Page:Historical Works of Venerable Bede vol. 2.djvu/304

 232 to a different result; for it appears that there were 1656 years to the deluge, and thence to Abraham 292. Abraham was 75 years old when he received the promise of God. The years of the promise were 430. Moses governed Israel 40 years. Now surely the sum of all this is, not 2500 years, but 7 years less; namely 2493, as we have noted before.

A.M. 2559 [3925]. of the tribe of Judah, the first Judge of Israel, by the appointment of the Lord, ruled them for 40 years, in the early part of which period the children of Israel served Cushan Risathaim 8 years.

A.M. 2639 [4005]. Aoth [Ehud], the son of Gera, a Benjamite, who could use either hand, judged Israel 80 years. In his early days Israel served Eglon, king of Moab, 18 years, till he delivered them by slaying Eglon. At this time the city of Cyrene was founded in Libya.

A.M. 2679 [4045].

Deborah, a prophetess of the tribe of Ephraim, with Barak of the tribe of Naphtalim, judged Israel 40 years. Jabin, king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor, oppressed Israel 20 years; but Sisera, the captain of his host, having been slain, he was at length brought low and destroyed. At this period Miletus was founded.

A.M. 2719 [4085].

Gideon, of the tribe of Manasseh, judged Israel 40 years. In his days Israel served the Midianites and Amalekites 7 years, but Gideon by his valour delivered them. Tyre was founded 40 years before the temple of Jerusalem, according to Josephus.

A.M. 2722 [4088].

Abimelech, son of Gideon, reigned 3 years in Sichem. Hercules sacks Troy.