Patriarch

The Patriarchs are the men from whom the Hebrews and related nations descend. By some definitions this includes Isaac, Jacob, and all their sons. The stricter definition includes Abraham and his two brothers Nahor and Haran, their ancestors in the House of Shem, the three sons of Noah (Shem, Ham, and Japheth), and the ancestral line from Noah to Adam. The lives of these men form an unbroken chronological line that begins at creation and extends to the entry of Abraham into Canaan.

Biblical Genealogy

 * Main Article: Biblical Genealogy

The year of creation is 1 AM (Anno Mundi, year of the world). James Ussher calculated the date of creation as October 23, 4004 BC. This date fell on the Sunday nearest the autumnal equinox. Pierre Simon Laplace, as quoted by Martin Anstey, observed that this date occurred in a year when the equinoxes were aligned with the major axis of the orbit of the earth around the sun.

Adam was created on the sixth day, and gives the dates of the birth of Adam's descendants, each expressed as a year in the life of his father. continues the line beginning with Shem and proceeding to Abraham, Nahor, and Haran. and give further details to fix the birth of Abraham and the time of his entry into Canaan.

Generations of Adam

 * Main Article: Generations of Adam

Sons of Noah

 * Main Article: Sons of Noah

House of Shem

 * Main Article: House of Shem

Biblical Chronology

 * Main Article: Biblical chronology

The Biblical genealogy provides the basis for the chronology of events described in the Bible. This chronological record is precise and detailed from the first day of creation to the life of Terah, father of Abraham. From Abraham to Jesus, the dates are in dispute.