Curt Sewell<\/b><\/p>\n
Curt Sewell is a retired Electronics Engineer listed in Who\u2019s Who in Technology and Biographical Directory of American Men of Science, residing in Livermore CA. He teaches and writes on creation-evolution and the historicity of the early portions of Genesis<\/i>.<\/p>\n
Introduction<\/b><\/p>\n
Until a few years ago, I thought that if one accepted the idea that the early Genesis chronology is reliable, one would automatically arrive at a date of about 4000 BC for the creation of the world. It turns out that may not be quite true. In this article, we will look at several different methods of dating these early events.<\/p>\n
First, however, we should understand that secular scientists and others who do not accept the Bible as the inspired Word of God think the world must be extremely old \u2014 4 1\/2 billion years is the usual age cited for Earth, and several million years for Homo Sapiens,<\/i> or human beings. These ages completely disagree with the Bible, and therefore must be rejected by those who take the Bible to be an accurate historical record.<\/p>\n
Archaeologists also usually differ somewhat with a 6000-year age for the earth, but not by nearly as wide a margin. These men have studied the artifacts left by civilized people, and usually agree that civilization began no more than about 10, 000 years ago. Although some of their age-dates are too old to agree with most Biblical interpretations, they are at least in the same ballpark.<\/p>\n
Sources of Differences<\/b><\/p>\n
There are three ancient versions of the Old Testament\u2014the Septuagint, the Masoretic text, and the Samaritan Pentateuch. Although scholars say that all agree on the important doctrines, there are noticeable differences between them in the genealogies that are given in the fifth and 11th chapters of Genesis where we have recorded the number of years from Creation to the birth of Abraham. There are also at least two different ways of interpreting genealogical timing. We will refer to them as the \u201cUssher method\u201d and the \u201cPatriarchal-Age <\/p>\n
BSP<\/i> 8:1 (Winter 1995) p. 21<\/p>\n
method.\u201d These will be described in later paragraphs.<\/p>\n
The Three Versions<\/b><\/p>\n
We do not possess the original Biblical manuscripts (or autographs). There are several theories as to how they were first written, but most conservative scholars agree that they finally appeared in Hebrew early in the history of the Israelites, and this was probably in the land of Israel.<\/p>\n
However, by the end of the fourth century BC, many Jews were living in Egypt; probably many had immigrated there during Nebuchadnezzar\u2019s invasions and his destruction of Jerusalem shortly after 600 BC. They undoubtedly took copies of their Scriptures with them.<\/p>\n
When Alexander the Great conquered Egypt and the Middle East in 332 BC he began to unify his world \u2014 a process called \u201cHellenization.\u201d He had the great library at Alexandria built, and brought with him a form of Greek known as koine<\/i> Greek. It quickly became the common language of the known world and later was used in the original New Testament writings. But the Jewish Scriptures were still in Hebrew. Many Egyptian Jews, however, spoke koine<\/i> Greek, but not Hebrew.<\/p>\n
Septuagint<\/b><\/p>\n
In the early part of the third century BC, a group of 70 (or 72) scholars were brought to the Alexandrian library to translate the Hebrew scriptures into koine<\/i> Greek. The result of their work was the Septuagint text. This became the Bible for the \u201cman on the street\u201d for many centuries. It was the Bible used in Israel during the time of Jesus and the writers of the New Testament.<\/p>\n
Samaritan Pentateuch<\/b><\/p>\n
The Samaritan Pentateuch is used today by the several hundred people known as Samaritans, who live in the central part of Israel. They are descendants of intermarriage between native Israelites and settlers brought in by the Assyrians and Babylonians after their conquests in the eighth and sixth centuries BC. It is thought that the nephew of Sanballat (see Neh 2:10, 19, 4:1\u20138, etc.) came from Egypt in the mid- 400\u2019s BC and brought a copy of the Hebrew Scriptures with him. The Samaritan Bible consists only of the first five books of the Old Testament \u2014 the \u201cPentateuch.\u201d<\/p>\n
Masoretic<\/b><\/p>\n
