Abraham and his times

Koot van Wyk (DLitt et Phil; ThD)

Kyungpook National University

Sangju Campus

South Korea

Conjoint Lecturer of Avondale College

Australia

23 December 2010

Abraham lived while Noah was in his final years. Abraham was born in 2229 BCE nearly 75 years after Sargon of Agade. Before Abraham's entry into Canaan in 2154 BCE at the age of 75 (Genesis 12:4), a number of his ancestors died: Serug in 2209 BCE, Peleg in 2181 BCE, Nahor in 2180 BCE, Noah in 2169 BCE and Reu in 2151 BCE (Genesis 11:23, 19, 25, 21 and for Noah see Genesis 9:28). Noah died 6 years before the reign of Urbaba (2163-2144 BCE). In the year Ismael was born in 2143 BCE (Genesis 16:3) Gudea became king of Lagash (2143-2124 BCE).

For the history of Gudea a number of sources are available: statues, tablets, stone tables, brick, vase, stele, human headed bull, step inscription, door lentils, fragmentary inscription with crown of gods, amulet, seal. Gudea married the daughter of the King of Lagash, Urbaba, namely, Ninalla. Gudea's sons name is Urningirsu.

Gudea was followed in 2124 BCE by his son Urningirsu until 2119 BCE. Gudea died five years after the birth of Izaac the son of Abraham. Pirigme followed Urningirsu in 2118-2117 BCE. Ur-Gar followed Pirigme between 2116-2114 BCE. Nam-ḫani ruled after Pirigme between 2113-2111 BCE and Utu-ḫegal ruled between 2116-2109 BCE. Utu-ḫegal is relevant for the transitional period of the end of the Akkadian period and the beginning of the Ur III period by Urnammu. In the prologue of Urnammu's Codex, (Orientalia NS XXIII 42, 75-77) he claimed that he killed the city ruler of Lagash, Nam-ḫani. Kramer is of the opinion that loyalty to the Gutians had something to do with it (S. N. Kramer, The Sumerians, 68). Nevertheless, the beginning of the Ur III period or 2114 BCE, is the time we find Izaac and Abraham on mount Moriah in Jerusalem on the Temple Mount (Genesis 22).

In the last years of Utu-ḫegal of the city of Unug, a conflict arose between his ša-gi-na in the city of Ur, Urnammu and the city of Lagash. Lagash requested to be liberated from the obligations of the city of Unug in which case Utu-ḫegal could not protect Lagash against Urnammu. According to the Kinglists, Utu-ḫegal reigned only seven and a half years. The conflict was shortly before the beginning of the Ur III period. It was shortly before Genesis 22 and shortly before Isaac and Abraham went to Mount Moriah. Since Nam-ḫani is said to have ruled only two years and only two years are recovered about him, it is safe to conclude that he started off with Urnammu. Nam-ḫani (Lagash) and Urnammu (Ur) 2nd years corresponds with Utu-ḫegal's year 7. Gudea and Urnammu could not have reigned in the same time. The deified Gudea received in the Ur III period state funds for offerings. Offerings were brought for deified previous rulers like Gudea in 2114 BCE, the same time that Abraham was asked to offer his son Isaac on mount Moriah as a symbol of the sacrifice of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ in 31 CE (see Genesis 22). Gudea ruled in the same time as the Gutian rulers. The Gutians or rulers from the Zagros mountains created severe problems for the peoples of the valleys and the plains. Trade was not easy and the Gutians created obstructions (ZANF XXIII 58f., 155-169). Some letters from this time translated by A. L. Oppenheim, Letters from Mesopotamia, 71f. indicate the problems the Gutians created.

From the time of the Gutian ruler Si'ums, Lugalannatum wrote of an incident that happened 35 years before, from the year 2155 BCE, which is the 9th year of Urbaba until the time of the Gutian ruler Si'ums in 2120 BCE. In all probability, the Gutians started to rule in 2155 BCE and the next year, Abraham arrived in Canaan, namely in 2154 BCE. The lesson we learn from Abraham is that when rulers are difficult, the people of God should pack their bags and migrate. Lagash and Gudea had a monopoly over trade in the Persian Gulf but when Urnammu took over in 2114 BCE, trade came under the control of Ur. This was to be the case until 2004 BCE, exactly 50 years after the death of Abraham, who died in 2154 BCE (Genesis 25:7).

Source:

A. Falkenstein, "Zum heutigen Stande der Gudeaforschung" Bibliotheca Orientalis XXVI no. 3/4 (May-July 1969): 159-170.