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Bible Study: Genesis

Lesson 5: Genesis 4 And 5: East Of Eden

Genealogies, Part 2

C. Verses 5:1-32

1. Structure: After the 2 verse prologue, the section divides into 10 identical paragraphs containing the following information: Name, age, additional years after birth of son, acknowledgment of other children, total life span, refrain "and he died."

2. The prologue (1-2) repeats the assertions of chapter one that God created man in His image. Verse 3 then tells us that Adam had a son in his own likeness (image) rather than simply stating that he "became the father of ..." "This unique variation reveals humanity participating in the creative act of god by the seminal transference of the image of God to each successive generation" (Waltke, 110). The act of naming also links humanity's activity with God. The link between God and Adam and Adam and his children is a paradigmatic link connecting the rest of mankind.

3. A new toledot begins in this section and extends to 6:8 to the toledot of Noah.

4. As with the line of Cain, Enoch and Lamech are prominent.

a. Enoch is given the seventh place in the genealogy, a place of prominence. And he is obviously distinguished as well by his "walking with God" and being taken by God. The former phrase indicates intimate fellowship with God as throughout the OT. The latter phrase signaled Enoch's being spared death. There is an interesting parallel to this in the Sumerian king list where the seventh ancient sage Utuabzu "who ascended into heaven." Enoch lived 365 years which is the shortest of the antediluvian lifespans, and may be tied in some way to the solar year. However, note that being removed from the earth at such a "young" age is considered a blessing for Enoch.

b. Lamech is noteworthy for his son, Noah. Noah means "rest" in his father's anticipation that he would ease the effects of the curse on the ground.

5. The genealogy then ends with three sons as did that of Cain (later genealogies in Genesis will do the same, e.g. Terah's three sons). The meanings of the Ham, Seth and Japhet are obscure.