Bible Dictionary
ERA
A system or point of reference for dating events. Biblical Israel usually dated events by the reigns of kings; later Jews used the Seleucid era and the era of the Maccabean independence.
Biblical Usage
Old Testament events were commonly dated by the regnal years of kings. After the exile, Jews used the regnal years of Persian rulers and later the Seleucid era; the Maccabean independence also became a dating point.