Trying to reconcile Jacob’s age in Genesis..

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SeekerInCrisis

New member
#1
Aug 19, 2021
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#1
Someone told me that the chronology in the Bible showed that Jacob was apparently in his 70’s when he was blessed by Isaac and in his 80’s when he got married. I didn’t believe it but when I looked into it, pretty much every source that put a number on his age said the same thing based on the Chronology given in Genesis.

Though it just doesn’t seem right that an ancient Hebrew (or anyone for that matter) would still be living at home at that age..or that his parents would’ve waited that long to find him a wife. Even if aging was slower back then, it’s not like it was as slow as it was pre-flood. His father Isaac was only 40 when he got married.

Just from reading the story it’s hard to imagine that Jacob was that old when he was blessed by Isaac and went to work for Laban. Wondering if anyone could reconcile this for me..or hopefully just show that the math might not be right. I don’t know why this bothers me so much but I can’t seem to get over it.
 
Magenta

Magenta

Senior Member
#2
Jul 3, 2015
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#2
I found a very detailed page on this after first seeing your post, which did agree that Jacob was 70 in the timeline you describe. It is quite possible that people were much healthier back then, free from the toxins in our modern society in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the foods we eat. Many of the substances naturally found in the environment or released by modern, industrialized society and commercial agriculture are harmful to humans and other living creatures. Common toxins include heavy metals (lead, cadmium, copper, aluminum, mercury, and manganese), chlorine, fluoride, arsenic, cyanide, formaldehyde, steroids, hormones, antibiotics, hydrogenated fats and oils, trans fats, triclosan, phthalates, perchlorate, dioxins, organic chemicals (such as pesticides and herbicides), PCBs, and radiation. You may have to look some of those up if you want to know what they are. Yeah, here are many and probably more that affect our health and well being, not to mention all he pharmaceuticals people consume whether for medical reason or recreationally. The point being that a 70 year old thousands of years ago could very likely be in such good physical health they could easily pass for a 40 year old by today's standards.
 
Magenta

Magenta

Senior Member
#3
Jul 3, 2015
59,815
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PS~ the info I provided was not from the aforementioned page, which I did not give you a link to since it very much agreed with your assessment. However, since it could have provided you with further information I am sorry I did not provide the link for you...
 
JaumeJ

JaumeJ

Senior Member
#4
Jul 2, 2011
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#4
Let us not forget Abraham, 99 when Sarah conceived Isaac. Continue on to such as Methuselah.
 
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Omegatime

Guest
#5
#5
All years counting from creation

At age 100 Abraham beget Issac **** Year 2048
Issac beget Jacob and Esau at 60 years of age **** Year 2108
Esau takes two wives at age 40**** Year 2148
Issac's blessing to Jacob at age 64**** Year2172
Jacob marries Leah at age 71**** Year 2179
Jacob marries Rachael at age 78**** Yerar2186
 
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