Inquiry:
When did Solomon ‘s reign begin? Was it 476 years after the Israelites left Egypt (1 Kings 6:1) or 570 years after they left Egypt (Acts 13:17-18, 20-21; 1 Chronicles 29:26-27)? Is there a contradiction?
Response:
There are a couple of possible explanations for the difference noted by the questioner.
It has been suggested by some that the 450 years spoken of in Acts 13:20 is not in reference to the duration of the time of the judges, but refers back to the previous verses, calculating the time from the choosing of their fathers (v 17) to the division of the land (v 19). Several translations include the 450 years in verse 19, not verse 20 (ASV, BBE, MNT, RSV, WEB, WNT, etc). The time from the birth of Isaac (for God chose the nation to come through Isaac, not Ishmael) until the establishment of judges in the land of Israel is some 447 years, fitly summarized by the apostle as “about 450 years.” (see ACC).
If the 450 years is the time of the judges, as the questioner assumes, then there is a problem in the calculation of the time from the Exodus to the reign of Solomon (among other things). If this is what Paul refers to, he used the chronology commonly accepted by his contemporaries (see Josephus, Antiquities 7.3.1). Paul’s purpose was not to dispute chronologies or genealogies (1 Timothy 1:4; Titus 3:9), but to discuss salvation in Jesus Christ (v 23-41).
Which is the solution? I lean toward the former, but either is possible. In the former, there is no contradiction, in the latter, the reason for the apparent contradiction is explained.
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