Genesis Chapter Five

Family History of Adam

Introduction:

  1. The introductory formula "This is the book/registry of the family history of Adam" (5:1; cf. 2:4; 6:9; 10:1, etc.) indicates that new section of Genesis begins here.

  2. Commentators assume that it concludes with 5:32.

  3. Since the next introductory formula "This is the family history of Noah" does not occur until 6:9, the section must end at 6:8.

  4. 5:32 is an inappropriate place to end a subdivision/section, in view of the fact that every other section goes on to tell how long the patriarch lived.

  5. It just leaves the story hanging, whereas 6:8, "Noah found grace/favor in the eyes of the LORD," makes for a better ending to a section.

  6. The section from 5:1 to 6:8 contains key words occurring a significant number of times, i.e., multiples of 7 or 6.

  7. "Adam/the man" occurs 14x, 7x with the article, 7x without, "God" occurs 14x.

  8. "Make" (ashah) and "create" (bara) together occur 7x, "the LORD" 6x; "sons," 12x; "daughters" 12x; the verb (yalad) "to bear" or "to father" occurs 30x.

  9. Within this section the material is quite diverse:

    1. 5:1-32−Genealogy of Adam to Noah

    2. 6:1-4−The angel marriages

    3. 6:5-8−God’s plan to destroy humanity

  1. 5:1-32 falls into ten paragraphs:

    1. Adam (vv.1-5)

    2. Seth (vv. 6-8)

    3. Enosh (vv. 9-11)

    4. Qenan (vv. 12-14)

    5. Mahalalel (vv. 15-17)

    6. Yared (vv. 18-20)

    7. Enoch (vv. 21-24)

    8. Methuselah (vv. 25-27)

    9. Lamek (vv. 28-31)

    10. Noah (v. 32)

  1. Most of the paragraphs follow the same pattern:

            1. A lived x years, then fathered B.

            2. A lived y years after he had fathered B, fathering sons and daughters.

            3. A’s whole life lasted x + y years; then he died.

  1. Exactly the same formula is used in the genealogy of Shem in 11:10-26, but (c) summing up the patriarch’s life, is omitted there.

  2. In chapter 5 there is a slight deviation from this standard pattern in the instance of four of the patriarch.

  3. And in v. 3b instead of saying "and the fathered Seth" states "and he became the father of a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth."

  4. Enoch, the seventh in the list, (vv. 21-24) is described as "walking with God" and "being taken" instead of "living" and "dying."

  5. The pattern of Lamek, the ninth in the line, also deviates slightly from the norm by including his hopes about his son Noah in v. 29.

  6. Finally, the language introducing Noah (v. 32) starts a little differently: "Noah was 500 years old" instead of "Noah lived 500 years," vv. 28b-29 continue, "and he became the father of a son. He called his name Noah," commenting, "This one will give us comfort/relief from our work….which the LORD has cursed."

  7. What is the relationship between the genealogies of chapter 4 and chapter 5?

  8. The three-person Sethite genealogy of chapter 4:25-26 acts as a trailer to the full ten-member genealogy of 5:1-32.

  9. Of the six names mentioned in 6:17-18, two Enoch/Enosh and Lamek reappear in 5:12-28.

  10. The name Lamek acts as a penultimate member.

  11. Names that sound alike and contain similar roots are "Kenan" (!nyq) and "Cain" (!yq); "Mahalalel" (lallhm) and "Mehuya’el" (laywxm); "Jared" (dry) and "Irad" (dry[); "Methuselah" (xlwvtm) and "Methusha’el" (lavwtm).

  12. There is a Sumerian flood story (reconstructed by Jacobsen on the basis of the bilingual version from Ashurbanipal’s library) mentions nine kings who reigned before the flood.

  13. These kings reigned some 64,000 years!

  14. The first two kings reigned in Eridu (Gen. 4:18) and the last was called Ziusudra, the Sumerian name for the survivor of the flood.

  15. The pagan (Sumerian) and sacred genealogies are quite different.

  16. They have different starting points: the first king, not the first man.

  17. The king lists concerns length of reign not length of life.

  18. The reigns recorded in the Sumerian king list are much longer than the lives of the biblical heroes−of the order of fifty times longer.

  19. The purpose of the lists is very different: the Sumerian king list, is designed to justify the city’s claim to leadership of Mesopotamia (political propaganda), whereas the biblical genealogy has a world-wide perspective, tracing as it does the history of humanity from its creation in Adam to its sole survivor Noah and his family.

  20. Within the book of Genesis itself the comparison of the genealogy of chapter 5 with the one in chapter 4 reveals a contrast between two sets of patriarchs descending from Adam.

  21. The genealogy from Adam via Cain culminates in the depravity of Lamech.

  22. All human achievement in the arts and technology is tainted when men disregard the true worship of God.

  23. The line from Adam via Seth is the line of spiritual achievement and advancement.

  24. This is the line that was blessed and protected so a to form an unbroken chain of male descendants culminating in Messiah.

  25. The genealogy in chapter 5 also serves to link the first founder of humanity, Adam, with its refounder, Noah.

  26. A proposed relationship between the two genealogies of chapters 4 (negative line) and 5 (positive/godly line):

  27. Gen. 4:17-22: (1) Adam−(2) Cain−(3) Enoch−(4) Irad−(5) Mehujael−(6) Methushael−(7) Lamech: Jabal, Jubal, Tubal-Cain (and Naamah).

