The rulers of the Akkadian Empire, according to the Sumerian King List:
Sargon the Great | 2334 BC | 2279 BC | Son of an azupirane priestess |
Rimush | 2278 BC | 2270 BC | Son of Sargon |
Manishtushu | 2269 BC | 2255 BC | Son of Sargon |
Naram-Sin | 2254 BC | 2218 BC | Son of Manishtushu |
Shar-Kali-Sharri | 2218 BC | 2193 BC | Son of Naram-Sin |
Igigi, Imi, Nanum, Ilulu | 2193 BC | 2190 BC | |
Dudu | 2190 BC | 2169 BC | |
Shu-turul / Shu-durul | 2168 BC | 2153 BC | Son of Dudu |
The rulers of Sumer after the Gutians, according to the Sumerian King List:
Utu-hengal | 2119 BC | 2112 BC | |
Ur-Nammu | 2112 BC | 2094 BC | Son-in-law of Utu-hengal |
Shulgi | 2094 BC | 2048 BC | Son of Ur-Nammu |
Amar-Sin | 2048 BC | 2039 BC | Son of Shulgi |
Shu-Sin | 2039 BC | 2030 BC | Son of Shulgi |
Ibbi-Sin | 2030 BC | 2004 BC | Son of Shu-Sin |
For calculating when the members of Abraham’s clan lived, I used data from the Old Testament. By correlating biblical events with some historical ones, I managed to establish an accurate chronology. It was vital to match the moment when Terah’s family left for Ur with Ur-Nammu’s coronation (2112 BC), that of departure for Harran with Shulgi’s coronation (2094 BC) and that of Abraham’s departure from Harran with Amar-Sin’s coronation (2048 BC). The biblical Book of Genesis, which relates the story of the patriarch’s clan, states that „Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran” (12:4) and „The days of the years of Abraham’s life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years” (25:7); therefore, he was born in 2123 BC and died in 1948 BC. Sarah was ten years younger than Abraham, as he himself stated when he learned that Isaac would be born: „Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?” (17:17). Which means she was born in 2113 BC. When she died, „Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old” (23:1), that is 1986 BC. In the case of Abraham’s father, things get a little complicated. The Bible says, „Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran” (11:26), which means he was born in 2193 BC. In the Orthodox Bible, „And all the days of Terah in the land of Haran were two hundred and five years” (11:32); in other versions, „And Terah lived two hundred and five years, and he died in Haran” or „Terah lived two hundred and five years, then died in Haran„. Since the Orthodox version is the only one that claims Terah lived in Harran for 205 years (which would mean he died at the age of 304), while all the others say 205 years was his total lifespan, we can consider that an interpretation error has crept into the Orthodox translation. Thus, if Terah died at the age of 205, it means he lived until 1988 BC.
From here, the rest of the calculations are simple, Genesis chapter 11 describing „the generations of Shem„, one of Noah’s sons:
„Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood: And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters” (11:10-11).
In the Septuagint, „Arphaxad lived one hundred thirty five years and begat Cainan: And Arphaxad lived after he begat Cainan three hundred thirty years and begat sons and daughters” (11:12). „Cainan lived one hundred thirty years and begat Salah: And Cainan lived after he begat Salah three hundred thirty years and begat sons and daughters” (11:13). Cainan is missing from the Masoretic Text and Samaritan Pentateuch, where Salah is Arphaxad’s son: „And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat Salah: And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters” (11:12-13)
„And Salah lived thirty years, and begat Eber: And Salah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters” (11:14-15). In the Septuagint, „Salah lived one hundred thirty years, and begat Eber: And Salah lived after he begat Eber three hundred and thirty years„.
„And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg: And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters” (11:16-17). In the Septuagint, „Eber lived one hundred and thirty four years, and begat Peleg: And Eber lived after he begat Peleg three hundred and seventy years„.
„And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu: And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters” (11:18-19). In the Septuagint, „Peleg lived one hundred and thirty years, and begat Reu: And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred years„.
„And Reu lived two and thirty years, and begat Serug: And Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters” (11:20-21). In the Septuagint, „Reu lived one hundred and thirty two years, and begat Serug„.