Finally, in about the fifth century AD, a group of Jewish scholars known as Masoretes met in Jerusalem to consolidate their Scriptures. The resulting text is called the Masoretic text. It is the basis for most modern Old Testaments. It is generally considered to be extremely faithful to the original manuscripts. But it is based on sources that are certainly much more recent than those of either the Septuagint or the Samaritan Pentateuch.<\/p>\n
Which is Best?<\/b><\/p>\n
Many people believe, as an article of faith, that the Bible in its original writing was inspired by God and was absolutely accurate in all respects; and, as copies and translations were made, <\/p>\n
BSP<\/i> 8:1 (Winter 1995) p. 22<\/p>\n
God preserved all important facts. One of the principles used by scholars to judge manuscripts is that, barring other factors, the oldest one is the most accurate. Therefore let us compare the relative age of the sources for these three versions.<\/p>\n
The Samaritans believe that their Pentateuch was brought to Samaria from Egypt during the fifth century BC. Many modern scholars do not consider this to be a valid claim. But the fact that it has only the first five books, and none of the later ones, is a point in favor of the extreme antiquity of the text. The oldest copy in their possession today probably dates from about AD 1000.<\/p>\n
The Septuagint is known to have been translated from Hebrew into koine<\/i> Greek in the early third century BC.<\/p>\n
The Masoretic text was produced by Jewish scholars in about the fifth century AD. They are thought to have worked from manuscripts that were copied in about the second century AD. Thus, this is the newest version in terms of source material. Most of our present-day Bibles are based on the Masoretic version, which is often simply called \u201cthe Hebrew text.\u201d<\/p>\n
One point in favor of the Septuagint text is that this is the one that was in use during the first century AD; it is the Bible that Jesus read and that the New Testament writers used when they quoted from Old Testament verses; in a number of spots it is obvious that they used the Septuagint. For example, in Luke\u2019s genealogy of Jesus (Lk 3:36), the name Cainan appears between Arphaxad and Shelah; this name is shown in Genesis 11 in the Septuagint version but not in the others.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, there is a textual argument that favors the Masoretic version. The text emphasizes the point that Abraham was too old (at age 100) to become a father. But according to the Septuagint all of his ancestors were at least 130 at the birth of their heir. The Masoretic puts most of them in their 30\u2019s.<\/p>\n
Thus, although most modern Bible scholars prefer the Masoretic, there are some arguments in favor of the Septuagint. But only a few people have chosen the Samaritan Pentateuch.<\/p>\n
Early Chronographers<\/b><\/p>\n
Flavius Josephus was a famous Jewish historian who lived in the first century AD. In his Antiquities he wrote,<\/p>\n
That history [of the Jewish race] embraces a period of five thousand years, and was written by me in Greek on the basis of our sacred books.<\/p>\n
Note that \u201cfive thousand years\u201d is a Septuagint number, not from the Masoretic text.<\/p>\n
Another famous historian was Eusebius, who lived in Caesarea during the third century AD. He published charts comparing the three texts spoken of above; he preferred the Septuagint, as did Julius Africanus, a church writer who lived AD 170\u2013240.<\/p>\n
Jack Finegan, in Handbook of Biblical Chronology<\/i>, says,<\/p>\n
In general he [Eusebius] thinks that mistakes and inconsistencies are evident in the extant Hebrew text and that the Septuagint was translated from ancient and accurate copies of the Hebrew text and was therefore to be preferred (Finegan 1964:156).<\/p>\n
BSP<\/i> 8:1 (Winter 1995) p. 23<\/p>\n
Table 1 \u2014 Some Entries From Eusebius\u2019 Chronicle<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
Event<\/b><\/p>\n
Years from Adam<\/b><\/p>\n
Dates
BC\/AD<\/b><\/p>\n
Adam\u2019s creation<\/p>\n
0<\/p>\n
5200<\/p>\n
BC<\/p>\n
The Flood<\/p>\n
2242<\/p>\n
2959<\/p>\n
BC<\/p>\n
Birth of Abraham<\/p>\n
3184<\/p>\n
2017<\/p>\n
BC<\/p>\n
Last year before the Exodus<\/p>\n
3689<\/p>\n
1512<\/p>\n
BC<\/p>\n
Foundation of the Temple laid, in the fourth year of Solomon<\/p>\n
4168<\/p>\n
1033<\/p>\n
BC<\/p>\n
First year of Babylonian captivity<\/p>\n
4611<\/p>\n
590<\/p>\n
BC<\/p>\n
Rebuilding of the Temple, in the second year of Darius<\/p>\n
4681<\/p>\n
520<\/p>\n
BC<\/p>\n
Birth of Jesus<\/p>\n
5199<\/p>\n
2<\/p>\n
BC<\/p>\n
Jesus\u2019 death and resurrection<\/p>\n
5231<\/p>\n
AD<\/p>\n
31<\/p>\n
Destruction of Jerusalem<\/p>\n
