Results 81 - 97 of 97
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Author: Jim Estes Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
81 | What do these 430 years mean? | Gen 15:13 | Jim Estes | 177140 | ||
Hi Bruce, Thank you for a very thoughtful response and my apology for taking so long to answer back. You are correct that Ephraim could have been alive to mourn 7th generation grandchildren. His great-grandfather Isaac did live to 180 years. However, life spans were declining after the flood. Jacob lived to about 147 years and Joseph to 110 years. While possible that Ephraim lived to be 160, it is very doubtful. Plus, this still does not alter the fact that the scripture states that Ephraim was their father. Galatians 16 is clearly referring to God’s promise to Abraham that “in your Seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.” It does not mention Jacob or is there a promise made to Jacob using this language. This covenant was made at the time of the Passover of Isaac. Even by your calculations, the Sons of Israel would have been in Canaan 33 years and Egypt 397 years, not 30 years and 400 years. The interpretation of the Israelites being in Egypt for 400 years cannot be correct because it is in direct conflict with other scriptures, i.e. the genealogy of Moses. I think the correct interpretation would be that the Sons of Israel left Egypt exactly 430 years after the Passover of Isaac. It draws the connection between the 3 Passovers and is consistent with other scriptures. Another conflict that must be resolved is the one of Joseph being 30 years old when he began the service to Pharaoh. This would be just 13 years after his arrival and 9 years before his family arrived. I think when the Bible states "Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt" (Gen 41:46) it represents the 30 years from Joseph's calling by God. This would indicate that Joseph was 56 years old (17 plus 30 plus 7 plus 2) when Jacob arrived at age 130. Jacob was therefore 74 years old when Joseph was born. This would mean that Jacob was 60 years old when his parents sent him to Padan Aram, as opposed to 77 years old. A clear example of this type of calling is encountered in 1 Samuel 13:1 talking about King Saul. A literal translation reads as follows; 1Sam 13:1 A son of a year Saul when he became king .... The text makes it clear Saul was not one year old, yet on the surface this verse appears to be stating he was. This verse is actually stating that Saul was crowned king in the first year since being called by God. Saul became king in the same year he was anointed by God as commander over God's inheritance (1 Sam 10:1). How can we determine if Joseph was in Egypt for 22 years or 39 years before Jacob and his brothers arrived? We need to look at what the Bible records as happening during those years while Joseph was in Egypt. Joseph was 17 years old when he was sold into slavery by his brothers. His younger brother Benjamin was an infant or very young child. Joseph was born shortly after his half-sister, Dinah (Gen 30:21-25), at the end of Jacob's 14 years of service to Laban. Jacob then worked an additional 6 years (Gen 31:41). After that Jacob moved his family to Shechem. At Shechem Dinah was defiled (Gen 34). She was of an age to be married, 14-16 years old. Then Jacob was told by God to go up to Bethel and dwell (Gen 35:1). On this journey Benjamin was born (Gen 35:18-19). When Benjamin arrived in Egypt he would have been about 22-24 years old or 39-41 years old. Benjamin is recorded as having ten sons upon his arrival in Egypt (Gen 46:21). So Benjamin either married very young or it was 30 years from Joseph’s calling when he stood before Pharaoh. Also, after Joseph was sold into slavery, his brother Judah married a Canaanite woman (Gen 38). They had three sons who all grew to be adults. This would take at least 20 years. Then Judah had twin sons by Tamar. Their names were Perez and Zerah (Gen 38:27-30). When Perez arrived in Egypt, he had two sons. This would not be possible within 22 years, but is possible in 39 years. Therefore, the amount of time Jacob and his sons were actually in Canaan was 50 years, not 33. I enjoyed your website. You made some good points which I had not thought about previously. Yours in Christ, Jim Estes |
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82 | What do these 430 years mean? | Gen 15:13 | Jim Estes | 176818 | ||
