The era of the SeleucidÆ among the Greeks and Eastern nations, sometimes called the “era of contracts,” dated from the capture of Babylon by Seleucus Nicator, Oct.1st B.C.312. The complete subjugation of the city followed 6months later, and therefore the Babylonians counted from the spring of B.C.311. With this exception the former date has been generally regarded as the true epoch. The years run as below:

We pause at the beginning of the 171st year because it was a year of great moment in the life of the Jewish nation. The deepest interest is focussed on “the 23rd day of the 2nd month” when Simon, brother of Judas Maccabeus, “destroyed a great enemy out of Israel,” and CLEANSED the Temple of its abominations. He also ordained, that the day should be observed ever after, as a National holiday.—IMacc.XIII.51.

We note that the 171st year, like all others of the SeleucidÆ, began with the month of October, which was the first month of the Macedonian calendar. It was called Hyperberetaeus, the second month Dius, the third, Apellaeus and so on. But the question that concerns us most is, whether the writer of First Maccabees actually reckoned by Macedonian months? A careful examination of the entire book shows that he mentioned 4Hebrew months by name—“Casleu, Adar, Elul and Sabat”—also that he clearly located another, viz:—Tisri, but not in a single instance did he mention the name of a Macedonian month, or refer to the Macedonian calendar in any manner whatsoever. That he did not regard October as being the FIRST month is plainly declared in IMacc.X.21, where he says:—

“So in the SEVENTH month of the 160th year, at the feast of tabernacles, Jonathan put on the holy robe,” etc.

Sept/Oct. therefore was the SEVENTH month, according to the usage of the writer of the First book of Maccabees, which gives the following succession:—

The rest of the way is easy. We have only to follow the Jewish calendar of Rabbi HillelII and we learn that the “23rd day of the SECOND month” corresponded with the

4th day of May B.C.141,

the great day of National Independence. Having thus far followed exclusively the years of the SeleucidÆ as common among Greeks and Orientals, let us now turn to the system of the Babylonians. Their era began, as already explained, with the spring of B.C.311. Accordingly, their 171st year began with the spring of B.C.141, and the SECOND month of course coincided with Apr/May, or the Jewish month Iyar. It matters not, therefore, whether you follow the system of the Greeks or that of the Babylonians, you will arrive at the same goal, viz:—May4th B.C.141.

One can hardly overestimate the importance of this discovery, because a knowledge of the National Independence day gives a fixed starting point for that mysterious group of DAYS—2300, 1290 and 1335—as revealed by the angel Gabriel to “Daniel the Prophet.”