5270<\/p>\n
AD<\/p>\n
70<\/p>\n
Table 1 above shows a summary of some key dates, taken from Eusebius\u2019 Chronicle<\/i>. It is obvious that this came from the Septuagint. The column showing BC and AD dates was added by Jerome\u2019s Latin translation in AD 381.<\/p>\n
What do the Texts Say?<\/b><\/p>\n
The genealogy in Genesis 5 covers the time span before the Great Flood of Noah; Genesis 11 takes it from there, up to the birth of Abraham\u2019s father Terah. In each case, a patriarch is named, his age at the \u201cbegetting\u201d of the next generation is stated, and his age at death is given. The next verse describes the next patriarch in a similar way. There are no apparent gaps. A typical entry is in Genesis 5:25\u201327, <\/p>\n
And Methuselah lived 187 years, and begat Lamech: And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech 782 years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Methuselah were 969 years: and he died. (From the KJV, or Masoretic text.)<\/p>\n
Other than different numbers, the only difference between the texts is that the Septuagint inserts the name \u201cCainan\u201d between Arphaxad and Salah in Genesis 11:13 and a few other places. (This is not the same \u201cCainan\u201d who appears in Genesis 5:12\u201314.)<\/p>\n
The \u201cUssher Method\u201d of Calculation<\/b><\/p>\n
Almost all chronologists, except for one whom we will discuss later, have considered the verses quoted above to mean,<\/p>\n
When Methuselah was 187 years old his son Lamech was born; then Methuselah lived another 782 years, and died at the age of 969.<\/p>\n
This is true for Josephus, Africanus, <\/p>\n
BSP<\/i> 8:1 (Winter 1995) p. 24<\/p>\n
and Eusebius, as well as Ussher and many more recent writers. With a little simple arithmetic, the elapsed time from Adam to Abraham easily can be calculated.<\/p>\n
Most people have heard of the \u201cUssher Chronology,\u201d which used this method of interpreting the data. James Ussher (1581\u20131656) was archbishop of Armagh in Ireland. His chronology was published in 1650 in Annales Veteris et Novi Testamenti<\/i>, and was inserted in the margin of reference editions of the King James Bible, which was first published in 1611. It follows the Hebrew (that is, the Masoretic) text, and puts the Creation at 4004 BC and the Flood at 2349 BC.<\/p>\n
The C.H.R.I. Method<\/b><\/p>\n
Eugene Faulstich, of the Chronology-History Research Institute, refined the above Ussher method. He knew that Biblical months always began on the evening of a new moon, and that years began on a vernal equinox. So Faulstich used a computer program to calculate many timing cycles, including precise moon phases, vernal equinoxes, Sabbath and Jubilee years, priestly cycles, astronomical events such as eclipses, and also backward-extrapolated Gregorian (modern calendar)-equivalent dates. By careful study of Biblical texts, as well as some extra-Biblical sources such as Babylonian king-lists, he arrived at what he considers much more precise dating of most Old Testament events. For example, his creation week occurred March 20\u201326, 4001 BC, at a time known to have a highly unusual planetary alignment. He based his work on the Hebrew (Masoretic) text (Faulstich 1990).<\/p>\n
However, Faulstich\u2019s results share a strong disadvantage with other \u201cUssher-type\u201d calculations in that it is difficult to reconcile them with secular history. Most historians and archaeologists agree that history is continuous back to at least about 3000 BC, yet the C.H.R.I. date for the world-wide Great Flood of Noah is 2345 BC. That flood would certainly disrupt civilization. (For further information on the date of the Flood, see Livingston 1993.)<\/p>\n
Comparison Tables<\/b><\/p>\n
The listing in Table 2 shows some of this information in tabular form for all three texts. In each case, the dates are figured by the Ussher method, which most chronologists have used. The numbers in the \u201cAge\u201d columns are the ages of each man at the \u201cbegetting\u201d of the next entry or at his death. The numbers in the \u201cDate\u201d columns are years calculated from the creation of the world, that is, dates AC (from Teachout 1971).<\/p>\n
Patriarchal Age Method<\/b><\/p>\n
Harold Camping, in his book Adam When<\/i>? (1974), uses a completely different way of interpreting verses such as Genesis 5:25\u201327 (quoted above). As a result, his dates are more ancient, especially for the earliest entries. For example, according to his calculations, the creation took place in 11,013 BC.<\/p>\n
