Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Little Ewe-Lamb · 06-05-2007, 10:08 AM

Hi there! My name's Rachel, what's yours?:wave:

I have a crush on the character Jacob:blush: , the way I imagine him to look in the earlier part of his story. I don't know whether he really existed; if anything, I hope he didn't, then he can look however I want him to look! I suspect it probably is a folk-tale, because it seems too clever to be true: deceiving his father by pretending to be the older sibling, then being tricked himself in similar fashion.

Anyway, I've read the article about him being an old geezer; that's what brought me here. It certainly doesn't make sense for him to be literally in his 70s, or even his 40s, at the time when he is a lovesick suitor serving a 7-year apprenticeship period for his sweetheart; UNLESS the Genesis characters age much, much more slowly than real, present-day people do. And this must be the case, when you look at their fantastically long lifespans. So they must reach middle age and old age later than we do; I'm sure Jacob is meant to be a young adult when he meets Rachel (fit enough to move the well's stone single-handed, so he must be in his prime!); middle-aged when he wrestles with the angel:angel: ; and an "old geezer" when he is reunited with Joseph in Egypt.

Toto · 06-05-2007, 10:23 AM

This seems to be a response to Farrell Till's article, Jacob an old geezer?

Quote:

There is no scarcity of fanciful tales in the Bible. An especially quaint one tells about the duel of the handmaids when Jacob, the grand patriarch of Israel, was siring his sons who subsequently became heads of the twelve Israelite tribes. It is a story that simply cannot pass the how-likely-is-it? test . . .

Little Ewe-Lamb · 07-12-2007, 06:13 AM

Do you ever imagine the dialogues some Bible characters might have? Here is one such.

Abraham: Hey Sarah, I've just been told that you will have a son by this time next year.

Sarah (laughing out loud): I don't believe it! I've been barren throughout the years when girlies are most fertile; why should I conceive now, when I'm 90? I regularly get hot flushes these days, Abe.

Abraham: Nevertheless, I have been told it will be so.

Sarah: Better late than never! I hope the birth won't be too difficult. Sigh, where have the years gone? It seems only yesterday I was looking forward to being your young bride; now I'm middle-aged. If only we could be like our forefathers; Methuselah's wife was nearly 500 when she reached the menopause! It's not fair.

Abraham: Let's count our blessings, my sweet. I've heard a rumour that future generations, many centuries from now, will have shorter lifespans than ours. People will be middle-aged in their 40s, and frail geriatrics in their 90s.

Sarah: What, get out of town! Don't make me laugh for a second time today! The poor things will scarcely have time to sneeze, before their lives end.

Abraham: Anyway, let's drink to the predicted birth of Isaac.

06-05-2007, 10:08 AM	#1
Little Ewe-Lamb Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Oxford Posts: 6	Response to Jacob an Old Geezer Hi there! My name's Rachel, what's yours?:wave: I have a crush on the character Jacob:blush: , the way I imagine him to look in the earlier part of his story. I don't know whether he really existed; if anything, I hope he didn't, then he can look however I want him to look! I suspect it probably is a folk-tale, because it seems too clever to be true: deceiving his father by pretending to be the older sibling, then being tricked himself in similar fashion. Anyway, I've read the article about him being an old geezer; that's what brought me here. It certainly doesn't make sense for him to be literally in his 70s, or even his 40s, at the time when he is a lovesick suitor serving a 7-year apprenticeship period for his sweetheart; UNLESS the Genesis characters age much, much more slowly than real, present-day people do. And this must be the case, when you look at their fantastically long lifespans. So they must reach middle age and old age later than we do; I'm sure Jacob is meant to be a young adult when he meets Rachel (fit enough to move the well's stone single-handed, so he must be in his prime!); middle-aged when he wrestles with the angel:angel: ; and an "old geezer" when he is reunited with Joseph in Egypt.

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07-12-2007, 06:13 AM	#3
Little Ewe-Lamb Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Oxford Posts: 6	Do you ever imagine the dialogues some Bible characters might have? Here is one such. Abraham: Hey Sarah, I've just been told that you will have a son by this time next year. Sarah (laughing out loud): I don't believe it! I've been barren throughout the years when girlies are most fertile; why should I conceive now, when I'm 90? I regularly get hot flushes these days, Abe. Abraham: Nevertheless, I have been told it will be so. Sarah: Better late than never! I hope the birth won't be too difficult. Sigh, where have the years gone? It seems only yesterday I was looking forward to being your young bride; now I'm middle-aged. If only we could be like our forefathers; Methuselah's wife was nearly 500 when she reached the menopause! It's not fair. Abraham: Let's count our blessings, my sweet. I've heard a rumour that future generations, many centuries from now, will have shorter lifespans than ours. People will be middle-aged in their 40s, and frail geriatrics in their 90s. Sarah: What, get out of town! Don't make me laugh for a second time today! The poor things will scarcely have time to sneeze, before their lives end. Abraham: Anyway, let's drink to the predicted birth of Isaac.

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