The Seder Olam Rabbah, a second-century Jewish chronicle attributed to Rabbi Yose ben Halafta, provides a chronology of biblical events that offers insight into the 490-year calculation leading up to the Babylonian exile. This calculation is tied to the concept of sabbatical years (shmita) and is derived as follows:
Key Points in the Seder Olam Rabbah Chronology:
1. Entry into the Land of Canaan (ca. 1406 BCE):
The Israelites entered Canaan under Joshua’s leadership. The counting of sabbatical years began once the land was settled.
2. Period of the Judges:
The Seder Olam Rabbah assigns approximately 356 years to the period of the Judges, during which Israel’s obedience to God’s laws, including the sabbatical years, was inconsistent.
3. United Kingdom under Saul, David, and Solomon:
This period lasted for 120 years, during which Israel transitioned to a monarchy. The Temple was built under Solomon.
4. Divided Kingdom:
After Solomon’s reign, the kingdom split into Israel (Northern Kingdom) and Judah (Southern Kingdom). The Northern Kingdom was eventually destroyed by Assyria in 722 BCE, leaving Judah alone.
5. Duration of Disobedience:
According to Seder Olam Rabbah, the Southern Kingdom of Judah failed to properly observe the sabbatical years for 490 years. This spans the time from the period of the Judges through the monarchy, up to the Babylonian exile.
6. 70-Year Exile (586 BCE – 516 BCE):
The Babylonian exile is understood as the period during which the land “enjoyed its Sabbaths” (Leviticus 26:34–35). The 70 years of exile correspond to 70 missed sabbatical years, which reflect 490 years of disobedience (70 sabbatical years × 7 years per cycle = 490 years).
Breakdown of the 490-Year Calculation
The Seder Olam Rabbah does not explicitly outline every missed sabbatical year but ties the 490 years to the overall historical timeline:
- From the entry into Canaan to the building of the Temple (Joshua to Solomon): ~440 years.
- From the Temple’s construction to the Babylonian exile: ~50 years.
Together, this totals approximately 490 years of accumulated disobedience to God’s sabbatical laws.
Supporting Biblical Texts
The idea of the land resting during the exile is tied to Leviticus 26:34–35 and 2 Chronicles 36:20–21, which state that the land would make up for the sabbatical years that Israel neglected.
Summary
The Seder Olam Rabbah connects the 70 years of Babylonian exile to a 490-year period of disobedience, where the Israelites failed to observe the sabbatical years. This period is calculated from the time of the Judges through the monarchy, leading up to the exile. While the exact chronology is debated, this interpretation reflects the rabbinic understanding of biblical prophecy and divine justice.
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