Mind-Benders of Jewish History
We are further from Hillel than Hillel was from King David
Hillel the Elder died around the year 10 CE. The span backward from Hillel to the reign of King David is shorter than the span forward from Hillel to today — the sage of the Second Temple stood nearer to David's era than he does to ours.
How we know
Hillel d.~10 CE (graph b.-110/d.10). David's reign ended c.970 BCE (academic) / c.837 BCE (traditional Seder Olam ~2924 AM). Hillel->David ≈ 980 yrs (academic) or ~847 (traditional). Today 2026 -> Hillel = 2016 yrs. 2016 > both.
One of many fact-checked wonders across eight traditions at The Spring of Wisdom.