1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;
2 Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.
3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, and after his image; and called his name Seth:
4 And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters:
5 And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.
6 And Seth lived an hundred and five years, and begat Enos:
7 And Seth lived after he begat Enos eight hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters:
8 And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years: and he died.
9 And Enos lived ninety years, and begat Cainan:
10 And Enos lived after he begat Cainan eight hundred and fifteen years, and begat sons and daughters:
11 And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years: and he died.
12 And Cainan lived seventy years and begat Mahalaleel:
13 And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters:
14 And all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years: and he died.
15 And Mahalaleel lived sixty and five years, and begat Jared:
16 And Mahalaleel lived after he begat Jared eight hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters:
17 And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred ninety and five years: and he died.
18 And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Enoch:
19 And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:
20 And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died.
21 And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:
22 And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:
23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:
24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
25 And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech.
26 And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters:
27 And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died.
28 And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son:
29 And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed.
30 And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five hundred ninety and five years, and begat sons and daughters:
31 And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: and he died.
32 And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
1 This H2088 is the book H5612 of the generations H8435 of Adam. H121 In the day H3117 that God H430 created H1254 man, H120 in the likeness H1823 of God H430 made H6213 he him;
2 Male H2145 and female H5347 created H1254 he them; and blessed H1288 them, and called H7121 their name H8034 Adam, H120 in the day H3117 when they were created. H1254
3 And Adam H121 lived H2421 an hundred H3967 and thirty H7970 years, H8141 and begat H3205 a son in his own likeness, H1823 after his image; H6754 and called H7121 his name H8034 Seth: H8352
4 And the days H3117 of Adam H121 after H310 he had begotten H3205 Seth H8352 were eight H8083 hundred H3967 years: H8141 and he begat H3205 sons H1121 and daughters: H1323
5 And all the days H3117 that Adam H121 lived H2425 were nine H8672 hundred H3967 H8141 and thirty H7970 years: H8141 and he died. H4191
6 And Seth H8352 lived H2421 an hundred H3967 H8141 and five H2568 years, H8141 and begat H3205 Enos: H583
7 And Seth H8352 lived H2421 after H310 he begat H3205 Enos H583 eight H8083 hundred H3967 H8141 and seven H7651 years, H8141 and begat H3205 sons H1121 and daughters: H1323
8 And all the days H3117 of Seth H8352 were nine H8672 hundred H3967 H8141 and twelve H6240 H8147 years: H8141 and he died. H4191
9 And Enos H583 lived H2421 ninety H8673 years, H8141 and begat H3205 Cainan: H7018
10 And Enos H583 lived H2421 after H310 he begat H3205 Cainan H7018 eight H8083 hundred H3967 H8141 and fifteen H6240 H2568 years, H8141 and begat H3205 sons H1121 and daughters: H1323
11 And all the days H3117 of Enos H583 were nine H8672 hundred H3967 H8141 and five H2568 years: H8141 and he died. H4191
12 And Cainan H7018 lived H2421 seventy H7657 years, H8141 and begat H3205 Mahalaleel: H4111
13 And Cainan H7018 lived H2421 after H310 he begat H3205 Mahalaleel H4111 eight H8083 hundred H3967 H8141 and forty H705 years, H8141 and begat H3205 sons H1121 and daughters: H1323
14 And all the days H3117 of Cainan H7018 were nine H8672 hundred H3967 H8141 and ten H6235 years: H8141 and he died. H4191
15 And Mahalaleel H4111 lived H2421 sixty H8346 H8141 and five H2568 years, H8141 and begat H3205 Jared: H3382
16 And Mahalaleel H4111 lived H2421 after H310 he begat H3205 Jared H3382 eight H8083 hundred H3967 H8141 and thirty H7970 years, H8141 and begat H3205 sons H1121 and daughters: H1323
17 And all the days H3117 of Mahalaleel H4111 were eight H8083 hundred H3967 H8141 ninety H8673 and five H2568 years: H8141 and he died. H4191
18 And Jared H3382 lived H2421 an hundred H3967 sixty H8346 H8141 and two H8147 years, H8141 and he begat H3205 Enoch: H2585
19 And Jared H3382 lived H2421 after H310 he begat H3205 Enoch H2585 eight H8083 hundred H3967 years, H8141 and begat H3205 sons H1121 and daughters: H1323
20 And all the days H3117 of Jared H3382 were nine H8672 hundred H3967 H8141 sixty H8346 and two H8147 years: H8141 and he died. H4191
21 And Enoch H2585 lived H2421 sixty H8346 and five H2568 years, H8141 and begat H3205 Methuselah: H4968
22 And Enoch H2585 walked H1980 with H854 God H430 after H310 he begat H3205 H853 Methuselah H4968 three H7969 hundred H3967 years, H8141 and begat H3205 sons H1121 and daughters: H1323
