Knowing The Word in Genesis 5:21-33, Getting to Noah

21 When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. 22 Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23 Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. 24 Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him. [In biblical genealogies the seventh member is often specially favored, and Enoch, the seventh from Adam, is. Unlike the others who lived and died, Enoch “walked with God” and “was not, for God took him.” These details not only distinguish him from Cain’s son Enoch, but connect him with the later patriarch who “walked before God,” with the priests who were expected to walk with God (Malachi 2:6), and with what God expects of all people in Micah 6:8. The phrase “walked with” suggests a special intimacy with God and a life of piety. Enoch did not experience a normal death because God took him, a phrase used of Elijah’s translation to heaven in a chariot of fire in 2 Kings 2:1-10. Also, 365 years is the shortest life-span recorded in this section. Is it related to a solar year in days?]

25 When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he fathered Lamech. 26 Methuselah lived after he fathered Lamech 782 years and had other sons and daughters. 27 Thus all the days of Methuselah [the oldest man ever] were 969 years, and he died.

28 When Lamech had lived 182 years, he fathered a son 29 and called his name Noah [literally means “rest”], saying, “Out of the ground that the Lord has cursed, this one shall bring us relief from our work and from the painful toil of our hands [see Genesis 9:20].” 30 Lamech lived after he fathered Noah 595 years and had other sons and daughters. 31 Thus all the days of Lamech were 777 years, and he died.

32 After Noah was 500 years old, Noah fathered Shem, Ham, and Japheth. [The genealogy diverges from its standard from by mentioning the birth of three sons. Along with Noah, Adam and Terah also have three sons recorded by name.]

Descendants of Adam using x, y, and x + y formula:

Patriarch’s Name Age at 1st child’s birth Other years lived Age at death

x y x + y =

Adam 130 800 930

Seth 105 807 912

Enosh 90 815 905

Kenan 70 840 910

Mahalalel 65 830 895

Jared 162 800 962

Enoch 65 300 365

Methuselah 187 782 969

Lamech 182 595 777

Noah 500 450 950

After Noah's first son

years till the flood: 100

Year of the flood: 1656 years since creation