Timeline of the Patriarchs (Adam-Jacob)

Introduction

When it comes to dating the lifespans and events found in Genesis, we have three traditional options: the Greek Septuagint, the Masoretic text, and the Samaritan Pentateuch. Though sadly, I don’t believe any of them are entirely accurate. Each have their faults (some more than others). Finding the accurate timeline by choosing just one of these sources is probably impossible; though maybe, just maybe, we have a chance of discovering the truth by combining bits-and-pieces from the three.

That’s why the timeline I’ve created for the Biblical Patriarchs draws from multiple sources. Is that crazy? Perhaps. But I think you’ll see by the end that it’s justified. So strap yourself in, and get a strong cup of coffee, as I explain the method behind my timeline madness.

Enoch Is The First Key

Before we delve into the details behind each of the three translations, I want to show you how Enoch puts us on the right track to figuring out which one is the most accurate.

In chapter 92 (Laurence translation) of 1 Enoch, we’re given a 10-week prophecy that spans from the creation week of Genesis to the final pages of Revelation. It’s quite fascinating.

Here it is…

Enoch 92: 4-18 — ⁴ Enoch then began to speak from a book, and said, I have been born the seventh in the first week, while judgment and righteousness wait with patience. ⁵ But after me, in the second week, great wickedness shall arise, and fraud shall spring forth. ⁶ In that week the end of the first shall take place, in which mankind shall be safe. ⁷ But when the first is completed, iniquity shall grow up; and he shall execute the decree upon sinners. ⁸ Afterwards, in the third week, during its completion, a man of the plant of righteous judgment shall be selected; and after him the plant of righteousness shall come for ever. ⁹ Subsequently, in the fourth week, during its completion, the visions of the holy and the righteous shall be seen, the order of generation after generation shall take place, and an habitation shall be made for them. Then in the fifth week, during its completion, the house of glory and of dominion shall be erected for ever. ¹⁰ After that, in the sixth week, all those who are in it shall be darkened, the hearts of all of them shall be forgetful of wisdom, and in it shall a man ascend. ¹¹ And during its completion he shall burn the house of dominion with fire, and all the race of the elect root shall be dispersed.¹² Afterwards, in the seventh week, a perverse generation shall arise; abundant shall be its deeds, and all its deeds perverse. During its completion, the righteous shall be selected from the everlasting plant of righteousness; and to them shall be given the sevenfold doctrine of his whole creation. ¹³ Afterwards there shall be another week, the eighth of righteousness, to which shall be given a sword to execute judgment and justice upon all oppressors. ¹⁴ Sinners shall be delivered up into the hands of the righteous, who during its completion shall acquire habitations by their righteousness; and the house of the great King shall be established for celebrations for ever. After, this, in the ninth week, shall the judgment of righteousness be revealed to the whole world. ¹⁵ Every work of the ungodly shall disappear from the whole earth; the world shall be marked for destruction; and all men shall be on the look out for the path of integrity. ¹⁶ And after this, on the seventh day of the tenth week, there shall be an everlasting judgment, which shall be executed upon the Watchers; and a spacious eternal heaven shall spring forth in the midst of the angels. ¹⁷ The former heaven shall depart and pass away; a new heaven shall appear; and all the celestial powers shine with sevenfold splendour for ever. Afterwards likewise shall there be many weeks, which shall externally exist in goodness and in righteousness. ¹⁸ Neither shall sin be named there for ever and for ever. (Laurence Translation)

I won’t be going over each week at this time, but I want you to understand this: units of time are very specific with the Father. Never random. Take Leviticus 25, for example, when he’s describing the jubilee cycle: 7 weeks of 7 years, 49 years in all.

Leviticus 25:8 — And you shall count seven Sabbaths of years for yourself, seven times seven years. And the time of the seven Sabbaths of years shall be to you forty-nine years. (The Scriptures)

The number ‘7’ is our guide. When it comes to ‘weeks’ in the bible, they always come in groups of 7; whether that’s a 7-day week, or a 7-year week. And if the Father’s ways are unchanging, would an Enoch-week be any different? I highly doubt it.

With that in mind, what unit of measurement makes the most sense for a week? Well — since the prophecy spans the entire length of the bible, I think we can safely rule out 7 days and 7 years.

