THE GENERATIONS OF ADAM THROUGH SETH

GENESIS 5:6-32

INTRODUCTION

ž  As the genealogy of Genesis 4 provided important insights into the character of the line of Cain, so Genesis 5 gives important insights into the character of the line of Seth through which the promised seed would come.

ž  The main theme of chapter 5 is the reign of death and the hope of deliverance.

GEANEALOGY FROM SETH TO NOAH 5:6-32

When Seth had lived 105 years, he became the father of Enosh. And after he became the father of Enosh, Seth lived 807 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Seth lived 912 years, and then he died. When Enosh had lived 90 years, he became the father of Cainan (Kenan).  And after he became the father of Cainan, Enosh lived 815 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enosh lived 905 years, and then he died. When Cainan had lived 70 years, he became the father of Mahalalel.

And after he became the father of Mahalalel, Cainan lived 840 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Cainan lived 910 years, and then he died. When Mahalalel had lived 65 years, he became the father of Jared. And after he became the father of Jared, Mahalalel lived 830 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Mahalalel lived 895 years, and then he died. When Jared had lived 162 years, he became the father of Enoch. And after he became the father of Enoch, Jared lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Jared lived 962 years, and then he died.

When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. And after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took h Altogether, Methuselah lived 969 years, and then he died. When Lamech had lived 182 years, he had a son. im away. When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he became the father of Lamech. And after he became the father of Lamech, Methuselah lived 782 years and had other sons and daughters.

He named him Noah and said, "He will comfort us in the labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the Lord has cursed." After Noah was born, Lamech lived 595 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Lamech lived 777 years, and then he died. After Noah was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham and Japheth.

ž  Here begins the long line of the pre-flood patriarchs: their names, their ages at the birth of those sons who were in their line of promise, and finally, their ages at death. In all, there were ten of these patriarchs in the lineage from Adam through Noah.

ž  Adam (“man”), was created on the sixth day of creation and died 930 A.C. (930 yrs. old)

ž  Seth (“appointed one”), was born 130 A.C. and died 1042 A.C. (912 yrs. old)

ž  Enos (“mortal frailty”), was born 235 A.C. and died 1140 A.C. (905 yrs. old)

ž  Cainan (“metal worker”), was born 325 A.C. and died 1235 A.C. (910 yrs. old)

ž  Mahahalel (“God be praised”), was born 395 A.C. and died 1290 A.C. (895 yrs. old)

ž  Jared (“descent”), was born 460 A.C. and died 1422 A.C. (962 yrs. old)

ž  Enoch (“dedication”), was born 622 A.C. was translated 987 A.C. (365 yrs. old)

ž  Methuselah (“when he dies, it shall be sent”), was born 687 A.C. and died 1656 A.C. (969 yrs. old)

ž  Lamech (“conqueror”), was born 874 A.C. and died 1651 A.C. (777 yrs. old)

ž  Noah (“rest”), was born 1056 A.C. and died 2006 A.C. (350 yrs. after the flood) (950 yrs. old – Gen. 9:29)

ž  According to these genealogies there was a total of 1,656 years from Creation to the Flood (the year Methuselah died). No wonder his name meant “when he dies, it shall be sent”.

ž  Most likely, the oldest of the living patriarchs maintained the primary responsibility for preserving and disseminating God’s Word to his contemporaries.

Three observations are worth mentioning in this section of Scripture.

ž  First, some of the names in the line of Seth are similar to or the same as those in the line of Cain.

ž  Secondly, the continual reference to “sons and daughters” (used eight times here), bears silent testimony to the divine blessing in Genesis 1:28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.

ž  Thirdly, the precise details, concerning both the man’s age at the time of the birth of the son who is next in line and his age at death, emphasize that we are dealing with real, not mythological, people.

THE AMAZING CASE OF ENOCH 5:21-24

And after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.

ž  Enoch “walked with God” and according to Jude 14 &15 was a prophet of God who in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied against the godlessness of his generation in fearsome, thundering words:

 Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones, to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.

ž  Though Enoch’s prophesy had a preliminary and precursory fulfillment in the great Flood, its final fulfillment awaits the glorious return and triumph of the Lord Jesus Christ when the crushing of the head of the serpent will be complete.

Three important insights can be gained from Enoch’s translation.

1. It was a demonstration to those ancient people that God, not death, was the final and ultimate power.

2. The earthly life of Enoch may not have been half as long as that of his father or his son, but it was certainly complete. Thus the quality of one’s life is far more important than its longevity.

3. God, by taking Enoch, showed that there is life beyond this present earthly existence for believers (those who walk with God through faith in Jesus Christ and in obedience to His word).

ž  Enoch did not make the things of this world his life, not even his family. God was his life. This life with God could not end. To prove it God took him. As one commentator puts it, “He changed places but not company.”