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<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" color=#000000 size=2
face=Arial>From: Zev Sero via Avodah
<avodah@lists.aishdas.org><BR><BR><BR>>> ....But avraham was *not*
past fathering children at 99. He fathered 8 more <BR>when he was in his
late 130s/early 140s, and there's no indication that <BR>this was any kind of
miracle or surprise.<<<<<BR><BR>-- <BR>Zev
Sero <BR>zev@sero.name
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<DIV>>>>>></DIV>
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<DIV>I have long surmised that Sarah giving birth at 90 was not as big a miracle
then as it would be today, considering average life spans then. It would
be more like a post-menopausal woman of, say, 60 years old giving birth
today. Still old for a pregnancy and still a miracle of course, especially
considering that she had always been infertile even when she was young.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Nowadays it does occasionally happen that a woman of 60 gives birth, but
only with IVF. It /is/ a little strange that Sarah said "My husband is
old" and not "I am old."</DIV>
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<DIV>One other thing in this connection that is strange is that Avimelech was
drawn to her beauty and wanted to take her into his harem -- when she was 90
years old! Even if she was like a woman of 60
today she must have looked much younger and she must have been really
very beautiful. </DIV>
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<DIV><B><BR><FONT color=#0000ff>--Toby Katz<BR>t613k@aol.com</FONT><FONT lang=0
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