Next numerical option would be 70, which is also found in scripture (70-year Babylonian exile, 70 weeks in the book of Daniel); but if we’re describing years, that’s still too low…

• • A week of 70 years x 10 weeks = 700 years

I’m fairly certain there’s been more than 700 years in the world. But, what if an Enoch week is 700 years? Ah. Now we’re getting somewhere. It’s the next multiple of 10; and honestly, it’s the only one that makes sense.

• • A week of 700 years x 10 weeks = 7000 years

This has to be it, right? A 7000-year prophecy encompassing the entirety of mankind, before we step into the days of eternity. That’s why a 700-year week is the unit I’m choosing, and I believe it’ll help us greatly in discovering the truth of time.

To break it down week-by-week, it looks like this…

• • Week 1: 1-700
  • Week 2: 701-1400
  • Week 3: 1401-2100
  • Week 4: 2101-2800
  • Week 5: 2801-3500
  • Week 6: 3501-4200
  • Week 7: 4201-4900
  • Week 8: 4901-5600
  • Week 9: 5601-6300
  • Week 10: 6301-7000

Weeks 1, 2, & 3

Now let’s start connecting a few of these weeks with the translations mentioned earlier…

Enoch said that he was “born the seventh in the first week.” The “seventh” here is a reference to him being the 7^th from Adam, not a unit of time. But if the first week is years 1-700, let’s see how this fits on the timelines.

Year of Birth

The Masoretic and Samaritan are still in the game, with years 622 & 522. But it looks like the Septuagint has made an early exit, saying Enoch was born in 1122. That’s 422 years above the 700-year week. Not good.

Onto the second week…

Enoch 92:5-7 — ⁵ But after me, in the second week, great wickedness shall arise, and fraud shall spring forth. ⁶ In that week the end of the first shall take place, in which mankind shall be safe. ⁷ But when the first is completed, iniquity shall grow up; and he shall execute the decree upon sinners.

It appears Enoch is making a clear reference to the flood, by saying, “the end of the first shall take place.” So with Week 2 being years 701-1400, that means the flood must come before 1400.

Alright. Back to the chart.

Year of Birth

Next, we need to factor in that Noah was 600 at the time of the flood [Genesis 7:6].

Noah’s Age at the Flood

And there we have it. Three (very different) options for when the flood occurred. It’s truly a shame they’re not all in agreement; but alas, here we are. And as far as this topic goes, there’s only one that’s still within the Enoch time limits: the Samaritan Pentateuch. The Masoretic has entered Week 3 (1401-2100), while the Septuagint charged ahead into Week 4 (2101-2800).

I could stop there and say the Samaritan Pentateuch is a good source for us to base the Genesis timeline, but it’s not that simple. The third week throws a monkey wrench into that logic…

Enoch 92:8 — Afterwards, in the third week, during its completion, a man of the plant of righteous judgment shall be selected; and after him the plant of righteousness shall come for ever.

This seems to be a reference to Abraham. Now as to whether he was “selected” upon birth or when a covenant was made (Genesis 15 & 17), I can’t say for certain. But for now, let’s just try to figure out when Abraham was born and go from there.

Back to the charts!

Year of Birth

Well isn’t that interesting. With Week 3 being years 1401-2100, now the Masoretic text is on the right track; whether we’re speaking of Abraham’s birth year, or perhaps the circumcision covenant when we was 99 — it still lands in the correct week. The Samaritan Pentateuch, though, has fallen out of Enoch’s grace, jumping a week ahead to the 2101-2800 range. And as for the Septuagint? Well, it’s almost in Week 6 (3501-4200).

The Masoretic and Samaritan are somewhat close, at least, but the Greek is starting to make me freak! That being said, the Septuagint has one thing going for it that the other two can’t say: the addition of Cainan.

The Cainan Conundrum

As if these translations didn’t have enough differences between them, the Greek had to go and start making people up. Or, did the Masoretic and Samaritan blot someone out? This question has been on the minds of many for a long time. Should Cainan be in the text? Personally, I believe he should — for one simple reason: the Gospel of Luke includes him in the genealogy from Adam to Messiah. (Name highlighted in bold.)

Luke 3:35-38 — ³⁵ of Seruḡ, of Re‛u, of Peleḡ, of Ěḇer, of Shĕlaḥ, ³⁶ of Qĕynan, of Arpaḵshaḏ, of Shĕm, of Noaḥ, of Lemeḵ, ³⁷ of Methushelaḥ, of Ḥanoḵ, of Yereḏ, of Mahalalĕl, of Qĕynan, ³⁸ of Enosh, of Shĕth, of Aḏam, of Elohim. (The Scriptures)

The writers of the New Testament often relied on the Greek translation instead of the Masoretic, and this is just one proof of that. I’d like to know why the other translations decided to omit him, but that remains a mystery to me. All I can say is that, in my opinion, Cainan should be there. And if that’s the case, the post-flood Masoretic timeline may not be a winner either.

