Appendix 1
Calculation of the Approximate Dates for Creation and the Flood Using Data in the Biblical Record
Genesis chapter 5 records the age when the patriarchs became fathers, that is, Adam, 130 years old; Seth, 105; Enos, 90; Kenan, 70; Mahalel, 65; Jared, 162; Enoch, 65; Methuselah, 187; Lamech, 182; Noah (Flood), 600. Adding these years up, we get a total of 1,656 years from creation to Flood . (Note: these ages could be up to +1 year off for each of the ten patriarchs depending on whether they became a father just after a birthday or just before a birthday. That is, 1,656 is the minimum number of years, with 1,666 years the maximum, with the correct value somewhere in between.)
Genesis 11:10–25 records the age when post-Flood patriarchs became fathers. That is, Shem, 2 (years after Flood); Arphaxad, 35; Salah, 30; Eber, 34; Peleg, 30; Reu, 32; Serug, 30; Nahor, 29; Terah, 130 (died at 205 when Abraham was 75, Genesis 11:32, 12:4). Abraham was 75 when he left Haran and made a covenant with God (Genesis 12:4). Adding up these years, we get a total of 427 years from Flood to the covenant with Abraham. Again, the years could be off by up to ten years as before. That is, the maximum number of years would be 437.
The dates for the Flood and creation can be calculated as follows from the date of Solomon’s fourth year, which is now believed to be 967 B.C . The Exodus occurred 479 years earlier, that is, 1446 B.C. (1 Kings 6:1). The covenant with Abraham took place 430 years before the Exodus (Exodus 12:40–41; Galatians 3:16–17). Since the covenant with Abraham was 427 years after Flood, the time from the Flood to the Exodus was 857 years.
Therefore, the Flood was 1446 + 857 = 2303 b.c. and creation was 2303 + 1656 = 3959 b.c. (approximately).
Note 1: Ussher has Solomon’s fourth year as 1012 B.C. , that is, 45 years earlier than the current date assigned to this event. Ussher’s date for creation of 4004 B.C. – 45 = 3959 B.C. The calculations shown in this appendix are consistent with Ussher’s calculations but are dependent on the accuracy of the historical date for Solomon’s fourth year.
Note 2: The uncertainty in the Flood date would be +10 years, that is, up to ten years older. The uncertainty in the creation date would be +20 years, that is, up to 20 years older.
Calculation of the Approximate Dates for Creation and the Flood Using Data in the Biblical Record
Genesis chapter 5 records the age when the patriarchs became fathers, that is, Adam, 130 years old; Seth, 105; Enos, 90; Kenan, 70; Mahalel, 65; Jared, 162; Enoch, 65; Methuselah, 187; Lamech, 182; Noah (Flood), 600. Adding these years up, we get a total of 1,656 years from creation to Flood . (Note: these ages could be up to +1 year off for each of the ten patriarchs depending on whether they became a father just after a birthday or just before a birthday. That is, 1,656 is the minimum number of years, with 1,666 years the maximum, with the correct value somewhere in between.)
Genesis 11:10–25 records the age when post-Flood patriarchs became fathers. That is, Shem, 2 (years after Flood); Arphaxad, 35; Salah, 30; Eber, 34; Peleg, 30; Reu, 32; Serug, 30; Nahor, 29; Terah, 130 (died at 205 when Abraham was 75, Genesis 11:32, 12:4). Abraham was 75 when he left Haran and made a covenant with God (Genesis 12:4). Adding up these years, we get a total of 427 years from Flood to the covenant with Abraham. Again, the years could be off by up to ten years as before. That is, the maximum number of years would be 437.
The dates for the Flood and creation can be calculated as follows from the date of Solomon’s fourth year, which is now believed to be 967 B.C . The Exodus occurred 479 years earlier, that is, 1446 B.C. (1 Kings 6:1). The covenant with Abraham took place 430 years before the Exodus (Exodus 12:40–41; Galatians 3:16–17). Since the covenant with Abraham was 427 years after Flood, the time from the Flood to the Exodus was 857 years.
Therefore, the Flood was 1446 + 857 = 2303 b.c. and creation was 2303 + 1656 = 3959 b.c. (approximately).
Note 1: Ussher has Solomon’s fourth year as 1012 B.C. , that is, 45 years earlier than the current date assigned to this event. Ussher’s date for creation of 4004 B.C. – 45 = 3959 B.C. The calculations shown in this appendix are consistent with Ussher’s calculations but are dependent on the accuracy of the historical date for Solomon’s fourth year.
Note 2: The uncertainty in the Flood date would be +10 years, that is, up to ten years older. The uncertainty in the creation date would be +20 years, that is, up to 20 years older.
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