Our Forefathers Continued

Genesis 5:18-32

“And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Enoch: And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died.

And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” (Genesis 5:18-24)

Chronologically, Enoch life was at the mid point of the Antediluvian period, He was born about six hundred twenty two years after creation and died about six hundred sixty nine years before the flood. Like Seth, he was devoted to God, living in personal communion with him as Adam had. As a result, Hebrews 11:5 tells us, “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” We can have a life that is equally pleasing to God by walking in the Spirit. Galatians 5:16 promises, “…Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”

Some have speculated that Enoch might be one of the two witnesses in Revelation 11:3. The statement in Hebrews 11:5, “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death;” seems to indicate that he will not be.

“And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech: And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died.” (Genesis 5:25-27)

Methuselah was the oldest person of whom we have any record, outliving Jared by seven years and Adam by thirty nine. His death, approximately sixteen hundred fifty six years after creation was just a few weeks or months before the flood started. Some have insisted that the dates given place his death after the flood and used it to question the accuracy of the scripture. Apparently they aren’t very good at adding. Adam died when Methuselah was two hundred and forty three, and they probably knew each other.

Some have commented that for a man who lived almost a thousand years, Methuselah must not have done very much since the only thing we know about him is his age and that he had kids. We don’t know any more about Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, or Jared. What ever their accomplishments, they were destroyed in the flood. The only thing affecting modern man is the genetic heritage, and the knowledge that was passed down through Noah and his sons.

“And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son: And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed. And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five hundred ninety and five years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: and he died.” (Genesis 5:28-31)

Lamech was fifty six when Adam died. He died about five years before the flood came. While we know little about God’s working during this period., it is obvious from his comments about Noah that Lamech had some idea of the destruction of the earth six hundred years before the flood came.

“And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.” (Genesis 5:32)

It appears that the first of Noah’s sons was born when he was five hundred. According to Genesis 7:11, the flood came when Noah was six hundred years old. Shem turned one hundred two years after the flood according to Genesis 11:10, making him one of the younger brothers.

Some have pointed out that since we don’t know the dates of their births, there could be considerable variation in the length of the Antediluvian period. If we assume a full year discrepancy in every case we come out with a maximum length of just nine more years, while it cannot be reduced by more than six years thanks to Methuselah’s having to die before or during the flood. This limit’s the period to a minimum of sixteen hundred fifty years and a maximum of sixteen hundred sixty-five years. This is minimal error, considering that we know that our modern calendar is off by at least three years, and possibly as much as ten.