As one reads the Bible, he will never find a chart to show anything in a clearer context. However, charts can be helpful in one’s study and overall understanding of the text. I found it very helpful to piece together information in the text that relates to Joseph’s and Judah’s ages. Once we come to a common text, where it is clear how old each was with respect to the other, their ages can be helpful to identify the timeframe of the events that occurred in both their lives, and if “their” lives, we may also apply it to the lives of Jacob and his other sons, as well. In as much as I am able to tell, this chart is accurate and can be used to piece together certain events that occurred in the lives of Jacob and his sons.
Joseph’s and Judah’s Ages |
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| Clearly there is a difference of only three years between Joseph and Judah. Judah was Jacob’s fourth son by Leah in as many years (Genesis 29:31-35). Joseph was born during the 14th year of Jacob’s service to Laban, and all of Jacob’s sons were born during the second set of 7 years, and that service was done for Laban’s two daughters Leah and Rachel.
Judah was born in the 4th year of that set, and Joseph was born in the 7th (Genesis 30:22-25). Therefore, Joseph was born about three years after Judah! See my previous study Considering the Ages of the Sons of Jacob We are assuming an age of 18 for Judah, when he married the daughter of Shuah, and Er is born that same year (Genesis 38:2-3). So, Joseph probably knew Er and Onan, and possibly Shelah, before he was sold into Egypt (Genesis 37:2, 28, 36). |
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Their Ages During the 14 Harvests of Pharaohs Dream |
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Harvest season |
Joseph’s age |
Judah’s age |
Event |
| 1st year | 30 | 33 | Joseph appears before Pharaoh and the SEVEN YEARS OF GOOD HARVESTS begins. (Genesis 41:46) |
| 2nd year | 31 | 34 | |
| 3rd year | 32 | 35 | |
| 4th year | 33 | 36 | |
| 5th year | 34 | 37 | Judah takes a wife, Tamar, for his son, Er (Genesis 38:6; assuming Er was about 18 years of age). Er dies without producing a descendant. Judah marries Tamar to Onan (levirate marriage), but he also dies without begetting a descendant (Genesis 38:7-10). Judah has Tamar return to her father’s house to await a marriage with Shelah (Genesis 38:11) |
| 6th year | 35 | 38 | |
| 7th year | 36 | 39 | By this time Tamar is certain that Judah has no intention to give Shelah to her as a husband, assuming he is now 18 years old (Genesis 38:12-14). |
| 8th year | 37 | 40 | Judah lays with Tamar unaware she’s his daughter-in-law (Genesis 38:15-18).
SEVEN YEARS OF FAMINE HARVESTS begin |
| 9th year (2nd year of the famine) |
38 | 41 | Tamar is pregnant by Judah, and she bears him twin children, Pharez and Zaarah (Genesis 38:18, 27-30). Joseph brings Jacob and his brethren and their families down to Egypt (Genesis 45:28) |
| 10th year | 39 | 42 | Jacob and his sons and their families are in Egypt |
| 11th year | 40 | 43 | |
| 12th year | 41 | 44 | |
| 13th year | 42 | 45 | |
| 14th year | 43 | 46 | |
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