The Genealogy of Adam through Noah
June 5, 2024
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.
Genesis 4:25– 32 (NET)
25 And Adam was intimate with his wife again, and she gave birth to a son. She named him Seth, saying, “God has given me another child in place of Abel because Cain killed him.” 26 And a son was also born to Seth, whom he named Enosh. At that time people began to worship the Lord.
Illustration: The Secret to Living a Long Life
The Bedouin shepherd lives in shabby box tents that dot the hillsides throughout Israel. When compared to our lives saturated with modern conveniences it seems as though they live a very difficult life. However, an interesting fact is that their average life span is more than 100 years. While the diets are made up of natural foods which contain no preservatives, that is not the secret to their longevity. The secret lies in their relatively stress free lives. Stress makes us sick, drives us crazy and kills us some three decades before the majority of these shepherds. The Bedouins rise from their tents slightly before sunrise and go about the work of their days. As the sun begins to set they gather as families in their tents for dinner. Then they will sit around sharing stories and singing. Each evening involves three to four hours of family time. There work is very physical and tiring, but their lives are relatively free from the noise of life.(From a sermon by Scott Chambers, Chill Out and Breathe, 2/2/2011)