestant regions of Germany and the Netherlands switched in the 17th century. Great Britain and the territories of the British Empire followed suit in 1752, spreading the Gregorian calendar around the globe.

 

The Judges of Israel

Text from Earth’s Sacred Calendar:
The Dated Events of the Old Testament

TWENTY-FOUR

The Period of the Judges of Israel
Death of Eleazar Until Israel Asks Samuel for a King
Sunday April 20 – Iyar 3, 1366 BC
To Sunday June 22 – Tammuz 7, 1050 BC
316 Years and 64 Days
Sample of 169 Events: Joshua 24:33, Judges, Ruth, & 1 Samuel 1:1-8:22

Joshua 24:33

The Death of Eleazar-Son of Aaron

The death of Eleazar begins the period of the Judges of Israel. CD#186 is the DFC and EDFC date for events happening between 1366 BC and 1362 BC.

Type of Dated Event: EDFC
BR Calendar Day Number: 186
BR Years from Creation: 2748
BR: Sunday, April 20 — Iyar 3, 1366 BC
GH: Sunday, December 22 — Kislev 30, 1362 BC
Julian Day Number: 1224319.75

Judges 3:9-11

Othniel Starts 40 Year Rest From Mesopotamia

CD#187 is the DFC and EDFC date for events happening between the years 1361 BC and 1357 BC.

Type of Dated Event: EDFC
BR Calendar Day Number: 187
BR Years from Creation: 2757
BR: Monday, April 21 — Iyar 4, 1357 BC
GH: Monday, December 11 — Kislev 21, 1353 BC
Julian Day Number: 1227596.75

Judges 3:10-11

Forty Year Rest Period of Othniel Ends

CD#195 is the DFC and EDFC date for events happening between the years 1321 BC and 1317 BC.

Type of Dated Event: EDFC
BR Calendar Day Number: 195
BR Years from Creation: 2797
BR: Tuesday, April 29 — Iyar 12, 1317 BC
GH: Tuesday, October 30 — Heshvan 9, 1313 BC
Julian Day Number: 1242164.75

Judges 3:15-30

Ehud Starts 80 Year Rest From Moab

CD#199 is the DFC and EDFC date for events happening between the years 1301 BC and 1297 BC.

Type of Dated Event: EDFC
BR Calendar Day Number: 199
BR Years from Creation: 2815
BR: Saturday, May 3 — Iyar 16, 1299 BC
GH: Saturday, October 13 — Tishri 28, 1295 BC
Julian Day Number: 1248720.75

Judges 4:1-3

Jabin of Hazor Begins 20 Years Oppression

CD#203 is the DFC and EDFC date for events happening between the years 1281 BC and 1277 BC.

Type of Dated Event: EDFC
BR Calendar Day Number: 203
BR Years from Creation: 2835
BR: Wednesday, May 7 — Iyar 20, 1279 BC
GH: Wednesday, September 22 — Tishri 7, 1275 BC
Julian Day Number: 1256004.75

Judges 4:11-22

Jael Kills Sisera Being Pursued by Barak

Type of Dated Event: EST
BR Calendar Day Number: 208
BR Years from Creation: 2855
BR: Monday, May 12 — Iyar 25, 1259 BC
GH: Monday, September 2 — Elul 16, 1255 BC
Julian Day Number: 1263289.75

Judges 3:31, 4:17-21, 5:6

Shamgar Helps Deliver Israel From Philistines

Type of Dated Event: EST
BR Calendar Day Number: 209
BR Years from Creation: 2855
BR: Tuesday, May 13 — Iyar 26, 1259 BC
GH: Tuesday, September 3 — Elul 17, 1255 BC
Julian Day Number: 1263290.75

Judges 4:4-5:31

Deborah/Barak Starts 40 Year Rest From Hazor

Type of Dated Event: EST
BR Calendar Day Number: 209
BR Years from Creation: 2855
BR: Tuesday, May 13 — Iyar 26, 1259 BC
GH: Tuesday, September 3 — Elul 17, 1255 BC
Julian Day Number: 1263290.75

Judges 6:11-24

Angel of the Lord Appears to Gideon

This event begins 40 years of Gideon as a Judge. This is a very important estimated Date from Creation (EDFC). Using this year and date serves as a good starting point for dating many of the events during the period of the Judges in Israel. CD#216 is the DFC and EDFC date for events happening between 1216 BC and 1212 BC.

