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Time Elapsed Since Adam

This article represents a study I started back in 1982, trying to learn a little bit about the events in the Old Testament. I wanted to get a better idea of Biblical history. This is not finished. Even today, I find conflicts based on my understanding of scripture. Come with me as we learn some facts that you can not learn unless you do something crazy like this.

The tables below list a scriptural 'event', followed by how many years since the creation of Adam the event occurred, then the formula for calculating the Years AAC and finally scripture references for all this. Scholars use the Latin phrase "Anno Mundi" (AM) as the starting point for the creation of Man. I prefer the "After Adam Created" phrase myself, and have great respect for the other.

*The third column explains the math of how I arrived at the year of the event. I assume that Adam's aging started with his creation, not with the exile from Eden. I am not looking into what happened before Adam, nor into how long it took God to create the universe. I am not looking into how old the planet earth is, at least not here. Here I am looking into the clock of mankind from the moment God breathed life into Adam. This will not date the planet, for the planet already existed. I base my findings here on several assumptions: For information on dating the planet, from the creationist viewpoint, one of the best websites is at www.answersingenesis.org

- I assume that all times in the Bible are accurate when they relate to individual people. Apparent contradictions merely need further study to understand.

- I assume that all apparent contradictions are indicative of our misunderstanding and misinterpretations.

Unfortunately, not all events listed in the Bible give a reference to when they occurred. An example of this is the birth of Noah's first two sons, Ham and Japheth. We know they existed, but there is no mention of Noah's age at their birth. In this case, we can build the timeline around these events, because we have other, solid statements. Whenever some fill-in-the-blank work has been done, I reveal it as such. Not because I am so open, but because if there are mistakes here they are mine, and I will need the help of others to correct them.

Since Seth is born when Adam is 130, this formula is simple. This will be repeated very often, especially at this part of history, because of the tendency to mention the father's age at the time of the son's birth. Here are some more of these:

Those all are easy. Next we have the first recorded death of a 'patriarch'. This is not the first death (remember Cain and Abel?), but the first one where the sequence of time is available. Since Adam's age is given at his death, and because we know what year he was 'born', this is the easy death. Notice that eight generations of his descendents were alive at his death. What a large funeral procession it must have been!

Enoch was easy. The main reason I mention him is because of his unusual end. It is not recorded that he died, but that he 'went with God.' This is the first hint in the timeline scriptures about the importance of having a "great relationship" with God. For more about the importance of that relationship, see God Wants a Personal Relationship with You! elsewhere on this website.

Seth passes away and just a few years later, Noah is born.

Next we have four deaths in a row, which take almost 300 years to occur. It is feasible to believe that Noah knew each one of these men, and learned from them. They may even all be living in the same general area. Remember, the separation at the tower of Babel had not yet happened!

Noah's first recorded son's birth. Again, he has two brothers, but there is no information to work with on their ages. Genesis 9:20-24 makes it sound like Ham is the youngest of the three. (Thanks to DanielSon for catching my oversight on this!)

We are told that Shem had a son at age 100, and that the son was born two years after the flood. The flood (not just the 40 days and night of rain, but the time of draining afterwards as well) was almost a year long, so from that, we get Shem's birth at (100-3) years before the flood began. (I am thankful to a visitor from Australia that caught my oversight of the flood's duration! With help, we can help get to a better picture of what really happened! Thanks!)

Here's something we learn because of a study like this. Methuselah dies in the same year as the flood occurs! Did he die shortly before the flood, or did he die in the flood? Were there two righteous men before God while Methuselah lived, and God was waiting for his natural death before proceeding with the flood? We don't know.

