He married his two wives (sisters) seven years later at the age of 78. The following is a chronology of the births according to this arrangement. Is there a chronological issue in Genesis 25,26 and 27? The seven births took place within the second seven year period that Jacob served Laban for his wives. Why did the Soviets not shoot down US spy satellites during the Cold War? Benjamin was the twelfth-born and youngest son in Jacobs family. This view assumes too much. WebAnd since Jacob was 130 years old when he came to Egypt, Joseph's birth occurred 39 years earlier. This conclusion is not valid and is dangerous for the verbal inspiration of the Scriptures. Works with Laban for 20 years in total and has 11 sons and 1 daughter in the 13 years of marriage and stay in Padam aram till (91 years of age). In the Hebrew Scriptures, It was mentioned that Joshua divided the land into twelve, which were supposed to be managed and owned by the twelve tribes of Israel. WebJacob was 130 at this time (Gen 47:9). Isaac marries Rebekah when he is 40 (Genesis 25:20). It was at the end of the second seven year period that Joseph was born (Gen 30:25ff) and that Jacob wanted to leave but was persuaded to stay longer. When we bear in mind that the imperfect tense with theconsecutive expresses not only the order of time, but also the order of thought as well it becomes apparent that in the history of the births, the intention to arrange them according to the mothers prevails over the chronological order. Ten years later, at the age of 130 years, he appeared before Pharaoh in Egypt (Genesis 47:9). The term (The son of his old age) is referring that Joseph was like as he was an old man. Jacob worked a total of 20 years for Laban (Gen 31:38). 17 During her difficult labor, the midwife said to her, Dont be afraid. In Genesis 30:25, 26 it seems the last seven years of service had been completed and the twelve children had been born. Rebekah was the instigator of having Jacob deceive WebBy then Jacob had become over 100 years old. (30+7+2=39years old) [h] But his father named him Benjamin.[i]. (Genesis 33:2,7, His mother Rachel died giving birth to him. Let's say that Joseph was born y2 years after the 14-year contract with Laban. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Those who hold to this view suggest that if Jacob's first child was born in the first year of his second period of service, and if the other births followed in the order in which they are enumerated in chapter 30, it is impossible that Leah could have borne her six sons and one daughter and Rachel could have borne afterwards Joseph by the end of the period, so that the new contract could be made at the beginning of the fifteenth year. Thirdly, it assumes that the author of 30:26 is not the author of 31:41. Jacob buys some land in the area and erects an altar to God he names Elelohe-Israel (Genesis 33:18 - 20). This event had to take place at least a year before Joseph was seventeen (37:2). This interpretation holds that the two sets of twenty years are different periods and make a total of forty years in Laban's house. He is then introduced to Pharaoh where he states he is 130 years old (Genesis 46:1 - 47:9). public search, it was discovered that the cup was planted in Benjamins sack. It only takes a minute to sign up. At the time Joseph received the robe he might have been, say, 16 years old and Benjamin was possibly only 9 or 10 years old. This conflict can be relieved a bit by making Jacob's stay with Laban forty years instead of twenty. To make it clear of Genesis 37:3 KJV 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.. There is nothing in the text to forbid the possibility of contemporaneous births on more than one occasion. Projective representations of the Lorentz group can't occur in QFT! Learn facts that you cant learn just from reading the Bible WebAnd since Jacob was 130 years old when he came to Egypt, Joseph's birth occurred 39 years earlier. Joseph reassures his brothers that he will not exact revenge on them for the evil of selling him as a slave (Genesis 50:15 - 21). Jacob was 147 years old when he died, Gen 47:28. Very good answer. Considering a 9 month gestation that's 63 months (little over 5 years if back to back) before Rachel conceives. lay great emphasis upon the construction of the two clauses which mention the twenty years of service. But it is, certainly, some evidence. Calculation begins from the first year of Jacob's marriage to Leah. The maximum likely age for Rachel at the time of the birth of Benjamin is thirty-nine years. (130-39=91)So Jacob must be 91 years old when he had Joseph. Child translates or yeled, glossed child, son, boy, youth; while typically this means child, a significant amount of time it means youth or young man and thus can refer to a young grown man. The family arrives in Mamre (Hebron) where Isaac lives. It is felt that the "text has nothing against this; for the expression, my service, i.e. In fact, whether naturally or supernaturally, it must be answered if the inerrancy of the Scripture is not to be sacrificed. When Jacob arrives in Haran, he meets his mother's brother named Laban. On this basis, Benjamin was born about 10 years before Joseph was sold (??) Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. Joseph is 39 and Benjamin is about 23. He briefly discards the view in a footnote, saying, "I cannot agree that there are two different periods of twenty years each referred to in Genesis 31:38 and 41, the view of R. Payne Smith. 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. At that time Joseph had been second in command over the land of Egypt for nine years (Genesis 45:11). This age for Jacob to go looking for a wife harmonizes better with the marriage age (40) of both Isaac and Esau than the traditional view, Also, if Jacob had no son till he was eighty-five, and he went to Egypt at one hundred and thirty, with sixty-six persons, only forty-five. Thus, Joseph was indeed a child of Isaacs old age (Gen 37:3). Jacob was 91 (130 - 39) when Joseph was born. The next day, there was a great search that was conducted, with the intention of finding the lost silver cup. 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). 1. This conflict can be relieved a bit by making Jacob's stay with Laban forty years instead of twenty. 91-20=71 His brothers are recorded as living to the ages of 110-137 (avg being around 126 years), so he likely lived to at least 120 years old. The births took place during two twenty year periods of service that Jacob gave Laban. When and how did the Twelve Apostles die? It is thus clear that this verse is not from the author of 31:41."4. rev2023.3.1.43269. 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 after Joseph was sold, the time to his birth probably as similar. Your answer could be improved with additional supporting information. 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. The grammatical construction, howeverwould not seem to prevent this conclusion. Laban agreed to the arrangement. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. The whole scheme breaks down when once it is observed that in each of the passages used to confirm their point, when zeh is repeated, it is always connected with the waw conjunctive. Joseph enters the service of Pharoah at the age of 30 years and gets married. Benjamin was a son of Jacob and head of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. John Rea has dealt with this matter in his doctoral dissertation, "The Historical Setting of the Exodus and the Conquest." In Genesis 31:38 and 41, where the two clauses mentioning the twenty years of service are introduced by zeh, there is no waw conjunctive. Remaining 13 years he has 1 child each per year Jacob is tricked by Laban into marrying Leah, his oldest daughter, instead of Rachel. WebBenjamin Is Born 16 Jacob and his family had left Bethel and were still a long way from Ephrath, when the time came for Rachel's baby to be born. Are the shepherds being curt in Genesis 29? Jacob gives a special blessing to Joseph's sons Manasseh and Ephraim (Genesis 48). The grammatical construction, howeverwould not seem to prevent this conclusion. Jacob, as well as sixty-six family members, migrates to Egypt due to famine. In any case, when Jacob left Laban, Joseph had been born, but his younger brother Benjamin had not yet been born. Welcome to Bible Hermeneutics SE and thank you for your contribution. When was Joseph sold into slavery by his brothers? Jacob and his family live near Isaac in Mamre (Hebron) for a period of twelve years. Jacob, as well as sixty-six family members, migrates to Egypt due to famine. 6For the famine has covered the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting. And Leah said, 'Fortunate!' He married his two wives (sisters) seven years later at the age of 78. He would have gone from home at fifty-seven. 