  28. Gen. 5:1-32: (1) Adam−(2) Seth−(3) Enosh−(4) Kenan−(5) Mahalalel−(6) Jared−(7) Enoch−(8) Methuselah−(9) Lamech−(10) Noah: Shem, Ham, Japheth.

  29. For some reason the line of Cain came upon difficulty and that difficulty may very well have been the angelic infiltration of chapter 6.

  30. If the attack began in the days of Enoch, then his counterpart would have been Lamech.

    31.  

    Preface to the Genealogy (vv. 1-2)

    VERSE 1 This is the book of the generations of Adam (~d'a' tdol.AT rp,se hz< [adj.m.s.abs. zeh this, such + noun m.s.abs. sepher book + noun f.p.constr. toledoth descendants; "generations" + proper noun Adam]).

    In the day when God created man, He made him in the likeness of God (Atao hf'[' ~yhil{a/ tWmd>Bi ~d'a' ~yhil{a/ aroB. [prep beth w/noun m.s.abs. yom day + Qal infin.constr. bara create + noun m.p.abs. Elohim + noun m.s.abs. adam man + prep beth w/noun f.s.abs. demuth likeness + noun m.p.abs. Elohim + Qal perf.3m.s. ashah make, do + d.o. marker w/3m.s.suff. "him"]).

    VERSE 2 He created them male and female (~a'r'B. hb'qen>W rk'z" [noun m.s.abs. zakar male + waw w/noun f.s.abs. neqebah female + Qal perf.3m.s.w/3m.p.suff. bara create], and He blessed them and named them Man [Adam] in the day when they were created [~a'r>B'hi ~AyB. ~d'a' ~m'v.-ta, ar'q.YIw: ~t'ao %r,b'y>w: [waw w/Piel impf.3m.s. barak bless + d.o. marker w/3m.p.suff. "them" + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. qara call; "named" + d.o. marker + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.p.suff. shem name; literally: "called their name…" + noun m.s.abs. adam man + prep beth w/noun m.s.abs. yom day + Niphal infin.constr.w/3m.p.suff. bara create]).

    ANALYSIS: VERSES 1-2

  31. The introductory formula, "This is the record of family history of Adam" (alternate translation) introduces a new section of Genesis.

  32. Another section begins at 6:9 with the introductory formula, "This is the genealogy of Noah," which means the section beginning at 5:1 must end at 6:8.

  33. Adam (vv. 3-5) is prefaced by a summary of the creation of man (vv. 1-2).

  34. The source of the information in this chapter is the Toledoth "book."

  35. "This is the record of the family history of Adam" heads up the section extending to 6:8.

  36. A heading like this introduces each new section of Genesis (cf. 2:4; 6:9; 10:1, 32; 11:10, 27; 25:12,13,19; 36:1,9; 37:2).

  37. But only here is a "book" introduced.

  38. "Book" (sepher) covers anything from a short legal document (e.g., bill of divorce in Deut. 24:1) to a written document of some length (Deut. 31:24, 26).

  39. The reference to a book is reminiscent of the mention of "The Book of the Wars of the LORD" (Num. 21:14) or "Book of Jashar" (Josh. 10:13; 2Sam. 1:18) and suggest a written source being quoted here.

  40. Vv. 1b-2 constitutes an editorial summary.

  41. Its elevated prose is akin to that of Genesis 1, to which the text of vv. 1b-2 most clearly refers.

  42. But in structure and terminology its closets parallel is Gen. 2:4.

  43. Note that here (vv. 1b-2) and in 2:4 both texts have a chiastic structure (ABCCBA).

  44. Both pair "making" (ashah) and "creating" (bara) at the midpoint (CC) of the construction.

  45. Finally, both have the phrase "when they were created" (niphal infinitive of bara with 3rd plural suffix), the only places were this phrase is attested.

  46. The chiastic structure is as follows: (A) On (In) the day God created…..Cf. 2:4…(A) The heaven….(B) Adam….Cf. 2:4…(B) and the earth…(C) In the likeness of God He made him…Cf. 2:4…(C) when they were created…(C) Male and female He created them [and He blessed and called their name]….Cf. 2:4…(C) on the day the LORD God made…(B) Adam…Cf. 2:4…(B) earth and…(A) On the day they were created…Cf. 2:4…(A) heavens.

  47. In grammatical arrangement 5:1-2 bears a striking similarity to the first heading of Gen. 2:4, but in content these verses reproduce the subject matter of 1:26-27 with some abbreviation.

  48. By way of review Gen. 1:26 is strictly a planning verse featuring the verb ashah ("make").

  49. Hence, the "Let us" terminology (Qal imperfect 3rd plural of ashah).

  50. Both "Our image" and "Our likeness" is featured in the planning stage/verse.

  51. "Image" (tselem) corresponds to the living soul, while "likeness" (demuth) corresponds to spiritual maturity (3rd adjustment).