We can see by Noah's age, how many years since the creation of Adam until God let rain fall for the first time (Hollywood not withstanding, we should remember that rain had never fallen until the flood) and with the help of the "fountains of the deep" (ignored by Hollywood) flood the earth. In only 1656 years, our ancestors angered God to the point of virtually total destruction. (Are we any better, or is God holding on to His promise of never doing it again?) We also see, from this point on, the promise of Genesis 6:3, where God promises to reduce the lifespan of mankind down to 120 years, coming into fruition. Over the next few generations, the lifespan shortens and shortens. God didn't fulfill His promise on our timetable, but on His.

Here again we find something new. We can date the destruction of the Tower of Babylon, though we must do it indirectly. Note that Eber's son, Peleg, gets that name because '... in his days the earth was divided ...'. The only division of the Earth at this time is the one caused by God because of the Tower of Babel. 'In his days' happened before he was named, so I speculate that the division happened while his mother was carrying him. If I am right, then the Tower went up only 102 years after the Flood! That didn't take long, did it? So they went from 8 people, to a large, thriving population in 102 years.

From here there are two paths, both of which have their supporters, and I do not know which is more accurate. The difference is brought about by debate over when Abram left Haran. All agree that he left at age 75, but there are honest questions as to when he was born. Genesis 11:26 is read different ways by different scholars, making it difficult to date Teran's age at Abram's birth.

Since many later events are based on his age, this is important. Yes, I lean more towards one than the other, but for your study purposes, here are both!

So, for a timetable based on Abram leaving Haran shortly after his father's death; This assumes then that Abram was born when his father was 130 years old, but is listed first in Genesis 11:26 because of his dignity and accomplishments. Note that Genesis 5:32 and 10:1 both list Shem before his older brothers in the same way. Also, Ham (the youngest, according to Gen 9:24) is listed second, not last. However, as their descendents are listed In Genesis chapter 10, they are listed in birth order, Japheth's first, Shem's second, and Ham's last. (For all 8 pages, in one printable document, click here.)

or for a timetable based on Abram leaving long before his father died. This assumes then that Abram was born when his father was 70 years old, and is listed first in Genesis 11:26 because he is the first-born son. Since we know he left at age 75, this has him leave 60 years earlier than the above list. (For all 8 pages, in one printable document, click here.)
 

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Up to Abram Leavnig

*Some scholar's do not agree with this. They argue that the verse shows the sons listed in order of dignity, not birth. For those that agree with them, see the alternate version of the time line.

So from the flood until Abram's birth, or actually until he is almost 50 years old, there are no deaths in the patriarchal lineage. That covers almost 340 years! All of his father's born since the flood are alive until he is 48 years old!

In a period of ten years (very short by the standards of the day) three key figures pass away, including the greatly revered Noah. (There are those today that claim he is the person thought of when we mention 'Father Time'.) Also, compared to what they have become accustomed to, both Peleg and Nahor die young.

Here's another speculation: Abram lived not far from Babylon, not far from where Noah's ark came to rest, not far from where the Tower went up. Did Abram know these there men? Was he dwelling on their deaths when God spoke to him about leaving for a distant land? Did his grief play a part in what God did with him? Or were these deaths the reason for Teran's move to Haran? We are not told why Teran left for Canaan, nor why he stopped in Haran?

Remember that Teran was the one to take his family from the land of the Chaldeans to the land of Ur. Abram and Sarai were already married when they went to Ur, as Sarai accompanied her in-laws on the trip. Once they reached Haran, they stopped, and Teran never completed the journey he started!

Abram left at age 75. According to this version of the time line, he left only 18 years after Noah died. Noah, who had lived forever (compared to everyone else) and who is remembered in some cultures to this day as "Father Time" because of that life span, (see the story on "Noah") must have caused quite a stir when he died.

Abram's father, who lived until he was 205, lived for another 60 (205-(70+75)) years after Abram left home.

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Abram Leaves Home

For those familiar with scripture and the history of the Jewish people or at least familiar with the Old Testament, here's more events. You will not have seen them in this order before, and you can note that from the list of references, as we seem to be going throughout the book of Genesis, back and forth.

