Contemplative Bible Reading

Genesis 11:28 (New International Version)

While his father Terah was still alive, Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeans, in the land of his birth.

This comes from one of those chapters in the Bible listing genealogies. Other verses from this chapter include:

¹⁴ When Shelah had lived 30 years, he became the father of Eber. ¹⁵ And after he became the father of Eber, Shelah lived 403 years and had other sons and daughters.

¹⁶ When Eber had lived 34 years, he became the father of Peleg. ¹⁷ And after he became the father of Peleg, Eber lived 430 years and had other sons and daughters.

¹⁸ When Peleg had lived 30 years, he became the father of Reu. ¹⁹ And after he became the father of Reu, Peleg lived 209 years and had other sons and daughters.

²⁰ When Reu had lived 32 years, he became the father of Serug. ²¹ And after he became the father of Serug, Reu lived 207 years and had other sons and daughters.

²² When Serug had lived 30 years, he became the father of Nahor. ²³ And after he became the father of Nahor, Serug lived 200 years and had other sons and daughters.

²⁴ When Nahor had lived 29 years, he became the father of Terah. ²⁵ And after he became the father of Terah, Nahor lived 119 years and had other sons and daughters.

Verse 28 is different. In it, Haran died while his father Terah was still alive. The son died before the father. This is the only case in this long list of fathers and sons where the son died before the father. It just didn’t happen.

Why not?

I think the reason is that men were at peace with one another. We don’t have records of wars at this time.

This is one of the blessing of peace (not war) that I had not realized. In peace, fathers don’t see their sons die. They don’t have to grieve in that way. That is peaceful.

God, grant me the blessing of not seeing my sons die before me.