08.03. Genesis chapter 5, 7 & 9
In this chapter we have the “book of the generations of Adam”. We will use the Masoretic text numbers as they are represented in our Bibles. Later we will show the comparison of the Masoretic text and Septuagint numbers as the latter is more likely the correct version.
Considering the formula given for this list, it is quite obvious that God wanted us to be able to calculate the overall timeline, with the reference point being creation. For example, we read that when Adam was 130, he became the father of Seth. He lived another 800 years and the total years that he lived was 930.
Name | Age at birth of Son | Lived after birth of son | Total Lifespan |
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 | 502 | 448 | 950 |
For Noah, we need to look at a few verses.
Gen 5:32 tells us that Noah was 500 years old when he became the father of Shem, Ham and Japheth
Gen 7:6 tells us that Noah was 600 years old when the flood came
Gen 9:28 tells us that Noah lived 350 years after the flood
Gen 9:29 tells us that Noah lived a total of 950 years.
Gen 11:10 tells us that Shem was 100 years old 2 years after the flood
From this information, we can tell that Shem was not the first-born, but was born 2 years after either Japheth or Ham or both were born.