  52. Gen. 1:27 constitutes the "execution verse" as it pertains strictly to the living soul.

  53. The phase "God created man in His own image" does NOT refer to man’s physical being.

  54. Man’s physical being was manufactured out of something (e.g., the dust of the ground, cf. Gen. 2:7 using a gender specific verb for the male body (yatsar), and Gen. 2:22 using another gender specific verb for the female form (banah)).

  55. What God created in terms of the male and female is described in Gen. 2:7 as "the breath of life" (neshamah).

  56. Original creation was baraed according to Gen. 1:1 and 2:4a.

  57. Both the male and female soul is created, that is, brought into existence out of nothing.

  58. "On the day when they (male and female/man and woman/Adam and Eve) were created" was D+6 of the first week in human history (restoration week).

  59. Again, what was created was their spiritual makeup (soul and spirit), and this must be distinguished from their bodies which were made out of existing material (dust).

  60. The phrase in verse 1, "He made (Qal Perfect ashah) him in the likeness of God" refers to something other than the soul which was created.

  61. "The likeness of God" refers to spiritual maturation.

  62. This did not happen for Adam and Eve on Friday of restoration week.

  63. The noun "likeness" is not found in the "execution verse" of 1:27, but is found in the "planning verse" of 1:26.

  64. All humanity from Adam forward is created in the image of God, that is, all human beings receive a living soul at birth.

  65. However, not all achieve "the likeness of God" which is ashahed not baraed.

  66. This "likeness" refers to something beyond the mere possession of God’s image.

  67. It refers to spiritual growth based on exposure to the truth of Bible doctrine.

  68. It is a process in which the volition of man (part of the image of God factor) responds favorably over time to instruction in the ways of God.

  69. In other words, being a long-term student of Scripture.

  70. God’s original intent was for Adam and Eve to go to maturity in the garden.

  71. Why the ashah verb in connection to the maturity adjustment?

  72. "Likeness" is manufactured out of free will and truth taught in the prescribed environment.

  73. The fall of man did not frustrate God’s original plan as per Gen. 1:26.

  74. In fact, both Adam and Eve attainted maturity outside the garden.

  75. The image of God factor came to them on D+6 of the restoration week while the likeness of God factor came much later.

  76. In the case of Adam the likeness of God was achieved when Seth was born 130 years later.

  77. And so for Eve (cf. 4:25) at the birth of her 3rd son.

  78. Part of the story of "the record/book/registry of the history/generations of Adam" is the detail the he achieved spiritual maturity (5:1c).

  79. "He made him" in His "likeness" is a conditional perfect.

  80. Both the male and the female were created possessing the image of God factor, and on that same day "He blessed them (cf. 1:28) and named them Man."

  81. The nature of their blessing is specified as procreative.

  82. Nothing is explicitly said of the naming of the couple in Genesis 1.

  83. The phrase "called them Man" is nowhere to be found in Genesis 1-3.

  84. From 4:25 to 5:6 the anarthrous form (without the def. art.) "Adam," the proper name, is used.

  85. Such a translation ("Man" or "Mankind") is arresting.

  86. The generic "man" is more smooth or natural in 5:2.

  87. So God named the male and the female "Adam" (no article here and in vv. 1 and 3).

  88. The personal name of the first man is Adam, but this term does not occur without the definite article until 5:1 (cf. 1:27; 2:7,8,15,16,18,19,20,21,22,23,25; 3:8,9,12,20,22,24; 4:1).

  89. Gen. 1:26 and 2:5 has adam without the definite article but the context is clearly generic.

  90. It is of interest to note the "planning verse" (1:26) does not have the article but the "execution verse" does (1:27).

  91. Gen. 2:5 is taken here as a personal name for Adam and Eve at their creation.

  92. Gen. 5:1 and 3 features the proper name (no article) for the man.

  93. Here we have a statement that says God name the couple "Adam."

    94. Adam’s Legacy (vv. 3-5)

    VERSE 3 When Adam had lived one hundred and thirty years (hn"v' ta;m.W ~yvil{v. ~d'a' yxiy>w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. hayah live + proper noun adam + adj.m.p.abs. sheloshim thirty + waw w/adj.f.s.constr. me-ah hundred + noun f.s.abs. shanah year], he became the father of a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth [tve Amv.-ta, ar'q.YIw: Aml.c;K. AtWmd>Bi dl,AYw: [waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.s. yaladh beget; "became the father" + prep beth w/noun f.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. demuth likeness + prep kaph w/noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. tselem image + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. qara call + d.o. marker + proper noun Seth]).

    VERSE 4 Then the days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years, and he had other sons and daughters (tAnb'W ~ynIB' dl,AYw: hn"v' taome hn<mov. tve-ta, AdyliAh yrex]a; ~d'a'-ymey> Wyh.YIw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.p. hayah to be; "were" + noun m.p. constr. yom day + proper noun Adam + adv achare after + Hiphil infin.constr.w/3m.s.suff. yaladh beget; "became the father" + d.o. marker + proper noun Seth + adj.f.s.abs. shemoneh eight + adj.f.p.abs. me-ah hundred + noun f.s.abs. shanah year + waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.s. yaladh beget; "he had" + noun m.p.abs. ben son + waw w/noun f.p.abs. bath daughter]).

