Prototypes, or, The primary precedent presidents out of the book of Genesis showing, the…Prototypes, or, The primarie precedent presidents out of the booke of Genesis shewing, the…

And now we find Jacob a servant, and that for fourteen years: he married the two daughters within a few months after his coming thither, as may be demonstrated by the ages of the children, by name of Joseph the youngest, who was seventeen when he was sold into Egypt, and thirty when he stood before Pharaoh first, and lived after, seven years of plenty, and then two years of scarcity; that is, thirty nine in all, and then was Jacob one hundred and thirty. So that Jacob was ninety and one years of age when he begat him, and that was in the last of the fourteen years agreed upon, for by and by upon his birth, Jacob would have laboured for his own house, and Laban agrees upon wages. Therefore he was seventy and seven years or thereabouts, when he came to Laban, and being of that age, it was not likely that he would live so long unmarried afore he took a wife.

And now we finde Iacob a servant, and that for fourteen yeares: hee married the two daughters within a few moneths after his comming thither, as may be demonstrated by the ages of the children, by name of Ioseph the youngest, who was seventeene when hee was sold into Aegypt, and thirty when he stood before Pharaoh first, and lived after, seven yeares of plenty, and then two yeares of scarcity; that is, thirty nine in all, and then was Iacob one hundred and thirty. So that Iacob was ninty and one yeares of age when he begate him, and that was in the last of the fourteene yeares agreed upon, for by and by upon his birth, Iacob would have laboured for his owne house, and Laban agrees upon wages. Therefore hee was seventy and seven yeares or thereabouts, when he came to Laban, and being of that age, it was not likely that he would live so long unmarried afore hee tooke a wife.

Again, betwixt Jacobs going to Padan, and returning, were but two years at the most, and then was Joseph seven years old, for he was borne toward the end of the fourteenth year; and if Jacob had not married Leah till seven years were ended, the eldest of Jacobs sons could be but seven years at most elder than he; that is, fourteen years, and Joseph was thirty and nine years when Jacob came to him, or thereabouts; Therefore, the eldest of Jacobs sons at that time was but forty and six, and Judah was the fourth of the same mother; so he must be but forty and two, or thereabouts, and yet had he three sons marriageable before he begat Pharez, and Pharez had two sons when they went down to Egypt. Allow Judah to marry at fifteen, Er at fifteen, and let Tamar wait but two years for the third son, now Judah was thirty and two: Let Pharez marry at fifteen, and have two sons in two years, that is seventeen, so have we forty and nine years: and therefore seeing greater haste could not be made, at least so many years did pass betwixt, and that will come to just seven years more than the time will amount too, if Jacob married at the end of seven years; therefore he married the first year.