Hi Bruce, In your previous note you stated: “2) the Massoretic Text and the LXX have the period referring only to the sons of Israel.” Can you give the exact scripture quotes in the Massoretic Text and the LXX that you are referring to so I can compare them? Otherwise, it is hard to understand exactly what you mean. Thank you in advance. You stated: “3) Even if Jacob and sons were in Canaan longer than 30 years, it can't be more than 39 - 6 or 33 years . . .” That is an excellent point! IF Joseph was 39 when the Hebrews arrived in Egypt and Joseph was 6 when they left Padan-Aram, then they would have been in Canaan no longer than 33 years. However, I would like to see the scripture quotes before I respond to this. You stated: “4) Ezer and Elead came after there were seven generations of Ephraimites, this could not be less that 120 years verses your 15 years.” 1 Chronicles 7:22 says that Ephraim was their father and that he mourned many days. Ezer and Elead were the sons of Ephraim, not Shuthelah. They were not born after 7 generations or Ephraim could not have mourned for them. You stated: “In acts 13:17-20 Refers to the period of about 450 years in Egypt up until Israel was fully settled in Israel. 400 years in Egypt plus 49 years wandering, conquest, and settling is 449 about 450 years Paul mentions.” This period of time began when “The God of this people Israel selected our forefathers. . .” I’m not sure how this time of 450 years plays out. However, Paul is very clear in Galatians 3:16-17. The 430 years started with the covenant with Abraham that in “your Seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.” This is recorded in Genesis 22:17. The 430 years ended with the giving of the law, the Ten Commandments, shortly after the Exodus from Egypt, which took place 430 years to the very day. The Passover of Isaac for the Ram to the Passover of the firstborn of Israel for the Lamb was exactly 430 years. How could the Israelites have been in Egypt for 400 years when the 430 years began even before the birth of Jacob-Israel? Also, as you noted, Moses was 80 years old when he led the Exodus. Moses was the son of Amram, who lived to be 137 years old (Genesis 6:20). Amram was the son of Kohath, who lived to be 133 years old (Genesis 6:18). Kohath was living when the Hebrews came into Egypt (Genesis 46:11). So, even if Kohath was an infant when he arrived in Egypt and Amram was born in the last year of Kohath’s life and Moses was born in the last year of Amram’s life, you cannot get to 400 years of the Israelites being in Egypt. 133 plus 137 plus 80 equals 350 years max. You have made excellent points, but all the scriptures cited must be in harmony. If they are not in harmony, then we are failing to give them the correct interpretation. If the Israelites were in Egypt for 400 years, then how can the above scriptures be brought into harmony? Yours in Christ, Jim Estes |
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83 | What was the Name of Lots wife? | Gen 19:15 | Jim Estes | 176711 | ||
Correction to my last note: According to Strong's Concordance Iscah means "Watchful" not "Palm Tree." | ||||||
84 | What was the Name of Lots wife? | Gen 19:15 | Jim Estes | 176710 | ||
Hi Searcher, You are correct that Iscah is not mentioned in Genesis 11:31, but neither is Nahor or Milcah. I think it as likely that Iscah left Ur of the Chaldees as Nahor and Milcah. The context of Genesis 12:29 indicates to me that Iscah was a daughter of Haran, sister of Milcah, rather than a brother of Lot. The name means “Palm Tree” according to Strong’s. Strong’s also says she is the “daughter of Haran,” drawing the same inference. Yours in Christ, Jim Estes |
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85 | Ruth - Born of Moab or Living in Moab? | Ruth 3:11 | Jim Estes | 176690 | ||
Hi Searcher, Hope this isn't too far off topic. You have Tamar listed as a non-Jewish mother. I think you mean non-Hebrew mother, since at that time the only Jews were Judah and his 3 sons. Regardless, the Bible does not say that Tamar was a Canaanite. Genesis 38:6 merely states,"Now Judah took a wife for Er, his firstborn: her name was Tamar." We do know that Judah's first three sons were the sons of a Canaanite mother. We cannot say the same for Perez and Zerah. Yours in Chirst, Jim Estes |
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86 | What was the Name of Lots wife? | Gen 19:15 | Jim Estes | 176675 | ||
Hi zrollins67, Terah was the father of Abraham, Nahor and Haran. Lot was the son of Haran. We learn from Genesis 11:29 that Lot also had two sisters, Milcah and Iscah. Abraham married Sarah, his half-sister. They had the same father, but different mothers. Nahor married his niece Milcah, daughter of Haran and Lot’s sister. There is a definite pattern among Terah’s descendants of marriage within the family. It is possible that Lot married Iscah, his sister. She may have been a half-sister and the marriage was like that of Abraham and Sarah. Iscah means “watchful” and it was Lot’s wife who “looked back” and became a pillar of salt. Genesis 19:26. This would also explain why Iscah’s name is mentioned in 11:29. Yours in Christ, Jim Estes |
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87 | What do these 430 years mean? | Gen 15:13 | Jim Estes | 176073 | ||
Hi Got Truth?, I explain in the tread of this discussion why I believe the 430 years is from the offering of Isaac by Abraham and the 400 years is from the birth of Jacob. If the 430 years is from Abraham crossing the Euphrates at age 75, then what is the 400 years? Thanks, Jim Estes |
