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How Old Are You?

Parshah Nuggets: Vayigash

By Mendel Kalmenson

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How Old Are You?: Parshah Nuggets: Vayigash

Pharaoh meets Jacob and asks him how old he is. What is the meaning of his question?

Topics:

Hirsch, R. Samson Raphael, Pharaoh, Time, Aging & Retirement, Jacob, Vayigash

By Mendel Kalmenson

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6 Comments

DH Jerusalem December 21, 2012

Thank you..... Great message! Reply

Rivka Bakersfield December 20, 2012

Question Why would Pharaoh care if Yaakov lived his life to the fullest? Reply

Martin England December 19, 2012

Very Interesting Commentary In all honesty, when I very first started watching this clip, I wasn't immediately engrossed but I quickly found myself watching with great interest. Measuring one's life in days - 'seizing the day', working hard at your life is a goal for us all. Many thanks for your commentary. Reply

John Sague In my Mothers womb. December 18, 2012

I will alway's be a little kid at heart. I am as old as I want to be. Reply

W. Lawrence Lipton Maine December 18, 2012

The significance of Jacob's age In “Genesis of Genesis” (Amazon, 2012), I point out that the age of Jacob is has significance in terms of the nature of the Genesis/Exodus Chronology. “Genesis of Genesis” deals with the chronology – not in a theological sense, but rather from a purely mathematical approach. Moreover, it links the dates to the math of astrological sires such as Stonehenge, and at least two other megalithic sites along the 52nd latitude. It also ties the Hebrew Calendar to the Chinese, and shows that it is the root of the Western chronology as well. Traditionally, there is a ‘Shem Error’ in most Patriarch dating, which is corrected, and accurate dating is thereby provided for all of the Patriarchs. In the case of Jacob, it is import that we are told he was 130 years old – this places the year of the meeting with Pharaoh firmly as 2240 in the Hebrew Calendar, and 1522bce in the Common Calendar. Knowing that, we can name the Pharaoh, which means we can name the overseer who we know as Joseph. We might even be able to learn much about the historic origin of many of our traditions. In terms of Jacob, the 224-year astrological cycle is significant throughout the chronological relationships. Certainly the Rabbis know, there was a pattern of repeating information that was important throughout the structure Genesis and the other books. At times, an oddity would appear, as in this case, a seemingly insignificant casual conversation which provides very concrete data – much in the way the ages of the first nine patriarchs are provided in a mathematically specific manner of birth, age when significant descendant is born, years after that birth and total years at the time of death. The numbers must add up, and so an error cannot be introduced. The only error which seems to have become common is that of the ‘Shem Error’ – but it was necessary to manipulate that period so that Shem’s son would be born in HY1660 (2102bce). By the same token, it was important that Sarah be the only woman for whom we are provided the birth/age/death data that would fix her years as firmly as those of any Patriarch. Reply

James Major December 18, 2012

"How old are you?" insightful view of Joseph and Pharaoh. I think Pharaoh was interested in this young man who's heritage is not too unlike his own. After all, this Pharaoh (probably Aphos Appepi) was not Egyptian, but Amori, who's land was next door to Hur, the homeland of Abraham. Since these Eastern Kings were disliked by the Egyptians, he was looking for some affinity with someone from closer to his homeland. Reply

How Old Are You?: Parshah Nuggets: Vayigash

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