The apparent contradiction lies in Abraham’s age at the birth of Ishmael: 86 years old or at least 135 years old.
Genesis 16:16 clearly records that Abraham was 86 years old when Ishmael was born.
Genesis 16:16
Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael.
However, if we follow a straightforward reading of other passages, Abraham seems to be at least 135 years old at Ishmael’s birth:
- Genesis 11:26 records that Terah was 70 years old when Abraham was born
- Genesis 11:32 records that Terah was 205 years old when he died (Abraham would be 135 years old then)
- Acts 7:2-4 records that Abraham did not leave Harran until after Terah died
- Genesis 16:3 places the birth of Ishmael after Abraham has left Harran and settled in Canaan for 10 years.
Resolving the contradiction
The key lies in properly understanding Genesis 11:26:
Genesis 11:26
After Terah had lived 70 years, he became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran.
This verse does not mean all three sons were born when Terah was 70, nor that Abraham was the eldest and born at that age. Instead, it simply convey that Terah had his first child at 70. Abraham’s name being listed first reflects prominence, not birth order.
A parallel example appears in Genesis 5:32:
Genesis 5:32
After Noah was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham and Japheth
Yet, Genesis 10:21 clarifies that Japheth was the oldest, even though Shem is listed first.
Therefore, putting it together, the timeline is as such
- Terah had his first son at 70 (likely Haran, not Abraham).
- Abraham was born when Terah was 130.
- Terah died at 205, making Abraham 75 at the time.
- Abraham left Haran at 75 (Genesis 12:4).
- After 10 years in Canaan (Genesis 16:3), Abraham was 86 when Ishmael was born (Genesis 16:16).