What is the time period which Abraham lived?

Answer 1

Another answer from our community:

The Bible says Abraham lived to be 175 years of age:-

Gen 25:7 NET "Abraham lived a total of 175 years."

The exact dates calculated for his life vary, covering the period 2300BC -1800BC:-

-Born 1996BC - Died 1821BC [Ussher],

-Born 1947BC - Died 1772BC [Kingdom ministries], or

-Born 2304BC - Died 2129BC [Setterfield]

Answer 2

Depending upon your viewpoint, there are two answers to this question.

If the traditional Biblical interpretation:-

The traditional Bible dating is Abraham born 1996 BC and died 1821BC, with the Law being given at the time of the Exodus from Egypt in 1446 BC, putting Abraham born 450 years previously.

[All dates Ussher].

If a non-historic interpretation of the exodus-conquest:-

Some other authorities have Abraham being born 2100BC and the Exodus about 1200 BC, putting Abraham born about 900 years before the Law was given.

Take your pick, but don't disparage Abraham: he was not just a simple shepherd or camel trader.

Answer 3

The first question must be whether Abraham really did live to 175 years old. For this we can look at the biblical evidence for the lifespans of the Hebrew patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The Bible says that:

1. Abraham lived to 175
   (This corresponds to 5 X 5 X 7)
2. Isaac lived to 180
   (This is 6 X 6 X 5 )
3. Jacob lived to 147
   (Which is equal to 7 X 7 X 3)

Looking carefully at each set of factors, we see:

• Each lifespan involves a perfect square (5, 6, then 7 in a numeric series),
• the third factor also forms a series (7, 5, 3)
• and in each case the sum of the factors is 17.

This is certainly mystical, but is also improbable in the extreme, regardless of whether such ages can be reached by a human. We have therefore established that whether or not Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were real, historical persons, they did not live to such great ages. Thus, we do not need to wonder how Abraham lived to 175 years old.

Answer 4

As stated explicitly (Genesis ch.25), Abraham lived to 175 years old.

The idea "bothers" us only because it seems impossible today. Seeming impossibility, however, is not disproof. Any disproof would have to come from physical evidence, not conjecture or mathematics.

Many ancient nations and historians have records of "unnaturally" long lifespans of the ancients:Manetho, Berosus, Mochus, Hestiaeus, Hieronymus the Egyptian, Hesiod, Hecataeus, Hellanicus, Acusilaus, Ephorus and Nicolaus all state that the ancients lived around a thousand years.

Such records are found in the histories of ancient Sumeria, China, Greece, Persia, Vietnam and India. Such widespread agreement can only be because it (like the Creation) is a worldwide tradition based upon more than mere myth.
See also:

Longevity

Reliability of the Hebrew Bible

Answer 5

According to the Old Testament, Abraham lived to the incredible age of 175 years. As with all claims that seem improbable, we should consider the evidence for that claim before accepting it unreservably. When we do so, we find an even more improbable pattern in the lifespans of the Patriarchs, which could only have been devised by numerologists, thus militating against Abraham having really lived to an unusual age:

1. Abraham lived to 175 (5 X 5 X 7)
2. Isaac lived to 180 (6 X 6 X 5)
3. Jacob lived to 147 (7 X 7 X 3

• Each lifespan involves a perfect square (5, 6, then 7 in a numeric series),
• the third factor also forms a series (7, 5, 3)
• in each case the sum of the factors is 17.

Furthering the above formulas, Genesis says Sarah lived to 127 years, which is the sum of these consecutive square numbers plus 17 (127 = 5X5 +6X6 + 7X7 + 17) and an equally improbable age.

Real life does not depend on precise numerology. It seems more likely that, if Abraham was a real, historical person, he would have lived a much shorter lifespan.

Answer 6

Abraham is believed to have lived around 2000-1800 BC in the Ancient Near East. He is considered a patriarch in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Answer 7

Abraham was born, and died, between 2000 B.C. and 1500 B.C. [1]

Answer 8

Abraham lived around 1500 BC. Jesus was born around 1 BC. So, that makes it approximately 1500 years.

Answer 9

Tradition places his lifetime in the 18th century BCE (born 1812 BCE).

Answer 10

a long time ago