Bible Study: Genesis

Lesson 5: Genesis 4 And 5: East Of Eden

Genealogies, Part 3

D. Observations regarding the genealogies

1. the age of the antediluvians

a. A couple of problems present themselves regarding the ages given in Seth's genealogy. The first of these is the obviously unusual duration of their lives. The second is that as a history of mankind they conflict with recent anthropo- logical and archeological findings which suggest that mankind is much older and the cultural flourishing represented by Cain's line much later.

b. The problem is compounded by the fact that the ages differ in the three major manuscript traditions: the Masoretic, the Samaritan Pentateuch and the Old Greek versions.

c. Complete answers will not be forth coming, but some considerations may be helpful. The first of these is to note that the genealogies may not be complete. The inclusion of 7 and 10 generations seems to be artistic rather than strictly historical. In the Masoretic text all of the ages are multiples of five sometimes with the addition of seven or fourteen. Other examples of abbreviated genealogies exist in the Bible (e.g., Matthew's genealogy of Christ). Some argue that since Seth is obviously Adam's son and Ham, Shem and Japhet are Noah's sons then it requires special pleading to think of large gaps throughout the rest of the genealogy. But it does not appear to be that large a stretch when you consider that closer attention would naturally be focused at the beginning and end.

d. Others have sought to account for the long ages by various means. Some have suggested that something other than solar years are in view, but the flood story indicates a year of about 360 days is in view (however, what if different sources underlie the accounts). One interesting theory relates the ages of the patriarchs to various astronomical periods such as the number of days in a year or the time it takes a planet to return to the same point in the sky. Enoch for example lived 365 years, perhaps the perfect life. Further, if the age of the patriarchs at the birth of their first son and the number of years to their death after that are each divided by 60 and the remainders are totaled they equal 365. Lamek's age is the synodic period of Jupiter plus Saturn. Yared's is that of Venus plus Saturn, and so on. But the question here is Why?

e. Some symbolism seems to be operating in the number of generations, Enoch's age (365), Lamek's age (777), Noah's age (500).

f. Some have noted that comparative literature from the ANE has similar lists of kings before and after a flood. They note that the ages in those lists are much higher even than those in Genesis, they list only kings, and that the farther back you go the blurrier the distinction becomes between human and divine. Based on this they concluded that again Genesis is polemicizing and democratizing by making removing the semi-divine status of early man, by severely limiting their life-spans (all under 1,000) and by giving a record of people not just kings. In this regard some have then seen that ages as part of the normal assumption of the culture and Genesis is borrowing the currency and giving it its own theological twist.

g. The recurring refrain and "he died" is also a powerful statement about the effects of sin and human mortality but not without the note of hope, hence Enoch. Notice also that the deaths are recorded in the 'godly' line of Seth perhaps suggesting that even the best are fated to die.

2. common grace

a. It has often been noted that the cultural achievements of mankind develop in the 'wicked' line of Cain. A few important points can be made of this. First, this is an example of what Christian theology labels common grace. The fall did not spell the end of humanity nor of culture. Good things may arise from men who bear still the shattered image of God. Thus later on instruments will be used in praise of God, God's people Israel are themselves herders and their will be a city on which God places His name.

b. It is also worth noting that placing these cultural manifestations in the line of Cain also suggests that they are always tainted by sin. There is always a double edge to man's achievements.

c. Together these considerations give us a rather ambiguous portrait of the relationship of the faithful to cultural pursuits. On the one hand, they are affirmed, on the other they are tainted. But such is the life that believers must navigate.

3. progression of sin/persistence of grace

a. The line of Cain presents to us an advance of sin. From Adam to Cain there was a marked intensification of sin. From Cain to Lamech, there is likewise an intensification. In the midst of poetry, music and progress there is hate and violence as well.

b. Yet as sin progresses, grace remains as is signified in the line of Seth through whom the people of Israel will trace their descent.

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