Our competition just got even more complicated.

Is There A Fourth Option…?

So far, this is what we have…

• • The Samaritan Pentateuch is within the correct prophetic weeks at the time of the flood.
  • The Masoretic Text is within the correct prophetic weeks at the time of Abraham.
  • The Greek Septuagint is never in the correct position, but it does include Cainan in the genealogy.

If only there were a way to combine their strengths, and create a super timeline! Or better yet, if there is another source that has most of the years already intact. Actually, I believe there is…

… The Book of Jubilees

I think Jubilees is a great addition to anyone’s scriptural library. It expands Genesis in subtle, yet profound ways; but never in a manner that makes me question it’s legitimacy.

What really sets it apart, though, is how the book records time in jubilee periods. Rather than say (for example) year 930, it’ll say something like, ‘in the nineteenth jubilee, in the sixth year of the seventh week.’ If you’re new to the book, this will take some time getting used to, and you’ll probably need a calculator on hand if you’re trying to figure out each of the years. But once you understand how to read the jubilees as 49 years, the weeks as 7 years, and then adding on the years of each week — it goes fairly smoothly.

In case you’re wondering, this is how I would get 930 from the words, ‘in the nineteenth jubilee, in the sixth year of the seventh week.’

• • 18 jubilees = 18 x 49 = 882 (Since we’re still in the 19^th jubilee, only 18 have been completed.)
  • 6 weeks = 6 x 7 = 42 (Same situation; only 6 weeks have been completed.)
  • 6^th year = add 6
  • Now add the totals together…
  • 882 + 42 + 6 = 930

However, all that math is meaningless if the book’s not accurate. So, is it legitimate? Overall, yes, I believe it is. Jubilees is only 1-year off from the Samaritan Pentateuch before the flood; but unlike the Pentateuch, it remains in the proper 10-week prophetic window after the flood. (Hold tight, a chart is on the way.) If I had to pick only one source to use, it would be this.

That being said, even Jubilees has its faults. While it may get the big picture right, the smaller details are frequently off.

Here’s what I mean…

With Jacob, for instance, Jubilees is in agreement with Genesis, saying that he lived to be 147.

Jubilees 45:13 — And Israel lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years, and all the days which he lived were three jubilees, one hundred and forty-seven years, and he died in the fourth year of the fifth week of the forty-fifth jubilee.

That all looks fine on the surface, but when we look at Jacob’s birthdate, something is amiss. (Note: I add the jubilee year from a previous verse, 19:1.)

Jubilees 19:13a — And in the sixth week, in the second year thereof (in the forty-second jubilee), Rebecca bare to Isaac two sons, Jacob and Esau…

If you do the math, you’ll see that Jacob was born in 2046, and died in 2188. The problem? That’s 142 years, not 147. (Darn it, Jubilees!) This is probably due to mistranslations over time, which is unfortunate. But I would still take small discrepancies of 1-10 years, over errors of hundreds or thousands of years, any day of the week.

So once more, here’s the Year of Birth chart, but now I’ve added the Book of Jubilees to the mix. Let’s see how it  compares.

Year of Birth

If you compare the Samaritan Pentateuch with Jubilees before the flood, the dates are almost identical, only shifting by a couple of years at the most. Sometimes Jubilees isn’t entirely specific; like with Noah, where an exact year of the week isn’t given. Also, in Jubilees the flood occurs in 1308, where the Pentateuch says it was 1307. Either way, the flood year of Jubilees still rests comfortably in the 701-1400 Enoch window.

Then after the flood, Jubilees joins the Septuagint by including Cainan in the genealogy. This gives it a leg-up on the competition, in my opinion. After that, it’s hard to say exactly how accurate it is, as the Samaritan veers into another direction.

There is one instance, though, where we can find a glaring issue: Reu. If we’re to believe his birthdate, that would mean Peleg became his father at age 12. I highly doubt it, Mr. Peleg. So for my timeline, I inserted the Masoretic span of 30 years between Peleg and Reu, just to make it more plausible, as the 130-year span (found in the Pentateuch and Septuagint) would be too much.