23 And all the days H3117 of Enoch H2585 were three H7969 hundred H3967 H8141 sixty H8346 and five H2568 years: H8141
24 And Enoch H2585 walked H1980 with God: H430 and he was not; for God H430 took H3947 him.
25 And Methuselah H4968 lived H2421 an hundred H3967 H8141 eighty H8084 and seven H7651 years, H8141 and begat H3205 Lamech: H3929
26 And Methuselah H4968 lived H2421 after H310 he begat H3205 Lamech H3929 seven H7651 hundred H3967 H8141 eighty H8084 and two H8147 years, H8141 and begat H3205 sons H1121 and daughters: H1323
27 And all the days H3117 of Methuselah H4968 were nine H8672 hundred H3967 H8141 sixty H8346 and nine H8672 years: H8141 and he died. H4191
28 And Lamech H3929 lived H2421 an hundred H3967 H8141 eighty H8084 and two H8147 years, H8141 and begat H3205 a son: H1121
29 And he called H7121 his name H8034 Noah, H5146 saying, H559 This same shall comfort H5162 us concerning our work H4639 and toil H6093 of our hands, H3027 because H4480 of the ground H127 which the LORD H3068 hath cursed. H779
30 And Lamech H3929 lived H2421 after H310 he begat H3205 Noah H5146 five H2568 hundred H3967 H8141 ninety H8673 and five H2568 years, H8141 and begat H3205 sons H1121 and daughters: H1323
31 And all the days H3117 of Lamech H3929 were seven H7651 hundred H3967 H8141 seventy H7657 and seven H7651 years: H8141 and he died. H4191
32 And Noah H5146 was five H2568 hundred H3967 years H8141 old: H1121 and Noah H5146 begat H3205 Shem, H8035 Ham, H2526 and Japheth. H3315
1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;
2 male and female created he them, and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.
3 And Adam lived a hundred and thirty years, and begat `a son' in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:
4 and the days of Adam after he begat Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters.
5 And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.
6 And Seth lived a hundred and five years, and begat Enosh:
7 and Seth lived after he begat Enosh eight hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters:
8 and all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years: and he died.
9 And Enosh lived ninety years, and begat Kenan.
10 and Enosh lived after he begat Kenan eight hundred and fifteen years, and begat sons and daughters:
11 and all the days of Enosh were nine hundred and five years: and he died.
12 And Kenan lived seventy years, and begat Mahalalel:
13 and Kenan lived after he begat Mahalalel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters:
14 and all the days of Kenan were nine hundred and ten years: and he died.
15 And Mahalalel lived sixty and five years, and begat Jared:
16 And Mahalalel lived after he begat Jared eight hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters:
17 and all the days of Mahalalel were eight hundred ninety and five years: and he died.
18 And Jared lived a hundred sixty and two years, and begat Enoch:
19 and Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:
20 And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died.
21 And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:
22 and Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:
23 and all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:
24 and Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
25 And Methuselah lived a hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech:
26 and Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters.
27 And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died.
28 And Lamech lived a hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son:
29 and he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us in our work and in the toil of our hands, `which cometh' because of the ground which Jehovah hath cursed.
30 And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five hundred ninety and five years, and begat sons and daughters:
31 And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: and he died.
32 And Noah was five hundred years old: And Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
1 This `is' an account of the births of Adam: In the day of God's preparing man, in the likeness of God He hath made him;
2 a male and a female He hath prepared them, and He blesseth them, and calleth their name Man, in the day of their being prepared.
3 And Adam liveth an hundred and thirty years, and begetteth `a son' in his likeness, according to his image, and calleth his name Seth.