    VERSE 5 So all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years, and he died (tmoY"w: hn"v' ~yvil{v.W hn"v' tAame [v;T. yx;-rv,a] ~d'a' ymey>-lK' Wyh.YIw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.p. hayah "were" + noun m.s.constr. kol all + noun m.p.constr. yom day + proper noun Adam + rel.pro. asher that + Qal perf.3m.s. chayah live + adj.f.s.constr. tesha nine + adj.f.p.abs. me-ah hundred + noun f.s.abs. shanah year + waw w/adj.m.p.abs. sheloshim thirty + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. muth die]).

    ANALYSIS: VERSES 1-3

  94. In the first example of the standard formula for giving biographical date of the ages of the antediluvian heroes is maintained (cf. 6-8, 9-11, etc.).

  95. At age 130 Adam "fathered a son in his own likeness, according to his image."

  96. This verse makes the point that Seth achieved both the image factor (passively) and the likeness factor (actively).

  97. Both Cain and Abel were born shortly after the fall with only one son fulfilling his course even though Abel’s Ph2 was truncated.

  98. Abel is one of the heroes of the faith according to Heb. 11:4.

  99. Seth was the primogeniture replacement for Abel according to Eve’s spiritual readout (cf. 4:25).

  100. Neither the image factor nor the likeness factor was negated by the fall.

  101. Adam fathered a son who, like himself, attained spiritual maturity.

  102. This presumes that Seth made the salvation and maturity adjustments.

  103. Actually Eve named the son Seth and Adam agreed to it.

  104. The name means "placement" as he was the replacement for Abel not Cain the unbeliever (cf. 1Jn. 3:12).

  105. Adam went on to live another 800 years making the grand total for his life span 930 years.

  106. Adam lived to see the birth of Noah’s father Lamech according to the chronology of this chapter.

  107. During those years Adam fathered other sons and daughters (v.4).

  108. The genealogy focuses on the firstborn son(s) of the antediluvian patriarchs to formed ten links (generations) in the family tree of Jesus Christ (cf. Lk. 3:38).

  109. Adam suffered the temporal consequences of the fall but not the eternal consequences.

  110. He achieved all three adjustments to God and by his 130th year he was fully in the likeness of God.

  111. The mind-boggling longevity of the antediluvians is based on genetic and environmental factors as a result of living under the water vapor canopy.

    112. Generations Two Through Six (vv. 6-20)

    VERSE 6 Seth lived one hundred and five years, and became the father of Enosh (vAna/-ta, dl,AYw: hn"v' ta;m.W ~ynIv' vmex' tve-yxiy>w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. chayah live + proper noun Seth + adj.f.s.abs. chamesh five + waw w/adj.f.s.constr. me-ah hundred + noun f.s.abs. shanah year + waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.s. yaladh beget; "became the father" + d.o. marker + proper noun Enosh]).

    VERSE 7 Then Seth lived eight hundred and seven years after he became the father of Enosh, and he had other sons and daughters (tAnb'W ~ynIB' dl,AYw: hn"v' tAame hn<mov.W ~ynIv' [b;v, vAna/-ta, AdyliAh yrex]a; tve-yxiy>w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. chayah live + proper noun Seth + adv achare after + Hiphil infin.constr.w/3m.s.suff. yaladh "became the father" + d.o. marker Enosh + adj.f.s.abs. sheba seven + noun f.p.abs. shanah year + waw w/adj.f.s.abs. shemonah eight + adj.f.p.abs. me-ah hundred + noun f.s.abs. shanah year + waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.s. yaladh "he had" + noun m.p.abs. ben son + waw w/noun f.p.abs. bath daughter]).

    VERSE 8 So all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years, and he died (tmoY"w: hn"v' tAame [v;t.W hn"v' href.[, ~yTev. tve-ymey>-lK' Wyh.YIw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.p. hayah "were" + noun m.s.constr. kol all + noun m.p.constr. yom day + proper noun Seth + adj.f. dual abs. shenayim two + adj.f.s.abs. esher ten + noun f.s.abs. shanah year + waw w/adj.f.s.constr. tesha nine + adj.f.p.abs. me-ah hundred + noun f.s.abs. shanah year + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. muth die]).

    VERSE 9 Enosh lived ninety years, and became the father of Kenan (!n"yqe-ta, dl,AYw: hn"v' ~y[iv.Ti vAna/ yxiy>w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. chayah live + proper noun Enosh + adj.m.p.abs. tish-im ninety + noun f.s.abs. shanah year + waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.s. yaladh "became the father" + d.o. marker + proper noun Kenan]).

    VERSE 10 Then Enosh lived eight hundred and fifteen years after he became the father of Kenan, and he had other sons and daughters (tAnb'W ~ynIB' dl,AYw: hn"v' tAame hn<mov.W hn"v' href.[, vmex] !n"yqe-ta, AdyliAh yrex]a; vAna/ yxiy>w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. chayah live + proper noun Enosh + adv achare after + Hiphil infin.constr.w/3m.s.suff. yaladh "became the father of" + d.o. marker + proper noun Kenan + adj.f.s.constr. chamesh five + adj.f.s.abs. eshereh ten + noun f.s.abs. shanah year + waw w/adj.f.s.abs. shemoneh eight + adj.f.p.abs. me-ah hundred + noun f.s.abs. shanah year + waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.s. yaladh beget; "had" + noun m.p.abs. ben + waw w/noun m.f.abs. bath daughter]).

