Methuselah's age at death is given in the Bible as 960 or 969 years (depending on which Bible you use). What?

Well first of all you must understand that time means nothing in the bible. Apologists suggest that when the bible says the heavens and earth were created in 7 days, it is not really a 24 hour period as we know it. It could have easily been a period of time that supports the fossil record. This being the case I would have to say that 960 or 969 years of age could correspond to a normal or slightly above normal life span as we know it. When you can twist words in any direction you want to substantiate that your holy book is correct there is no limitations or misinformation. It's all good!

I think it is biologically impossible. Natural decay and mutation of cells would never allow a mammal to live so long.

That fact then gives us some other avenues - Are the dates translated/interpreted wrong? Or is it entirely made up?

If you turn the 'years' into 'months' - which would make Methuselah closer to 90 years old (doable) you find out that other people's ages in the Bible don't work out. I can't remember the name of the person... but the Bible says that when they were 30-35 they had a child. If it was 'months', then this person had a baby when they were 3. Obviously impossible. Clearly, any other factor that you divide the dates by will not work (if the factor is higher - it makes that 35 year old even less able to have a child, and if it is smaller, it makes Methuselah older than biologically possible).

This leaves us with the only answer - It is all made up.

Actually, I shouldn't say that... There is one other answer. God did it. But that is just self serving, unverifiable, and puts a halt to the rational investigation that the human brain is wonderful at accomplishing.

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RE:

Methuselah's age at death is given in the Bible as 960 or 969 years (depending on which Bible you use). What?

do you think of this?

Methuselah Age

Methuselah lived to be 969 years old, the oldest person in recorded history. He died the year of the Flood. Whether by natural death or swept away by water, the Bible doesn't specifically say. But I would say he died a natural death, his time had come.

I realize many don't believe in the ages of the pre-flood (antediluvian) biblical patriarchs, but the Bible says that during the Millenium (future; after the Second Coming of Jesus Christ), people will again live to be very old. A person who dies at age 100, according to the prophet Isaiah, will be thought of as a mere child. The Millenial kingdom of Jesus Christ will last 1000 years, it appears that some people will live to see the entire 1000 years. After the 1000 years are up, the Great White Throne Judgment occurs, among many other things. Afterwards, the saints will live forever. Death will be "swallowed up in victory" and totally done away with.

For starters, we are listening to answers from people who have no clue about anything to do with ancient history.

We know that the Hebrew language is the oldest language, apparently given to man from God, we also know that it is the only language in existence that will emit/generate radio waves and no one knows why...

We also know that there have been big genetic changes in the species that are not related to so-called evolution...

It is real easy for a guy who only knows what he see's and believes in a dry-up and blow-away philosophy to mock something that he cannot see, smell, taste, touch or feel...buy what does he really know? Can he verify his very own existence?

Why not that old? Ultraviolet light wasn't able to penetrate like it does today due to a spherical ice shield that encased our atmosphere at that time. It wasn't until after the time of the Great Flood, when it was broken and fell as rain, that ultraviolet started bombarding the Earth and the lifespan of mankind plummeted.

Ancient Ur was dedicated to the worship of the Moon God hence 969/12=80 years old.

Researchers have known for a few hundred years that these ages were months old and not years but they do not want to disclose it.

If you read and do the math Methuselah died in the flood. It's been a while, but I think that Adam was 890, and Cain was around that 900 mark too.

Interesting trivia: Methuselah died the year of the flood. Did he die of old age, or did he drown?

Jim, http://www.bibleselector.com/