Camping\u2019s method is highly unorthodox. What is significant, however, is that his dates correlate very closely with those of secular archaeologists and historians. And, even though it is a very unusual way of interpretation, this writer cannot <\/p>\n
BSP<\/i> 8:1 (Winter 1995) p. 25<\/p>\n
Table 2\u2014A Comparison of Three Biblical Texts<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
Patriarch<\/b><\/p>\n
Masoretic Age Date AC<\/b><\/p>\n
Septuagint Age Date AC<\/b><\/p>\n
Samaritan Pentateuch Age Date AC<\/b><\/p>\n
Adam begat Seth<\/p>\n
130<\/p>\n
130<\/p>\n
230<\/p>\n
230<\/p>\n
130<\/p>\n
130<\/p>\n
Adam died<\/p>\n
930<\/p>\n
930<\/p>\n
930<\/p>\n
930<\/p>\n
930<\/p>\n
930<\/p>\n
Seth begat Enos<\/p>\n
105<\/p>\n
235<\/p>\n
205<\/p>\n
435<\/p>\n
105<\/p>\n
235<\/p>\n
Seth died<\/p>\n
912<\/p>\n
1042<\/p>\n
912<\/p>\n
1142<\/p>\n
912<\/p>\n
1042<\/p>\n
Enos begat Cainan<\/p>\n
90<\/p>\n
325<\/p>\n
190<\/p>\n
625<\/p>\n
90<\/p>\n
325<\/p>\n
Enos died<\/p>\n
905<\/p>\n
1140<\/p>\n
905<\/p>\n
1340<\/p>\n
905<\/p>\n
1140<\/p>\n
Cainan begat Mahalaleel<\/p>\n
70<\/p>\n
395<\/p>\n
170<\/p>\n
795<\/p>\n
70<\/p>\n
395<\/p>\n
Cainan died<\/p>\n
910<\/p>\n
1235<\/p>\n
910<\/p>\n
1535<\/p>\n
910<\/p>\n
1235<\/p>\n
Mahalaleel begat Jared<\/p>\n
65<\/p>\n
460<\/p>\n
165<\/p>\n
960<\/p>\n
65<\/p>\n
460<\/p>\n
Mahalaleel died<\/p>\n
895<\/p>\n
1290<\/p>\n
895<\/p>\n
1690<\/p>\n
895<\/p>\n
1290<\/p>\n
Jared begat Enoch<\/p>\n
162<\/p>\n
622<\/p>\n
162<\/p>\n
1122<\/p>\n
62<\/p>\n
522<\/p>\n
Jared died<\/p>\n
962<\/p>\n
1422<\/p>\n
962<\/p>\n
1922<\/p>\n
847<\/p>\n
1307<\/p>\n
Enoch begat Methuselah<\/p>\n
65<\/p>\n
687<\/p>\n
165<\/p>\n
1287<\/p>\n
65<\/p>\n
587<\/p>\n
Enoch was translated<\/p>\n
365<\/p>\n
987<\/p>\n
365<\/p>\n
1487<\/p>\n
365<\/p>\n
887<\/p>\n
Methuselah begat Lamech<\/p>\n
187<\/p>\n
874<\/p>\n
187<\/p>\n
1474<\/p>\n
67<\/p>\n
654<\/p>\n
Methuselah died<\/p>\n
969<\/p>\n
1656<\/p>\n
969<\/p>\n
2256<\/p>\n
720<\/p>\n
1307<\/p>\n
Lamech begat Noah<\/p>\n
182<\/p>\n
1056<\/p>\n
188<\/p>\n
1662<\/p>\n
53<\/p>\n
707<\/p>\n
Lamech died<\/p>\n
777<\/p>\n
1651<\/p>\n
753<\/p>\n
2227<\/p>\n
653<\/p>\n
1307<\/p>\n
Noah begat Shem (*)<\/p>\n
502<\/p>\n
1558<\/p>\n
502<\/p>\n
2164<\/p>\n
502<\/p>\n
1209<\/p>\n
Flood began (Noah=600)<\/p>\n
600<\/p>\n
1656<\/p>\n
600<\/p>\n
2262<\/p>\n
600<\/p>\n
1307<\/p>\n
Noah died<\/p>\n
950<\/p>\n
2006<\/p>\n
950<\/p>\n
2612<\/p>\n
900<\/p>\n
1607<\/p>\n
Shem begat Arphaxad<\/p>\n
100<\/p>\n
1658<\/p>\n
100<\/p>\n
2264<\/p>\n
100<\/p>\n
1309<\/p>\n
Shem died<\/p>\n
600<\/p>\n
2158<\/p>\n
600<\/p>\n
2764<\/p>\n
600<\/p>\n
1809<\/p>\n
Arphaxad begat Salah<\/p>\n
35<\/p>\n
1693<\/p>\n
__<\/p>\n
____<\/p>\n
135<\/p>\n
1444<\/p>\n
Arphaxad died<\/p>\n
438<\/p>\n
2096<\/p>\n
__<\/p>\n
____<\/p>\n
438<\/p>\n
1747<\/p>\n
Arphaxad begat Cainan<\/p>\n
__<\/p>\n
____<\/p>\n
135<\/p>\n
2399<\/p>\n
__<\/p>\n
____<\/p>\n
Arphaxad died<\/p>\n
__<\/p>\n
____<\/p>\n
535<\/p>\n
2799<\/p>\n
__<\/p>\n
____<\/p>\n
Cainan begat Salah<\/p>\n
__<\/p>\n
____<\/p>\n
130<\/p>\n
2529<\/p>\n
__<\/p>\n
____<\/p>\n
Cainan died<\/p>\n
__<\/p>\n
____<\/p>\n
460<\/p>\n
2859<\/p>\n
__<\/p>\n
____<\/p>\n
Salah begat Eber<\/p>\n
30<\/p>\n
1723<\/p>\n
130<\/p>\n
2659<\/p>\n
130<\/p>\n
1574<\/p>\n
Salah died<\/p>\n
433<\/p>\n
2126<\/p>\n
460<\/p>\n
2989<\/p>\n
433<\/p>\n
1877<\/p>\n
Eber begat Peleg<\/p>\n
34<\/p>\n
1757<\/p>\n
134<\/p>\n
2793<\/p>\n
134<\/p>\n
1708<\/p>\n
Eber died<\/p>\n
464<\/p>\n
2187<\/p>\n
404<\/p>\n
3063<\/p>\n
404<\/p>\n
1978<\/p>\n
BSP<\/i> 8:1 (Winter 1995) p. 26<\/p>\n
Peleg begat Reu<\/p>\n
30<\/p>\n
1787<\/p>\n
130<\/p>\n
2923<\/p>\n
130<\/p>\n
1838<\/p>\n
Peleg died<\/p>\n
239<\/p>\n
1996<\/p>\n
339<\/p>\n
3132<\/p>\n
239<\/p>\n
1947<\/p>\n
Reu begat Serug<\/p>\n
32<\/p>\n
1816<\/p>\n
132<\/p>\n
3055<\/p>\n
132<\/p>\n
1970<\/p>\n
Reu died<\/p>\n
239<\/p>\n
2026<\/p>\n
339<\/p>\n
3262<\/p>\n
239<\/p>\n
2077<\/p>\n
Serug begat Nahor<\/p>\n
30<\/p>\n
1849<\/p>\n
130<\/p>\n
3185<\/p>\n
130<\/p>\n
2100<\/p>\n
Serug died<\/p>\n
230<\/p>\n
2049<\/p>\n
330<\/p>\n
3385<\/p>\n
230<\/p>\n
2200<\/p>\n
Nahor begat Terah<\/p>\n
29<\/p>\n
1878<\/p>\n
179<\/p>\n
3364<\/p>\n
79<\/p>\n
2179<\/p>\n
Nahor died<\/p>\n
148<\/p>\n
1997<\/p>\n
304<\/p>\n
3489<\/p>\n
148<\/p>\n
2248<\/p>\n
Terah begat Abram<\/p>\n
130<\/p>\n
2008<\/p>\n
130<\/p>\n
3494<\/p>\n
?<\/p>\n
2309(?)<\/p>\n
Terah died<\/p>\n
205<\/p>\n
2213<\/p>\n
205<\/p>\n
3699<\/p>\n
?<\/p>\n
2514(?)<\/p>\n
* (Shem was born when Noah was 502; Gn 7:6 and 11:10.)<\/p>\n
Time Summary<\/b><\/p>\n
Number of Years, Totals<\/b><\/p>\n
