Posted on by Abe Austin

Scriptural Analysis- Genesis 5:1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 25, 28-29

1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;

3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:

6 And Seth lived an hundred and five years, and begat Enos:

9 And Enos lived ninety years, and begat Cainan:

12 And Cainan lived seventy years, and begat Mahalaleel:

15 And Mahalaleel lived sixty and five years, and begat Jared:

18 And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Enoch:

21 And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:

25 And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech:

28 And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son:

29 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.

I mentioned yesterday that the biblical narrative will now focus on the line of Seth, and those that believe in God and follow His precepts. And here in chapter 5 we have the descendants of Seth listed out for eight generations. Genealogical lines like this are, of course, a big thing throughout the bible, and we will come across many more chapters just like this.

It is much less common today to so meticulously track one’s ancestral lines. Most of that information is readily available, due to the digitization of genealogical records, but I don’t believe I am unique in saying that I know the names of my parents and grandparents, but only a few names from the generations beyond. A lot of us don’t really know where we come.

When I have considered my unique traits, my strengths and my weaknesses, I have sometimes wondered if those qualities were inherited from somewhere down the line. I have also had moments of epiphany, where I realize how much the good things I enjoy are based upon the work of my forbearers, and not upon my own merits. I believe that by not being more familiar with my ancestry, I am somewhat limited in being able to even know myself. There are reasons for me being who I am that I am not aware of.

Posted on by Abe Austin

Scriptural Analysis- Genesis 4:17, 23, 25-26

17 And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.

23 And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt.

25 And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.

26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the Lord.

At this point in Genesis we have a divide among the people. Cain is the father of one line, and Seth of another.

Cain’s line seems to be an industrious and inventive group, they begin building cities, raising herds of cattle, and playing musical instruments. However they also continue the more evil traditions of their father, such as in verse 23 where Lamech admits to murder.

We do not learn about the craft of Seth’s descendants, but we are told that they “began to call upon the name of the Lord.” Many interpret this as meaning that Seth’s line distinguished itself by continuing to worship of God, which practice was no longer universal. It is quite possible that this is what the “sons of God” and “daughters of men” in Genesis 6:2 is referring to. Those that continued to believe in and rely on the Lord were the “children of God” and those that did not were the “children of men.” And for a time these two groups continued separately, but eventually intermingled.

And this idea of two people, one led by God and the other not, is a common theme in the Bible. It occurs most famously between the Jews and the Gentiles, but the first instance of it was with the line of Cain and the line of Seth.