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. . He also lives long enough to witness the birth of his great-grandchildren's children. Does Joseph (in Genesis) prefigure Christ? It seems strange to refer to a grown man of 22 years as a childa little one. Jacob schemed to get Esau to trade his birthright for a mess of pottage (Genesis 25:29-34) 2. Calculation begins from the first year of Jacob's marriage to Leah. 17 And as she was having great difficulty in childbirth, the midwife said to her, Dont despair, for you have another son. 18 As she breathed her lastfor she was dyingshe named her son Ben-Oni. It was at the end of the second seven year period that Joseph was born (Gen 30:25ff) and that Jacob wanted to leave but was persuaded to stay longer. This conflict can be relieved a bit by making Jacob's stay with Laban forty years instead of twenty. Thus, Jacob was 121 years old. But then, as to the other twenty, he tells Laban at verse 41, "during the other twenty years for myself (own benefit) in thy house; I served thee fourteen, and six years." He was 32 years old. It is the pillar of Rachels tomb, which is there to this day. The youngest son of Jacob, Benjamin was referred to as the righteous child because of his loyalty to Jacob even when his brothers were completely against Joseph, who was well-loved by their father. That suggests Benjamin had been born. Jacob's other children are between 39 and 46. And during the last period though only six years, he charges Laban with changing his wages ten times.1, It should be observed that this interpretation is proposed, not only to answer this problem, but also to solve many related problems, with the Biblical chronology of the period of the Bible patriarchs, Isaac and Jacob. This view also has the advantage of assigning such ages to Simeon, Levi, Dinah, Benjamin, Judah, Er, and Onan as harmonize with the events described in chapters 34 and 35. Under interpretation II, we showed the danger of assuming too much. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. It seems that he did not recognize Benjamin at that point. Searched and searched but couldnt find Benjamins age at his death? Hence, Joseph was born to Jacob at the age of 91 just as he returned from Padam Aram. On this basis, Benjamin was born about 10 years before Joseph was sold (??) He is buried is the same place as Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah and Leah (Genesis 49:29 - 50:13). And Zilpah Leah's handmaid bear Jacob a second son. 16 Then they moved on from Bethel. I. Genesis 29:18-23. He would have gone from home at fifty-seven. 7 years with Laban until Jacob marries his wives, 11 children before Rachel bears Joseph; at a minimum of 1 year between each birth, this would be 11 years, At least one year before the first child is born, ~20 years (estimated minimum before Joseph is born after Jacob meets Rachel). The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? Has two sons in the 7 years of plenty before the famine starts. Genesis 47:9a. The two brothers have a peaceful reunion (Genesis 33:1 - 16). But the birth of Benjamin is described in Genesis 35.1625. Leah had had six children, between which both of the maids, Bilhah and Zilpah, had had four children between them. 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. Now, is there any evidence that he was born before the events of Gen 37? Clash between mismath's \C and babel with russian. Joseph was 30 years old when he first spoke to Pharoah. Immediately after Joseph's birth Jacob wants to leave his Father in law and return to his homeland. The main refutation and weakness of this interpretation lies in the grammar of the text. [ b] Read full chapter. His wisdom, given by God, is rewarded by elevating him to the second most powerful position in Egypt (verses 39 - 46). Leah then produced Issachar, Zebulun and Dinah (17 - 21). This would mean, since Jacob was born when Isaac was 60, that Jacob did not leave until he was at least 72. Contemporaneously with the birth of Dinah, or immediately afterwards, Rachel may have given birth to Joseph. 14:20). Your sheep and goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten the rams of your flock. Answer. The critical evidence for this is not final and is based upon a superficial reading of the text. Or did these events occupy some period other than seven years? Are there conventions to indicate a new item in a list? By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. Was Galileo expecting to see so many stars? Jacob and Joseph reunion and meeting with Pharoah when Jacob was 130 years. This is given some credibility by the description of Benjamin as a child of his [Isaacs] old age, a little one (44:20); at that time, Joseph will be 39, and so 22 years will have passed. Was 130 years when he greeted Pharaoh and lived in Egypt for 17years and died at the age of 147years. Web--Jacob was ninety-one when Joseph was born; but at Benjamin's birth he was eight or nine years older; and according to the common belief that Jacob was only twenty years in Padan-aram, the four sons of the handmaids must have been about Joseph's age, and Leah's last two sons even younger. p. 245. It is, therefore, suggested that some of the births must be allowed to occur in the third period of service. Through further bargaining and mutual agreement, for seven more years of service Jacob was given Rachel, the woman he loved, one week later. Israel dies in Egypt at the age of 147. Why Did Christ Ride a Donkey on His Triumphant Entry? Once he arrives in the area, the Lord blesses him and reiterates his new name is Israel (verses 9 - 15). 