Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 1 · Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
1, The genealogie of the tenne first Patriarchs of the world. 3, Of Adam, 6, Seth, 9, Enos, 12, Kainan, 15, Maleleel, 18, Iared, 21, Enoch, (who walked with God, & was taken away without death;) 25, Mathusala, 28, Lamech, 32, and Noe.
THis is the booke of the generations of Adam: in the day God created Adam, in the likenesse of God made he him. Male and female created hee them: and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day they were created. And Adam lived a hundred and thirty yeeres; and begat (a sonne) in his likenesse; in his image: and called his name Seth. And the dayes of Adam were, after he had begotten Seth, eight hundred yeeres, and hee begat sonnes and daughters. And all the dayes of Adam which he lived, were nine hundred yeeres, and thirty yeeres: and he dyed.
And Seth lived a hundred yeeres, and five yeeres: and begat Enos. And Seth lived after he begat Enos, eight hundred yeeres, and seven yeeres: and begat sonnes and daughters. And all the dayes of Seth were nine hundred yeeres, and twelve yeeres: and hee died.
And Enos lived ninety yeeres: and begat Kainan. And Enos lived, after hee begat Kainan, eight hundred yeeres, and fifteene yeeres: and begat sonnes and daughters. And all the daies of Enos, were nine hundred yeeres, and five yeeres: and hee died.
And Kainan lived seventy yeeres; and begat Maleleel. And Kainan lived after he begat Maleleel, eight hundred yeeres, and fortie yeeres: and begat sonnes and daughters. And all the dayes of Kainan were nine hundred yeeres, and ten yeeres: and he died.
And Maleleel lived sixtie yeeres, and five yeeres: and begat Iared. And Maleleel lived after he begat Iared, eight hundred yeeres, and thirty yeeres: and begat sons and daughters. And al the dayes of Maleleel were eight hundred yeeres, and ninety and five yeeres: and he died.
And Iared lived a hundred yeeres, and sixtie and two yeeres: & begat Enoch. And Iared lived, after he begat Enoch, eight hundred yeeres: and begat sons and daughters. And al the daies of Iared were nine hundred yeres, & sixty and two yeres: and he dyed.
And Enoch lived sixty and five yeres: and begat Methusala. And Enoch walked with God, after hee begat Methusala, three hundred yeeres: and begat sonnes and daughters. And all the daies of Enoch, were three hundred yeeres, and sixtie and five yeeres. And Enoch walked with God: and he was not: for God tooke him.
And Mathusala lived a hundred yeeres, and eightie and seven yeeres: and begat Lamech. And Mathusala lived, after he begat Lamech, seven hundred yeeres, and eighty and two yeeres: and begat sons and daughters. And all the dayes of Mathusala were nine hundred yeres, and sixty and nine yeres: and he died.
And Lamech lived a hundred yeeres, and eighty and two yeeres; and begat a son. And called his name Noe, saying: This shall comfort us from our worke, and from the sorrow of our hands, because of the earth the which Iehovah hath cursed. And Lamech lived, after he begat Noe, five hundred yeres, and ninety and five yeeres: and begat sons & daughters. And all the dayes of Lamech were seven hundred yeeres, and seventy and seven yeeres: and he died.
And Noe was five hundred yeres old: and Noe begat Sem, Cham, and Iapheth.
Annotations.
THe booke:] that is, the narration, or rehearsall. generations of Adam:] the Greeke translateth, generation of men, it meaneth both the children which Adam begat, and the events that did befall them; as the word generation, is used for all accidents in times and ages, whatsoever the day may bring forth, (as Solomon speaketh, Proverb. 27. 1.) So Genesis 2. 4. and 6. 9. and 25. 19. And here are tenne generations reckoned from Adam to Noe; the chiefe end whereof, is to shew the genealogy of Christ the promised s…ed according to the flesh, and so of his Church, Luk. 3. 23. 38. 1 Chron. 1. 1. &c. likenesse of God:] See Gen. 1. 26.
