When Was Abraham Born?
The exact date of Abraham's birth is not explicitly stated in the Bible. However, based on various chronological references and genealogies, scholars estimate that he was born around 2166 BC.
Chronological References
- The Bible records that Abraham was 75 years old when he left Haran (Genesis 12:4).
- He arrived in Canaan after the death of his father, Terah, who was 205 years old when he died (Genesis 11:32).
- Using these clues and assuming that Abraham was born before Terah died, scholars estimate his birthdate to be around 2166 BC.
Genealogical References
- Abraham was the tenth in line from Noah, who was born in 2948 BC (Genesis 5).
- Counting backwards from Abraham's birth (estimated at 2166 BC), each generation is assumed to have lived for approximately 30 years.
- This calculation suggests that Abraham was born around 2166 BC.
Additional Considerations
- Some scholars believe that Abraham may have been born earlier, around 2250 BC, based on historical timelines and archaeological evidence.
- Others suggest that he may have been born later, around 2000 BC.
- The exact date remains uncertain due to the lack of definitive biblical or historical records.