193 



meant to include the 8 years of the first oppression in this 

 period, and to suppose the tirst repose of 40 years commen- 

 ced after his victory; so that his jurisdiction began probably 

 two years before the invasion of Chusan, to complete the 50 

 years — -agreeably to which, we find the Paschal Chronicle 

 allots him but 32 yearn, in which it would include the firs^t 

 oppression, but inaccurately ; as the 8 years of the first op- 

 pression are requisite to complete the period in Scripture : 

 . If this mode of solution is adopted, it will afford us strong 

 ground of argument for our more consistent calculus in account- 

 ing the remaining servitudes as inclusive to the reposes.* 



3. He omits Jair, evidently intentionally, as it appears by 

 his aggregates, which would be inaccurate by inserting his 

 periods; holding his jurisdiction as I presume, contemporary 

 with the 18 years oppression of the Ammonites. The juris- 

 diction of Jair was 22 years, (Jud. 10. 8.) and perhaps the two 



2 c 2 years 



* This solution maj' appear dubious, but it is not otherwise conceivable, how so many 

 could have agreed to extend she period of Othniel, as Eusebius (Priep. Evan. x. c. 13.)Sul- 

 picius Seyerus, Maximus, and Zonaras ; or how they could have avoided recollecting, he 

 must have been one of the elders. The two years necessary to complete the calculus, 

 may be the two assigned by several ancient authors, to the jurisdiction of the ancients. (Vide 

 Playfair p. 11.) The amiable and learned reformer Melancthon, seems to have been of 

 an opinion somewhat similar to this, when he granted 8 years to Othniel, Supposing, as I 

 understand him, that he was captain against the enemy, during the w hole of the oppres- 

 sion of Chushan, which considering his established character, previous to that oppression, 

 is by ao means improbable, Cbron. Carionis p. 4<t. Aurcliae AUob. 1610. 