Other than that, Jubilees succeeds in the long-run by placing Abraham’s birth at 1876, which is within the Enoch window of 1401-2100. So minor issues aside, the book of Jubilees stays within the bounds of the 10-week prophecy, where all other sources fail.

You go, Jubilees.

Correcting the Faults

Acknowledging that Jubilees does make some year-to-year faults, I’ve decided to use the Samaritan Pentateuch solely for my dates leading up to the flood. In all, I felt this to be the most accurate decision for my timeline.

As for after the flood? I decided to use the birthdates from Jubilees (except for Reu, as mentioned), and the lifespans from the Samaritan Pentateuch. However, once the mistakes become obvious, I stepped in to correct them as best I could. Not by much, but by enough that they may be inline with the true dates. Or at least, I pray they are.

I accomplished this a couple of ways…

The Importance of the Exodus

Dating the exodus from Egypt is crucial to any timeline chart. You literally can’t make one without it. When you figure out that date, then you can figure out the timeline before and after this event. That’s because of the time gaps scripture provides: 430 years & the 480^th year.

The 430 Years

For connecting the book of Genesis with the departure from Egypt, we have the 430 years found in Exodus.

Exodus 12:40-41 — ⁴⁰ And the sojourn of the children of Yisra’ĕl who lived in Mitsrayim was four hundred and thirty years. ⁴¹ And it came to be at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, on that same day it came to be that all the divisions of יהוה went out from the land of Mitsrayim. (The Scriptures)

If we take Exodus 12 on its own, we may think that the children of Israel were slaves in Egypt for 430 years. But that’s not the case. The actual time of servitude was much, much less. Closer to 150 years, I believe. And if that seems far-fetched, maybe this will help…

I know I’ve been picking on the Greek translation when it comes to the timeline (and for good reason), but in many instances I actually prefer it to the Masoretic. Like here, for instance, the Septuagint says the children of Israel sojourned 430 years in the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan.

Exodus 12:40-41 — ⁴⁰ And the sojourning of the children of Israel, while they sojourned in the land of Egypt and the land of Chanaan, was four hundred and thirty years. ⁴¹ And it came to pass after the four hundred and thirty years, all the forces of the Lord came forth out of the land of Egypt by night. (Brenton Septuagint)

That’s a big difference from 430 years in just Egypt. And the differences don’t stop there: in verse 42 the Greek omits the phrase “on that same day.” I’ll come back to why that matters, shortly.

Now, to get the full picture for the 430 years, we need to combine Exodus 12 with Galatians, where Paul fills in the gaps — and takes us to the promise land. (Thanks, Paul!)

Galatians 3:16-17 — ¹⁶ But the promises were spoken to Aḇraham, and to his Seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Messiah. ¹⁷ Now this I say, Torah, that came four hundred and thirty years later, does not annul a covenant previously confirmed by Elohim in Messiah, so as to do away with the promise. (The Scriptures)

The 430 years appears to have twofold start: between the covenant that was given to Abraham and the birth of his seed. Now, there is a covenant made with Abraham after he rescued Lot, in Genesis 15…

Genesis 15:18 — On the same day יהוה made a covenant with Aḇram, saying, “I have given this land to your seed, from the river of Mitsrayim to the great river, the River Euphrates, (The Scriptures)

… but I don’t believe this is the one Paul is speaking of, because it doesn’t provide a date in Abraham’s life. If the 430-year end date was so important, wouldn’t it make sense if we knew the start date as well? Also, it doesn’t coincide with the birth of Isaac.

However, the circumcision covenant connects on both these points. Abraham was 99 when he was given this covenant; and then 1-year later, the covenant was established through the birth of Isaac.

Genesis 17:1-2, 10, 19 — ¹ And it came to be when Aḇram was ninety-nine years old, that יהוה appeared to Aḇram and said to him, “I am Ěl Shaddai – walk before Me and be perfect. ² And I give My covenant between Me and you, and shall greatly increase you…

¹⁰ This is My covenant which you guard between Me and you, and your seed after you: Every male child among you is to be circumcised…

¹⁹ And Elohim said, “No, Sarah your wife is truly bearing a son to you, and you shall call his name Yitsḥaq. And I shall establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. (The Scriptures)

While the circumcision may have begun with Abraham, it was established through Isaac. That’s probably because the proper adherence for the covenant requires circumcision on a newborn male.