    VERSE 11 So all the days of Enosh were nine hundred and five years, and he died (tmoY"w: hn"v' tAame [v;t.W ~ynIv' vmex' vAna/ ymey>-lK' Wyh.YIw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.p. hayah to be; "were" + noun m.s.constr. kol all + noun m.p.constr. yom day + proper noun Enosh + adj.f.s.abs. chamesh five + noun f.p.abs. shanah year + waw w/adj.f.s.constr. tesha nine + adj.f.p.abs. me-ah hundred + noun f.s.abs. shanah year + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. muth die]).

    VERSE 12 Kenan lived seventy years, and became the father of Mahalalel (lael.l;h]m;-ta, dl,AYw: hn"v' ~y[ib.vi !n"yqe yxiy>w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. chayah live + proper noun Kenan + adj.m.p.abs. shibe-im seventy + noun f.s.abs. shanah year + waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.s. yaladh "became the father of" + d.o. marker + proper noun Mahalalel ]).

    VERSE 13 Then Kenan lived eight hundred and forty years after he became the father of Mahalalel, and he had other sons and daughters (tAnb'W ~ynIB' dl,AYw: hn"v' tAame hn<mov.W hn"v' ~y[iB'r>a; lael.l;h]m;-ta, AdyliAh yrex]a; !n"yqe yxiy>w: [waw w/qal impf.3m.s. chayah live + proper noun Kenan + adv achare after + Hiphil infin.constr.w/3m.s.suff. yaladh "became the father of" + d.o. marker + proper noun Mahalalel + adj.p.abs. arba-im forty + noun f.s.abs. shanah year + waw w/adj.f.s.abs. shemoneh eight + adj.f.p.abs. me-ah hundred + waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.s. yaladh beget; "had" + noun m.p.abs. ben son + waw w/noun f.p.abs. bath daughter]).

    VERSE 14 So all the days of Kenan were nine hundred and ten years, and he died (tmoY"w: hn"v' tAame [v;t.W ~ynIv' rf,[, !n"yqe ymey>-lK' Wyh.YIw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.p. hayah to be; "were" + non m.s.constr. kol all + noun m.p.constr. yom day + proper noun Kenan + adj.f.s.abs. esher ten + noun f.p.abs. shanah year + waw w/adj.f.s.constr. tesha nine + adj.f.p.abs. me-ah hundred + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. muth die]).

    VERSE 15 Mahalalel lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Jared (dr,y"-ta, dl,AYw: hn"v' ~yViviw> ~ynIv' vmex' lael.l;h]m; yxiy>w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. chayah live + proper noun Mahalalel + adj.f.s.abs. chamesh five + noun f.p.abs. shanah year + waw adj.m.p.abs. shishshim sixty + noun f.s.abs. shanah year + waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.s. yaladh "became the father of" + d.o. marker + proper noun Jared]).

    VERSE 16 Then Mahalalel lived eight hundred and thirty years after he became the father of Jared, and he had other sons and daughters (tAnb'W ~ynIB' dl,AYw: hn"v' tAame hn<mov.W hn"v' ~yvil{v. dr,y<-ta, AdyliAh yrex]a; lael.l;h]m; yxiy>w [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. chayah live + proper noun Mahalalel + adv achare after + Hiphil infin.constr.w/3m.s.suff. yaladh "became the father of" + d.o. marker + proper noun Jared + adj.m.p.abs. sheloshim thirty + noun f.s.abs. shanah year + waw w/adj.f.s.abs. shemoneh eight + adj.f.p.abs. me-ah hundred + noun f.s.abs. shanah year + waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.s. yaladh beget; "had" + noun m.p.abs. ben son + waw w/noun f.p.abs. bath daughter]).

    VERSE 17 So all the days of Mahalalel were eight hundred and ninety-five years, and he died (tmoY"w: hn"v' tAame hn<mov.W hn"v' ~y[iv.tiw> vmex' lael.l;h]m; ymey>-lK' Wyh.YIw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.p. hayah to be; "were" + noun m.s.constr. kol all + noun m.p.constr. yom day + proper noun Mahalalel + adj.f.s.abs. chamesh five + waw w/adj.m.p.abs. tish-im ninety + noun f.s.abs. shanah year + waw w/adj.f.s.abs. shemoneh eight + adj.f.p.abs. me-ah hundred + noun f.s.abs. shanah year + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. muth die]).

    VERSE 18 Jared lived one hundred and sixty-two years, and became the father of Enoch (%Anx]-ta, dl,AYw: hn"v' ta;m.W hn"v' ~yViviw> ~yIT;v. dr,y<-yxiy>w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. chayah live + proper noun Jared + adj.f. dual abs. shenayim two + waw adj.m.p.abs. shishshim sixty + noun f.s.abs. shanah year + waw w/adj.f.s.constr. me-ah hundred + noun f.s.abs. shanah year + waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.s. yaladh beget; "became the father of" + d.o. marker + proper noun Enoch]).

