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Author Lyle has constructed a remarkable collocation of the time-focused accounts found in the Holy Bible that are connected to authentic early world history. To do so, as he explains in his book’s introduction, he has mined the primary Hebrew text of the Old Testament (Masoretic Text) alongside numerous later works, including, among other sources, the Septuagint (one published in 1851 and another in 2023), the King James Version of the Holy Bible dating from 1611, the Latin Vulgate, and the Samaritan Pentateuch. Most biblical text was originally composed in the Hebrew language and then translated into Greek or English. Therefore, all sources cited rely on the subtleties and complexities of the original Hebrew, principally because, Lyle states, that was the language chosen by HaShem (God) for communication with his created beings.
To assure that his work is accessible to all readers, the author offers abbreviations to refer to the texts quoted, along with the Bible book from which each quote is derived. For example, a reference from the Book of Isaiah may be marked as KJ (King James). The contents of the Old Testament form the nucleus of this volume and are offered in fine detail, giving explanations such as the fact that the Book of Genesis denotes God as Elohim, a Hebrew plural construct that presages the later doctrine of the Trinity. The bulk of Lyle’s work comprises carefully gathered minutiae, building on the thesis that the Bible is a historical work redolent with essential data verified through other writings. Combined records support such fact-based accounts as those found in the Book of Genesis, along with such scientifically based discoveries as the existence of magnetic force, which can be understood, Lyle asserts, as God’s force pervading the universe. Data regarding Egyptian dynasties combine with the examination of events elsewhere around the globe, depicting widespread famine and other cataclysms in many nations. These formerly little-known correlations provide Lyle’s work with a special fascination for the diligent reader of this unique, encyclopedic offering.
Lyle is a computer programmer whose requisite attention to detail is reflected in this work. His zeal for the study of ancient history and its interlinking with religious information has led him to spend forty years in the creation of this volume. He boldly states that many biblical scholars and world historians have simply “lied” or misled readers, offering as examples the theory of evolution (which, as Lyle observes, is still only a theory) along with the claims of a “missing link” in the realm of human development, and cosmologists’ claims regarding the age of the universe. In developing his template for sharing this data, the author had to make many alterations to his own theories, as he came to realize that merely arraying biblical material by date was insufficient and would need to be accompanied by other sources available in non-biblical records. Lyle’s audience will recognize the honesty of his approach and respect the energy that he has clearly exerted to share, phrase by phrase, the factual resources to be found through extensive, exhaustive, open-minded scrutiny. Lyle’s work has potential for group discussion and individual analysis, with the author as an exemplar in this enlightening field.
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