Type of Dated Event: EDFC
BR Calendar Day Number: 216
BR Years from Creation: 2902
BR: Tuesday, May 20 — Sivan 4, 1212 BC
GH: Tuesday, July 13 — Tammuz 24, 1208 BC
Julian Day Number: 1280405.75

Judges 6:24-27

Gideon Destroys the Altar of Baal in Ophrah

Type of Dated Event: EST
BR Calendar Day Number: 217
BR Years from Creation: 2902
BR: Wednesday, May 21 — Sivan 5, 1212 BC
GH: Wednesday, July 14 — Tammuz 25, 1208 BC
Julian Day Number: 1280406.75

Judges 6:36-40

Gideon Asks God for Sign From Fleece

Type of Dated Event: EST
BR Calendar Day Number: 221
BR Years from Creation: 2902
BR: Sunday, May 25 — Sivan 9, 1212 BC
GH: Sunday, July 18 — Tammuz 29, 1208 BC
Julian Day Number: 1280410.75

Judges 7:1-8

Gideon Lets All But 300 Soldiers Go Home

Type of Dated Event: EST
BR Calendar Day Number: 221
BR Years from Creation: 2902
BR: Sunday, May 25 — Sivan 9, 1212 BC
GH: Sunday, July 18 — Tammuz 29, 1208 BC
Julian Day Number: 1280410.75

Judges 7:9-22

Gideon’s 300 Soldiers of Israel Rout the Midianites

Type of Dated Event: EST
BR Calendar Day Number: 222
BR Years from Creation: 2902
BR: Monday, May 26 — Sivan 10, 1212 BC
GH: Monday, July 19 — Av 1, 1208 BC
Julian Day Number: 1280411.75

Judges 8:28-32

Gideon Dies After 40 Years as Judge

Type of Dated Event: EDFC
BR Calendar Day Number: 224
BR Years from Creation: 2942
BR: Wednesday, May 28 — Sivan 12, 1172 BC
GH: Wednesday, May 25 — Sivan 3, 1168 BC
Julian Day Number: 1294973.75

Judges 9:1-4

Abimelech Begins Judging Israel for Three Years

CD#224 is the DFC and EDFC date for events happening between the years 1176 BC and 1172 BC.

Type of Dated Event: EDFC
BR Calendar Day Number: 224
BR Years from Creation: 2942
BR: Wednesday, May 28 — Sivan 12, 1172 BC
GH: Wednesday, May 25 — Sivan 3, 1168 BC
Julian Day Number: 1294973.75

Judges 9:53

Woman Drops Millstone That Crushes Abimelech’s Skull

CD#225 is the DFC and EDFC date for events between 1171 BC and 1167 BC.

Type of Dated Event: EDFC
BR Calendar Day Number: 225
BR Years from Creation: 2945
BR: Thursday, May 29 — Sivan 13, 1169 BC
GH: Thursday, May 29 — Sivan 11, 1165 BC
Julian Day Number: 1296066.75

Judges 9:54

Abimelech Orders His Armor Bearer to Kill Him

Abimelech orders his armor bearer to kill him so he is not killed by a woman.

Type of Dated Event: EDFC
BR Calendar Day Number: 225
BR Years from Creation: 2945
BR: Thursday, May 29 — Sivan 13, 1169 BC
GH: Thursday, May 29 — Sivan 11, 1165 BC
Julian Day Number: 1296066.75

Ruth 1:22

Ruth in Bethlehem Beginning of Barley Harvest

Type of Dated Event: EST
BR Calendar Day Number: 231
BR Years from Creation: 2984
BR: Wednesday, June 4 — Sivan 19, 1130 BC
GH: Wednesday, April 17 — Nisan 26, 1126 BC
Julian Day Number: 1310268.75

Ruth 2:1-2, 20

Naomi Seems to Tell Ruth About Her Relative Boaz

Type of Dated Event: EST
BR Calendar Day Number: 232
BR Years from Creation: 2984
BR: Thursday, June 5 — Sivan 20, 1130 BC
GH: Thursday, April 18 — Nisan 27, 1126 BC
Julian Day Number: 1310269.75

Ruth 3:1-5

Naomi Instructs Ruth In Pursuit of Boaz

This is the end of the Barley harvest on the Gregorian solar calendar.

Type of Dated Event: EST
BR Calendar Day Number: 249
BR Years from Creation: 2984
BR: Sunday, June 22 — Tammuz 7, 1130 BC
GH: Sunday, May 5 — Iyar 14, 1126 BC
Julian Day Number: 1310286.75

Ruth 3:6

Ruth Goes to Boaz’s Threshing Floor

Type of Dated Event: EST
BR Calendar Day Number: 249
BR Years from Creation: 2984
BR: Sunday, June 22 — Tammuz 7, 1130 BC
GH: Sunday, May 5 — Iyar 14, 1126 BC
Julian Day Number: 1310286.75

Ruth 3:7

Ruth Lays Down at Feet of Boaz

Type of Dated Event: EST
BR Calendar Day Number: 250
BR Years from Creation: 2984
BR: Monday, June 23 — Tammuz 8, 1130 BC
GH: Monday, May 6 — Iyar 15, 1126 BC
Julian Day Number: 1310287.75

Ruth 3:8-13

Boaz Agrees to Marry and Redeem Ruth

Type of Dated Event: EST
BR Calendar Day Number: 250
BR Years from Creation: 2984
BR: Monday, June 23 — Tammuz 8, 1130 BC
GH: Monday, May 6 — Iyar 15, 1126 BC
Julian Day Number: 1310287.75

Ruth 4:1-12

Boaz Redeems Ruth in Presence of Elders

Type of Dated Event: EST
BR Calendar Day Number: 252
BR Years from Creation: 2984
BR: Wednesday, June 25 — Tammuz 10, 1130 BC
GH: Wednesday, May 8 — Iyar 17, 1126 BC
Julian Day Number: 1310289.75

Ruth 4:13

Ruth and Boaz Are Married In Bethlehem

Type of Dated Event: EST
BR Calendar Day Number: 257
BR Years from Creation: 2984
BR: Monday, June 30 — Tammuz 15, 1130 BC
GH: Monday, May 13 — Iyar 22, 1126 BC
Julian Day Number: 1310294.75

Ruth 4:13

Boaz and Ruth Conceive Obed

Obed is the grandfather of King David and the father of Jesse.

Type of Dated Event: EST
BR Calendar Day Number: 331
BR Years from Creation: 2984
BR: Friday, September 13 — Tishri 1, 1130 BC
GH: Friday, July 26 — Av 8, 1126 BC
Julian Day Number: 1310368.75

Ruth 4:14-22

Birth of Obed in Line of Judah (Perez)

CD#233 is the DFC and EDFC date for events between 1131 BC and 1127 BC. Obed was in the line of Perez (twin son of Tamar and Judah) and the grandfather of King David.

Type of Dated Event: EDFC
BR Calendar Day Number: 233
BR Years from Creation: 2985
BR: Friday, June 6 — Sivan 21, 1129 BC
GH: Friday, April 17 — Nisan 28, 1125 BC
Julian Day Number: 1310634.75

Judges 11:23-28

Jephthah Warns King of Ammon of Impending Defeat

This event happens 300 years after Israel defeats King Sihon at a battle at Heshbon Falls in 1406 BC, as recorded in Numbers 21:23-31, Deut. 1:4, and 2:30-35 (See page 248). This is a very important dated year in the period of the Judges of Israel.  This event can be easily measured back to a battle that occurred during the last year of the Exodus.

