Inconsistencies in Abraham's story (Genesis)

[ethan]

In Genesis 12, God tells Abraham to leave his home town. Abraham was already 75 years old when he was called. Sarah was 10 years younger than him (Genesis 17:17). So she was at least 65 when she came to Egypt with her husband (Genesis 12:10). Yet pharaoh was struck by her "beauty" so much that he took her away to his palace.
The same thing happens with another ruler name Abimelech (Genesis 20) except that now Sarah is ninety years old. The previous chapter Genesis 17:17 says she was. God however prevented Abimelech from touching her.
Why would Pharaoh and Abimelech go after an old woman?

You may say that people aged slowly in those days. But the pharaohs were already in existence when Abraham came. The longest living pharaoh was Rameses II. He died at ninety. The ancient people aged in the same manner as we do today.

Again, you may say that there were shorter calenders in ancient days. One year then would mean a couple of months in our era. Well, if that's the case, there's two problems.

1
Genesis already made it clear that Abraham and Sarah were old before Isaac was born. In Genesis 17:17 Abraham doubted God when he was told that he'll have a son. This implies that He and Sarah were already way past their child bearing age. Sarah even laughed when God told her that she'd have a baby (Genesis 18:10-12). It's clear that Sarah wasn't a young woman. And 2 chapters after that Abimelech took her away.

2
If the ancient calenders were much shorter than ours, then Abraham did not die at 175 according to modern estimation. Let's say he lived about 90 years. It's unlikely if he ever reach this age (90 years is still a long life even today). But let's consider it anyway.
Let me put (ac) to represent ancient calenders and (md) to represent the modern calender.

So, 175 ac = 90 md (170 years according to ancient calenders with respect to 90 years according to modern calenders)

Now, Abraham was 100 (ac) years when Isaac was born (Genesis 21:5). Let's convert this to our measurement.

175 ac = 90 md
100 ac = (90/175) * 100 md = 51.4 md

That puts Abraham at 51 years. That means Sarah was in her forties when Isaac was born.
There are many accounts of women giving birth in their forties.
That means there's nothing miraculous about Isaac's birth.

I do not mean to offend anyone. I just want your thoughts on this.

[steenkh]

You are aware that you are pointing out inconsistencies in an infallible book inspired by God himself?

Now, where is that "amplified" edition of Genesis?

[MartinRuager]

Im sorry to say but pointing out this "inconsistency" in the bible is like pointing out that wolves can't speak in Little Red Riding Hood. The believer will just say that Gawd made it so. He waved his magic wand and made Sarah beautiful even though she was old or maybe he just forced the Pharao and Abimelech to have a thing for grannies just as when Gawd hardened the Pharao's heart to further his own agenda.

Goddidit is the answer to every hard question for the believer.

[Bill]

Originally Posted by MartinRuager

Im sorry to say but pointing out this "inconsistency" in the bible is like pointing out that wolves can't speak in Little Red Riding Hood. The believer will just say that Gawd made it so. He waved his magic wand and made Sarah beautiful even though she was old or maybe he just forced the Pharao and Abimelech to have a thing for grannies just as when Gawd hardened the Pharao's heart to further his own agenda.

Goddidit is the answer to every hard question for the believer.

My understanding (and I am the first to admit that I might have got this all wrong) is that prior to The Flood, life expectancy was about 900 years or so - which means the onset of middle age would take place when you got to be around your 450th birthday. It was only after The Flood did life expectancy drop down to the biblical three-score-and-ten years range.

On these reckonings, the pair of them were barely adolsecents during the the episodes quoted.

Please get with the program.

Regards