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88 | Jewish population, why so small? | Gen 15:5 | Jim Estes | 174522 | ||
Doc, I'm sorry you feel that way and my sincere apologies for offending you. That was not my intent. It was my intent to broaden my understanding of scripture. Many of the points I made were the result of reading over scripture which you cited, i.e. Hosea 1. However, I will take your comments to heart and in the future just make it a note and ask for comments. I did not realize how it was coming across and I will be more careful in the future. Please accept my sincere apologies. Yours in Christ, Jim Estes |
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89 | Jewish population, why so small? | Gen 15:5 | Jim Estes | 174515 | ||
Thanks Wisdom111 and Doc for your answers. Wisdom 111 you say that God fulfilled his promise to Abraham, but you do not tell me how he did it. If God promised the Jews they would be so numerous, then why are they so few? Doc, I take your answer to be that the promise has been fulfilled in Abraham’s countless spiritual children, therefore it is not necessary to fulfill the promise in the actual Jewish people. I would disagree. I believe that God has done exactly what he promised. But, we are just looking in the wrong place if we think that the world population of Jews, less than 15 million, fulfills the promise God made to Abraham. (Numbers 11:23) Ishmael’s descendants are much more numerous, yet he was not subject to the promise. The physical descendants of Abraham, countless as the stars, may be representative of his spiritual children, but it does not negate the promise of countless physical descendants. In the verse prior to Gen 15:15 God tells Abraham that his heir “shall come from your own body . . .” From the context of 15:15 I can’t imagine that God did not mean physical descendants. Also, God set a sign of Abraham’s physical descendants, which is circumcision. Gen 17:11 This is a sign of the Covenant regarding his countless descendants and therefore cannot be speaking of “spiritual children.” God tells Abraham numerous times that his descendants will be countless and that he will be “the father of many nations.” I think you can call these promises of race as opposed to grace. In the Bible, the term Jew is used to describe either a descendant of Judah or a citizen of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. The term is never used to describe the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The promises of “countless descendants” and “father of many nations” were to be fulfilled by the Northern Kingdom of Israel and not by the Jews of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. The tribes of Joseph were of the Northern Kingdom and when Jacob-Israel blessed Ephraim, son of Joseph, he said, “and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.” Gen 48:19 In the Book of Hosea, written about 722 BC, Hosea writes the following about the Northern Kingdom of Israel at 1:10, “Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered; and instead of it being said to them, You are not My people, it shall be said to them, Sons of the Living God!” This was to be the status of the Children of Israel (the Northern Kingdom) sometime after they were carried off into captivity. These promises are fulfilled in the descendants of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Who are these “multitude of nations” with “countless” descendants of Abraham. They were first told they were not God’s people, but are now “Sons of the Living God.” Could this mean Christians? These countries practice circumcision, are Christian, and have a multitude of people? There we will find the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham. These countries constitute the modern Israel and are the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The modern state of Israel is not ancient Israel, but ancient Judah. Someday “the children of Judah and the children of Israel will be gathered together and appoint themselves one head . . .” Hosea 1:11, Isaiah 11 Yours in Christ, Jim Estes |
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90 | Jewish population, why so small? | Gen 15:5 | Jim Estes | 174476 | ||
God promised Abraham that his descendants would be as the stars, so numerous that they cannot be counted. The Jewish world population is less than 15 million. This is much less than the populations of many other peoples. How can this prophesy be reconciled? Yours in Christ, Jim Estes |
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91 | What about "the moon" in Joseph's dream? | Gen 37:9 | Jim Estes | 172813 | ||