Type of Dated Event: EST
BR Calendar Day Number: 344
BR Years from Creation: 3008
BR: Thursday, September 26 — Tishri 14, 1106 BC
GH: Thursday, July 9 — Tammuz 20, 1102 BC
Julian Day Number: 1319117.75

Judges 11:29-31

Jephthah Makes Vow if Victorious Over Ammonites

Type of Dated Event: EST
BR Calendar Day Number: 349
BR Years from Creation: 3008
BR: Tuesday, October 1 — Tishri 19, 1106 BC
GH: Tuesday, July 14 — Tammuz 25, 1102 BC
Julian Day Number: 1319122.75

Judges 11:32-33

Jephthah Defeats Ammonites as Far as Minnith

Type of Dated Event: EST
BR Calendar Day Number: 22
BR Years from Creation: 3009
BR: Thursday, November 7 — Heshvan 18, 1106 BC
GH: Thursday, August 20 — Elul 3, 1102 BC
Julian Day Number: 1319159.75

Judges 11:34-37

Jephthah’s Daughter Triggers Grief in Fulfilling Vow

Type of Dated Event: EST
BR Calendar Day Number: 26
BR Years from Creation: 3009
BR: Monday, November 11 — Heshvan 22, 1106 BC
GH: Monday, August 24 — Elul 7, 1102 BC
Julian Day Number: 1319163.75

Judges 11:38-40

Jephthah Sacrifices His Daughter Fulfilling His Vow

Type of Dated Event: EST
BR Calendar Day Number: 86
BR Years from Creation: 3009
BR: Friday, January 11 — Tevet 22, 1105 BC
GH: Friday, October 23 — Creation Day 7, 1102 BC
Julian Day Number: 1319223.75

Judges 12:1-6

Jephthah Defeats Ephraim Killing 42,000 Ephraimites

Type of Dated Event: EST
BR Calendar Day Number: 124
BR Years from Creation: 3009
BR: Monday, February 19 — Adar 1, 1105 BC
GH: Monday, November 30 — Kislev 8, 1102 BC
Julian Day Number: 1319261.75

Judges 12:7

Jephthah Ends Judging Israel for Six Years

CD#239 is the DFC and EDFC date for events happening between the years 1101 BC and 1097 BC.

Type of Dated Event: EDFC
BR Calendar Day Number: 239
BR Years from Creation: 3014
BR: Thursday, June 12 — Sivan 27, 1100 BC
GH: Thursday, March 19 — Adar 27, 1096 BC
Julian Day Number: 1321196.75

Judges 13:1-23

Angel of the Lord Appears to Samson’s Parents

CD#240 is the DFC and EDFC date for events between 1096 BC and 1092 BC.

Type of Dated Event: EDFC
BR Calendar Day Number: 240
BR Years from Creation: 3018
BR: Friday, June 13 — Sivan 28, 1096 BC
GH: Friday, March 15 — Adar 23, 1092 BC
Julian Day Number: 1322653.75

Judges 13:1-24

Estimated Birth of Samson-Judge of Israel

CD#240 is the DFC and EDFC date for events between 1096 BC and 1092 BC.

Type of Dated Event: EDFC
BR Calendar Day Number: 240
BR Years from Creation: 3019
BR: Friday, June 13 — Sivan 28, 1095 BC
GH: Friday, March 14 — Adar 22, 1091 BC
Julian Day Number: 1323017.75

1 Samuel 1:8-11

Hanna Vows to Give Child to the Lord

CD#241 is the DFC and EDFC date for events between 1091 BC and 1087 BC.

Type of Dated Event: EDFC
BR Calendar Day Number: 241
BR Years from Creation: 3023
BR: Saturday, June 14 — Sivan 29, 1091 BC
GH: Saturday, March 10 — Adar 18, 1087 BC
Julian Day Number: 1324474.75

1 Samuel 1:17-18

Eli Blesses Hanna and She Returns Home

CD#241 is the DFC and EDFC date for events between 1091 BC and 1087 BC.

