The Genealogy of Adam through Noah

Commentary

Adam and Eve had several sons and daughters as we read in (Gen. 5:4), but here we are intro­duced to their son Seth (v. 25). Seth means the “appointed one."  Eve said that God had provided or “appointed” a son in the place of slain Abel. We are never told on when Cain murdered Abel. Judging by Cain’s complaint to God, that “people may kill him,” we get the impression that there were lots of people. After all, God did tell Adam and Eve to “be fruitful and multiply.” It is possible that the murder could have been as late as the 130th year of Adam, since this was the year Seth was born. Genesis 5 is the first genealogy recorded in the Bible. Some might be tempted to skip this chapter. However, all Scripture is true and useful for us (2 Tim. 3:16-17). There are some interesting tidbits hidden in this genealogy, as well as our best estimate on the age of the earth.

      * Adam –         lived 930 years and he died (v. 5).

      * Seth –            lived 912 years and he died (v. 8).

      * Enosh –         lived 905 years and he died (v. 11).

      * Kenan –        lived 910 years and he died (v. 14).

      * Mahalalel –   lived 830 years and he died (v. 16).

      * Jared –          lived 962 years and he died (v. 20).

      * Enoch –        lived 365 years before he was taken by God (vv. 21-24).

      * Methuselah –      lived 969 years. He died the same year as the Flood (vv. 27). 

      * Lamach –      lived 777 years and he died (v. 31). 

      * Noah –          will live 950 years before he dies (Gen. 9:29)

Application

It is not how long I live that really counts but what I do with the life that God gives me.