To understand all this, we must delve into scurrilous, dark and devilish deeds involving corrupt calendars and cunning clergymen. We are to reveal a certain stubbornness. Perhaps and possibly prejudice based on, shall I say, a lack of basic knowledge. We are to expose the sad story of Bishop Ussher, whose mind literally ushered in four centuries of confusion and inaccuracy. From nothing, ab initio, with a staggering and blatant over-confidence, he fashioned the nonsensical Biblical dateline that all the ignorant experts use to this day – including the secularists.
I include this not only because it is entertaining. It is an object lesson of the obvious fact that in life generally, if you examine the details, most of that which you take as being ‘proven’ collapses like a house of cards.
Who Was James Ussher? Biography and Character
Vindictive and inhumanly cruel, James Ussher (4 January 1581 – 21 March 1656) was the Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland for the very Protestant Church of Ireland between 1625–56. He was a brilliant man who pretended to know Hebrew. He was savagely anti-Catholic and was barbarically vicious to the poor and innocent Irish Catholics over whom he held dominion. A nasty individual and a very ignorant bluffer. I describe him as ‘over-confident’ because of his method of working out Biblical dating.
Ussher’s Calculation: Creation in 4004 BCE Explained
So convinced was he of his material that he took up his quill and calculated that Creation must have been in the autumn in the evening of 22nd October 4004 BCE. He incorrectly thought that the Hebrew Bible says that the fruit that tempted Eve was ‘ripe and luscious’. Autumn is when fruits are ripe – and presumably bored women philosophize with snakes. Ergo, Creation was therefore the autumnal equinox. This puzzles me in all respects – but also because I thought the autumnal equinox was 22/23rd September – so where did October come from?
Further, who mentioned ‘fruit’, ‘ripe’ or ‘luscious’?
Was Ussher a True Hebrew Expert?
Surprisingly, Ussher really was meant to be a Hebrew expert – well, for his peer group, perhaps. But just look at the Hebrew – which he obviously could not do – accurately. The text he supposedly relies on says nothing whatsoever about ‘fruit’, ‘ripe’ or ‘luscious’ or even ‘Buy now! Fruit of Knowledge – 2 for the price of 1’. Further, nowhere is there a suggestion of any equinox – except in the bishop’s mind. He is just fitting Creation into his preconceptions and a particular preconception hovering around That Date – 00 CE.
The Lasting Impact of Ussher’s Biblical Chronology
But this single man has imposed his own ridiculously funny suppositions on 400 years of ‘academic’ research. We must shout loudly (to deaf ears) that it is this wrong and derisory Bible chronology on which the secularist archaeologists rely – and even that most secular group of all – the a-religious Israelis. The latter are being very naughty indeed actually for they know all about the logically correct chronology of their own orthodox ex-co-religionists. The Israelis are perfectly aware that the Talmudic chronology fits in with today’s archaeological findings, but to admit that would be cultural and political suicide. Our dating system is politically incorrect. So shh!
Justifying Criticism of Bishop Ussher
Having pointed the finger, I had better justify my criticism. Later we shall see that a brilliant new book has proved absolutely from eternal evidence that the bishop is wrong. I shall provide internal evidence that Ussher’s Creation dating is patently a perfect combination of ignorance and prejudice and I shall leave you to judge.
What the Hebrew Old Testament Actually Says
The Hebrew Old Testament simply says that “The tree was good for food and desirable to the eyes and the tree was attractive in being able to give understanding.” (Genesis 3:6)
Flaws in Ussher’s Fruit and Autumnal Argument
Thus, Ussher’s confusing story about the fruit – the fruit – being ‘luscious, ripe’ and therefore autumnal is not in the text. Further, in the Garden of Eden, I would expect perfect unchanging weather – no equinoxes to affect ripening. And forget not that this was a unique fruit, unlikely to be seasonal. Further, October is rather late for fruit picking. Also, anyway how did the Bishop know where the Garden of Eden was; whether it was in Alaska or Jordan or Tierra del Fuego, October remains the wrong time!
Distinguishing Tree from Fruit in Biblical Text
Also, note that little word ‘tree’. No mention of ‘fruit’ yet. Yes, next we find that the woman ate ‘the fruit’. But then she may have some difficulty in eating the wood or leaves. And what was emphasized as ‘attractive’ was not the fruit but the ‘tree – being able to give understanding’. It was a tree ‘good for food’ – and that food, as she had been told, would give wisdom. The fruit may well have been nondescript. We are not told – but its attractiveness was not because of its sumptuousness. Nowhere, in fact, is there a description of the fruit. We are not even told which fruit it was – perhaps an apple, a citron, a fig?