„And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor: And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters” (11:22-23). In the Septuagint, „Serug lived one hundred and thirty years, and begat Nahor„.
„And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah: And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters” (11:24-25). In the Septuagint, „Nahor lived seventy and nine years, and begat Terah: And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and twenty five years„.
The Book of Genesis also gives us the necessary information for Abraham’ descendants. „Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram” (16:16), „And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years” (25:17). This means that Ishmael was born in 2037 BC and died in 1900 BC.
„And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him” (21:5), „And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years” (35:28). This means that Isaac lived from 2023 to 1843 BC.
Regarding the twins Esau and Jacob, the Bible says, „Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them” (25:26), which took place in 1963 BC. „The whole age of Jacob was an hundred forty and seven years” (47:28), so he died in 1816 BC. The Babylonian Talmud states that Esau was killed by Hushim immediately after Jacob’s death.
To find out when Jacob’s favorite son, Joseph, was born, we need to do some calculations. „Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt” (41:46); this was followed by „seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt” (41:29) and „seven years of famine” (41:30). After two years of famine, Jacob and his family moved to Egypt: „For these two years hath the famine been in the land” (45:6). When he was asked about his age, „Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years” (47:9) This means that Jacob and his family arrived in Egypt in 1833 BC, nine years after Joseph stood before the Pharaoh. Therefore, Joseph was born in 1872 BC. In the last chapter of Genesis we learn that „Joseph lived an hundred and ten years” (50:22), meaning he died in 1762 BC.
With all these calculations, we can establish the genealogy of Abraham’s clan from Shem, son of Noah, to Joseph:
Shem | 3293 BC | 2693 BC | Son of Noah and Emzara |
Arphaxad | 3193 BC | 2728 BC | Son of Shem and Sedeqetelebab |
Cainan | 3058 BC | 2598 BC | Son of Arphaxad and Rasuaya |
Salah | 2928 BC | 2468 BC | Son of Cainan and Milcah |
Eber | 2798 BC | 2294 BC | Son of Salah and Mu’ak |
Peleg | 2664 BC | 2325 BC | Son of Eber |
Reu | 2534 BC | 2195 BC | Son of Peleg and Lomna |
Serug | 2402 BC | 2072 BC | Son of Reu and Ora |
Nahor | 2272 BC | 2068 BC | Son of Serug and Milcah |
Terah | 2193 BC | 1988 BC | Son of Nahor and Iyoska |
Abram / Abraham | 2123 BC | 1948 BC | Son of Terah and Amsalai |
Ishmael | 2037 BC | 1900 BC | Son of Abraham and Hagar |
Isaac | 2023 BC | 1843 BC | Son of Abraham and Sarah |
Esau / Edom | 1963 BC | 1816 BC | Son of Isaac and Rebekah |
Jacob / Israel | 1963 BC | 1816 BC | Son of Isaac and Rebekah |
Joseph | 1872 BC | 1762 BC | Son of Jacob and Rachel |
With this information I was able to date other events from the story of Abraham’s family, such as:
„Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife” (25:20), which means they got married in 1983 BC.
The Talmud claims that Esau gave Jacob his birthright immediately after Abraham’s death, that is in 1948 BC. The twins were fifteen years old, which is also confirmed by the Talmud.
„Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite” (26:34), that is in 1923 BC.
„Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren” (37:2) when he was taken as a slave to Egypt, so this happened in 1855 BC. At thirty years old he became vizier, that is in 1842 BC. This was followed by seven years of prosperity and seven years of famine, which ended in 1828 BC.
Here is the twilight of the gods chronology, from the coronation of the tavern keeper Kug-Bau on the throne of the city of Kish to Joseph’s death in Egypt:
2465 BC – Tavern keeper Kug-Bau is crowned in Kish by Marduk.
2402 BC – Serug, Terah’s grandfather, is born in Nippur.
2365 BC – Queen Kug-Bau dies in Kish. Sumer’s throne goes to her son, Puzur-Suen.
2340 BC – King Puzur-Suen dies in Kish. His son, Ur-Zababa, ascends to the throne.
2334 BC – Lugal-zage-si from Umma kills Ur-Zababa in Kish and takes the throne, then he is killed in Uruk by Sargon, who crowns himself as the king of Sumer before founding the Akkadian Empire.