Vers. 2. their name:] so Adam was the common name of man and woman, (which were one flesh, Gen. 2. 23. 24) and of all their posterity, Gen. 9. 6. for we are all of one blood, Act. 17. 26.
Vers. 3. and begat] to weet, a sonne, as the sequell sheweth. The Scripture often omitteth such words, and sometime sheweth they must be understood: as David put in Syria, 1 Chron. 18. 6. that is, he put garisons in Syria, 2 Sam. 8. 6. See before the note on Gen. 4. 20. in his likenesse:] namely, that which he now had in his sinfull state: for the first likenesse and image of God in him was by sinne corrupted, Gen. 3. wherupon all men now are conceived in sinne, Psal. 51. 7. and are by nature children of wrath, Eph. 2. 3. Seth:] that is, Set or Appointed in stead of Abel: see Gen. 4. 25. onelyonly his posterity were reserved, when all the world was drowned. And from him the genealogy is rekoned both in the Old and New Testament, 1 Chr. 1. 1. &c. Luke 3. 38.
Vers. 6. yeeres:] Hebr. yeere: sometime the Originall useth indifferently one for another; as, eight yeeres, 2 Chron. 34. 1. for which in 2 King. 22. 1. is written eight yeere. It is also the property of the Hebrew, to set the least number for most, as here, Seth lived five yeeres, and an hundred yeere; and so after: which because it differeth from our manner, and in the order there is no speciall weight, is changed according to our speaking: because the Hebrew it selfe, in repeating matters, doth often change the order of words: as, 2 Chron. 23. 7. when he commeth in, & when he goeth out: which in 2 Kin. 11. 8. is, when he goeth out, and when hee commeth in. So, great and small, 2 Chron. 34. 30. or, small and great, 2 King. 23. 2. And in translating, the holy Ghost often also changeth the order of words: as Ioel 2. 28. your old men shall dreame dreames, your young men shall see visions: which in Act. 2. 17. is placed thus, your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dreame dreames. So in 1 King. 19. 10. they hauehave broke downe thy Altars, and killed thy Prophets: which Paul rehearseth thus, they have killed thy Prophets, and broke downe thy Altars, Rom. 11. 3. and sundry the like. Enos:] or, as the Hebrew pronounceth it, Enosh: but because our language and custome rather followeth the Greeke, which is more easie, the names are expressed as the New Testament doth in Luke 3. lest the Reader should mistake, and thinke them diverse persons.
Verse 9. Kainan] so Luke 3. 37. in Hebrew Kenan.
Verse 12. Maleleel] Hebr. Mahalalel.
Vers. 15. Iared] Hebr. Iered.
Vers. 18. Enoch] in Hebrew Chanoch, that is, Dedicated, or Catechised: he is said to be the seventh from Adam, and a prophesier of Gods judgement upon wicked men for their impious deeds, and hard speeches against God, Iude ver. 14. 15. So hee is distinguished from Enoch the Kainite, the third from Adam, Gen. 4. 17. and seven being the number of the Sabbath, the seventh generation implyed the mystery of rest in Christ. Accordingly the number of all the generations here, may be observed; which are ten from Adam to Noe: as before in Gen. 4. there are seven generations of Kain, so Abram the Ebrew was the seventh from Eber; Moses the seventh from Abram: and in Mat. 1. twice seven generations are reckned from Abram to David, and so many from David to the Captivity of Babylon, and againe so many from that captivity, to Christ, Mat. 1. 17. The estate of times for these ten Patriarchs, may thus be viewed:
1. Adam being 130. yeeres old, begat Seth.
2. Seth, 105. yeeres old, begat Enos. In the yeere of the World, 235.
3. Enos, 90. yeere old, begat Kainan: in the yeere of the World, 325.
4. Kainan, 70. yeere old, begat Maleleel: in the yeere of the World, 395.
5. Maleleel, 65. yeere old, begat Iared: in the yere of the World, 460.
6. Iared, 162. yeere old, begat Enoch: in the yere of the World, 622.
7. Enoch, 65. yeere old, begat Mathusala: in the yeere of the World, 687.
8. Mathusala, 187. yeere old, begat Lamech: in the yeere of the World, 874.
9. Lamech, 182. yeere old, begat Noe: in the yeere of the World, 1056.
10. Noe, 500. yeeres old, begat Iapheth: in the yeere of the World, 1556.
The lives of these Patriarchs are also to be noted.