Genesis 17:12 — And a son of eight days is circumcised by you, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with silver from any foreigner who is not of your seed. (The Scriptures)

Sorry. You weren’t expecting this much circumcision talk in a timeline article, were you? It’s important to understand, though, because the birth of Isaac, or technically the circumcision of Isaac, is when I believe the 430 years to the Exodus began. And this occurred when Abraham was 100 years old.

Last point: the book of Jubilees says that Isaac was born during the feast of Pentecost, not Passover. If this is true, then the children of Israel couldn’t have left Egypt on “that same day,” as the Masoretic text suggests. This is why the Greek translation seems to be accurate in regards to the 430 years. It includes the land of Canaan in the time of sojourning; and it doesn’t say, “that same day,” leaving the door open for Isaac to be born at a time other than Passover.

The 480^th Year

For connecting the exodus with the future (the kingdom of Israel), 1 Kings is there to help. We’re told in chapter 6 that the temple began construction in the 480^th year after the exodus, which was also the 4^th year of Solomon. (Though, the Septuagint says it was the 440^th year.) As great as this topic is, I’m going to save it for another time. Let’s stick with the patriarchs for now, and come back to the kings later.

So When Was the Exodus?

Even though the book of Jubilees can be off at times, I feel that it gets the timing of the exodus right. It says the year was 2411 (when you do some math).

Jubilees 50:4 — Wherefore I have ordained for thee the year-weeks and the years and the jubilees: there are forty-nine jubilees from the days of Adam until this day, and one week and two years and there are yet forty years to come (lit. “distant”) for learning the commandments of the Lord, until they pass over into the land of Canaan, crossing the Jordan to the west.

• • 49 x 49 jubilees = 2401 years
  • 1 week + 2 years = 9 years
  • 2401 + 9 = 2410

As you can see this comes to 2410, not 2411; but, I believe the writer is saying that 2410 years have passed, and 40 more are to come. Meaning, they were in the year 2411 at the time of the exodus.

Here’s why that seems to be accurate…

If 2411 was the date the Israelites left Egypt, then that means they entered the promise land in 2451. The year 2451 was the 50^th jubilee, which means it was the first year of that 49-year jubilee cycle. This is important because the Israelites were told to count the years, weeks, and jubilees once they entered the land.

Leviticus 25:2, 8 — ² Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, and say to them, ‘When you come into the land which I give you, then the land shall observe a Sabbath to יהוה…

⁸ And you shall count seven Sabbaths of years for yourself, seven times seven years. And the time of the seven Sabbaths of years shall be to you forty-nine years. (The Scriptures)

The only way they could have marked the years accurately, was if they entered the land on the 1^st year of a jubilee cycle. And according to the book of Jubilees, that’s exactly what they did. So in this instance, I agree with Jubilees.

Going Back to Abraham…

Now that we’ve established 2411 as the year of the exodus, we can determine when Abraham was born. Because remember, Isaac was circumcised when Abraham was 100. After that, it was 430 years to the Exodus.

• • 2411 – 430 – 100 = 1881

Thus, this is why I believe that Abraham was born in the year 1881. Jubilees may say 1876, but I respectfully disagree. This book can be a fantastic tool for helping us hit the target; but if we want to get a bulls-eye, a little more research is needed at times.

From 1881, we can determine the birth year of the final two men in my Patriarchs Timeline…

• • 1881 + 100 = 1981 (birth year of Isaac)
  • 1981 + 60 = 2041 (birth year of Jacob)

What About the 400 Years?

I’d be remised if I didn’t bring up the 400 years mentioned in Genesis 15. Let’s read it in detail…

Genesis 15:13-16 — ¹³ And He said to Aḇram, “Know for certain that your seed are to be sojourners in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them, and they shall afflict them four hundred years. ¹⁴ But the nation whom they serve I am going to judge, and afterward let them come out with great possessions. ¹⁵ Now as for you, you are to go to your fathers in peace, you are to be buried at a good old age. ¹⁶ Then, in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the crookedness of the Amorites is not yet complete.” (The Scriptures)

Remember I said earlier that Israel’s time of servitude in Egypt was closer to 150 years? So once again we have a number (400) that’s not quite as it seems. Either the 400 years began before the slavery, ended after the exodus, or, a little of both. Personally, I think it was both, and the clue to that comes with Abraham’s burial.