2325 BC – Peleg, Terah’s great-great-grandfather, dies in Nippur.
2294 BC – Eber, Terah’s great-great-great-grandfather, dies in Nippur.
2279 BC – Sargon dies in Agade, the capital of his empire.
2278 BC – Rimush, Sargon’s son, ascends to the throne of the Akkadian Empire.
2272 BC – Nahor, Terah’s father and Abraham’s grandfather, is born in Nippur.
2270 BC – Rimush, Sargon’s son, is assassinated in Agade by some members of his royal court.
2269 BC – The throne of Akkad goes to Manishtushu, Rimush’s brother and Sargon’s son.
2260 BC – Manishtushu rebuilds the destroyed temple of Ishtar in Nineveh.
2255 BC – Manishtushu, Sargon’s son, dies in Agade.
2254 BC – Naram-Sin, Manishtushu’s son, is enthroned as the ruler of the Akkadian Empire.
2218 BC – Naram-Sin, Sargon’s grandson, dies. His son, Shar-Kali-Sharri, becomes the ruler of the Akkadian Empire.
2195 BC – Reu, Terah’s great-grandfather, dies in Nippur.
2193 BC – Shar-Kali-Sharri, Naram-Sin’s son and Sargon’s great-grandson, dies. Terah, Nahor’s son, is born in Nippur. The Gutian invasion of Mesopotamia begins. The Akkadian Empire is simultaneously ruled by four kings: Igigi, Imi, Nanum and Ilulu.
2190 BC – Dudu defeats the four kings and takes the throne of Akkad.
2169 BC – King Dudu dies.
2168 BC – The throne is inherited by Dudu’s son, Shu-turul, the last ruler of the Akkadian Empire.
2153 BC – Shu-turul dies. The Gutians destroy the Akkadian Empire.
2123 BC – Abram, son of Terah and Amsalai, is born in Nippur.
2119 BC – Utu-hengal, the governor of Uruk, becomes the king of Sumer after defeating Tirigan, the king of the Gutians.
2113 BC – Sarai, Haran’s daughter and Abram’s future wife, is born in Nippur.
2112 BC – King Utu-hengal dies. Sumer’s throne is inherited by his son-in-law, Ur-Nammu, the governor of Ur. Terah and his family move from Nippur to Ur.
2094 BC – King Ur-Nammu dies. His son, Shulgi, succeeds him on the throne. Terah and his family move from Ur to Harran.
2072 BC – Serug, Terah’s grandfather, dies in Nippur. King Shulgi proclaims himself a god.
2068 BC – Nahor, Terah’s father and Abraham’s grandfather, dies in Nippur.
2066 BC – King Shulgi gives his daughter in marriage and the city of Larsa as a dowry to the Elamite viceroy, receiving in exchange a legion of Elamite troops.
2053 BC – King Shulgi subdues the western provinces of the Middle East with the help of his Elamite legion.
2051 BC – Enlil kills Enki. Anu decides that Enlil should leave the planet and the throne of Earth should belong to Marduk, Enki’s son.
2048 BC – Shulgi, Ur-Nammu’s son, dies. His son, Amar-Sin, succeeds him on the throne of Sumer. At the command of Marduk, Abraham, Sarah and Lot leave Harran for Canaan.
2047 BC – Abram, Sarai and Lot arrive in Heracleopolis, at the court of Pharaoh Merikare of the 10th Dinasty, king of the Lower Egypt.
2042 BC – Abraham, Sarah and Lot leave Egypt for Canaan due to the conflict between Pharaohs Merikare and Mentuhotep II.
2039 BC – The Mesopotamian kings Amar-Sin, Kudur-Lagamar, Eri-Aku and Tud-ghula defeat the Jordanian kings’ alliance in the Valley of Siddim. Abraham defeats them at Dan and frees his nephew who was captured by the Mesopotamians. On the way back home, Amar-Sin, Shulgi’s son, dies. His brother, Shu-Sin, ascends the throne of Sumer.