1. Adam lived 930. yeeres.
2. Seth lived 912. y.
3. Enos lived 905.
4. Kainan lived 910. y.
5. Malaleel lived 895. y.
6. Iared lived 962. y.
7. Enoch lived on earth, 365. yeeres. The shortest liver.
8. Mathusala lived 969. y. The longest liver.
9. Lamech lived 777. y.
10. Noe lived 950. y. Gen. 9. 29.
By this computation it appeareth, that Adam lived to see Lamech the ninth generation, in the 56 yeere of whose life hee dyed, first of all these Patriarchs. That Enoch the 7 from Adam, (after he had lived on earth, so many yeeres as there be dayes in the yeere of the Sunne,) was taken away into Paradise, next after Adams death, seven Patriarchs remaining witnesses of his translation. That all the first nine Patriarchs were taken out of this world, before it was drowned by the Flood that came in the 600. yeere of Noes life. That Mathusala lived till the very yeere wherein the Flood came, as his name signified that he should: with sundry other things, worthy to bee observed in the briefe Historie of these tenne Fathers.
Vers. 21. Mathusala:] so in Luke 3. 37. in Hebrew Methushelach, which is by interpretation, He dyeth, and the emission (or dart) meaning the flood, commeth. Enoch being a Prophet, foretold in his sonnes name, of the flood to come in the yeere that Mathusala dyed: as came to passe. Compare Iude vers. 14. 15.
Vers. 22. walked with God:] that is, led his life and administred before God, holily, justly, and faithfully, and so pleasing to God, as Gen. 6. 9. Wherefore the Apostle (following the Greeke version) saith, he pleased God, (which without faith it is unpossible to doe,) Heb. 11. 5. 6. The Chaldee translateth, he walked in the feare of the Lord: and the lerusalemy Thargum saith, he served (or laboured) in the truth before the Lord. And by comparing the like speech unto Eli, 1 Sam. 2. 30. 35. it seemeth to imply a pleasing or acceptable ministration of office before the Lord. Wherefore Enoch is noted to be a Prophet, Iude 14. And Noe who also walked with God, Gen. 6. 9. was a Preacher of justice, 2 Pet. 2. 5. Of Eli, it is spoken touching the Priesthood, 1 Sam. 2. 30. 35. and of David in the Kingdome, Psal. 56. 14. and 116. 9. See also Gen. 17. 1. Thus Enoch was a speciall figure of Christ.
Vers. 24. he was not] to weet, not found, as the Apostle (according to the Greeke) saith, Heb. 11. 5. and the Chaldee addeth, he appeared not, and yet the Lord killed him not. The like speech is also used of them that are taken away by death, Ier. 31. 15. which the Evangelist alledging, addeth the word are (or were) that wanted in the Hebrew, as in this place it is wanting also God tooke him,] that is, translated him, (saith the Apostle) that he should not see death, Heb. 11. 5. where the Arabicke version addeth, he was translated into Paradise: meaning the heavenly Paradise, mentioned Luke 23. 43. 2 Cor. 12. 2. 4. So Elias was taken up into heaven, 2 King. 2. and the Hebrew Doctors say, that Enoch was taken up in a whilewind as Elias was; and that he was disarayed of the foundation corporall, and clothed with the foundation spirituall. Also that God shewed him all the high treasures, and shewed him the tree of life, in the midst of the garden, &c. R. Menachem on Gen 5. and the Zohar on the same. By this translating of Enoch, God assured all the faithfull, of their resurrection and eternall life: therefore they after applyed the like worke of God to themselves after death, as in Psal. 49. 16. And the Apostle teacheth, we shall all be changed, and shall have spirituall bodies, and a building of God, an house not made with hand, eternall in the heavens, with which house we desire to be clothed-upon, &c. 1 Cor. 15. 51. 44. and 2 Cor. 5. 1. 2. Ben Syrach saith, Enoch translated, was an example of repentance to all generations, Ecclesiasticus 44. 16.