From Creation to Flood<\/p>\n
1656<\/p>\n
2262<\/p>\n
1307<\/p>\n
From Flood to birth of Abram<\/p>\n
352<\/p>\n
1232<\/p>\n
1002(?)<\/p>\n
Totals (Creation to Abram)<\/p>\n
2008<\/p>\n
3494<\/p>\n
2309(?)<\/p>\n
find any obvious violation of Scriptural integrity. Camping noticed that in a few places the verbal formula quoted above is different. Instead of simply saying \u201cbegat,\u201d some of the verses insert the additional phrase \u201ccalled his name.\u201d He also found that in some texts, such as Matthew 1:8, \u201cbegat\u201d means a descendant, not an immediate father-son relationship. There are also several places, such as Genesis 10:31, where the word \u201csons\u201d is used in other than immediate father-son relationships. But where the phrase \u201ccalled his name\u201d is used, there is always a direct next-generation relationship.<\/p>\n
Camping repeatedly emphasizes his belief in the integrity of the Bible as the Word of God; he also realized that Genesis 5 and 11 contain so many numbers that these must have been important to God, and therefore should be important to us. But he concluded that many of them do not necessarily represent direct father-son descendants. So he proposed the \u201cpatriarchal age\u201d concept, as explained below.<\/p>\n
If the phrase \u201ccalled his name\u201d is used, or some other means of definitely showing direct father-son relationship, then the verse is to be interpreted in the same way that Ussher and others have done. But if such evidence is not present, then Genesis 5:25\u201327, for example, should be interpreted as<\/p>\n
When Methuselah was 187, he had a son who, in turn, had a direct descendant named Lamech. Methuselah then lived another 782 years, and Lamech was born in the same year that his ancestor Methuselah died at the age of 969.<\/p>\n
According to the \u201cpatriarchal age\u201d theory, we have no way of knowing how many generations actually occurred between Methuselah and Lamech, but we do know how many years this took. In that way, the \u201cage of Methuselah\u201d lasted for 969 years, and was then followed by the \u201cage of <\/p>\n
BSP<\/i> 8:1 (Winter 1995) p. 27<\/p>\n
Table 3 \u2014 Some Dates from Camping\u2019s Adam When?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
Patriarch<\/b><\/p>\n
Calculated Years After Creation<\/b><\/p>\n
Camping\u2019s Data, BC<\/b><\/p>\n
Adam was created<\/p>\n
0<\/p>\n
11013<\/p>\n
Seth was born<\/p>\n
130<\/p>\n
10883<\/p>\n
Enosh was born<\/p>\n
235<\/p>\n
10778<\/p>\n
Kenan was born, and Enosh died<\/p>\n
1140<\/p>\n
9873<\/p>\n
Mahalel was born, and Kenan died<\/p>\n
2050<\/p>\n
8963<\/p>\n
Jared was born, and Mahalel died<\/p>\n
2945<\/p>\n
8068<\/p>\n
Enoch was born, and Jared died<\/p>\n
3907<\/p>\n
7106<\/p>\n
Methuselah was born, and Enoch was taken<\/p>\n
4272<\/p>\n
6741<\/p>\n
Lamech was born, and Methuselah died<\/p>\n
5241<\/p>\n
5772<\/p>\n
Noah was born<\/p>\n
5423<\/p>\n
5590<\/p>\n
The Great Flood began<\/p>\n
6023<\/p>\n
4990<\/p>\n
Arpachshad was born, and Shem died<\/p>\n
6525<\/p>\n
4488<\/p>\n
Shelah was born, and Arpachshad died<\/p>\n
6963<\/p>\n
4050<\/p>\n
Eber was born, and Shelah died<\/p>\n
7396<\/p>\n
3617<\/p>\n
Peleg was born, and Eber died<\/p>\n
7860<\/p>\n
3153<\/p>\n
The Tower of Babel was during this period<\/p>\n
Reu was born, and Peleg died<\/p>\n
8099<\/p>\n
2914<\/p>\n
Serug was born, and Reu died<\/p>\n
8338<\/p>\n
2675<\/p>\n
Nahor was born, and Serug died<\/p>\n
8568<\/p>\n
2445<\/p>\n
Terah was born, and Nahor died<\/p>\n
8716<\/p>\n
2297<\/p>\n
Abram was born<\/p>\n
8846<\/p>\n
2167<\/p>\n
Isaac was born<\/p>\n
2067<\/p>\n
Jacob was born<\/p>\n
2007<\/p>\n
Jacob\u2019s family arrived in Egypt<\/p>\n
1877<\/p>\n
Lamech,\u201d which lasted another 777 years, according to Genesis 5:31.<\/p>\n
The men who were clearly the direct sons of those mentioned just before them were Seth, Enos, Noah, Shem, and Abram. All others in those two chapters, according to Camping, were indirect descendants of their predecessor.<\/p>\n
The effect of Camping\u2019s calculation, as compared to the more familiar \u201cUssher Method,\u201d is to greatly increase the number of years in the Biblical record of ancient times, as shown in Tables 3 and 4. These results are so different from what is generally believed that it is at first shocking. But we must admit that it seems to fit history, and it seems to solve what has always been a vexing problem.<\/p>\n
Archaeologists\u2019 Dates<\/b><\/p>\n
