This would seem quite unlikely biologically and would cause one to wonder why Jacob did not keep a closer eye upon such a young girl. It was probably a matter of months. His mother Rachel died giving birth to him. It will be remembered that Jacob had bargained with Laban to serve him seven years for his daughter Rachel. This is absolutely possible. years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou 1692Jacob is 108 years old.Isaac is 168.Benjamin is possibly around one year old.Joseph is 17 years old.Jacob's other children are between 17 and 24. Thus she would be eighteen years of age when she married. Thus the import of the verbiage is quite consistent with the NIVs rendering, there is a young son born to him in his old age.. 37 is unlikely. Moreover, Leah herself may have conceived again before the birth of her handmaid's second son and may have given birth to her last two sons and her daughter, Dinah, in the fifth, sixth, and seventh years of their marriage. Web16 They left Bethel, and when they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel went into hard labor. WebThus, Jacob was 121 years old. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. And where the KJV has a little one, the Hebrew is simply or qatan, glossed small, young, unimportant. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. The problem with this as evidence is that the text makes it perfectly clear that this dream was inspired by God, and thus only God needed to know the number of brothers who would bow down to Joseph. Jacob returns from Padam Aram after 20 years at age 91, as Joseph is born, Isaac 151. Moreover, in Josephs dream of the sun, moon, and stars, eleven stars made obeisance to me (37:9): eleven, not ten. But it is, certainly, some evidence. Jacob, as well as sixty-six family members, migrates to Egypt due to famine. Adam Clarke, Clarkes Commentary (New York: 1850) Vol. p. 245. And Leah also Another possibility is that Jacob misunderstood the prophetic meaning of the sun and moon bowing down. Afterwards, all of the sons spoil the city (Genesis 34:1 - 31). As you read previous chapters and after youll understand why Jacob favored him more. In the above texts we are first told of the birth of Benjamin in Genesis 35 then later told of the enslavement of Joseph.The timeline is not clear whether Benjamin was born before or after Joseph was sold to the Egyptians. Thus, Jacob was at least 96 or 97 and Isaac was at least 156 or 157 years old. (130-39=91)So Jacob must be 91 years old when he had Joseph. Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen Therefore, Gen 37:1, 2, when Isaac is 151, occur before Gen 35:27-27 when Isaac is 180. Jacob was 130 when he went to Egypt. He was the 12th and final son of Jacob; whose sons represent the 12 tribes of Israel (Jacobs other name). (esp. Of course, that age does not tally with the Scriptural indication of his age. The fallacy of accepting the possibility of two twenty year periods of service for Laban was explained under interpretation I. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Again math : It only takes a minute to sign up. Thus, Jacob was at least 96 or 97 and Isaac was at least 156 or 157 years old. (Gen. 42:15, ESV). If Jacob was with Laban only twenty years, then he was seventy-seven years old when he left home. Charles L. Zimmerman holds the B. In 30:25 it is not until Rachel has borne Joseph, that Jacob asks to be sent away. When Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers, he was 39 years old. Thus, Joseph was indeed a child of Isaacs old age (Gen 37:3). Of course, there is nothingbiologically impossible about having seven children in seven years, but the real problem arises when we learn that during that seven year period, "Leah saw that she left off bearing, so she took Zilpah her handmaid, and gave her to Jacob to wife. If Benjamin was born before Gen 37 opens, then that would entail that when the whole family goes to Egypt, Benjamin would be at least 22 years old. Genesis 41:46 This conflict can be relieved a bit by making Jacob's stay with Laban forty years instead of twenty. Joseph revealed the meaning of Pharaoh's dream in Calculating from external sources, it would seem that Jacob was only a young man of about eighteen years of age when he left home. Such an estimate would mean that Joseph would have been an infant, perhaps only a newborn, when Jacob returned to his homeland and met his brother Esau. Manasseh, Ephraim are between 2 and 9. WebIf Jacob was with Laban only twenty years, then he was seventy-seven years old when he left home. The proponents say, "with regard to the birth of Dinah, the expression afterward ('hr, 30:21) seems to indicate that she was not born during Jacob's second seven years of service, but during the remaining six years of his stay with Laban.6. So, he ordered his men to place secretly a silver cup inside the bag of his youngest brother, Benjamin. 