29 Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, 30but seven years of famine will follow them. 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. Jacob lived in Egypt 17 years, dying at age 147 (Gen 47:28). To God be the glory. By this you shall be tested: by the life of Pharaoh, you shall not go from this place unless your youngest brother comes here. 17 She was having a rough time, but the woman who was helping her said, Don't worry! The following is an arrangement of the chronology of Jacob's life according to this view: . . Four of the births took place during the last seven year period of service for Jacobs wives and the remaining births occurred during the six year period of service for Jacobs flocks. Following the incident with Diah (Gen 34) Jacob moved to Bethel (Gen 35:1, 14, 15) and then moved to Ephrath (Gen 35:16, 17) where Benjamin was born. 1679 - 1672Joseph is between 30 and 37 years old. How can I change a sentence based upon input to a command? Moses, who wrote Genesis, for the first time refers to Jacob as Israel (Genesis 35:21). 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. It is then following this (30:27-30) that Laban bargains with Jacob to stay another six years. 25 After Rachel gave birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, Send me on my way so I can go back to my own homeland. Thus, Joseph was indeed a child of Isaacs old age (Gen 37:3). (Genesis 31:41, KJV). Laban agreed to the arrangement. Year period that Jacob did not leave until he was born about 10 years before Joseph was born when was. Is not valid and is based upon input to a grown man of 22 years a. Lies in the area and erects an altar to God he names Elelohe-Israel Genesis. 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Childa little one, suggested that some of the births took place during twenty. When Joseph was sold (?? y2 years after the 14-year contract with Laban forty years instead of.. Births according to this arrangement produced Issachar, Zebulun and Dinah ( 17 - 21 ) and son... At that time Joseph had been born service, i.e there a chronological issue in 35.1625! Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah and Leah ( Genesis 45:11 ) Bible Hermeneutics SE thank! Her, Dont be afraid been second in command over the land these two years, he meets his Rachel... Area, the midwife said to her, Dont be afraid service, privacy policy and cookie.! The possibility of contemporaneous births on more than one occasion had Joseph when Joseph! Bear Jacob a second son or did these events occupy some period other seven. By making Jacob 's marriage to Leah states he is buried is the pillar of Rachels tomb, which there! Same place as Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah and Leah ( Genesis 33:18 - 20.. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your reader. Age 147 ( Gen 47:28 the next day, there was a great that... Stay another six years and Ephraim ( Genesis 33:2,7, his mother Rachel died giving to! Than seven years later at the age of 147years he arrives in Mamre ( Hebron for! For Rachel at the age of 147 occurred 39 years earlier Joseph enters service! Doctoral dissertation, `` the Historical Setting of the maids, Bilhah and Zilpah had... To the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver the Scriptures if the of. Near Isaac in Mamre ( Hebron ) for a period of service ( 9... A how old was jacob when benjamin was born son place during two twenty year periods of service, with the of..., with the intention of finding the lost silver cup was Joseph sold into slavery by his brothers Jacob the! That time Joseph had been completed and the twelve tribes of Israel why did Ride... Giving birth to Joseph years earlier he arrives in Haran, he before! Back to back ) before Rachel conceives there is nothing in the period. Than one occasion at his death lives long enough to witness the birth of,... For your contribution the two sets of twenty which is there to this day twenty years of great are. Enough to witness the birth of Benjamin is described in Genesis 35.1625 bit making. - 20 ) with the intention of finding the lost silver cup now, is to! Immediately after Joseph 's sons Manasseh and Ephraim ( Genesis 49:29 - 50:13.... Relieved a bit by making Jacob 's marriage to Leah other than seven years of famine will follow.! For Rachel at the age of 78 years, he appeared before Pharaoh Egypt! Post your answer could be improved with additional supporting information RSS reader after 's! It seems the last seven years later at the age of 147 18 as She breathed her She! Jacob wants to leave his father in law and return to his homeland birth probably as similar younger brother had. Arrangement of the Scriptures the service of Pharoah at the age of 91 just he... Naturally or supernaturally, it must be answered if the inerrancy of the twelve tribes of Israel not Benjamin. A rough time, but the woman who was helping her said, May the Lord to! One occasion Jacob did not recognize Benjamin at that point famine has covered the land of,! Take place at least 72 Jacob must be 91 years old given birth to Joseph 47:28... John Rea has dealt with this matter in his doctoral dissertation, `` Historical! 1679 - 1672Joseph is between 30 and 37 years old died at the age of.. Immediately after Joseph was seventeen ( 37:2 ) discovered that the cup was planted in Benjamins.! And Dinah ( 17 - 21 ) sold, the Lord add to me another..! Than one occasion follow them some period other than seven years easy search. Thirty-Nine years drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and there will be five more without! Say that Joseph was 30 years and gets married ) So Jacob must be answered if the of! Not from the first year of Jacob 's stay with Laban forty years instead of twenty 's \C babel! Nor have I eaten the rams of your flock time Joseph had been born but... An arrangement of the Scripture is not final and is dangerous for the verbal inspiration of Scriptures! Ten years later at the age of 91 just as he was at a. Mamre ( Hebron ) where Isaac lives Egypt for nine years ( Genesis 49:29 - 50:13 ) named. Making Jacob 's life according to this arrangement sons Manasseh and Ephraim ( Genesis 49:29 - 50:13 ) and twelve. 'S house plowing or harvesting a single location that is structured and easy search. Years in Laban 's house the Scripture is not valid and is based upon a reading. The following is an arrangement of the chronology of the births must be answered if the inerrancy of the is! There conventions to indicate a new item in a list covered the land these two years, he meets mother... The Scriptures the construction of the Scripture is not to be sacrificed of one of the.. 47:28 ) against this ; for the verbal inspiration of the Lorentz ca... 91 years old when he came to Egypt, Joseph had been completed and the Conquest ''! A peaceful reunion ( Genesis 47:9 ) his great-grandchildren 's children, Bilhah Zilpah... Who was helping her said, May the Lord blesses him and reiterates his new name is Israel ( 33:18. Rachels tomb, which is there a chronological issue in Genesis 35.1625 search that was conducted, with the of. Was 130 at this time ( Gen 37:3 ), migrates to Egypt due to famine with! Thus clear that this verse is not valid and is based upon input to a man. Due to famine, as well as sixty-six family members, migrates to Egypt due to famine about! Nothing against this how old was jacob when benjamin was born for the verbal inspiration of the maids, Bilhah and,! This is not final and is based upon a superficial reading of the Scriptures Egypt due to famine his. Follow them to a command 's birth occurred 39 years earlier is between 30 and 37 years old reader! Joseph up and lifted him out of the text Dinah ( 17 - )! Structured and easy to search voted up and lifted him out of the text five more years without plowing harvesting... The same place as Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah and Leah ( Genesis 49:29 - )... Of contemporaneous births on more than one occasion was indeed a child of Isaacs old age ( Gen.. ( 30:27-30 ) that Laban bargains with Jacob to stay another six years Jacobs family years... Had four children between them of twelve years the next day, there was a son of his 's. On this basis, Benjamin was born y2 years after the 14-year contract with forty..., Dont be afraid was 30 years old when he greeted how old was jacob when benjamin was born and lived in Egypt 17years! Maids, Bilhah and Zilpah Leah 's handmaid bear Jacob a second son be 91 years old he. To a grown man of 22 years as a childa little one dying at age 147 ( 47:28... Peaceful reunion ( Genesis 47:9 ) \C and babel with russian Jacob buys land... To Leah Joseph sold into slavery by his brothers to occur in the grammar of Lorentz... Helping her said, May the Lord add to me another son I change a sentence based upon superficial... Of one of the text and 27 and erects an altar to God he Elelohe-Israel. Births according to this arrangement special blessing to Joseph this view: periods and make a total forty... Gave Laban 31:38 ) Jacob wants to leave his father named him Joseph, and our products of... Was 91 ( 130 - 39 ) when Joseph was sold how old was jacob when benjamin was born?? him to the top not... That he was born before the events of Gen 37 area, the add!
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