4 And the days of Adam after his begetting Seth are eight hundred years, and he begetteth sons and daughters.
5 And all the days of Adam which he lived are nine hundred and thirty years, and he dieth.
6 And Seth liveth an hundred and five years, and begetteth Enos.
7 And Seth liveth after his begetting Enos eight hundred and seven years, and begetteth sons and daughters.
8 And all the days of Seth are nine hundred and twelve years, and he dieth.
9 And Enos liveth ninety years, and begetteth Cainan.
10 And Enos liveth after his begetting Cainan eight hundred and fifteen years, and begetteth sons and daughters.
11 And all the days of Enos are nine hundred and five years, and he dieth.
12 And Cainan liveth seventy years, and begetteth Mahalaleel.
13 And Cainan liveth after his begetting Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begetteth sons and daughters.
14 And all the days of Cainan are nine hundred and ten years, and he dieth.
15 And Mahalaleel liveth five and sixty years, and begetteth Jared.
16 And Mahalaleel liveth after his begetting Jared eight hundred and thirty years, and begetteth sons and daughters.
17 And all the days of Mahalaleel are eight hundred and ninety and five years, and he dieth.
18 And Jared liveth an hundred and sixty and two years, and begetteth Enoch.
19 And Jared liveth after his begetting Enoch eight hundred years, and begetteth sons and daughters.
20 And all the days of Jared are nine hundred and sixty and two years, and he dieth.
21 And Enoch liveth five and sixty years, and begetteth Methuselah.
22 And Enoch walketh habitually with God after his begetting Methuselah three hundred years, and begetteth sons and daughters.
23 And all the days of Enoch are three hundred and sixty and five years.
24 And Enoch walketh habitually with God, and he is not, for God hath taken him.
25 And Methuselah liveth an hundred and eighty and seven years, and begetteth Lamech.
26 And Methuselah liveth after his begetting Lamech seven hundred and eighty and two years, and begetteth sons and daughters.
27 And all the days of Methuselah are nine hundred and sixty and nine years, and he dieth.
28 And Lamech liveth an hundred and eighty and two years, and begetteth a son,
29 and calleth his name Noah, saying, `This `one' doth comfort us concerning our work, and concerning the labour of our hands, because of the ground which Jehovah hath cursed.'
30 And Lamech liveth after his begetting Noah five hundred and ninety and five years, and begetteth sons and daughters.
31 And all the days of Lamech are seven hundred and seventy and seven years, and he dieth.
32 And Noah is a son of five hundred years, and Noah begetteth Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
1 This is the book of Adam's generations. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him.
2 Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.
3 And Adam lived a hundred and thirty years, and begot [a son] in his likeness, after his image, and called his name Seth.
4 And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years; and he begot sons and daughters.
5 And all the days of Adam that he lived were nine hundred and thirty years; and he died.
6 And Seth lived a hundred and five years, and begot Enosh.
7 And Seth lived after he had begotten Enosh eight hundred and seven years, and begot sons and daughters.
8 And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years; and he died.
9 And Enosh lived ninety years, and begot Cainan.
10 And Enosh lived after he had begotten Cainan eight hundred and fifteen years, and begot sons and daughters.
11 And all the days of Enosh were nine hundred and five years; and he died.
12 And Cainan lived seventy years, and begot Mahalaleel.
13 And Cainan lived after he had begotten Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begot sons and daughters.
14 And all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years; and he died.
15 And Mahalaleel lived sixty-five years, and begot Jared.
16 And Mahalaleel lived after he had begotten Jared eight hundred and thirty years, and begot sons and daughters.
17 And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred and ninety-five years; and he died.
18 And Jared lived a hundred and sixty-two years, and begot Enoch.
19 And Jared lived after he had begotten Enoch eight hundred years, and begot sons and daughters.
20 And all the days of Jared were nine hundred and sixty-two years; and he died.
21 And Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methushelah.
22 And Enoch walked with God after he had begotten Methushelah three hundred years, and begot sons and daughters.
23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years.
24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.
25 And Methushelah lived a hundred and eighty-seven years, and begot Lemech.
26 And Methushelah lived after he had begotten Lemech seven hundred and eighty-two years, and begot sons and daughters.
27 And all the days of Methushelah were nine hundred and sixty-nine years; and he died.
28 And Lemech lived a hundred and eighty-two years, and begot a son.
29 And he called his name Noah, saying, This [one] shall comfort us concerning our work and concerning the toil of our hands, because of the ground which Jehovah has cursed.