Hi, This is an excellent question and one I have wondered about. Jacob did not immediately discern that Joseph’s dream was from God. When Jacob offered a snap interpretation of Joseph’s dream, concerning “the sun and moon”, he did so without God’s help. If it had been God’s interpretation, then Jacob would not have chastised Joseph for the dream. Joseph’s mother, Rachel, died a short time before this. Jacob may have been referring to Joseph’s step-mother and Rachel’s sister, Leah. However, Leah died before Jacob reunited with Joseph in Egypt (Genesis 49:31). Also, Jacob pondered over what his son had dreamed, which indicates he did not understand the significance of the dream. Jacob AND Rachel (or Leah) could not fulfill this prophesy, since Rachel and Leah both died in Canaan. Jacob’s interpretation was in error. The question is who are the entities represented as “the sun and moon,” which would bow down to Joseph? We should look to see if the Bible will interpret itself! Is there a similar prophesy? Who bowed down to Joseph, other than his brothers, that fulfill the prophesy? The blessing given to Jacob by Isaac is similar to those of both Joseph’s dreams and Jacob’s blessing given to Joseph. Gen 27: 28 May God give you of heaven's dew and of earth's richness— an abundance of grain and new wine. (See Gen. 49:25, Deu. 33:13-15) 29 May nations serve you (No nation served Jacob, but Egypt and Canaan served Joseph) and peoples bow down to you. (See Gen. 41: 40-43) Be lord over your brothers, (This applied to Joseph, not Jacob) and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. (Jacob had only one brother, as did Joseph. However, in Hebrew “mother” can mean any female ancestor. The mother here would be Rebekah, who was the grandmother of Joseph’s brothers.) May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed." In Deu. 4:19 the Israelites’ were warned: “And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars—all the heavenly array—do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven. Egypt was a land of Pagan Sun-Worship and Canaan a land of Pagan Moon-Worship! How could Jacob have ever imagined that they would someday bow down to his son Joseph. (See Gen 47:13-15) The sun and moon are Egypt and Canaan! Yours in Christ, Jim Estes |
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92 | What about "the moon" in Joseph's dream? | Gen 37:9 | Jim Estes | 172766 | ||
It could not have been Leah either, since she also died before Jacob was reunited with Joseph. Nor can I find scripture that says that Jacob ever bowed down to Joseph. Even Jacob pondered over the meaning. Genesis 49:31 There Abraham and his wife Sarah were buried, there Isaac and his wife Rebekah were buried, and there I buried Leah. Gen 37:11 Joseph's brothers envied him and were jealous of him, but his father observed the saying and pondered over it. Yours in Christ, Jim Estes |
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93 | Israel in Egypt 430 yrs? | Gen 15:13 | Jim Estes | 172660 | ||
The key to understanding the 400 years and 430 years can be found in Galatians 3:16-17. The Law, as stated in verse 17, began 430 years after the covenant. The Law was given shortly after the exodus. Exodus 12:41 states: “At the end of the 430 years, even that very day, all the hosts of the Lord went out of Egypt.” The exodus out of Egypt occurred on the day of the Passover, exactly 430 years after an important event and 400 years after another. What were these events? We know from Gal. 3:17 the 430 years was from the time of the covenant. But which covenant, at which time? Gal. 3:16 states: “Now the promises were decreed and made to Abraham and his Seed. He does not say, And to seeds, as if referring to many persons, but, And to your Seed, obviously referring to one individual, Who is Christ.” The term “Seed” as used in this context, meaning Jesus Christ, is not found until Gen. 22: 18: “And in your Seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed and bless themselves, because you have heard and obeyed My voice.” What had Abraham heard and obeyed? This was right after Abraham had shown his intent to offer Isaac as a burnt offering to the Lord. However, Isaac was passed over. 430 years later the Israelites were passed over in Egypt. Later, again on the anniversary of this date, Christ became our Passover Lamb. So what happened 30 years later? The birth of Jacob-Israel, who would be a stranger dwelling as a temporary resident in Canaan and later in Egypt, where his descendants (known by his name) would be mistreated and enslaved. Total time in Egypt 270 years. This also means that Isaac was 30 years old when he was offered. A “young man” (Gen 22:5) who died when he was 180 years old (Gen 35:29). According to my calculations, the Israelites lived in Egypt for 216 years after the dead of Joseph. So, it very well could be that they were enslaved for 210 years. |
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94 | Jacob's age when Joseph was born | Genesis | Jim Estes | 172651 | ||
Hello Searcher, This is from my own study. However, I do wish to thank Mr. Colin Heath of Australia (BibleInsight) for the information concerning the calling of King Saul. Colin came to the same conclusion regarding Jacob's age, but for other reasons. Jim Estes |
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95 | Jacob's age when Joseph was born | Genesis | Jim Estes | 172570 | ||
