Jacob’s Age At The Birth of Joseph
Jacob's age at the birth of Joseph can be calculated as follows:
1. Genesis 47:8,9 - Jacob is 130 years old when he comes into Egypt
during the second year of the famine.
2. Genesis 41:46 - Joseph is 30 years old when he stands before Pharaoh.
3. Genesis 45:6 - Nine years later (the seven years of plenty have ended
and the famine is in its second year), Joseph reveals himself to his
brothers. Therefore Joseph is 39 years old when he reveals himself to his
brothers.
4. Subtract the age of Jacob when he comes into Egypt (130) from the age
of Joseph (39) and we discover that Jacob was 91 years old when Joseph was
born.
5. Genesis 37:3 - Joseph is the son of Jacob's old age.
The fact that Jacob was 91 years old when Joseph was born can be confirmed
by the following:
1. Genesis 25:20 - Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah.
2. Genesis 25:26 - Isaac was 60 years old when the twin boys, Esau and
Jacob, were born.
3. Genesis 35:28 - Isaac was 180 years old when he died. Therefore, Esau
and Jacob was 120 years old. (180-60=120)
This confirms that our calculations about the age of Jacob when Joseph was
born is fairly accurate as the man fathering children into his old age is
common.