Once Abraham is told his seed will be afflicted 400 years, verse 15 shifts the attention back to him, saying, “as for you, you are to go to your fathers in peace.” This is why I believe the 400 years began when Abraham died. Because saying, “as for you,” implies that the 400 years didn’t begin until Abraham passed away. I didn’t used to think this; but once I began plugging in the numbers, it was the only time period that made sense.

If Abraham was born in 1881, then he died in 2056 (at age 175). 400 years from this point is 2456; which was 45 years after the exodus, and the 6^th year that the children of Israel were in the land.

Why is 2456 important? It was their last year of war.

During the time of Joshua, they were purging the land of its inhabitants for the first 6 years after entering the land; then, in the 7^th year (2457), “the land had rest from fighting” [Joshua 14:15]. Interestingly enough, this ‘rest’ came on a sabbath year.

Now I’ll be honest, these details aren’t clear-cut. It takes some detective work to figure it out, but it’s there. I’ll give a quick rundown with a list of scriptures, and you can research it on your own if you want to go deeper.

• • The Exodus occurred in 2411.
  • In the 2^nd year from the Exodus, the promise land was spied out (Numbers 1:1 & chapter 13). This was year 2412.
  • Due to disobedience, they were forced to wander the wilderness for 40 years (Number 14:33-34).
  • Then after 40 years in the wilderness, they entered the land. This was year 2451 — a jubilee year.
  • From here, they began fighting with the inhabitants of the land (the book of Joshua). This went on for 6 years. 2451-2456.
  • The fighting ceased, and the land was allotted between the tribes, in the year 2457. We know this because Caleb said it’s been 45 years since Moses sent him to spy out the land, which was 2412 (Joshua 14). 2412 + 45 = 2057

So think about this…

Abraham is told that his seed would be “sojourners in a land that is not theirs” for 400 years, right? Isn’t it interesting then, that 401 years after his death was the point when his seed officially inherited the land? Even though they were in the promise land for 6 years, due to fightings and war they were still in the affliction status. But then, the land was allotted among them, and they finally had an inheritance of their own. Once the 400 years were completed, after Abraham’s death. 

“In the Fourth Generation…”

There’s a second part to the 400-year prophecy of Genesis 15…

Genesis 15:16 — Then, in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the crookedness of the Amorites is not yet complete. (The Scriptures)

I’ve spoken of this before in other articles (“How Long Is The Tribulation, Really?”), but I’ll say it again here — I believe a biblical generation is 70 years. Moses convinced me of this, when he said the lifespan of a man is, typically, 70 years.

Psalm 90:10 (written by Moses) — The days of our lives are seventy years; Or if due to strength, eighty years, Yet the best of them is but toil and exertion; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away (The Scriptures)

Let’s put that Moses math to the test, shall we? What would the timeframe of the fourth generation be? Well, three generations would be 210 years…

• • 3 x 70 = 210

… and four generations would be 280 years…

• • 4 x 70 = 280

… which means that in the fourth generation would be years 211-280, with the fifth generation beginning at year 281. Are we good so far? Alright, so, when Abraham’s seed left the land of Canaan for Egypt, they returned between 211-280 years later.

Does this fit?

On my Patriarch’s timeline, Jacob died in the year 2188. But, Genesis tells us that the last part of his life was spent in Egypt.

Genesis 47:28 — And Ya‛aqoḇ lived in the land of Mitsrayim seventeen years. So the length of Ya‛aqoḇ’s life was one hundred and forty-seven years. (The Scriptures)

So after living in Egypt for 17 years, he died. Which means that Jacob, or Israel (the seed of Abraham), left Canaan for Egypt in the year 2171.

• • • 2188 – 17 = 2171

Next, we also know that the children of Israel entered the promise land, or made their ‘return’ to the land of Canaan, in 2451. And that was (drum roll, please…) 280 years after Israel left.

• • • 2451 – 2171 = 280

Four. Complete. Generations. Whoa, now. Did that give you chills, or is it just me? The Father’s ways truly are perfect. His prophecies. His timing. Everything.

So whether we’re speaking of 430 years, 400 years, or four generations, all these time measurements line up perfectly on the biblical timeline. Though maybe not in the ways you expected.

How Did I Choose the B.C. Dates?