Type of Dated Event: EDFC
BR Calendar Day Number: 241
BR Years from Creation: 3023
BR: Saturday, June 14 — Sivan 29, 1091 BC
GH: Saturday, March 10 — Adar 18, 1087 BC
Julian Day Number: 1324474.75

1 Samuel 1:19-20

Hanna Gives Birth to Samuel at Ramah

It is estimated that Samuel is born within a few years of the birth of Samson. CD#241 is the DFC and EDFC date for events between the years 1091 BC and 1087 BC.

Type of Dated Event: EDFC
BR Calendar Day Number: 241
BR Years from Creation: 3024
BR: Saturday, June 14 — Sivan 29, 1090 BC
GH: Saturday, March 9 — Adar 17, 1086 BC
Julian Day Number: 1324838.75

1 Samuel 2:1-11

Hannah Prays and Goes Home Without Samuel

CD#241 is the DFC and EDFC date for events between 1091 BC and 1087 BC.

Type of Dated Event: EDFC
BR Calendar Day Number: 241
BR Years from Creation: 3027
BR: Saturday, June 14 — Sivan 29, 1087 BC
GH: Saturday, March 5 — Adar 13, 1083 BC
Julian Day Number: 1325930.75

1 Samuel 13:1; Acts 13:21

Estimated Birth of King Saul

This is the estimated DFC birth date of King Saul. It is assumed he was thirty years old when he started to reign. Acts 13:21 says he reigned “for forty years” until his death in 1010 BC when David is thirty years old. CD#243 is the DFC and EDFC date for events happening between 1081 BC and 1077 BC.

Type of Dated Event: EDFC
BR Calendar Day Number: 243
BR Years from Creation: 3034
BR: Monday, June 16 — Tammuz 1, 1080 BC
GH: Monday, February 26 — Adar 6, 1076 BC
Julian Day Number: 1328480.75

Judges 14:1-7

Samson Wants To Marry Philistine Woman in Timnah

Type of Dated Event: EDFC
BR Calendar Day Number: 244
BR Years from Creation: 3038
BR: Tuesday, June 17 — Tammuz 2, 1076 BC
GH: Tuesday, February 22 — Adar 2, 1072 BC
Julian Day Number: 1329937.75

1 Samuel 3:1-18

Samuel Is Called To Be a Prophet at About 14

The age of Samuel when he becomes a Prophet is only estimated since his age is not stated in Scripture. Samuel appears to be the youngest Prophet in the Old Testament. Samuel and Samson appear to be close in age and may have been born in the same year.

Type of Dated Event: EDFC
BR Calendar Day Number: 244
BR Years from Creation: 3038
BR: Tuesday, June 17 — Tammuz 2, 1076 BC
GH: Tuesday, February 22 — Adar 2, 1072 BC
Julian Day Number: 1329937.75

Judges 14:5-7

Samson Kills a Lion Without a Weapon

Type of Dated Event: EST
BR Calendar Day Number: 62
BR Years from Creation: 3039
BR: Tuesday, December 17 — Kislev 28, 1076 BC
GH: Tuesday, August 23 — Elul 6, 1072 BC
Julian Day Number: 1330119.75

Judges 15:1-20

Samson Begins Judging Israel for 20 Years

Samson begins to judge Israel for 20 years. The dating of this event is very difficult and can only be estimated. It is probably no more than three years off in either direction. About twenty-five years after this date Saul would be crowned the first King in Israel.

Type of Dated Event: EDFC
BR Calendar Day Number: 244
BR Years from Creation: 3039
BR: Tuesday, June 17 — Tammuz 2, 1075 BC
GH: Tuesday, February 21 — Adar 1, 1071 BC
Julian Day Number: 1330301.75

Judges 14:8-9

Samson Discovers Lion Carcass With Honey

Type of Dated Event: EDFC
BR Calendar Day Number: 244
BR Years from Creation: 3039
BR: Tuesday, June 17 — Tammuz 2, 1075 BC
GH: Tuesday, February 21 — Adar 1, 1071 BC
Julian Day Number: 1330301.75

Judges 15:14-17

Samson Kills 1,000 Philistines With Donkey’s Jawbone

Type of Dated Event: EST
BR Calendar Day Number: 5
BR Years from Creation: 3040
BR: Monday, October 21 — Heshvan 1, 1075 BC
GH: Monday, June 26 — Tammuz 7, 1071 BC
Julian Day Number: 1330426.75

1 Samuel 4:18

Eli Begins Judging Israel for 40 Years

CD#247 is the DFC and EDFC date for events happening between the years 1061 BC and 1057 BC.

