“Haran died before his father Terah.” This seemingly insignificant piece of historical information is actually quite significant. This is the first time in the Bible that a son is said to die before his father. The confusion and pain caused by sin are thus starting to be seen working through society. To many people, absolutely nothing in life is more painful than the death of one’s child.

“in the land of his birth, in Ur of the Chaldees.” So Haran died while the family was in Ur of the Chaldees. If Haran died while the family was in Ur, then Haran died before Abraham reached 75.

“in Ur of the Chaldees.” Some scholars locate Ur of the Chaldees in the same area as Haran. Besides the commonly accepted “Ur,” there is another Ur closer to Haran that is almost certainly the “Ur” of Abraham’s origin (see commentary on Gen. 11:31).