Archaeologists and historians have found many artifacts of ancient civilizations which they date from 2500 to 5000 BC. Egyptian records go back to at least 3000 BC. Civilization in the Mesopotamian Valley is thought to be at least a few thousand years older than that. This record can not be easily reconciled with a date of ca. 2350 BC for the Great Flood of Noah <\/p>\n
BSP<\/i> 8:1 (Winter 1995) p. 28<\/p>\n
Table 4 \u2014 Calculations Using Masoretic Text<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
Bible Ages<\/b><\/p>\n
Calculated BC Dates \u201cUssher\u201d Method<\/b><\/p>\n
Calculated BC Dates \u201cPatriarchal-Age\u201d Method<\/b><\/p>\n
Patriarch Name<\/b><\/p>\n
Age When Begot Next<\/b><\/p>\n
Age at Death<\/b><\/p>\n
BC Date at birth<\/b><\/p>\n
BC Date at Begot<\/b><\/p>\n
BC Date at Death<\/b><\/p>\n
BC Date at birth<\/b><\/p>\n
BC Date at Begot<\/b><\/p>\n
BC Date at Death<\/b><\/p>\n
Creation<\/p>\n
0<\/p>\n
4004<\/p>\n
4004<\/p>\n
10842<\/p>\n
10842<\/p>\n
Adam<\/p>\n
130 *<\/p>\n
930<\/p>\n
4004<\/p>\n
3874<\/p>\n
3074<\/p>\n
10842<\/p>\n
10712<\/p>\n
9912<\/p>\n
Seth<\/p>\n
105 *<\/p>\n
912<\/p>\n
3874<\/p>\n
3769<\/p>\n
2962<\/p>\n
10712<\/p>\n
10607<\/p>\n
9800<\/p>\n
Enos<\/p>\n
90<\/p>\n
905 *<\/p>\n
3769<\/p>\n
3679<\/p>\n
2864<\/p>\n
10607<\/p>\n
10517<\/p>\n
9702<\/p>\n
Cainan<\/p>\n
70<\/p>\n
910 *<\/p>\n
3679<\/p>\n
3609<\/p>\n
2769<\/p>\n
9702<\/p>\n
9632<\/p>\n
8792<\/p>\n
Mahalaleel<\/p>\n
65<\/p>\n
895 *<\/p>\n
3609<\/p>\n
3544<\/p>\n
2714<\/p>\n
8792<\/p>\n
8727<\/p>\n
7897<\/p>\n
Jared<\/p>\n
162<\/p>\n
962 *<\/p>\n
3544<\/p>\n
3382<\/p>\n
2582<\/p>\n
7897<\/p>\n
7735<\/p>\n
6935<\/p>\n
Enoch<\/p>\n
65<\/p>\n
365 *<\/p>\n
3382<\/p>\n
3317<\/p>\n
3017<\/p>\n
6935<\/p>\n
6870<\/p>\n
6570<\/p>\n
Methuselah<\/p>\n
187<\/p>\n
969 *<\/p>\n
3317<\/p>\n
3130<\/p>\n
2348<\/p>\n
6570<\/p>\n
6383<\/p>\n
5601<\/p>\n
Lamech<\/p>\n
182 *<\/p>\n
777<\/p>\n
3130<\/p>\n
2948<\/p>\n
2353<\/p>\n
5601<\/p>\n
5419<\/p>\n
4824<\/p>\n
Noah<\/p>\n
502 *<\/p>\n
950<\/p>\n
2948<\/p>\n
2446<\/p>\n
1998<\/p>\n
5419<\/p>\n
4917<\/p>\n
4469<\/p>\n
Flood<\/p>\n
2348\u20132347<\/p>\n
4819\u20134818<\/p>\n
Shem<\/p>\n
100<\/p>\n
600 *<\/p>\n
2446<\/p>\n
2346<\/p>\n
1846<\/p>\n
4917<\/p>\n
4817<\/p>\n
4317<\/p>\n
Arphaxad<\/p>\n
35<\/p>\n
438 *<\/p>\n
2346<\/p>\n
2311<\/p>\n
1908<\/p>\n
4317<\/p>\n
4282<\/p>\n
3879<\/p>\n
Salah<\/p>\n
30<\/p>\n
433 *<\/p>\n
2311<\/p>\n
2281<\/p>\n
1878<\/p>\n
3879<\/p>\n
3849<\/p>\n
3446<\/p>\n
Eber<\/p>\n
34<\/p>\n
464 *<\/p>\n
2281<\/p>\n
2247<\/p>\n
1817<\/p>\n
3446<\/p>\n
3412<\/p>\n
2982<\/p>\n
Peleg<\/p>\n
30<\/p>\n
239 *<\/p>\n
2247<\/p>\n
2217<\/p>\n
2008<\/p>\n
2982<\/p>\n
2952<\/p>\n
2743<\/p>\n
Reu<\/p>\n
32<\/p>\n
239 *<\/p>\n
2217<\/p>\n
2185<\/p>\n
1978<\/p>\n
2743<\/p>\n
2711<\/p>\n
2504<\/p>\n
Serug<\/p>\n
30<\/p>\n
230 *<\/p>\n
2185<\/p>\n
2155<\/p>\n
1955<\/p>\n
2504<\/p>\n
2474<\/p>\n
2274<\/p>\n
Nahor<\/p>\n
29<\/p>\n
148 *<\/p>\n
2155<\/p>\n
2126<\/p>\n
2007<\/p>\n
2274<\/p>\n
2245<\/p>\n
2126<\/p>\n
Terah<\/p>\n
130 *<\/p>\n
205<\/p>\n
2126<\/p>\n
1996<\/p>\n
1921<\/p>\n
2126<\/p>\n
1996<\/p>\n
1921<\/p>\n
Abram<\/p>\n
100 *<\/p>\n
175<\/p>\n
1996<\/p>\n
1896<\/p>\n
1821<\/p>\n
1996<\/p>\n
1896<\/p>\n
1821<\/p>\n
Isaac<\/p>\n
1896<\/p>\n
1896<\/p>\n
Since these charts are made to compare texts and methods, rather than to give absolute \u201ccorrect\u201d dates, I chose the following Initial conditions arbitrarily.<\/p>\n
1) I started with the familiar \u201cUssher\u201d date of 4004 BC for Creation.<\/p>\n
2) Using the \u201cUssher\u201d method and the Masoretic text, I calculated the date of Abram\u2019s birth, arriving at 1996 BC.<\/p>\n
3) Abram\u2019s 1996 birth is used as the starting point for all other calculations, not because it is \u201cright,\u201d but simply to correlate all tables at one point in time.<\/p>\n
4) I adjusted each of the other tables to show Abram being born on that 1996 BC date.<\/p>\n
5) The * shows the time for beginning the next patriarchal age level, because …<\/p>\n
6) Seth, Enos, Noah, Shem, and Abram were direct sons. All others were indirect descendants (according to the \u201cpatriarchal age\u201d theory).<\/p>\n
(Ussher method, Masoretic text, Table 3).<\/p>\n
And yet archaeologists do not date their finds by dubious methods such as comparing them with fossils, or by any other method that is based on the assumption of evolution, as most anthropologists, paleontologists and geologists do. Archaeological dates are based on historical records, or, occasionally, on carbon-14 or other scientific methods. Dates based on the fantasy of evolutionary theory must be rejected by the Bible believer.<\/p>\n