30 And Lemech lived after he had begotten Noah five hundred and ninety-five years, and begot sons and daughters.
31 And all the days of Lemech were seven hundred and seventy-seven years; and he died.
32 And Noah was five hundred years old, and Noah begot Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, he made him in God's likeness.
2 He created them male and female, and blessed them, and called their name Adam,{"Adam" and "Man" are spelled with the exact same consonants in Hebrew, so this can be correctly translated either way.} in the day when they were created.
3 Adam lived one hundred thirty years, and became the father of a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.
4 The days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years, and he became the father of sons and daughters.
5 All the days that Adam lived were nine hundred thirty years, then he died.
6 Seth lived one hundred five years, and became the father of Enosh.
7 Seth lived after he became the father of Enosh eight hundred seven years, and became the father of sons and daughters.
8 All the days of Seth were nine hundred twelve years, then he died.
9 Enosh lived ninety years, and became the father of Kenan.
10 Enosh lived after he became the father of Kenan, eight hundred fifteen years, and became the father of sons and daughters.
11 All the days of Enosh were nine hundred five years, then he died.
12 Kenan lived seventy years, and became the father of Mahalalel.
13 Kenan lived after he became the father of Mahalalel eight hundred forty years, and became the father of sons and daughters
14 and all the days of Kenan were nine hundred ten years, then he died.
15 Mahalalel lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Jared.
16 Mahalalel lived after he became the father of Jared eight hundred thirty years, and became the father of sons and daughters.
17 All the days of Mahalalel were eight hundred ninety-five years, then he died.
18 Jared lived one hundred sixty-two years, and became the father of Enoch.
19 Jared lived after he became the father of Enoch eight hundred years, and became the father of sons and daughters.
20 All the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty-two years, then he died.
21 Enoch lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Methuselah.
22 Enoch walked with God after he became the father of Methuselah three hundred years, and became the father of sons and daughters.
23 all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty-five years.
24 Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.
25 Methuselah lived one hundred eighty-seven years, and became the father of Lamech.
26 Methuselah lived after he became the father of Lamech seven hundred eighty-two years, and became the father of sons and daughters.
27 All the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty-nine years, then he died.
28 Lamech lived one hundred eighty-two years, and became the father of a son,
29 and he named him Noah, saying, "This same will comfort us in our work and in the toil of our hands, because of the ground which Yahweh has cursed."
30 Lamech lived after he became the father of Noah five hundred ninety-five years, and became the father of sons and daughters.
31 All the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy-seven years, then he died.
32 Noah was five hundred years old, and Noah became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day when God made man, he made him in the image of God;
2 Male and female he made them, naming them Man, and giving them his blessing on the day when they were made.
3 Adam had been living for a hundred and thirty years when he had a son like himself, after his image, and gave him the name of Seth:
4 And after the birth of Seth, Adam went on living for eight hundred years, and had sons and daughters:
5 And all the years of Adam's life were nine hundred and thirty: and he came to his end.
6 And Seth was a hundred and five years old when he became the father of Enosh:
7 And he went on living after the birth of Enosh for eight hundred and seven years, and had sons and daughters:
8 And all the years of Seth's life were nine hundred and twelve: and he came to his end.
9 And Enosh was ninety years old when he became the father of Kenan:
10 And after the birth of Kenan, Enosh went on living for eight hundred and fifteen years, and had sons and daughters:
11 And all the years of Enosh were nine hundred and five: and he came to his end.
12 And Kenan was seventy years old when he became the father of Mahalalel:
13 And after the birth of Mahalalel, Kenan went on living for eight hundred and forty years, and had sons and daughters:
14 And all the years of Kenan's life were nine hundred and ten; and he came to his end.
15 And Mahalalel was sixty-five years old when he became the father of Jared:
16 And after the birth of Jared, Mahalalel went on living for eight hundred and thirty years, and had sons and daughters:
17 And all the years of Mahalalel's life were eight hundred and ninety-five: and he came to his end.
18 And Jared was a hundred and sixty-two years old when he became the father of Enoch:
19 And Jared went on living after the birth of Enoch for eight hundred years, and had sons and daughters:
20 And all the years of Jared's life were nine hundred and sixty-two: and he came to his end.
21 And Enoch was sixty-five years old when he became the father of Methuselah:
22 And after the birth of Methuselah, Enoch went on in God's ways for three hundred years, and had sons and daughters:
23 And all the years of Enoch's life were three hundred and sixty-five:
24 And Enoch went on in God's ways: and he was not seen again, for God took him.
25 And Methuselah was a hundred and eighty-seven years old when he became the father of Lamech:
26 And after the birth of Lamech, Methuselah went on living for seven hundred and eighty-two years, and had sons and daughters:
27 And all the years of Methuselah's life were nine hundred and sixty-nine: and he came to his end.
28 And Lamech was a hundred and eighty-two years old when he had a son:
29 And he gave him the name of Noah, saying, Truly, he will give us rest from our trouble and the hard work of our hands, because of the earth which was cursed by God.
