TMG-L Archives

Archiver > TMG > 2005-11 > 1130880189


From: "John Davis" <>
Subject: Re: [TMG] OT: Bible Genealogy
Date: Tue, 1 Nov 2005 13:23:09 -0800
References: <002c01c5df1e$6d90db70$3102a8c0@Jewel>


Denise,

I am also interesting in tracking Bible genealogy with TMG. Aside from
all the debates over the accuracy that is attainable (or not) with such
ancient history, the main problem, it seems, is the BC dates. I would
like to see a system developed where we could enter such dates, if only
by using a 365 day year and designating it as a ddd/yyyy date. For
example: "130/-2051" = "the 130th day of 2051 BC", or, "about 14/-2051"
= +/- a designated range around the 14th day of 2051 BC. Then the system
could convert these dates to a format, internally, that would allow the
math to work between two BC dates, and between BC and AD dates.

The other option would be to enlist the assistance of a Jewish historian
to put together the Jewish calendar for TMG all the way back to the year
???? BC. Most other calendar systems in ancient use could probably be
interpolated to the Jewish calendar. This system could be used for both
BC & AD dates, if desired, but it would be more practical if conversions
between the Jewish calendar and the ones now used by TMG were available.

A unique calendar could also be created for strictly genealogical
purposes that simply back-calculates from one of the more modern
calendars over into "BC." I'm not sure how easy this one would be to
accept.

In any case, it's all in deciding on a method and developing an
algorithm. I think that it is do-able once the goal is clearly
understood.

The Jewish calendar is based on a 360 day year of 12 months, with an
occasional intercalary month inserted into seven of the years per each
19 year metonic cycle. I'm not sure which seven years. This makes for a
13 month year once in a while in order to reset the calendar to make up
for the lost 5/1/4 or so days per year. It could probably be replicated
by an algorithm that would take the calendar back as far as desired. It
would be accurate enough, considering that the available dates for BC
events are not all that accurate.

I think this really is a legitimate use for a genealogy program, IF the
program is considered a true genealogy program and NOT just a "family
history" program. We should be able, in my opinion, to take any type of
genealogical information that is available and use a true genealogy
program to at least determine family relationships, sequences of events,
parallels in history, etc., and record them and chart them.

I believe that breakthrough in this area will be something like
"snatching the golden ring" for the genealogy program that accomplishes
it, if only on a rudimentary level to begin with, IMHO.

John Davis

----- Original Message -----
From: "Denise Merritt" <>
To: <>
Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2005 11:57 AM
Subject: [TMG] OT: Bible Genealogy


> Some may think this is off topic - my husband has suggested I use the
TMG
> program to track Bible genealogy. (We are studying Chronicles with
our
> children). Does anyone know if there is already an existing GEDCOM
file
> someone else has created of Bible genealogy before I begin this
project?
>
> Denise
>
>
> ==== TMG Mailing List ====
> Send all messages and replies to <>.
>
>

This thread: