From Peleg to Abraham

Nahor lived twenty-nine years, and begot Terah. After he begot Terah, Nahor lived one hundred and nineteen years, and begot sons and daughters. Now Terah lived seventy years, and begot Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

(Genesis 11:24-26) NKJV

The tectonic plates formed at least 201 years before the birth of Abraham. Noah’s flood was at least 302 years before Abraham. So much for the geological timescale.

The Time Span from Peleg to Abraham (Genesis 11:10-26)

• Peleg was 30 at the birth of Reu
• Reu was 32 at the birth of Serug
• Serug was 30 at the birth of Nahor
• Nahor was 29 at the birth of Terah
• Terah was 70 at the birth of Abraham
• 30 + 32 + 30 + 29 + 70 = 201 Years

There is a little nuance to consider in the narrative which was pointed out to us by Howard Bass of Streams in the Negev.

… you write that it was 201 years, using the ordinary assumption that his father, Terah, was 70 when Abram was born.  Abraham is listed first, but that does not necessarily mean that he was the first born of his brothers.  Shem is also listed first, but it seems that Japheth is the eldest of the three brothers.  Terah probably started having children when he was 70, and had the three sons over time.

Stephen, in Acts 7:4, tells us that Abraham left the city of Haran after his father Terah died, and Terah died at the age of 205 (Gen 11:32). Genesis 12:4 informs us that Abram was 75 when he left the city of Haran, making Terah 130 when Abram was born.

So, while there are 60 more years to add to the 201, and to the 302, it still “slam dunks” the fudgers.

– Howard Bass – Streams in the Negev

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