You may have noticed that I inserted a few very specific B.C. dates onto the timeline, in conjunction with the A.M. dates (year from creation). In case you missed them, here’s what I added…

• • Creation Week: 1 A.M. & 3845 B.C.
  • The Flood: 1307 A.M. & 2539 B.C.
  • Tower of Babel: 1639 A.M. & 2207 B.C.
  • Abram entered the land of Canaan: 1956 A.M. & 1890 B.C.
  • Jacob entered the land of Egypt: 2171 A.M. & 1675 B.C.

All these B.C. years come from my own careful research, and not from another source. I’m well aware that most scholars would disagree, as they don’t quite fit within the generally accepted times. For example, the overall consensus for the flood is between 2500-2300 B.C.; and Abraham’s birth is generally dated between 2200-2100 B.C., with 2166 B.C. as the most common choice. (I believe it was 1965 B.C.)

I suppose I’m not too far off from the pack, in relation to say (clears throat) the Septuagint. Either way, you deserve an explanation. And you’ll get one… later. To completely explain these numbers would be to spoil the surprise. But just know, I have the rest of the biblical timeline laid out — all the way to the times of Messiah. It’s just a matter of me reviewing it, and placing the years on a chart (similar to the Patriarchs one). It won’t arrive overnight. And it won’t be done in one fell swoop. But it’s on the way, I promise.

Though I will say this, the years I’ve chosen combine biblical history and the Enoch lunisolar calendar. I did this because the luminaries are on a steady 19-year cycle; and once you figure out pattern of that cycle, you can make a better estimate on the timeline as a whole.

So once again, Enoch is at the center of the wheel of time…

The 10-Week Prophecy Began at Year 8?

I told you to get a strong cup of coffee, right? Well I hope you did, because you probably needed one if you got this far. You can call this the ‘bonus section,’ if you’d like; because it’s not essential to understanding the Patriarchs timeline. But, it’s interesting.

I think it’s possible that Enoch’s 700-year week cycle may not have begun until year 8 (after the first 7-year week ended). That sounds odd, I know, but I say that for a few reasons.

First, the Book of Jubilees says that Eve was tempted by the Serpent in the 8^th year, after Adam and she had been in the garden for 7 years [3:18]. Is it possible then that the 10-week prophecy isn’t marked by the creation of man, but by a 7,000-year redemption period that comes after the fall of man? Hmm…

Second, if the first week began at year 8, that would put Noah’s birth at the tail-end of the week (year 707), when “judgement and righteousness wait with patience.”

Concerning Noah, Genesis says this…

Genesis 6:9 — This is the genealogy of Noaḥ. Noaḥ was a righteous man, perfect in his generations. Noaḥ walked with Elohim. (The Scriptures)

Wouldn’t it seem fitting then, that a “righteous” and “perfect” man, such as Noah, was born in the week of “righteousness,” before the second week of “great wickedness” arose? I think so.

And lastly, if the 10-weeks began on year 8, this is what the opposite end of the 7,000-year spectrum would look like…

The 10^th week now ends on year 7007, and the next age begins in 7008. This is intriguing since the number ‘7’ is a sign of completion, and the number ‘8’ marks new beginnings. But even more fascinating is the fact that year 7008 is a jubilee year; and not just any jubilee year, either — it’s the start of the 144^th jubilee cycle. Check it out…

• • Year 7007 / 49 = 143 jubilee cycles

Meaning…

• • Year 7008 is the 1^st year of the 144^th jubilee cycle

How perfect would it be if the next age begins on a jubilee year?And the start of the 144^th cycle, at that?

If the 10-week prophecy began at year 8, all three of these scenarios would be in-place. And now that I see the timeline like this, it’s hard to imagine the prophetic weeks aligning any other way. So you know what? I’m feeling bold. Let’s do it! I’m going to adjust the dates to start at year 8.

Here’s what it now looks like (with Pre and Post-Weeks added)…

• • *Pre-Week 1: 1-7 — Adam and Eve in the Garden.
  • Week 1: 8-707
  • Week 2: 708-1407
  • Week 3: 1408-2107
  • Week 4: 2108-2807
  • Week 5: 2808-3507
  • Week 6: 3508-4207
  • Week 7: 4208-4907
  • Week 8: 4908-5607
  • Week 9: 5608-6307
  • Week 10: 6308-7007
  • *Post-Week 10: 7008… — The eternal age.

If you prefer the other chart that ranges from years 1-7000, then by all means stay with that. Just consider this version a ‘for your consideration.’

Thank you so much for reading. And until next time… stay in that thin gate.

— Daniel A., Creator of ThinGate.org