30 And after the birth of Noah, Lamech went on living for five hundred and ninety-five years, and had sons and daughters:
31 And all the years of Lamech's life were seven hundred and seventy-seven: and he came to his end.
32 And when Noah was five hundred years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Keil & Delitzsch Commentary » Commentary on Genesis 5
Commentary on Genesis 5 Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
II. History of Adam - Genesis 5-6:8
Generations from Adam to Noah - Genesis 5
The origin of the human race and the general character of its development having been thus described, all that remained of importance to universal or sacred history, in connection with the progress of our race in the primeval age, was to record the order of the families (Gen 5) and the ultimate result of the course which they pursued (Genesis 6:1-8). - First of all, we have the genealogical table of Adam with the names of the first ten patriarchs, who were at the head of that seed of the woman by which the promise was preserved, viz., the posterity of the first pair through Seth, from Adam to the flood. We have also an account of the ages of these patriarchs before and after the birth of those sons in whom the line was continued; so that the genealogy, which indicates the line of development, furnishes at the same time a chronology of the primeval age. In the genealogy of the Cainites no ages are given, since this family, as being accursed by God, had no future history. On the other hand, the family of Sethites, which acknowledged God, began from the time of Enos to call upon the name of the Lord, and was therefore preserved and sustained by God, in order that under the training of mercy and judgment the human race might eventually attain to the great purpose of its creation. The genealogies of the primeval age, to quote the apt words of M. Baumgarten , are “memorials, which bear testimony quite as much to the faithfulness of God in fulfilling His promise, as to the faith and patience of the fathers themselves.” This testimony is first placed in its true light by the numbers of the years. The historian gives not merely the age of each patriarch at the time of the birth of the first-born, by whom the line of succession was continued, but the number of years that he lived after that, and then the entire length of his life. Now if we add together the ages at the birth of the several first-born sons, and the hundred years between the birth of Shem and the flood, we find that the duration of the first period in the world's history was 1656 years. We obtain a different result, however, from the numbers given by the lxx and the Samaritan version, which differ in almost every instance from the Hebrew text, both in Gen 5 and Gen 11 (from Shem to Terah), as will appear from the table on the following page.
The principal deviations from the Hebrew in the case of the other two texts are these: in Gen 5 the Samaritan places the birth of the first-born of Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech 100 years earlier, whilst the Septuagint places the birth of the first-born of all the other fathers (except Noah) 100 years later than the Hebrew; in Gen 11 the latter course is adopted in both texts in the case of all the fathers except Shem and Terah. In consequence of this, the interval from Adam to the flood is shortened in the Samaritan text by 349 years as compared with the Hebrew, and in the Septuagint is lengthened by 586 ( Cod. Alex. 606). The interval from the flood to Abram is lengthened in both texts; in the Sam. by 650 years, in the Sept. by 880 ( Cod. Alex. 780). In the latter, Cainan is interpolated between Arphaxad and Salah, which adds 130 years, and the age of the first-born of Nahor is placed 150 years later than in the Hebrew, whereas in the former the difference is only 50 years. With regard to the other differences, the reason for reducing the lives of Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech in the Samaritan text after the birth of their sons, was evidently to bring their deaths within the time before the flood. The age of Methuselah, as given in the Cod. Alex. of the lxx, is evidently to be accounted for on the same ground, since, according to the numbers of the Vatican text, Methuselah must have lived 14 years after the flood. In the other divergences of these two texts from the Hebrew, no definite purpose can be detected; at the same time they are sufficient to show a twofold tendency, viz., to lengthen the interval from the flood to Abram, and to reduce the ages of the fathers at the birth of their first-born to greater uniformity, and to take care that the age of Adam at the birth of Seth should not be exceeded by that of any other of the patriarchs, especially in the time before the flood. To effect this, the Sept. adds 100 years to the ages of all the fathers, before and after the flood, whose sons were born before their 100th years; the Sam., on the other hand, simply does this in the case of the fathers who lived after the flood, whilst it deducts 100 years from the ages of all the fathers before the flood who begot their first-born at a later period of their life than Adam and Seth. The age of Noah alone is left unaltered, because there were other data connected with the flood which prevented any arbitrary alteration of the text. That the principal divergences of both texts from the Hebrew are intentional changes, based upon chronological