Genesis 29

It is interesting that the multiple documents theorists have radically changed their minds about this chapter, as pointed out by Skinner, now assigning it differently than formerly, indicating the total lack of any stability in the theories. Peake commented on this with the conclusion that, "further analysis is unnecessary!"[1] He nevertheless pointed out what he considered to be the advantages of the documentary theories, thus:

"If Genesis is a unity, Jacob is sent off to marry at age 77, when Rebekah had put up with her unwelcome daughters-in-law 37 years. He is actually 84 when he marries! The documentary analysis saves us from such absurdities."[2]

For the moment, it is conceded that the ages of the persons involved in these events may appear absurd to some people, but it should be noted that the documentary theories do absolutely nothing to change that situation. If there ever had been any documents (which is not supported by any evidence at all); and, even if there had been an editor or redactor who put it all together just as it appears in Genesis (again an unproved and unprovable proposition), it is undeniable that such an imaginary person (whoever he was) gave it to us as we have it. How does that get rid of any alleged absurdities? Of course, it does nothing of the kind. The Genesis text is all there is, and the solution of whatever problems may exist must be sought in the true interpretation of that text.

In the matter of those ages of the participants mentioned above, Morris has this:

In terms of normal aging and life spans today, these figures could be cut almost in half to correspond to the equivalent situations in our own time.[3] So where is any problem with the ages? The ancients had no problem with them, and only unbelievers have any problem with them now. And even if there should be thought to be a problem, the imaginative, changing, and undependable guesses of modern critics can afford no viable solution.