The traditional date given for the death of Herod the Great (4 BC) was based on a very early transcription error that was carried over again and again into later copies of the document. The earliest copy of the actual historical document says he died in 1 BC. This later date is verified by a close analysis of the Jewish calendar, lunar eclipse data from NASA and Josephus’ account of Herod’s death. (There is a detailed account @ “Astronomy and the Death of King Herod” @ http://www.askelm.com/star/star010.htm.)
Sources:
- Hebrew-Common Calendar @ http://www.cgsf.org/dbeattie/calendar/?roman=1+BC
- First century BCE Lunar Eclipse list @ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_1st-century_BCE_lunar_eclipses
- January 10, 1 BCE eclipse chart @ http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/5MCLEmap/-0099-0000/LE0000-01-10T.gif
- Why 1 BCE chart is dated 0000 explained @ http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEhelp/dates.html