theories or cycles, is sufficiently evident from their internal character, viz., from the improbability of the statement, that whereas the average duration of life after the flood was about half the length that it was before, the time of life at which the fathers begot their first-born after the flood was as late, and, according to the Samaritan text, generally later than it had been before. No such intention is discernible in the numbers of the Hebrew text; consequently every attack upon the historical character of its numerical statements has entirely failed, and no tenable argument can be adduced against their correctness. The objection, that such longevity as that recorded in our chapter is inconceivable according to the existing condition of human nature, loses all its force if we consider “that all the memorials of the old world contain evidence of gigantic power; that the climate, the weather, and other natural conditions, were different from those after the flood; that life was much more simple and uniform; and that the after-effects of the condition of man in paradise would not be immediately exhausted” ( Delitzsch ) . This longevity, moreover, necessarily contributed greatly to the increase of the human race; and the circumstance that the children were not born till a comparatively advanced period of life, - that is, until the corporeal and mental development of the parent was perfectly complete, - necessarily favoured the generation of a powerful race. From both these circumstances, however, the development of the race was sure to be characterized by peculiar energy in evil as well as in good; so that whilst in the godly portion of the race, not only were the traditions of the fathers transmitted faithfully and without adulteration from father to son, but family characteristics, piety, discipline, and morals took deep root, whilst in the ungodly portion time was given for sin to develop itself with mighty power in its innumerable forms.
(Note: The numbers in brackets are the reading of the Cod. Alexandrinus of the lxx. In the genealogical table, Genesis 11:10 ff., the Samaritan text is the only one which gives the whole duration of life.)
The heading in Genesis 5:1 runs thus: “This is the book ( sepher ) of the generations ( tholedoth ) of Adam.” On tholedoth , see Genesis 2:4. Sepher is a writing complete in itself, whether it consist of one sheet or several, as for instance the “bill of divorcement” in Deuteronomy 24:1, Deuteronomy 24:3. The addition of the clause, “ in the day that God created man ,” etc., is analogous to Genesis 2:4; the creation being mentioned again as the starting point, because all the development and history of humanity was rooted there.
As Adam was created in the image of God, so did he beget “ in his own likeness, after his image; ” that is to say, he transmitted the image of God in which he was created, not in the purity in which it came direct from God, but in the form given to it by his own self-determination, modified and corrupted by sin. The begetting of the son by whom the line was perpetuated (no doubt in every case the first-born), is followed by an account of the number of years that Adam and the other fathers lived after that, by the statement that each one begat (other) sons and daughters, by the number of years that he lived altogether, and lastly, by the assertion ויּמת “ and he died .” This apparently superfluous announcement is “intended to indicate by its constant recurrence that death reigned from Adam downwards as an unchangeable law (vid., Romans 5:14). But against this background of universal death, the power of life was still more conspicuous. For the man did not die till he had propagated life, so that in the midst of the death of individuals the life of the race was preserved, and the hope of the seed sustained, by which the author of death should be overcome.” In the case of one of the fathers indeed, viz., Enoch (Genesis 5:21.), life had not only a different issue, but also a different form. Instead of the expression “and he lived,” which introduces in every other instance the length of life after the birth of the first-born, we find in the case of Enoch this statement, “ he walked with God ( Elohim ) ; ” and instead of the expression “ and he died, ” the announcement, “ and he was not, for God ( Elohim ) took him .” The phrase “walked with God,” which is only applied to Enoch and Noah (Genesis 6:9), denotes the most confidential intercourse, the closest communion with the personal God, a walking as it were by the side of God, who still continued His visible intercourse with men (vid., Genesis 3:8). It must be distinguished from “walking before God” (Genesis 17:1; Genesis 24:40, etc.), and “walking after God” (Deuteronomy 13:4), both which phrases are used to indicate a pious, moral, blameless life under the law according to the directions of the divine commands. The only other passage in which this expression “walk with God” occurs is Malachi 2:6, where it denotes not the piety of the godly Israelites generally, but the conduct of the priests, who stood in a closer relation to Jehovah under the Old Testament than the rest of the faithful, being permitted to enter the Holy Place, and hold direct intercourse with Him there, which the rest of the people could not do. The article in האלהים gives prominence to the personality of Elohim , and shows that the expression cannot refer to intercourse with the spiritual world.
