MPV Commentary

1. The book of the generations—This section records the genealogy of Adam and his descendants.

Adam is used here to refer both to the first man and to humanity in general. The striking feature of this list is the remarkable longevity of Adam and his immediate family members. Ten individuals are listed, with lives that far exceed our ordinary expectations: the shortest being 365 years, and the longest 969 years. We can't speculate on secondary causes for their extended lifespan, such as diet or climate. Instead, it's wise to attribute this phenomenon to God's sovereign will.

This remarkable longevity served several purposes in the early economy of Providence. It allowed a knowledge of God and the great truths of religion to be preserved through tradition. As a result, these individuals were able to maintain their faith in its purest form.

21. Enoch gave his son Methuselah the name "He dies, and the sending forth," indicating that he prophesied the coming flood. It's estimated that Methuselah died during this catastrophic event.

24. Enoch walked with God, a phrase commonly used in Eastern cultures to describe close and familiar relationships. He was not taken by death; instead, God translated him to heaven. This miracle provided tangible proof of the truth of his teachings (Jude 14-15) and demonstrated that his devotion to God's cause was pleasing.

26. Lamech is a different person from the one mentioned in the previous chapter. Like his namesake, he spoke in poetic terms when Noah was born, using the name "Noah," which means "rest" or "comfort." This allusion likely refers to the hope of a Deliverer following the promise made to Eve and the expectation of relief from earthly sufferings.

32. When Noah was five hundred years old, he had a son. The fact that these patriarchs were advanced in age before having children is accounted for by Moses' decision not to record their firstborn sons but rather the succession from Adam through Seth to Abraham.