Devotional
Short Notes to Genesis 11
Scholars
are eager to discuss this chapter but spent more time on other aspects than on
the chronology which is the main feature of the chapter. If the Hebrews provide
years they mean that to be the totals that they have carefully jotted down
through the centuries. They are reliable historical data and should be taken
seriously.
In
order to date the Flood one has to start with the dating of Abraham who is
mentioned at the end of this chapter. Once one arrives there it is a matter of
calculating back to the beginning of the chapter at verse 10 for the date of
the Flood. The Exodus according to extra-biblical data and biblical indicates
that it was in the year 1450 BCE. The Law was given in 1448 BCE or two years
after the Exodus.
“From
the Exodus to the last year of Joseph was 430 years and that long Distanzangabe
comes from Galatians 3:17 which many scholars have interpreted to be
Abraham, but it is actually Joseph. Since the law was given in 1448 BCE that
date would be 1878 BCE as the death year of Joseph. Another Distanzangabe says
that the time of enslavement in Egypt was 400 years long so if the Exodus was
in 1450 BCE, then the
enslavement started about 28 years after the death of Joseph in 1850 BCE.
Genesis 50:22 said that Joseph became 110 years old. He was born in 1988 BCE.
When Joseph was 30, he became prime minister (1958 BCE Genesis 41:46). The
seven good years were until 1951 BCE. In 1950 BCE Jacob came to Egypt and told
the Pharaoh that he is 130 years old. Jacob was thus born in 2080 BCE (Genesis
47:9). When Jacob was born Isaac was 60 years old, thus Isaac was born in 2140
BCE (Genesis 25:26). When Isaac was born, Abraham was 100 years old, thus Abraham
was born in 2240 BCE (Genesis 21:5). It is now possible to reconstruct the
dateline of Abraham from this vantage-point” from my article in (IJRSSH)
2017, Vol. No. 7, Issue No. I, Jan-Mar pages 114-140 especially 118 at http://www.ijrssh.com). The
key finding here is that Abraham was born in 2240 BCE. Now Genesis 11 comes
into play to work out the dates for all the generations until the Flood and get
the Flood date established. Genesis
11:26 reads that Abraham was born in Terah’s 70th year which is
2240+70 = 2330 BCE as the date for Terah’s birth. However a different
calculation is necessary here because the text gives also the other brothers’
names. It is a corporate listing so that one cannot say it is only Abraham’s
date of birth. Abraham was 75 when he left Haran and his father died at 205
years. Thus, Abraham was born in Terah’s 205-75 = 130th year
(Genesis 12:4). Thus from the birth of Abraham to the birth of Terah is 2240+130
= 2370 BCE as the correct date in Genesis 11:25. From
Terah’s birth in 2370 BCE to Nahor’s birth is 29 years which is 2370+29 = 2399
BCE (Genesis 11:24). From
Nahor’s birth in 2399 BCE to Serug’s birth is 30 years which is 2399+30 = 2429
BCE (Genesis 11:22). From
Serug’s birth in 2429 BCE to Reu’s birth is 32 years which is 2429+32 = 2461
BCE (Genesis 11:20). From
Reu’s birth in 2461 BCE to Peleg’s birth is 30 years which is 2461+30 = 2491
BCE (Genesis 11:18) in who’s time also a possible “Continental drifting” took
place according to Genesis 10. From
Peleg’s birth in 2491 BCE to Eber’s birth is 34 years which is 2491+34 = 2525
BCE (Genesis 11:16). From
Eber’s birth in 2525 BCE to Shelah’s birth is 30 years which is 2525+30 = 2555
BCE (Genesis 11:14). From
Shelah’s birth in 2555 BCE to Arpachsad’s birth is 35 years which is 2555+35 =
2590 BCE (Genesis 11:12). From
Arpachsad’s birth in 2590 BCE to Shem’s birth is 100 years which is 2590+100 =
2690 BE (Genesis 11:10). The
Flood is 2 years before the birth of Arpachsad which is 2590+2 = 2592 BCE
(Genesis 11:10). The
Flood of Noah was in the year 2592 BCE according to strict biblical chronology
calculating 1450 BCE as the date of the Exodus and the fourth year of Solomon
as 970 BCE (Shea and Van Wyk) and not 966 BCE as Thiele and Horn had it (for
the discussion of 970 BCE see Van Wyk, Archaeology in the Bible and Text in the
Tel 1996 page 209b with extra-biblical and biblical sources harmonized). From
Shem’s birth in 2690 BCE to Noah’s birth is 500 years which is 2690+500 = 3190
BCE (Genesis 5:32). From
Noah’s birth to Lamech’s birth is 182 years which is 3190 + 182 = 3372 BCE
(Genesis 5:28). From
Lamech’s birth to Methuselah’s birth is 187 years which is 3372+187 = 3559 BCE
(Genesis 5:25). From
Methuselah’s birth to Enoch’s birth is 65 years which is 3559+65 = 3624 BCE
(Genesis 5:21). From
Enoch’s birth in 3624 BCE to Jared’s birth is 162 years which is 3624+162 =
3786 BCE (Genesis 5:18). From
Jared’s birth in 3786 BCE to Mahalel’s birth is 65 years which is 3786+65 =
3851 BCE (Genesis 5:15). From
Mahalel’s birth in 3851 BCE to Kenan’s birth is 70 years which is 3851+70 =
3921 BCE (Genesis 5:12). From
Kenan’s birth in 3921 BCE to Enoshes’ birth is 90 years which is 3921+90 = 4011
BCE (Genesis 5:9). From
Enoshes’ birth in 4011 BCE to Seth’s birth is 105 years which is 4011+105 =
4116 BCE (Genesis 5:6). From
Seth’s birth in 4116 BCE to Adam’s creation is 130 years which si 4116+130 =
4246 BCE as the date of Creation. The
Creation by God was in 4246 BCE.
Dear
God The
ancient Hebrews were very careful in their calculations of their history and
with care we try to compute their totals to arrive at the Flood and Creation. It
appears right but even today, after counting for 40 years, I found errors in my
own calculation. But the reality of the Flood and Creation makes us thankful
for Your perfection in Christ. In Jesus Name Amen.