    VERSE 19 Then Jared lived eight hundred years after he became the father of Enoch, and he had other sons and daughters (tAnb'W ~ynIB' dl,AYw: hn"v' tAame hn<mov. %Anx]-ta, AdyliAh yrex]a; dr,y<-yxiy>w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. chayah live + proper noun Jared + adv achara after + Hiphil infin.constr.w/3m.s.suff. yaladh beget; "became the father of" + d.o. marker + proper noun Enoch + adj.f.s.abs. shemoneh eight + adj.f.p.abs. me-ah hundred + noun f.s.abs. shanah year + waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.s. yaladh beget; "had" + noun m.p.abs. ben son + waw w/noun f.p.abs. bath daughter]).

    VERSE 20 So all the days of Jared were nine hundred and sixty-two years, and he died (tmoY"w: hn"v' tAame [v;t.W hn"v' ~yViviw> ~yIT;v. dr,y<-ymey>-lK' Wyh.YIw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.p. hayah to be; "were" + noun m.s.constr. kol all + noun m.p.constr. yom day + proper noun Jared + adj.f. dual abs. shenayim two + waw adj.m.p.abs. shishshim sixty + noun f.s.abs. shanah year + waw adj.f.s.constr. tesha nine + adj.f.p.abs. me-ah hundred + noun f.s.abs. shanah year + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. muth die]).

    ANALYSIS: VERSES 6-20

  112. Seth fathered Enosh 235 years into the antediluvian era.

  113. Each patriarch fathered other sons and daughters after the birth of the firstborn (except Noah).

  114. The age of any particular patriarch at the birth of his successor varies widely and suggests the year in that particular patriarch’s life when he achieved "the likeness factor."

  115. The lowest figure is that of Enoch at age 65 (v.21) and the highest figure is that of Noah at age 500 (v. 32).

  116. Vv. 6-20 continue the genealogical line and note the successive appearances of Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, and Jered.

  117. However inconspicuous an individual may be in the biblical record, they still played a vital role/link in advancing God’s plan to produce an Abraham through whom the world would be blessed.

  118. As to the incredible ages of these men, ranging from 777 years (Lamech) to 969 years (Methuselah), the answer lies with the water vapor canopy that shielded the earth from deadly rays.

  119. The descending scale of life spans in the OT is roughly 1000-800 (Adam to Lamech), 600-200 (Noah to Abraham); 200-100 (Abraham to Moses)’ 70-80 years (Ps. 90:10).

    120. Enoch: the 7th Generation (vv. 21-24)

    VERSE 21 Enoch lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Methuselah (xl;v'Wtm.-ta, dl,AYw: hn"v' ~yViviw> vmex' %Anx] yxiy>w: [Qal impf.3m.s. chayah live + proper noun Enoch + adj.f.s.abs. chamesh five + waw w/adj.m.p.abs. shishshim sixty + noun f.s.abs. shanah year + waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.s. yaladh beget; "became the father of" + d.o. marker + proper noun Methuselah]).

    VERSE 22 Then Enoch walked with God three hundred years after he became the father of Methuselah, and he had other sons and daughters (tAnb'W ~ynIB' dl,AYw: hn"v' tAame vl{v. xl;v,Wtm.-ta, AdyliAh yrex]a; ~yhil{a/h'-ta, %Anx] %Leh;t.YIw: [waw w/Hithpael impf.3m.s. halak walk + proper noun Enoch + d.o. marker + def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. Elohim + adv achare after + Hiphil infin.constr.w/3m.s.suff. yaladh beget; "became the father of" + d.o. marker + proper noun Methuselah + adj.f.s.constr. shalosh three + adj.f.p.abs. me-ah hundred + noun f.s.abs. shanah year + waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.s. yaladh beget; "had" + noun m.p.abs. ben son + waw w/noun f.p.abs. bath daughter]).

    VERSE 23 So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years (hn"v' tAame vl{v.W hn"v' ~yViviw> vmex' %Anx] ymey>-lK' yhiy>w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. hayah to be + noun m.s.constr. kol all + noun m.p.constr. yom day + proper noun Enoch + adj.f.s.abs. chamesh five + waw w/adj.m.p.abs. shishshim sixty + noun f.s.abs. shanah year + waw w/adj.f.s.constr. shalosh three + adj.f.p.abs. me-ah hundred + noun f.s.abs. shanah year]).

    VERSE 24 Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him (~yhil{a/ Atao xq;l'-yKi WNn<yaew> ~yhil{a/h'-ta, %Anx] %Leh;t.YIw: [waw w/Hithpael impf.3m.s. halak walk + proper noun Enoch + d.o. marker + def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. Elohim + waw w/adv ayin w/3m.s.suff. not + part ki for + Qal perf.3m.s. laqach take + d.o. marker w/3m.s.suff. + noun m.p.abs. Elohim]).

    ANALYSIS: VERSES 21-24

  120. The seventh generation after Adam sees the appearance of one Enoch (cf. Jude 1:14).

  121. Enoch is the one person of whom it is not said that he died.

  122. Instead of living a typically long life and dying like his forebears the text simply states, "he was not, for God took him" (v.24).

