Yesterday John Hartnett provided a model based on historic measurements collected by George F. Dodwell of the change in the earth’s tilt1 confirming the biblical chronology that Henry B. Smith, Jr argued for in 20182.
The date Hartnett’s model estimated for the flood event was 3154 ± 191 BC. That range excludes Ussher’s flood date of 2348 BC3 but Smith, Jr’s date of 3298 BC still fits.
If we use Smith, Jr’s chronology, that would put creation at about 5500 BC, Noah’s flood at about 3300 BC, the Tower of Babel at about 2850 BC, the call of Abraham in 2091 BC, the Exodus from Egypt in 1446 BC, Solomon crowned in 971 BC and the birth of Jesus in 2 BC.4
The reason for the discrepancy between Ussher’s and Smith, Jr’s dates is due to conflicting dates provided in the chronologies of Genesis 5 and 11 coming from different manuscript traditions of the Bible. Smith, Jr argued that the Hebrew manuscript which became the Masoretic text was modified in the first or second century after the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD to void prophecies that Jesus could have been the Messiah. The Septuagint, however, preserved the original text, but the Masoretic text became the preferred source for modern bible translations.
Hartnett’s model not only excluded Ussher’s date, but it also estimated a date for something which happened affecting the tilt of the earth at a time which aligned with the biblical chronology that Smith, Jr has promoted.

Okay. I just believe it all happened and will happen the way the Bible says it’s going to happen.
I just believe.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree with that. From that perspective the precise dates when these events occurred doesn’t matter. Blessings, Mary!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I totally understand the reason to study scripture, and I wont ever stop, but sometimes I wonder if Christians would just love and not debate, more people might want what we have.
Blessings to you and yours!!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Here is a commentary on the arguments for and against the biblical chronology based primarily on the Septuagint and one based primarily on the Masoretic text.
LikeLike
It’s fascinating and we could get lost in it for hours. I am glad there are wiser heads than mine which do so, I’ll go back to the not quite so brainy work I’ve been called to do.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Regardless of the time frame it all happened just as Genesis described it. Blessings, Mimi!
LikeLike
Thanks for this insight. It all happened exactly as explained in Genesis. Blessings.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is the point. It all actually happened as Genesis described it. The time frame for that to have happened is less than 8000 years which encompasses all manuscript traditions of the Bible. Blessings, Michael!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is an area. I am weak at. However, I believe Genesis account is true.
LikeLike
The Genesis account is true. That is the only thing I can rely on.
It is not easy to sort through these dates because of the conflicting manuscript traditions and church teachings. Personal deception clouds the issue. Secular academics distract with their speculations that are hostile to the Bible.
Hartnett’s previous blog posts show he originally favored a variation of Ussher’s chronology. So, I was surprised to read his latest posts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amen
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting and thoughtful research.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! Blessings!
LikeLike
The following is an interview with John Hartnett that appeared last night.
The first hour discusses science as an “idolatrous belief system”.
The second hour goes into some specific issues of whether the universe has a center and edge or not, is our galaxy in a special position in the universe, is the universe expanding and do galaxies evolve. All of these are philosophical speculations and cannot be determined by cosmology itself.
LikeLike
John Hartnett posted a continuation of his study.
https://biblescienceforum.com/2025/05/02/a-brief-history-of-the-earths-magnetic-field/
LikeLike