Is that about 4000 (40 X 100) years? That’s close to when Israel was created. I thought they defended themselves a few times since then...
A generation is about 25 years.
He was using a bit of hyperbole - but it was actually 1878 years from the destruction of the Second Temple until Israeli independence in 1948. It is more like 75 generations (or 62, if you count a generation as 30 years), but 100 is more poetic. Also, I am sure that some families have had 100 generations - marriages used to be a lot earlier in life than right now.
That’s an interesting question- some genealogists consider 25 years to be one generation, but I believe that it should be 33 and 1/3 years. I think that my number is closer to the average generation. I believe that it is the approximate midpoint of a woman’s normal childbearing span, from young 20’s to mid 40’s. And yes, I’m perfectly aware that childbirth is possible at a younger age.
A generation is usually considered to be every 20 years, not 40.