Examining Jewish geneaology from Ezra Ch 2
Rational thinkers claimed that:
1) Israelite population in the Old Testament times is reported to have millions at times.
2) Human population only increased exponentially, abruptly, steeply at the Industrial revolution. Population increased gently, if at all, in the past.
3) Jewish geneaology does include every generation, even the name of all sons.
4) Too many sons are reportedly from the same father.
Ch 2 vv 2-58 do not give detail of family tree. The term "sons" refers to related offsprings ( eg: v 32, it is impossible for Harim to have 320 immediate sons; and in v 39, the sons of Harim, 1,017. These verses shows that ancestral name can be common names, and no distinction was made to which line the name in question represents).
v 36 mentions the priests while v 40 mentions the Levites. Although Levites can be priests a distinction is made here of 2 lines.
v 42 - the sons...in all 139 - no indication to family tree. The ancestral names mentioned are not shown their relationship.
v 58 - all the male servants were 392, but no family tree was given.
v 59 - names of some males were given although they were not able to give evidence of their fathers' households, and their descendants, whether they were of Israel.
This verse 59 hints that there existed written geneaology as record and proof of family relationship and geneaology. Also names could be blotted out from the master list ( v 61 suggests one reason - marrying foreign wife).
These sons of the priests are mentioned as the only group who have broken the marriage law by marrying foreigners.
v 61 tells us that their ancestors took wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite.
v 62 tells us that they could not be located among their ancestral registration. Although being counted as Israelites, they have obscured origins.
v 64 disclosed that the whole assembly numbered 42,360; of which over 2/3 are sons, showing a picture opposite to 3 daughters to 2 sons- probability of modern childbirth.
This figure is considerably less than 1 - 2 millions.
v 65 tells us that they had 7,337 servants and 200 singers (both sex included).
v 66-7, Their 736 horses, 245 mules, 435 camels and 6,720 donkeys added up to 8,136 working animals.
Camels and horses reflected wealth. Donkeys are the most important animal workforce in the Middle East and they amongst to the largest in number.
This calculation gives a ratio of 1 animal to 5 person; and about 1 animal per servant.
v 70 tells us that all Israel were scattered and lived in cities governed by Persia.
The weather turned cold and agriculture failed during the Dark Age.
If increase in population is related to agricultural yield, the once fertile Middle East such as the Egyptian Nile banks might have supported population much larger than 18th century Europe.
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