Gen 11:10-26
From Feast upon the Word (http://feastupontheword.org). Copyright, Feast upon the Word.
The Old Testament > Genesis > Chapter 11
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Questions
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Lexical notes
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Exegesis
Verse 17
- Eber's age: Eber is fourteen generations from Adam. Since fourteen is a multiple of the holy number seven, it is fitting that Eber lives longer (464 yeras) than Shelah and Arpachashad before him (438 and 433 respectively) and everyone after him. (See Cassuto reference in Related links.)
- Eber's righteousness: Given the recurring importance of the number seven and the nuber ten in the Old Testament, it is perhaps it is perhaps surprising that Eber, fourteen (two times seven) generations from Adam, is not given more mention. It may be that Eber was foreordained to more noteworthy acts of righteousness, but he did not live up to his potential like Abraham, whose generation (twentieth generation, two times ten) was also significant, managed to.
Related links
Verse 17
- Cassuto, Umberto, From Noah to Abraham: A Commentary on the Book of Genesis Vi-XI, p. 254.
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