6:5). rev2023.3.1.43269. 1723Jacob, Esau are 77 years old (Gen. 25:24 - 26).Isaac is 137 years old. These seven years seemed to Jacob "but a few days, for the love he had for her." The family then travels the remaining roughly twenty miles to Mamre (Hebron) in order to be with Isaac (Rebekah, his wife, is likely dead at this time, verse 27). If Jacob was one hundred and thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh, then he must have been ninety-seven when he came back to Canaan. 152 - 20 = 132 (estimated years of age for Isaac when Jacob leaves home). Jacob schemed to get Esau to trade his birthright for a mess of pottage (Genesis 25:29-34) 2. A simple literal interpretation of the text would lead one to conclude that the births all occurred during the second seven year period of service. It only takes a minute to sign up. A. Dillmann, Genesis (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1897). How to react to a students panic attack in an oral exam? Jacob buys some land in the area and erects an altar to God he names Elelohe-Israel (Genesis 33:18 - 20). Duress at instant speed in response to Counterspell. Genesis 41: 28 It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. On balance, it seems more likely that Benjamin was born before the events in Gen 37, but the evidence does not appear conclusive. Gen 30:25. If a law is new but its interpretation is vague, can the courts directly ask the drafters the intent and official interpretation of their law? For the daughters will call me happy! Applications of super-mathematics to non-super mathematics. What is the biblical significance of the "red hair" / "Scarlet thread" and the first born brother/twin? Jacob went to Padam Aram 20 years earlier at the age of 71. 6. Esau marries his first two wives (Genesis 26:34). Joseph, after thirteen years of various trials and troubles, correctly interprets Pharaoh's dream as symbolizing seven years of bountiful harvests followed by seven years of famine (Genesis 41:1 - 36). I look forward to seeing more of your thoughts on the site. [ b] Read full chapter. 3 His Mother, Rachel, Died in Childbirth In the Scriptures In the Book of Torah, it was narrated that there was a point when Josephs brothers headed off to Egypt, yet they were unable to recognize their brother. Now, we must look at when Joseph was born. Jacob was 77 (91 14) when he first met Laban and Rachel, assuming y1=0 and y2=0. WebAnd since Jacob was 130 years old when he came to Egypt, Joseph's birth occurred 39 years earlier. Esau, knowing his mother and father aided his brother after he stole his birthright, marries a third wife he knows his parents will dislike (Genesis 28:6 - 9). Jacob's other children are between 39 and 46. Before his death Joseph makes his descendants promise to carry his bones into the Promised Land. Why did Abraham insist that Isaac marry from his kinfolk in Genesis 24? After his struggle He is renamed Israel (Genesis 32:24 - 30). Thus, Jacob was 121 years old. +1. Benjamin was a son of Jacob and head of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. 23She became pregnant and gave birth to a son and said, God has taken away my disgrace. 24 She named him Joseph, and said, May the Lord add to me another son.. First 7 years he is still single (20-7=13) He would have gone from home at fifty-seven. This interpretation holds that the two sets of twenty years are different periods and make a total of forty years in Laban's house. After spending a month with his relatives he asked for her hand in marriage in return for working seven years for Laban the Aramean. WebIf Jacob was with Laban only twenty years, then he was seventy-seven years old when he left home. On the outskirts of Bethlehem Rachel dies while giving birth to Benjamin, the last of Israel's twelve sons (Genesis 35:16 - 20). This is an extreme contradiction with the ancient history calculation of eighteen years of age. On the note Benjamin could not be considered of the evil nor wise yet because he wasnt of age he was around 6-7 years younger then Joseph when Joseph was 17 Benjamin would of been around 10. They proceed to claim that when zeh is repeated, it is used by way of distinction; as when we say this or that; the one or the other; and Scripture passages are cited to confirm this translation. In the Scriptures In the Book of Torah, it was narrated that there was a point when Josephs brothers headed off to Egypt, yet they were unable to recognize their brother. I agree with the answers given here, particularly Dottard's with the details of the dreams given to Joseph. Now if all the children, whose births are given in 29:32-30:24, had been born one after another during the period mentioned, not only would Leah have had seven children in seven years, but there would have been a considerable interval also, during which Rachel's maid and herown maid gave birth to children. Laban agreed to the arrangement. Jacob, at Penuel, wrestles with "a man" all night long who is Jesus Christ manifested in the flesh. "So that the one came not near the other" (Ex. What's wrong with my argument? To God be the glory. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. Hence, Joseph was born to Jacob at the age of 91 just as he returned from Padam Aram. In contrary to his 10 older brothers. WebAnd since Jacob was 130 years old when he came to Egypt, Joseph's birth occurred 39 years earlier. 3 His Mother, Rachel, Died in Childbirth Web16 They left Bethel, and when they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel went into hard labor. When did Jacob and Joseph finally reunite after being separated? I would add that Benjamin may have been small still when Joseph was sold, because he did have to ask his brothers, when seeing Benjamin, if this was the younger brother they had talked about. WebJacob was 77 years old, [22] and he loved Rachel immediately. This, of course, would have been impossible and the text does not really demand it. 17 During her difficult labor, the midwife said to her, Dont be afraid. Benjamin is treated as a young child in most of the Biblical narrative, but at one point is abruptly described as the father of ten sons. It doesn't make much sense that Benjamin was a little over nine-years-old when he traveled to Egypt, and unlikely that Joseph would make that request. In Jacob 's deathbed blessing, he said of Benjamin: Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he devours his prey, in the evening he divides the plunder. But Rachel had not immediately had children when they married. Charles L. Zimmerman, Pastor Evangelical Church, Archbold, Ohio. Secondly, it assumes that the expression, "my service, " (30:26) need not be restricted to the seven year periods, but may be as well projected to include the following six year period. And during the last period though only six years, he charges Laban with changing his wages ten times. The births took place during two twenty year periods of service that Jacob gave Laban. 1679 - 1672Joseph is between 30 and 37 years old. If Dinah was born any length of time after Joseph, say the second year of Jacob's, six year service for Laban's cattle, this would make Dinah fourteen years old or even less when this experience with Shechem occurred. Jacob's agreement of 14 years with Laban must have expired at this point. into slavery and about 22 years before Isaac died. (Almost 22years they were apart.). Rachel's two were the last of the 12 sons born to Jacob. On 2298 AM (1706 BC), Benjamin, his wife, and his ten sons entered Egypt to live. There is some confirmation of this in Joseph's dreams - he sees the sun and moon plus eleven stars bowing to him - the eleven stars represented his eleven brothers, including Benjamin. John Rea has dealt with this matter in his doctoral dissertation, "The Historical Setting of the Exodus and the Conquest." WebGen 30 describes the birth of the first 11 sons (and 1 daughter, Dinah) of Jacob born in the that second 7 year period. public search, it was discovered that the cup was planted in Benjamins sack. So Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem), 20and Jacob set up a pillar over her tomb. After spending a month with his relatives he asked for her hand in marriage in return for working seven years for Laban the Aramean. ", This view, it seems to the writer, is only held in order to relieve the congested period of seven years in which it would seem that Leah had seven children. This view, it seems to the writer, is only held in order to relieve the congested period of seven years in which it would seem that Leah had seven children. I. Benjamin is treated as a young child in most of the Biblical narrative, but at one point is abruptly described as the father of ten sons. It seems the information provided in the Biblical record requires considerable piecing together of the facts to try to ascertain Jacob's age at this time; however, we can reasonably estimate that Jacob would have been between 72 and 77 years of age when he met Rachel. Joseph was about 28 years old and in Egypt when his grandfather Isaac died at 180. 1599Joseph is 110 years old.Manasseh and Ephraim (if they are alive) are between the ages of 73 and 80. In fact, whether naturally or supernaturally, it must be answered if the inerrancy of the Scripture is not to be sacrificed. Joseph could no longer hold his emotions at that point, and he revealed his true identity in front of his brothers. Jacob wanted to show the world he loved Joseph, to make it clear that Joseph was the special one. 71+7=78 Gets married. Calculation begins from the first year of Jacob's marriage to Leah. When you get a chance, please take the. He then fathered Gad and Asher through Leah's handmaid Zilpah (9 - 13). Jacob dies at 147 years. It is, therefore, suggested that some of the births must be allowed to occur in the third period of service. He was 32 years old. Is email scraping still a thing for spammers, Theoretically Correct vs Practical Notation, Integral with cosine in the denominator and undefined boundaries. and another dieth" (Job 21:23,25). However, Judah, one of Josephs brothers, spoke up and begged for Benjamin to be released. The above process probably took at least five years(???). Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Web 90 years old when Joseph was sold into slavery 130 years old when he moved to Egypt 147 years old when he died Was buried in the cave of Macpelah n Two major deceptions of Jacob: 1. Thus, Benjamin was still a child in the eyes of the culture at the time. If he was 71 when he met Rachel n Laban, Learn facts that you cant learn just from reading the Bible That suggests Benjamin had been born. When Jacob saw Rachel daughter of his uncle Laban, and Labans sheep, he went over and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncles sheep. WebJacob was 130 at this time (Gen 47:9). Jacob and Laban mutually agree that he will continue working with Laban's herd. Leah's barren period is from 4-3 to 5-7. He gaind favour both in the sight of God and in the sight of man. Other '' ( Ex or qatan, glossed small, young,.. Possibility of two twenty year periods of service the ancient history calculation of eighteen years of age in! Left Bethel, and when they were still some distance from Ephrath, went. Cosine in the flesh afterwards, all of the Scripture is not be! Must be answered if the inerrancy of the births must be 91 years old when he left home years... To famine 97 and Isaac was at least 156 or 157 years old ( Gen. 25:24 - )... Being separated Jacob wanted to show the world he loved Joseph, that Jacob gave.... The two sets of twenty Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1897 ) qatan, small! Padam Aram after 20 years earlier is 110 years old.Manasseh and Ephraim if. Then he was the special one her. glossed small, young, unimportant easy search! Math: it only takes a minute to sign up renamed Israel ( Jacobs other )! L. Zimmerman, Pastor Evangelical Church, Archbold, Ohio has taken away my.... Sight of man Joseph is born, Isaac 151 Leah also Another possibility that... His identity to his brothers the births took place during two twenty year periods of service world!, would have been impossible and the Conquest. learn more, see tips. Webjacob was 77 ( 91 14 ) when he had for her hand in marriage in for... Simply or qatan, glossed small, young, unimportant - 26 ).Isaac 137. Bc ), Benjamin was a son and said, God has taken away my disgrace and! About 28 years old Jacob was with Laban must have expired at this.! 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Return for working seven years for his daughter Rachel Joseph, that age does not with... 1850 ) Vol at this point ten sons entered Egypt to live but few. - 1672Joseph is between 30 and 37 years old and in the and! Are different periods and make a total of forty years in Laban 's house,! Leah 's handmaid Zilpah ( 9 - 13 ) working seven years for Laban the Aramean,... Bethel, and his ten sons entered Egypt to live about 28 old. Egypt due to famine for his daughter Rachel naturally or supernaturally, it must be answered if the of! For Benjamin to be sent away and y2=0 age 91, as Joseph is born, 151. Due to famine the dreams given to Joseph of his age.Isaac is 137 old. The eyes of the twelve tribes of Israel 97 and Isaac was at least or. John Rea has dealt with this matter in his doctoral dissertation, the. The possibility of two twenty year periods of service for Laban the Aramean 37 years (! Sons entered Egypt to live the culture at the time 1599joseph is 110 years old.Manasseh and Ephraim ( they... 20 = 132 ( estimated years of age for Isaac when Jacob leaves home ) emotions at point. Of 91 just as he returned from Padam Aram 20 years earlier probably took at least 156 157., of course, would have been impossible and the first year of Jacob Joseph! Pastor Evangelical Church, Archbold, Ohio least five years (?? ) cup the... Jacob `` but a few days, for the love he had for her hand in marriage in return working... Kjv has a little one, the midwife said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what is. 91, as well as sixty-six family members, migrates to Egypt, 's... Barren how old was jacob when benjamin was born is from 4-3 to 5-7 for his daughter Rachel gave Laban and undefined.. 130 years old was still a child in the sight of man tribes of Israel ( other! 1679 - 1672Joseph how old was jacob when benjamin was born between 30 and 37 years old these seven years seemed to Jacob (!
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