  123. This disappearance took place 987 years into the antediluvian era.

  124. He fathered Methuselah in his 65th year (earliest man to do so) and was taken in his 365th year (vv. 21 & 22).

  125. His age at his departure from the scene corresponds to the length of a solar year.

  126. He escaped death by the usual means as a sign to his era and as a reward for his special devotion to the POG.

  127. Hence the twice repeated phrase, "Enoch walked with God" (vv. 22 & 24).

  128. We have here the intriguing situation of the man who does not experience natural death via old age and his son who broke the longevity record of any human being.

  129. He lived the shortest and fathered the son who lived the longest.

  130. To be taken in this fashion was an honor, and this privilege is only shared with the prophet Elijah (2Kgs. 2:11).

  131. "Walk with" captures an emphasis on fellowship and devotion the sets him in a class above the others.

  132. He was the quickest to reach the demuth factor (age 65; v. 21), but he, like his great grandson Noah attainted the status of ‘walking with God’ (cf. 6:9).

  133. Enoch is mentioned three times in the NT: Lk. 3:37 (genealogy); Heb. 11:5 (Ph 2 blessing for his adherence to God); Jude 14-15 (his prophetic ministry announcing the doctrine of the 2nd coming).

  134. Enoch lived to witness the onset of the angelic infiltration coupled with world-wide degeneracy.

  135. His exceptional devotion to God and the statement that he "walked with God" should not be taken to disparage other man in this genealogy.

    136. Generations 8-10 (vv. 25-32)

    VERSE 25 Methuselah lived one hundred and eighty-seven years, and became the father of Lamech (%m,l'-ta, dl,AYw: hn"v' ta;m.W hn"v' ~ynImov.W [b;v, xl;v,Wtm. yxiy>w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. chayah live + proper noun Methuselah + adj.f.s.abs. sheba seven + waw w/adj.m.p.abs. shemonim eighty + noun f.s.abs. shanah year + waw w/adj.f.s.constr. me-ah hundred + waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.s. yaladh beget; "became the father of" + d.o. marker + proper noun Lamech]).

    VERSE 26 Then Methuselah lived seven hundred and eighty-two years after he became the father of Lamech, and he had other sons and daughters (tAnb'W ~ynIB' dl,AYw: hn"v' tAame [b;v.W hn"v' ~ynIAmv.W ~yIT;v. %m,l,-ta, AdyliAh yrex]a; xl;v,Wtm. yxiy>w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. chayah live + proper noun Methuselah + adv achare after + Hiphil infin.constr.w/3m.s.suff. yaladh beget; "became the father of" + d.o. marker + proper noun Lamech + adj.f. dual abs. shenayim two + waw w/adj.m.p.abs. shemonim eighty + noun f.s.abs. shanah year + waw w/adj.f.s.constr. sheba seven + adj.f.p.abs. me-ah hundred + noun f.s.abs. shanah year + waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.s. yaladh beget; "had" + noun m.p.abs. ben son + waw w/noun f.p.abs. bath daughter]).

    VERSE 27 So all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty-nine years, and he died (tmoY"w: hn"v' tAame [v;t.W hn"v' ~yViviw> [v;Te xl;v,Wtm. ymey>-lK' Wyh.YIw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.p. hayah to be; "were" + noun m.s.constr. kol all + noun m.p.constr. yom day + proper noun Methuselah + adj.f.s.abs. tesh nine + waw w/adj.m.p.abs. shishshim sixty + noun f.s.abs. shanah year + waw w/adj.f.s.constr. tesha nine + adj.f.p.abs. me-ah hundred + noun f.s.abs. shanah year + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. muth die]).

    VERSE 28 Lamech lived one hundred and eighty-two years, and became the father of a son (!Be dl,AYw: hn"v' ta;m.W hn"v' ~ynImov.W ~yIT;v. %m,l,-yxiy>w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. chayah live + proper noun Lamech + adj.f. dual constr. shenayim two + waw w/adj.m.p.abs. shemonim eighty + noun f.s.abs. shanah year + waw w/adj.f.s.constr. me-ah hundred + noun f.s.abs. shanah year + waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.s. yaladh "became the father of" + noun m.s.abs. ben son]).

    VERSE 29 Now he called his name Noah, saying, "This one will give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the LORD has cursed (hw"hy> Hr'r>ae rv,a] hm'd'a]h'-!mi Wnydey" !AbC.[imeW Wnfe[]M;mi Wnmex]n:y> hz< rmoale x;nO Amv.-ta, ar'q.YIw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s qara call + d.o. marker + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. shem name + proper noun Noah + prep lamedh w/Qal infin.constr. amar say + adj.m.s.abs. zeh this one + Piel impf.3m.s.w/1p.suff. nacham to comfort; "will give us rest" + prep min from w/noun m.s.constr.w/1p.suff. ma-asheh work + waw w/prep min w/noun m.s.constr. itstsabon sorrow, toil + noun f. dual constr.w/1p.suff. yadh hand + prep min from + def.art.w/noun f.sabs. adhamah ground + rel.pro. asher which + Piel perf.3m.s.w/3f.s.suff. arar to curse + proper noun Yahweh])."