In Enoch, the seventh from Adam through Seth, godliness attained its highest point; whilst ungodliness culminated in Lamech, the seventh from Adam through Cain, who made his sword his god. Enoch, therefore, like Elijah, was taken away by God, and carried into the heavenly paradise, so that he did not see (experience) death (Hebrews 11:5); i.e., he was taken up from this temporal life and transfigured into life eternal, being exempted by God from the law of death and of return to the dust, as those of the faithful will be, who shall be alive at the coming of Christ to judgment, and who in like manner shall not taste of death and corruption, but be changed in a moment. There is no foundation for the opinion, that Enoch did not participate at his translation in the glorification which awaits the righteous at the resurrection. For, according to 1 Corinthians 15:20, 1 Corinthians 15:23, it is not in glorification, but in the resurrection, that Christ is the first-fruits. Now the latter presupposes death. Whoever, therefore, through the grace of God is exempted from death, cannot rise from the dead, but reaches ἀφθαρσία , or the glorified state of perfection, through being “changed” or “clothed upon” (2 Corinthians 5:4). This does not at all affect the truth of the statement in Romans 5:12, Romans 5:14. For the same God who has appointed death as the wages of sin, and given us, through Christ, the victory over death, possesses the power to glorify into eternal life an Enoch and an Elijah, and all who shall be alive at the coming of the Lord without chaining their glorification to death and resurrection. Enoch and Elijah were translated into eternal life with God without passing through disease, death, and corruption, for the consolation of believers, and to awaken the hope of a life after death. Enoch's translation stands about half way between Adam and the flood, in the 987th year after the creation of Adam. Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, and Jared were still alive. His son Methuselah and his grandson Lamech were also living, the latter being 113 years old. Noah was not yet born, and Adam was dead. His translation, in consequence of his walking with God, was “an example of repentance to all generations,” as the son of Sirach says (Ecclus. 44:16); and the apocryphal legend in the book of Enoch Genesis 1:9 represents him as prophesying of the coming of the Lord, to execute judgment upon the ungodly (Judges 1:14-15). In comparison with the longevity of the other fathers, Enoch was taken away young, before he had reached half the ordinary age, as a sign that whilst long life, viewed as a time for repentance and grace, is indeed a blessing from God, when the ills which have entered the world through sin are considered, it is also a burden and trouble which God shortens for His chosen. That the patriarchs of the old world felt the ills of this earthly life in all their severity, was attested by Lamech (Genesis 5:28, Genesis 5:29), when he gave his son, who was born 69 years after Enoch's translation, the name of Noah , saying, “ This same shall comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord hath cursed .” Noah , נוח from נוּח to rest and הניח to bring rest, is explained by נחם to comfort, in the sense of helpful and remedial consolation. Lamech not only felt the burden of his work upon the ground which God had cursed, but looked forward with a prophetic presentiment to the time when the existing misery and corruption would terminate, and a change for the better, a redemption from the curse, would come. This presentiment assumed the form of hope when his son was born; he therefore gave expression to it in his name. But his hope was not realized, at least not in the way that he desired. A change did indeed take place in the lifetime of Noah. By the judgment of the flood the corrupt race was exterminated, and in Noah, who was preserved because of his blameless walk with God, the restoration of the human race was secured; but the effects of the curse, though mitigated, were not removed; whilst a covenant sign guaranteed the preservation of the human race, and therewith, by implication, his hope of the eventual removal of the curse (Genesis 9:8-17).
The genealogical table breaks off with Noah; all that is mentioned with reference to him being the birth of his three sons, when he was 500 years old (Genesis 5:32; see Genesis 11:10), without any allusion to the remaining years of his life-an indication of a later hand. “The mention of three sons leads to the expectation, that whereas hitherto the line has been perpetuated through one member alone, in the future each of the three sons will form a new beginning (vid., Genesis 9:18-19; Genesis 10:1).” - M. Baumgarten .