[Jim W N]

I was under the impression, that it was seven years. Sometimes, it's short, sometimes it's long, but as James says,

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. but let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

James 1:2-4.

I hate problems and trials but by grace I'll take perfect and complete, lacking nothing if problems and trials is what it takes to get there.

[aimhigh]

We have a clue in Job 7:3, where Job says, "So I have been allotted months of futility, and wearisome nights have been appointed to me."

Job 29:2 supports this, with Job saying, “Oh, that I were as in months past, as in the days when God watched over me;"