The above line is not accepted by all and deserves further explanation. Some state that Acts 7:4 tells us that Abram left AFTER his father died. If Genesis 11:26 is taken to mean that Abram was born when his father was 70, then Abram would be 135 years old if he left Haran after his father's death! Yet, Genesis 12:4 says Abram was 75 years old when he left.

Either Genesis 11:26 should not be interpreted that Abram was born in Teran's 70th year, or we should say that Abram did not wait until his father was dead before continuing his father's journey.

Here I choose to use Genesis 12:1 to say Abram left early, before his father was dead because He was told to "get out of his father's house". While that may refer to the house in which his father HAD lived, I tend to believe that he left his earthly father alive and continued the journey his earthly father had started. I am still praying about this! (Note, other timeline shows he left at father's death, but was born last, not first!)

Also, Abraham leaves Haran, gets the covenant, and enters Egypt. This is a significant year, because the Exodus dates from it, according to Galatians 3:17. The law (the 10 Commandments) was given 430 years after the promise to Abraham. Also note that Abraham entered Egypt with his 'sister' at this time, so it is not unreasonable (to me) to use this time as the start of the 430 years.

The list above is pretty self-explanatory. A sequence of events, all simple to date from earlier events.

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Exodus To Saul

The sequence continues, with some major events listed in this section. Notice that for the dating of the Exodus I have chosen to take the sequence from Paul's information in Galatians.

Abram left Canaan in 2024, and received the Covenant. It was re-confirmed at later dates with him. Moses received the Law on the mountain shortly after passing through the Red Sea. These two events are 430 years apart. (Galatians 3:17)

We know that Samson dies and his judgeship of 20 years ends at this time. But, to find when Eli takes over, we do the math differently. Acts 13:19-20 tells us that from the time the land is divided until the Samuel takes over is 450 years. We also know that Eli judged for 40 years, ending when Samuel took over. Notice that this math leaves about 20 years from the end of Samson's judgeship for the events of Judges 17 and later.

Also note that this conflicts with First Kings 6:1 which states that from the Exodus to the temple is 480 years. That leaves 30 years total for the Exodus itself, and the time of Samuel, Saul and David, which also is not correct. Again, if you have ideas, comments, inspirations or revelations please .

Above we have much room for controversy, but it is still pretty simple, and some would say a little dry.

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Saul To Kingdom's End

The people of Israel are tired of having to find out who is going to save them each time a crisis pops up (theocracy) and now want to have a permanent government structure. They get the kind they asked for, and the country splits soon afterward. Many famous events are listed in this section.

This next event shows a flaw in this timeline, or a misunderstanding. 1st Kings 6:1 appears to clearly state that the Temple construction starts in Solomon's 4th year as king, and in the 480th year since Israel left Egypt. Currently, the math doesn't come out. Somehow, I have 114 years in here that don't belong. For now, we shall leave them there, because I do not know how to take them out. If you have any comments or ideas or inspirations or revelations, please .

There is the end of one of the two kingdoms.

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Judah Alone

The Northern Kingdom has come to an end, and the Southern continues. By the way, many people believe that the word "Jew" comes from the name of this tribe.

The Exile has begun. God has taken them away from their land, as promised long ago, because of their behavior. Just as He allowed them to take possession of the land because of the behavior of the previous residents.

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Exile

Here's the last of it. The time of Exile, the 'Silent Years'. Some of the specific events I have not dated EXACTLY, but have been able to put them in sequence.

To give you a time table of what has happened since the Crucifixion, here's several historic items dealing with the children of Israel:

As for the future ... I recommend a great prophecy website at www.ad2004.com

Obviously, since the current year beyond the Crucifixion by more than 1960 years, this study is flawed. Not everything has been revealed to me, nor to those that have helped to date. If God is willing, we shall learn more.

Well, there it is! Remember, any comments or questions, fell free to give me feedback either by or through the guestbook.