Hi All, The traditional view is Jacob was 91 years old when Joseph was born. As stated in previous notes Joseph was 30 years old when he stood before Pharoah plus 7 years of plenty and 2 years of famine before Jacob and Joseph's brothers arrived. Jacob was 130 years old minus Joseph's age of 39 equals Jacob being 91 years old when Joseph was born. An alternate view is "Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt" (Gen 41:46) represents the 30 years from Joseph's calling by God. This would indicate that Joseph was 56 years old (17 plus 30 plus 7 plus 2) when Jacob arrived at age 130. Jacob was 74 years old when Joseph was born. A clear example of this type of calling is encountered in 1 Samuel 13:1 talking about King Saul. A literal translation reads as follows; 1Sam 13:1 A son of a year Saul when he became king .... The text makes it clear Saul was not one year old, yet on the surface this verse appears to be stating he was. This verse is actually stating that Saul was crowned king in the first year since being called by God. Saul became king in the same year he was anointed by God as commander over God's inheritance (1 Sam 10:1). In the traditional view Joseph was in Egypt 22 years (13 plus 7 plus 2)before his father and brothers arrived. In the alternate view Joseph was in Egypt 39 years (30 plus 7 plus plus 2). How can we determine which is correct. We need to look at what the Bible records during those years that Joseph was in Egypt before his family arrived. Joseph was 17 years old when he was sold into slavery by his brothers. His younger brother Benjamin was an infant or very young child. Joseph was born shortly after his half-sister, Dinah (Gen 30:21-25), at the end of Jacob's 14 years of service to Laban. Jacob then worked an additional 6 years (Gen 31:41). After that Jacob moved his family to Shechem. At Shechem Dinah was defiled (Gen 34). She was of an age to be married, 14-16 years old. Then Jacob was told by God to go up to Bethel and dwell (Gen 35:1). On this journey Benjamin was born (Gen 35:18-19). When Benjamin arrived in Egypt he would have been about 22-24 years old (traditional view) or 39-41 years old (alternate view). When he arrived in Egypt, he had ten sons (Gen 46:21). So Benjamin either married very young or the traditional view is incorrect. Also, after Joseph was sold into slavery, his brother Judah married a Canaanite woman (Gen 38). They had three sons who all grew to be adults. This would take at least 20 years. Then Judah had twin sons by Tamar. Their names were Perez and Zerah (Gen 38:27-30). When Perez arrived in Egypt, he had two sons. This would not be possible within 22 years. Therefore, the traditional view is incorrect. Jacob was 74 years old when Joseph was born. Yours in Christ, Jim Estes |
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96 | Israel in Egypt 430 yrs? | Gen 15:13 | Jim Estes | 172565 | ||
Thank you for your response. However, the Bible shows that the Israelites did return to Canaan in four generations, not four centuries. Kohath, being the first generation, was one of the original 70 Hebrews to arrive in Egypt. He lived 133 years. His son Amram lived 137 years. Amram was the father of Moses, who led the Israelites out of Egypt when he was 80 years old. This being the case, how could they have been in Egypt for 400 years? Also, how could they have been slaves for 400 years, since they did not become slaves until after the death of Joseph, who lived to 110 years(Gen 50:26). Gen. 15:16, when speaking of "strangers dwelling as temporary residents" is refering to Canaan and not Egypt. This verse is talking about both lands, not just Egypt. See Ex 6:4 So what happened 400 years before the Exodus? The birth of Jacob! |
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97 | Israel in Egypt 430 yrs? | Gen 15:13 | Jim Estes | 171820 | ||
How could the Israelites have been in Egypt for either 400 or 430 years? Gen 15:16 In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure." Ex 12:40 Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years. 41 At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the LORD's divisions left Egypt. The fourth generation can be found as the children of Moses, since Moses did not enter into the Promised Land. Kohath was one of the orginial 70 Hebrews to come into Egypt and is the Grandfather of Moses. Gen 46:11 The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. Ex 6:18 The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. Kohath lived 133 years. Ex 6:20 Amram married his father's sister Jochebed, who bore him Aaron and Moses. Amram lived 137 years. Ex 7:7 Moses was 80 years old and Aaron 83 when they spoke to Pharaoh. So, lets say that Kohath had just been born when he arrived in Egypt. He lived 133 years and on the last day of his life he fathered Amram. Amram lived 137 years and on the last day of his life he fathered Moses. Moses lead the Israelites out of Egypt when he was 80 years old. 133 years, 137 years, 80 years equals 350 years. |
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