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Question: Why does the age when Abraham left Haran in the Book of Abraham differ from the Bible?
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Question: Why does the age when Abraham left Haran in the Book of Abraham differ from the Bible?
"So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran." Genesis 12꞉4"So I, Abraham, departed as the Lord had said unto me, and Lot with me; and I, Abraham, was sixty and two years old when I departed out of Haran." Abraham 2꞉14
Critics will say that Joseph Smith was uninspired with this date, because it conflicts with Genesis. However, other non-Biblical ancient documents found since Joseph Smith's day indicate Abraham left Haran earlier than 75 years old.[1] Which year is most accurate? We do not know.
However, the more likely possibility is both dates are correct. If one was mentioning an earlier exit from the city, and the other the greater general area of Haran (Los Angeles city vs. Los Angeles-Southern California area), Abraham could have left the city, then later, the greater area. Hugh Nibley explains that in the ancient "Sepher ha-Yasher" or "Book of Jasher", "Avram" (Abraham) left Haran twice.[2]
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