274 F. QARD FLEAY, ESQ._, ON THE SYNCHRONOUS 



Second, Oppert's, which introduces a supposititious second 

 Menahem, and assumes too large a gap in the list of 

 Assyrian eponyms ; 



Third, the scheme of the modern Assyriologers, which 

 openly asserts the untrustworthiness of the Books of 

 Kings and Chronicles in all matters chronological, and 

 arbitrarily alters the lengths of ten reigns by 

 differences of three to fourteen years ; thus cutting 

 aWay all ground for belief in the historical fidelity of 

 the author of this portion of the Scriptures ; and 



Fourth, the scheme now proposed which, by inserting 25 

 years for Arbaces in the eponym lists, and by the trans- 

 position of four verses containing the reign of Pekah, but 

 making no other change whatever except in passages 

 which all parties alike admit to require emendation — 

 by these two simple alterations attains both absolute 

 agreement with the Assyrian records and internal self- 

 consistency, and at the same time vindicates the 

 substantial veracity and fidelity of the original 

 Hebrew annalists. 



Discussion. 



The Chairman. — Professor Hull has a letter from Canon 

 Girdlestone bearing on the question. 



The Secretary read the following : — " I am sorry T cannot be 

 present to hear Mr. Fleay's paper. He has done good service by 

 his work on Egyptian chronology, and this new essay will help us 

 in the right direction. Probably he does not know the Oxford 

 * Helps to the study of the Bible,' for the chronological part of 

 which I am mainly responsible. It will be found to agree to a 

 considerable extent with his conclusions, but was published about 

 fifteen years ago." 



The Chairman. — We have here some distinguished Assyriologists, 

 and no doubt others who can speak on the subject. 



We are greatly indebted to Mr. Fleay for his paper, which must 

 have cost him much time and thought. 



