Dating the Book of Job (PDF) - Ancient Hebrew Research Center

Dating the Book of Job 13
The question of whether the 12-generation or the 6-generation model is more likely for the
Israelites’ stay in Egypt boils down to a question of whether it seems more reasonalbe that the
Hebrews were, on average, having family sizes of 2-point-something children or over 10 children.
An average of 2 or 3 children per family is more typical of modern western cultures, but not for
the culture of the time in question. Consider that Jacob, the forefather of the Israelites, had 12 sons
(Genesis 35:22-26) and, after the Israelites had been delivered from Egypt, when they dwelt in the
promised land during the time of the Judges, Ibzan and Abdon, the 10th and 12th judges of Israel
respectively, had 60 and 40 children respectively. Consider also that we are told that the Israelites
were having large families during their stay in Egypt (Exodus 1:7). That the Israelites were having
large families is important to the storyline of the Exodus as it is given as the reason for the Egyptians
turning on the Israelites (Exodus 1:8-22).
– And Joseph died, all his brothers, and all that generation. But the children of Israel were fruitful and increased
abundantly, multiplied and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them. Now there arose a new
king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, “Look, the people of the children of Israel
are more and mightier than we; come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and it happen, in the
event of war, that they also join our enemies and fight against us, and so go up out of the land.” Therefore they
set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh supply cities, Pithom
and Raamses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were in dread
of the children of Israel. So the Egyptians made the children of Israel serve with rigor. And they made their
lives bitter with hard bondage—in mortar, in brick, and in all manner of service in the field. All their service
in which they made them serve was with rigor. Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of
whom the name of one was Shiphrah and the name of the other Puah; and he said, “When you do the duties of a
midwife for the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstools, if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is
a daughter, then she shall live.” But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded
them, but saved the male children alive. So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, “Why
have you done this thing, and saved the male children alive?” And the midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the
Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are lively and give birth before the midwives come
to them.” Therefore God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied and grew very mighty. And
so it was, because the midwives feared God, that He provided households for them. So Pharaoh commanded
all his people, saying, “Every son who is born you shall cast into the river, and every daughter you shall save
alive.” (Exodus 1:6-22 NKJV)
All other environmental conditions being equal (e.g. available food, housing, weather conditions,
&c.), the average family size will be a cultural trend and will tend to be consistent over many
generations. The account of the Israelites’ behavior shortly after they had left Egypt also gives us
a glimpse into their culture.
– Then they rose early on the next day, offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat
down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. (Exodus 32:6 NKJV)
Exodus 32:9-10, 34:14-17 and I Corinthians 10:7 make it clear that the “eating” and “playing”
as used in the above passage are euphemisms for idolatry and harlotry.
– And the LORD said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people! Now therefore,
let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them. And I will make of you a
great nation.” (Exodus 32:9-10 NKJV)
– (for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God), lest you make a
covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they play the harlot with their gods and make sacrifice to their
gods, and one of them invites you and you eat of his sacrifice, and you take of his daughters for your sons, and