2037 BC – Ishmael, son of Abraham and Hagar (Pharaoh Merikare’s daughter), is born.
2030 BC – Shu-Sin, Shulgi’s son, dies. His son, Ibbi-Sin, becomes the last king of Sumer.
2024 BC – God Ninurta uses seven nuclear bombs to destroy cities loyal to Marduk, including Sodom and Gomorah. Abraham and Sarah go to Gerar, to the court of the Philistine king Abimelech.
2023 BC – Isaac, son of Abraham and Sarah, is born.
2004 BC – Ibbi-Sin, the last king of Sumer, dies. Enlil leaves Earth after destroying Sumer with an unprecedented storm.
1988 BC – Terah, Abraham’s father, dies in Harran.
1986 BC – Ninurta asks Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, but Marduk stops him in time. Sarah, Abraham’s wife and Isaac’s mother, dies.
1983 BC – Isaac marries Rebekah, daughter of his cousin, Bethuel.
1963 BC – Esau and Jacob, sons of Isaac and Rebekah, are born.
1948 BC – Abraham dies. Esau gives Jacob his birthright.
1923 BC – Esau marries two Hittite women.
1900 BC – Ishmael, son of Abraham and Hagar, dies.
1894 BC – Sumu-Abum founds a small Amorite kingdom in southern Mesopotamia, which includes Babylon, thus establishing the First Babylonian Amorite Dynasty.
1881 BC – Sumu-Abum dies, and his son, Sumu-la-El, ascends the throne of the Amorite kingdom.
1878 BC – Pharaoh Senusret II of the 12th Dynasty dies at Itjtawy and his son, Senusret III, becomes the new ruler of Egypt.
1872 BC – Joseph, son of Jacob and Rachel, is born. Jacob decides to return to Canaan with his family.
1860 BC – Amenemhat III, Senusret III’s son, becomes co-regent of Egypt alongside his father.
1855 BC – Joseph is sold by his brothers and taken to Egypt.
1845 BC – Sumu-la-El dies and his son, Sabium, ascends the throne of the Amorite kingdom in Mesopotamia.
1843 BC – Isaac, son of Abraham and Sarah, dies.
1842 BC – Joseph becomes the vizier of Egypt. Seven years of prosperity begin in the country.
1839 BC – Senusret III dies at Itjtawy and his son, Amenemhat III, becomes the sole ruler of Egypt.
1835 BC – Seven years of famine begin in Egypt and Canaan.
1833 BC – Jacob and his family move to Egypt.
1831 BC – Sabium dies and is succeeded by his son, Apil-Sin, on the throne of the Amorite kingdom in Mesopotamia.
1816 BC – Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebekah, dies.
1815 BC – Amenemhat IV, Amenemhat III’s son, becomes co-regent of Egypt alongside his father.
1814 BC – Amenemhat III dies in Itjtawy and his son, Amenemhat IV, becomes the sole ruler of Egypt.
1813 BC – Apil-Sin dies and is succeeded by his son, Sin-Muballit, on the throne of the Amorite kingdom in Mesopotamia.
1806 BC – Amenemhat IV dies in Itjtawy and the throne of Egypt passes to his sister, Sobekneferu.
1805 BC – Sekhaenre Yakbim, one of Jacob’s descendants and founder of the 14th Dynasty, ascends to the throne of Avaris in the Nile Delta.
1802 BC – Queen Sobekneferu dies in Itjtawy. The throne of Egypt passes to Sobekhotep I, founder of the 13th Dynasty, who moves the capital to Memphis.
1794 BC – Sin-Muballit abdicates and the throne of the Amorite kingdom in Mesopotamia passes to his son, Hammurabi, who founds the Babylonian Empire and makes Babylon the capital, at god Marduk’s command.
1780 BC – Sekhaenre Yakbim dies and Nubwoserre Ya’ammu ascends to the throne of Avaris.
1770 BC – Nubwoserre Ya’ammu dies and Qareh Khawoserre ascends to the throne of Avaris.
1762 BC – Vizier Joseph, son of Jacob and Rachel, dies.
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