Yes, I know this is rocket science – but do struggle with the notion that ‘tree’ and ‘fruit’ are different words and objects. Do that and you can become Bishop of Ireland. Or perhaps not, you would be over-qualified! The serpent had indeed aroused all those self-destructive elements dwelling within each of us. It indeed opened a world of ideas. But whatever the serpent was, it was not the first green grocer.
The True Lure: Forbidden Knowledge, Not Fruit
The forbidden knowledge was the lure, not the fruit. The Hebrew makes that clear – ‘the tree was attractive in being able to give understanding.’ It is true our New Year is in the autumn. But it can vary from August to late September in the solar calendar. No Octobers: just September. No fruit: just knowledge. No accuracy, just fruitless academia.
Ussher’s Failed End of the World Prediction
There is one additional tiny, weeny problem which may just shake even his wife’s faith in our Jamie Ussher. He stated that the world must end on 23rd October 1996. Now I was waiting with baited breath. Did you notice anything? I must admit it seems to have passed me by. If you are reading this and can pinch yourself, you have no reason to believe his calculations – unless you are a solipsist.
Why Ussher’s Timeline Persists Despite Inaccuracies
Despite this, his dateline still rules. Unbelievably, this insupportable calendar has been the basis for all dating since Ussher. Its inaccuracy and inconsistency has had the Christian establishment tied up in knots and sticking plaster for four centuries. Those who followed him often played around with this untenable timeline because they knew it made no sense – but they simply piled on more ignorance – and produced junk. How can experts be so wrong? They are experts! Or perhaps, just perhaps, they are not experts. They have spent their lives reading translations of translations, supposition piled on supposition. They would have been very successful politicians.
Reference to Peter James and Challenging Established Wisdom
But please do not pretend to believe me. I repeat the words of one Peter James, quoted above. His website provides a plethora of sources and incredible detail which correctly crushes the accepted wisdom. No wonder he is not universally acknowledged and publicly lauded. Challenging the establishment is guaranteed to keep a man from acclaim. I certainly cannot endorse everything on his site as much of it is outside my narrow field but it was great to meet another traveler in this wilderness.
By re-dating … from the early 12th century BCE to the late 10th, a completely new interpretation of the archaeology of Israel can be offered: One which is in perfect harmony with the biblical record.
Exposing “Experts” in Modern Time
In 1986, in a blood-libel trial against a Jewish Primary school, I personally proved the British Education Ministry’s Hebrew and Aramaic ‘expert’ for 20 years – yes, 20 – to be a well-meaning individual who actually knew scarcely any Hebrew and no Aramaic. This was proved in open court. He referred to a school – called in Hebrew ‘Bnos Yisroel’ meaning ‘The Daughters of Israel’- as ‘a fine boys’ – boys’ – school. Who calls a boys’ school ‘The Daughters of Israel’? It was patently a girls’ school. No one who knows even rudimentary Hebrew could say the sentence which he said, ‘Yes, Bnos Yisroel – a boys’ school in Manchester.’
I grabbed the barrister’s gown and insisted he ask for an adjournment. Not being Jewish, he was incredulous but agreed. The judge had noticed our urgent whispering of course, and looked at me questioningly – a strange bearded figure with a huge black skull cap looking like a Biblical patriarch – sitting just behind counsel where only solicitors sit. I gave him a look as if to say, ‘Yes, M’Lud, Milord, My Lord, Your Lord, Your most utterly honorable Honour, I am a lawyer and there really is a valid reason to disturb the soporific tedium we are all so enjoying.’ He frowned, raising an eyebrow. I raised mine and nodded. And he said, “Well, it is nearly lunch time. Granted.” (There seems a widespread connection for the judiciary between food and adjournments.)
We hurriedly concocted a test which we played out that afternoon in court despite the prosecution’s displeasure and objections. The judge had however smelt a rat and the trial was stopped. The government backed down in disarray. They paid all the costs and withdrew their closing order. Yes, 1986 not 1686. Nothing changes. Experts, even well-meaning ones, are usually not experts!
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