View source for Question: Is the mention of "Ur of the Chaldees" in the Book of Abraham an anachronism?

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==Question: Is the mention of "Ur of the Chaldees" in the Book of Abraham an anachronism?==
===The Chaldeens are mentioned a number of times in the Book of Abraham===

The Chaldeens are mentioned a number of times in the Book of Abraham (Abraham 1:1, 8, 13, 20, 23, 29, 30, 2:4 and 3:1.)
{{s||Abraham|3|1}} states:
<blockquote>
And I, Abraham, had the Urim and Thummim, which the Lord my God had given unto me, in Ur of the Chaldees
</blockquote>

It is claimed that the mention of "Ur of the Chaldees" in the Book of Abraham is an anachronism. According to Stephen Thompson, "scholarly estimates for the age of the patriarchs range from 2200 to 1200 B.C." <ref name="thompson">Stephen E. Thompson, "Egyptology and the Book of Abraham", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought (Spring 1995)</ref> The Chaldeans, on the other hand, did not appear until hundreds of years later. Thompson notes that, "anything occurring after 1500 B.C. is definitely anachronistic to Abraham's lifetime." <ref name="thompson"></ref>

An additional complication is that scholars today place "Chaldea" in southern Mesopotamia, which is too far away to have any Egyptian influence.

===The phrase "Ur of the Chaldees" appears in the Old Testament in connection with Abraham (Abram) and his father Terah===

The phrase "Ur of the Chaldees" appears in the Old Testament in {{s||Genesis|11|26-28}} in connection with Abraham (Abram) and his father Terah:
<blockquote>
26 And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.<br>
27 ¶Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot.<br>
28 And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees.<br>
</blockquote>

===The location of "Ur of the Chaldees" is not known===

The location of "Ur of the Chaldees" is not known, although that has been much speculation among religious scholars concerning its possible location. It is noted by the Church that "Most scholars today locate “Chaldea” (or Ur) in southern Mesopotamia, removed from the area of Egyptian influence, but cogent arguments have been made for a northern location, within the realm of Egyptian influence." <ref>"Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham," Footnote 35, ''Gospel Topics'', LDS.org. {{link|url=https://www.lds.org/topics/translation-and-historicity-of-the-book-of-abraham?lang=eng}}</ref>
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{{endnotes sources}}
[[Category:Letter to a CES Director]]

[[es:Pregunta: ¿Es la mención de "Ur de los caldeos" en el Libro de Abraham un anacronismo?]]
[[pt:Pergunta: A menção de "Ur dos Caldeus" no Livro de Abraham um anacronismo?]]