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#TIL that the number "40" in the Bible was not literal, but just represented a big number/a long time. For example, saying Jesus fasted in the wilderness for 40 days is like saying "wow Sally, it's been a bajillion years since I've seen you!"
Nonetheless, many religious folks throughout history have taken Biblical numerology way too literally.
It's a tiny thing, but is yet another reminder - the Bible was propaganda written by multiple authors with varying goals, for readers of specific cultures. It was never meant to be understood by people of other countries, languages, time periods. It should absolutely not be taken as a flawless, eternal source of moral guidance.
@chad and it definitely shouldn’t be taken as such by people who have undertaken absolutely zero work in understanding the cultural context in which it was created or even the languages in which it was written!
I used to think as far as Old Testament ages go, as far as English translations, that what was probably meant was MONTHS. Moon cycles.
So Methuselah was 80 years old.