The great William F. Albright wrote:<\/p>\n
BSP<\/i> 8:1 (Winter 1995) p. 29<\/p>\n
Table 5 \u2014 Calculations Using Septuagint Text<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
Bible Ages<\/b><\/p>\n
Calculated BC Dates \u201cUssher\u201d Method<\/b><\/p>\n
Calculated BC Dates \u201cPatriarchal-Age\u201d Method<\/b><\/p>\n
Patriarch Name<\/b><\/p>\n
Age When Begot Next<\/b><\/p>\n
Age at Death<\/b><\/p>\n
BC Date at birth<\/b><\/p>\n
BC Date at Begot<\/b><\/p>\n
BC Date at Death<\/b><\/p>\n
BC Date at birth<\/b><\/p>\n
BC Date at Begot<\/b><\/p>\n
BC Date at Death<\/b><\/p>\n
Creation<\/p>\n
0<\/p>\n
5490<\/p>\n
5490<\/p>\n
12028<\/p>\n
12028<\/p>\n
Adam<\/p>\n
230*<\/p>\n
930<\/p>\n
5490<\/p>\n
5260<\/p>\n
4560<\/p>\n
12028<\/p>\n
11798<\/p>\n
11098<\/p>\n
Seth<\/p>\n
205 *<\/p>\n
912<\/p>\n
5260<\/p>\n
5055<\/p>\n
4348<\/p>\n
11798<\/p>\n
11593<\/p>\n
10886<\/p>\n
Enos<\/p>\n
190<\/p>\n
905 *<\/p>\n
5055<\/p>\n
4865<\/p>\n
4150<\/p>\n
11593<\/p>\n
11403<\/p>\n
10688<\/p>\n
Cainan<\/p>\n
170<\/p>\n
910 *<\/p>\n
4865<\/p>\n
4695<\/p>\n
3955<\/p>\n
10688<\/p>\n
10518<\/p>\n
9778<\/p>\n
Maleleel<\/p>\n
165<\/p>\n
895 *<\/p>\n
4695<\/p>\n
4530<\/p>\n
3800<\/p>\n
9778<\/p>\n
9613<\/p>\n
8883<\/p>\n
Jared<\/p>\n
162<\/p>\n
962*<\/p>\n
4530<\/p>\n
4368<\/p>\n
3568<\/p>\n
8883<\/p>\n
8721<\/p>\n
7921<\/p>\n
Enoch<\/p>\n
165<\/p>\n
365 *<\/p>\n
4368<\/p>\n
4203<\/p>\n
4003<\/p>\n
7921<\/p>\n
7756<\/p>\n
7556<\/p>\n
Mathusala<\/p>\n
187<\/p>\n
969 *<\/p>\n
4203<\/p>\n
4016<\/p>\n
3234<\/p>\n
7556<\/p>\n
7369<\/p>\n
6587<\/p>\n
Lamech<\/p>\n
188 *<\/p>\n
753<\/p>\n
4016<\/p>\n
3828<\/p>\n
3263<\/p>\n
6587<\/p>\n
6399<\/p>\n
5834<\/p>\n
Noe<\/p>\n
502 *<\/p>\n
950<\/p>\n
3828<\/p>\n
3326<\/p>\n
2878<\/p>\n
6399<\/p>\n
5897<\/p>\n
5449<\/p>\n
Flood<\/p>\n
3228\u20133227<\/p>\n
5799\u20135798<\/p>\n
Sem<\/p>\n
100<\/p>\n
600 *<\/p>\n
3326<\/p>\n
3226<\/p>\n
2726<\/p>\n
5897<\/p>\n
5797<\/p>\n
5297<\/p>\n
Arphaxad<\/p>\n
135<\/p>\n
535 *<\/p>\n
3226<\/p>\n
3019<\/p>\n
2691<\/p>\n
5297<\/p>\n
5162<\/p>\n
4762<\/p>\n
Cainan<\/p>\n
130<\/p>\n
460 *<\/p>\n
3019<\/p>\n
2961<\/p>\n
2559<\/p>\n
4762<\/p>\n
4632<\/p>\n
4302<\/p>\n
Sala<\/p>\n
130<\/p>\n
460 *<\/p>\n
2961<\/p>\n
2831<\/p>\n
2501<\/p>\n
4302<\/p>\n
4172<\/p>\n
3842<\/p>\n
Heber<\/p>\n
134<\/p>\n
404 *<\/p>\n
2831<\/p>\n
2697<\/p>\n
2427<\/p>\n
3842<\/p>\n
3708<\/p>\n
3438<\/p>\n
Phaleg<\/p>\n
130<\/p>\n
339 *<\/p>\n
2697<\/p>\n
2567<\/p>\n
2358<\/p>\n
3438<\/p>\n
3308<\/p>\n
3099<\/p>\n
Ragau<\/p>\n
132<\/p>\n
339 *<\/p>\n
2567<\/p>\n
2435<\/p>\n
2228<\/p>\n
3099<\/p>\n
2967<\/p>\n
2760<\/p>\n
Seruch<\/p>\n
130<\/p>\n
330 *<\/p>\n
2435<\/p>\n
2305<\/p>\n
2105<\/p>\n
2760<\/p>\n
2630<\/p>\n
2430<\/p>\n
Nachor<\/p>\n
179<\/p>\n
304 *<\/p>\n
2305<\/p>\n
2126<\/p>\n
2001<\/p>\n
2430<\/p>\n
2251<\/p>\n
2126<\/p>\n
Tharrha<\/p>\n
130 *<\/p>\n
205<\/p>\n
2126<\/p>\n
1996<\/p>\n
1921<\/p>\n
2126<\/p>\n
1996<\/p>\n
1921<\/p>\n
Abram<\/p>\n
100 *<\/p>\n
175<\/p>\n
1996<\/p>\n
1896<\/p>\n
1821<\/p>\n
1996<\/p>\n
1896<\/p>\n
1821<\/p>\n
Isaac<\/p>\n
1896<\/p>\n
1896<\/p>\n
Since these charts are made to compare texts and methods, rather than to give absolute \u201ccorrect\u201d dates, I chose the following initial conditions arbitrarily.<\/p>\n
1) I started with the familiar \u201cUssher\u201d date of 4004 BC for Creation.<\/p>\n
2) Using the \u201cUssher\u201d method and the Masoretic text, I calculated the date of Abram\u2019s birth, arriving at 1996 BC.<\/p>\n
3) Abram\u2019s 1996 birth is used as the starting point for all other calculations, not because it is \u201cright,\u201d but simply to correlate all tables at one point in time.<\/p>\n
4) I adjusted each of the other tables to show Abram being born on that 1996 BC date.<\/p>\n
5) The * shows the time for beginning the next patriarchal age level, because …<\/p>\n
6) Seth, Enos, Noah, Shem, and Abram were direct sons. All others were indirect descendants (according to the patriarchal age\u201d theory).<\/p>\n
Archaeological research has established that there is no focus of civilization in the earth that can begin to compete in antiquity and activity with the basin of the Eastern Mediterranean and the region immediately to the east of it. … The Obeidan is the earliest clearly defined culture of Babylonia, where we find its remains underlying nearly all of the oldest cities of the country such as Ur, Erech, Lagash, Eridu, etc. This proves that the occupation of the marshlands of Babylonia by <\/p>\n
BSP<\/i> 8:1 (Winter 1995) p. 30<\/p>\n