Type of Dated Event: EDFC
BR Calendar Day Number: 247
BR Years from Creation: 3053
BR: Friday, June 20 — Tammuz 5, 1061 BC
GH: Friday, February 7 — Shevat 18, 1057 BC
Julian Day Number: 1335400.75

Judges 16:1

Samson Goes Into Harlot in Gaza

CD#247 is the DFC and EDFC date for events happening between the years 1061 BC and 1057 BC.

Type of Dated Event: EDFC
BR Calendar Day Number: 247
BR Years from Creation: 3057
BR: Friday, June 20 — Tammuz 5, 1057 BC
GH: Friday, February 2 — Shevat 13, 1053 BC
Julian Day Number: 1336856.75

Judges 16:2

Gazites Surround Harlot’s House Until Morning

Type of Dated Event: EST
BR Calendar Day Number: 249
BR Years from Creation: 3057
BR: Sunday, June 22 — Tammuz 7, 1057 BC
GH: Sunday, February 4 — Shevat 15, 1053 BC
Julian Day Number: 1336858.75

Judges 16:3

Samson Escapes Carrying the Small City Gate

The gate at Gaza was extremely heavy as a protection against intruders entering the city. It is estimated that the distance to the hill that faces Hebron is about thirty-eight miles from the city of Gaza. This is one of several events showing that the strength of Samson, on special occasions recorded in Scripture, clearly appears to be super-human.

Type of Dated Event: EST
BR Calendar Day Number: 249
BR Years from Creation: 3057
BR: Sunday, June 22 — Tammuz 7, 1057 BC
GH: Sunday, February 4 — Shevat 15, 1053 BC
Julian Day Number: 1336858.75

Judges 16:4

Samson Meets Delilah in Valley of Sorek

Type of Dated Event: EDFC
BR Calendar Day Number: 248
BR Years from Creation: 3058
BR: Saturday, June 21 — Tammuz 6, 1056 BC
GH: Saturday, February 1 — Shevat 11, 1052 BC
Julian Day Number: 1337221.75

Judges 16:5-9

Delilah Conspires With Philistines Against Samson

Type of Dated Event: EST
BR Calendar Day Number: 339
BR Years from Creation: 3058
BR: Saturday, September 21 — Tishri 9, 1056 BC
GH: Saturday, May 3 — Iyar 12, 1052 BC
Julian Day Number: 1337312.75

Judges 16:10-12

Delilah’s Second Conspiracy Against Samson

Type of Dated Event: EST
BR Calendar Day Number: 66
BR Years from Creation: 3059
BR: Saturday, December 21 — Tevet 2, 1056 BC
GH: Saturday, August 2 — Av 15, 1052 BC
Julian Day Number: 1337403.75

Judges 16:13-14

Delilah’s Third Conspiracy Against Samson

Type of Dated Event: EST
BR Calendar Day Number: 157
BR Years from Creation: 3059
BR: Saturday, March 22 — Nisan 4, 1055 BC
GH: Saturday, November 1 — Heshvan 9, 1052 BC
Julian Day Number: 1337494.75

Judges 16:15-21

Samson Captured and Taken to Gaza

Type of Dated Event: EDFC
BR Calendar Day Number: 248
BR Years from Creation: 3059
BR: Saturday, June 21 — Tammuz 6, 1055 BC
GH: Saturday, January 31 — Shevat 10, 1051 BC
Julian Day Number: 1337585.75

Judges 16:23-30

Samson Dies With the Philistines

Samson is the last of the major non-priestly Judges of Israel. Eli the Priest and his sons are also called Judges. Samuel, who was probably very close in age to Samson, was also in the priestly line of Israel’s Judges.

