282 F. GARD FLEAY^ ESQ., M.A., ON THE SYNCHRONOUS 



Postscript. — On reading this paper since it has been set up in 

 type, it strikes me that it is too positive in its tone and may convey 

 an impression that I mean it to be accepted as a final sokition. 

 This, however, is not the case. It is purely tentative, and since it 

 was written I have met with additional reasons for regarding it in 

 this light. In February I received an inquiry from Mr. C. Grain, 

 of Boston, Mass., U.S.A., as to the progress of my investigation in 

 Hebrew Chronology, and in reply to my answer he sent me a prMs 

 of his own scheme of this period, which struck me so strongly by 

 its ingenuity and careful research, that I asked him to draw up a 

 short statement of his views in order that I might lay it before you 

 in the discussion on this paper as an alternative to my own ; this in 

 a letter dated 31st March he promised to send, but it has not yet 

 reached me. His paper was published in The Shepherd's Voice 

 during the year 1895, but until the correspondence now mentioned 



1 had never heard of that publication or of Mr. Grain. 



His scheme appears to be founded on the cross references in 

 the books of Kings between the reigns of the kings of Israel and 

 Judah, he admits coregnancies of various kings, and there may be 

 some new difficulties as to age of fatherhood for two of the kings of 

 Judah, but he retains every Scriptural date except the 27 years in 



2 Kings XV, 1 ; and all the Assyrian dates without any gap in the 

 eponym lists. If the date of Shishak can be lowered to 940, or 

 thereabouts (and this I find on careful revision of my Egyptian 

 scheme is perfectly feasible) and the coregnancies admitted (on which 

 question I am at present engaged), I shall withdraw my own scheme 

 in favour of Mr. Grain's. Nevertheless I shall not in any case 

 regret having proposed it ; for, if Mr. Grain proves to be right, the 

 vindication of the Scriptural dates will be absolutely complete, and 

 I need hardly say that no one will be more pleased than myself if 

 my paper should prove to be merely a vantage ground from which 

 the " Shepherd's Voice " shall be more clearly heard proclaiming the 

 perfect consistency and historical accuracy of the Book of Kings. 

 I append a tabular view of Mr. Grain's remarkable scheme 

 condensed by me from the elaborate table which I received from 

 him in March. F. G. Fleay. 