    VERSE 30 Then Lamech lived five hundred and ninety-five years after he became the father of Noah, and he had other sons and daughters (tAnb'W ~ynIB' dl,AYw: hn"v' taome vmex]w: hn"v' ~y[iv.tiw> vmex' x;nO-ta, AdyliAh yrex]a; %m,l,-yxiy>w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. chayah live + proper noun Lamech + adv achare after + Hiphil infin.constr.w/3m.s.suff. yaladh beget; "became the father of" + d.o. marker + proper noun Noah + adj.f.s.abs. chamesh five + waw w/adj.m.p.abs. tish-im ninety + noun f.s.abs. shanah year + waw w/adj.f.s.constr. chamesh five + adj.f.p.abs. me-ah hundred + noun f.s.abs. shanah year + waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.s. yaladh beget; "had" + noun m.p.abs. ben + waw w/noun f.p.abs. bath daughter]).

    VERSE 31 So all the days of Lamech were seven hundred and seventy-seven years, and he died (waw w/Qal impf.3m.s hayah to be; "were" + noun m.s.constr. kol all + noun m.p.constr. yom day + proper noun Lamech + adj.f.s.abs. sheba seven + waw w/adj.m.p.abs. shib-im seventy + noun f.s.abs. shanah year + waw w/adj.f.s.constr. sheba seven + adj.f.p.abs. me-ah hundred + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. muth die]).

    VERSE 32 Noah was five hundred years old, and Noah became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth (tp,y"-ta,w> ~x'-ta, ~ve-ta, x;nO dl,AYw: hn"v' tAame vmex]-!B, x;nO-yhiy>w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. hayah to be; "was" + proper noun Noah + noun m.s.constr. ben son + adj.f.s.constr. chamesh five + adj.f.p.abs. me-ah hundred + noun f.s.abs. shanah year + waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.s. yaladh beget; "became the father of" + proper noun Noah + d.o. marker + proper noun Shem + d.o. marker + proper noun Ham + waw w/d.o. marker + proper noun Japheth]).

    ANALYSIS: VERSES 25-32

  136. Methuselah’s notoriety is that he is history’s oldest living human being (one author called dubbed him "the patron saint of geriatrics"!).

  137. His name means "man of the javelin."

  138. He died on the very year the flood event happened.

  139. To arrive at this figure, add the age of each of the eight patriarchs from Adam through Methuselah at the birth of the firstborns (874 yrs.), then and add the number of the years Methuselah lived after he fathered Lamech (782 yrs.) which is 1656 years.

  140. He outlived his son Lamech, who died at age 777, 1651 years after the restoration.

  141. Lamech is the only patriarch who provided an explanation for naming his son (v.29).

  142. "He called his name Noah," commenting, "This one will give us [May this one] give us rest [relief, comfort] from our work and from the toil of our hands."

  143. "Noah," literally means "rest."

  144. A hint that noach and nacham are close in meaning to each other is to be found in the parallelism of the two in Ezek. 5:13 "My anger will be spent, I will satisfy/assuage (Hiphil perfect nuach rest; cp. Noach Noah) My wrath on them, and I will be appeased (Hithpael perfect nacham)…"

  145. The unanswered question is: How does Noah’s name correspond to the explanation?

  146. It would seem that the circumstances under which believers lived at this late juncture in the era was most difficult.

  147. They were isolated but exposed to the tremendous evil of the times.

  148. Life on this earth was not easy for them as the outside world prospered while they lived under duress.

  149. No doubt the patriarchs saw many of their sons and daughters abandon the faith and embrace the ways of the world with its attendant evils.

  150. Lamech’s pronouncement is perhaps prophetic.

  151. Lamech lived long enough to see the beginning of the building of the Ark as so his words at the birth of Noah were prescient.

  152. Noah was born when Lamech was age 182, and when Noah was age 500 he became the father of three sons.

  153. This would make Lamech 682 years of age.

  154. He lived another 95 years dying at age 777.

  155. Noah entered the Ark when at age 600 (7:6).

  156. Lamech knew his great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather Adam as Adam died 930 years after his creation 726 years before the Flood (see timeline handout for additional data on ages relative to the 1656 year era).

  157. Noah brought rest/relief from the times in a rather ironic fashion.

  158. With Noah a remnant was preserved in the Ark and the line of Christ moves forward while the human race at large perished due to their collective disobedience.

  159. The curse was not eliminated with the life and times of Noah but the evil that was such a pressure to the patriarchs was expunged from the earth and a new beginning began with Noah and his sons.

  160. Noah was an amazing 500 years of age when he fathered three sons in succession.

  161. The ages of the patriarchs at the birth of their firstborns ranged from 65 years (Enosh and Enoch) to the 500th year of Noah.

  162. The names of his three sons are not given in the order of their births.

  163. The first, Shem ("name") carried on the line of Messiah even though he was not the eldest son (cf. Gen. 10:21).

  164. The eldest son was Japheth ("Yahweh enlarges").

  165. This we ascertain from Gen. 9:24 that Ham ("hot") was the youngest of the three.

  166. This leaves Shem as the middle son, and for reasons not specified, carried forward the line of Christ.

  167. So with Noah the focus is on three sons rather than just the firstborn.

  168. So here we have an expansion of the Adam-Sethite line.

END: Genesis Chapter Five

October, 2010

Jack M. Ballinger