human settlers came rather late in history of the irrigation culture, probably not far from 3700 BC (1957:32).<\/p>\n
Some dates in the range of 5000 to 10,000 BC have been reported in this same region, but they have not been as solidly established. Dates in Egypt range back to about 3200 BC. No other area in the world is seriously thought to predate these civilizations.<\/p>\n
Let us now consider when, and by whom, writing was developed. Sir Leonard Woolley said:<\/p>\n
All the archeological evidence available seems to prove that true writing was first developed in southern Mesopotamia; and in view of the incalculable importance of the invention for human progress everywhere we are entitled to ask the further question, why was that invention made by the Sumerians rather than any other ancient people? … It is not possible to trace the development of writing in Egypt with the same detail as in Sumer … [but] the simple but sufficient reason for this is that the Egyptians took over the principle of writing ready-made from the Sumerians …. The earliest examples of the Indus Valley script that have yet been found date to about the 24th century BC … that India owed its art of writing to the Sumerians cannot be proved, but it is highly probable. … On the whole it is probable the Chinese derived from Sumer the principle of writing (1965:364).<\/p>\n
The Bible agrees that Mesopotamia (the area included in the Tigris and Euphrates valleys) was the beginning of civilization, as we know it. There is no way of knowing where the Garden of Eden was located \u2014 the Great Flood probably changed the features of Earth\u2019s surface. But Noah\u2019s ark landed on the mountains of Ararat, which are just north of the heads of both of these rivers. Abraham came from the city of Ur, not far from where the Euphrates flows into the Persian Gulf.<\/p>\n
Conclusion<\/b><\/p>\n
Most writers who attach dates to either the Creation or the Flood use the Ussher method with the Masoretic text. But these dates appear to be in strong conflict with archaeological and historical dates. It is difficult to reconcile these differences. A few investigators have used the Ussher method with the Septuagint text, which results in a closer alignment.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, the method of Camping (using the Masoretic text) is so unconventional that I have never heard of any other Biblical scholar who accepted it. But it does give excellent correlation with dates from secular history.<\/p>\n
Tables 3 and 4 summarize the chronologies from Creation to Isaac using the methods discussed in this article.<\/p>\n
Bibliography<\/b><\/p>\n
Albright, W.F<\/p>\n
1957 From Stone Age to Christianity<\/i>. New York: Doubleday.<\/p>\n
Camping, H.<\/p>\n
1974 Adam When?<\/i>. Oakland CA: Family Stations; and Alameda CA: Frontiers for Christ.<\/p>\n
Faulstich, E.W.<\/p>\n
1990 Bible Chronology and the Scientific Method, Part II: Creation Through the First Temple<\/i>. Spencer IA: Chronology-History Research Institute.<\/p>\n
Finegan, J.<\/p>\n
1964 Handbook of Biblical Chronology<\/i>. Princeton NJ: Princeton University Press.<\/p>\n
Livingston, D.L.<\/p>\n
1993 The Date of Noah\u2019s Flood. Archaeology and Biblical Research<\/i> 6:13\u201317.<\/p>\n
Teachout, R.A.<\/p>\n
1971 A New Case for Biblical Chronology. Bible-Science Newsletter 9<\/i>:<\/p>\n
Woolley, L.<\/p>\n
1965 The Beginnings of Civilization<\/i>. New York: New York American Library.<\/p>\n
FIG. 1 BIBLICAL CHRONOLOGY OF THE MASORETIC TEXT<\/b><\/p>\n
FIG. 2 BIBLICAL CHRONOLOGY OF THE SEPTUAGINT TEXT<\/b><\/p>\n
Bible and Spade 8:2 (Spring 1995)<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Curt Sewell Curt Sewell is a retired Electronics Engineer listed in Who\u2019s Who in Technology and Biographical Directory of American Men of Science, residing in Livermore CA. He teaches and writes on creation-evolution and the historicity of the early portions of Genesis. Introduction Until a few years ago, I thought that if one accepted the … Continue reading “BIBLICAL
\nCHRONOLOGIES COMPARED”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15182","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermons"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15182","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15182"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15182\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15182"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15182"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15182"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}