Type of Dated Event: EST
BR Calendar Day Number: 66
BR Years from Creation: 3060
BR: Saturday, December 21 — Tevet 2, 1055 BC
GH: Saturday, August 1 — Av 14, 1051 BC
Julian Day Number: 1337767.75

Judges 19:1

A Levite in Ephraim Takes a Concubine

CD#248 is the DFC and EDFC date for events between 1056 BC and 1052 BC.

Type of Dated Event: EDFC
BR Calendar Day Number: 248
BR Years from Creation: 3061
BR: Saturday, June 21 — Tammuz 6, 1053 BC
GH: Saturday, January 29 — Shevat 9, 1049 BC
Julian Day Number: 1338313.75

Judges 19:22-25

Men of Gibeah Rape Levite’s Concubine

Type of Dated Event: EST
BR Calendar Day Number: 193
BR Years from Creation: 3062
BR: Sunday, April 27 — Iyar 10, 1052 BC
GH: Sunday, December 3 — Kislev 13, 1049 BC
Julian Day Number: 1338622.75

Judges 19:26-30

Levite Cuts Concubine Into Twelve Sections

The twelve sections of the cut-up concubine are sent by messengers to the twelve Tribes of Israel. This bizarre behavior by a Levite incensed Israel to take revenge on the tribe of Benjamin for allowing this atrocity to occur in their inherited territory.

Type of Dated Event: EST
BR Calendar Day Number: 193
BR Years from Creation: 3062
BR: Sunday, April 27 — Iyar 10, 1052 BC
GH: Sunday, December 3 — Kislev 13, 1049 BC
Julian Day Number: 1338622.75

Judges 20:1-11

Israel Gathers for War With Benjamites at Mizpah

Type of Dated Event: EDFC
BR Calendar Day Number: 248
BR Years from Creation: 3062
BR: Saturday, June 21 — Tammuz 6, 1052 BC
GH: Saturday, January 27 — Shevat 6, 1048 BC
Julian Day Number: 1338677.75

Judges 20:29-48

Israel Defeats Benjamin on Third Day of Battle

Type of Dated Event: EST
BR Calendar Day Number: 337
BR Years from Creation: 3062
BR: Thursday, September 19 — Tishri 7, 1052 BC
GH: Thursday, April 26 — Iyar 5, 1048 BC
Julian Day Number: 1338766.75

Judges 21:1-24

Israel Decides to Provide Wives for Defeated Benjamites

Type of Dated Event: EST
BR Calendar Day Number: 338
BR Years from Creation: 3062
BR: Friday, September 20 — Tishri 8, 1052 BC
GH: Friday, April 27 — Iyar 6, 1048 BC
Julian Day Number: 1338767.75

1 Samuel 8:1-3

Joel and Abijah Become Judges

Samuel appoints his two wicked sons, Joel and Abijah, as Judges in Israel. CD#249 is the DFC and EDFC date for events happening between 1051 BC and 1047 BC.

Type of Dated Event: EDFC
BR Calendar Day Number: 249
BR Years from Creation: 3063
BR: Sunday, June 22 — Tammuz 7, 1051 BC
GH: Sunday, January 27 — Shevat 6, 1047 BC
Julian Day Number: 1339042.75

1 Samuel 8:4-22

Israel Asks Samuel for a King

The Elders of Israel reject the leadership of the sons of Samuel and ask for a King. Samuel is not pleased with the Elder’s request and prays for guidance. God informs Samuel that the request for a King is a rejection of God’s provision for Israel. The people are warned about the unpleasant outcome of having a King rule over them instead of relying of God. God grants the people their wish to have Samuel appoint a King. Samuel instructs the men of Israel in verse 22, “Every man go to his city”. The year 1050 BC becomes the transitional year that ends the period of the Judges of Israel and begins the forty year reign of Saul, the first of the Kings of Israel.

Type of Dated Event: EDFC
BR Calendar Day Number: 249
BR Years from Creation: 3064
BR: Sunday, June 22 — Tammuz 7, 1050 BC
GH: Sunday, January 26 — Shevat 5, 1046 BC
Julian Day Number: 1339406.75