The lifespan of Terah, Abraham's father (Gen 11:32)
In Genesis 11:32 it is stated that Terah lived for 205 years before he died in Haran. This number marks the end of Terah's era and the transition to Abraham's calling and journey to Canaan, which is a turning point in biblical history. Beyond this specific reference, the number 205 has no broad symbolic or numerological significance in Jewish tradition, unlike numbers such as 7, 12, or 40. Rashi notes that according to the chronology, Terah was still alive when Abraham left Haran. Nevertheless, the Torah mentions Terah's death first (before the account of Abraham's departure in Gen 12:1) to avoid giving the impression that Abraham abandoned his elderly father – a principle known as 'ein mukdam u-me'uchar ba-Torah' (the Torah does not necessarily follow chronological order).*