Vers. 25. Lamech] Hebr. Lemec.
Vers. 29. Noe:] so written in Luke 3. 36. 1 Pet. 3. 20. The Hebrew soundeth Noach, which signifieth rest, which proceedeth from comfort, as the words following shew; his name having affinity with Nachum. comfort us from our worke:] that is, comfort us with rest from our worke: as the Greeke translateth, he shall give us rest from our workes. This prophesie his father uttered of him, as hee that should be a figure of Christ, in his building the Arke, and offering of sacrifice, whereby God smelled a savour of rest, and said, hee would not curse the ground any more for mans sake, Gen. 8. 21. Of wee may reade it, comfort us concerning our worke, &c. from the earth:] understand againe, which commeth from the earth: for the earth being cursed, bare not fruits without great labour and sorrow, Gen. 3. 17. 18. hath cursed:] Hebr. hath cursed it: but this phrase our Tongue useth not: for it, I therefore say before, the (or that) which. And the Hebrew text sometime omits it as superfluous, 2 Chron. 28. 3. with 2 King. 16. 3.
Vers. 32. 500. yeares old:] Hebr. sonne of 500. yeeres: that is, going in his 500. yeere. An usuall speech in the Hebrew Scripture of mens age, or of beasts: Gen. 17. 1. Exod. 12. 5. But sometime it is not meant of naturall age properly, as appeareth 2 Chron. 22. 2. compared with 2 King. 8. 26. where Ahaziah is sonne of 22. yeeres, for his owne life: but sonne of 42. yeeres, for the state of his kingdome. And by being old, (or sonne of) 500. yeere, is not meant that yeere full ended; but while hee was living in that yeere: As appeareth by Gen. 7. 6. where Noe is 600 yere old: which in v. 11. is explained to be, In the yeare of the 600. yeere of his life. Accordingly, must we understand the ages of men, and beasts, spoken of in Scripture: as when a Levite entred upon his Ministery, being a sonne of 30. yeeres, Num. 4. 3. it is meant, going in the 30. yere of his life. Therefore Christ fulfilling that and all other figures, entred upon his Ministery, when he began to be of 30. yeeres, as is expressed, Luk. 3. 23. And for the sacrifices in the Law, which were to be of any yeerling beast, (after the Hebrew phrase, sonne of a yeere, Exod. 12. 5.) the Iewes have left recorded, that it must be strictly within the first yere of the life; and if it bee but an houre older then a yeere, it is not allowable for an oblation to God: Maimony, 8. book in Magnaseh Korbanoth, chap. 1. S. 13. Noe begat,] that is, began to beget; for all his three sonnes were not borne in a yeere, but Shem was borne two yeeres after, when his father was 502 yeers old: as may bee gathered by Gen. 11. 10. where two yeeres after the flood, hee was but an hundred yeeres old: and then was Noe his father 602. by Gen. 7. 6. See the like of Thara, Gen. 11. 26. Sem, Cham, and Iapheth,] sounded in Hebrew; Shem, Cham, and Iepheth: of which Iapheth was the eldest, Sem the next, and Cham the youngest; as is evident both by the former note of Sems age, and by Gen. 10. 21. and 9. 24. But because Sem was in dignity preferred of God before his brethren, Gen. 9. 26. 27 therefore he is first named. The like is in the history of Abram and his brethren, Gen. 11. 26. So Iaakob is named before Esau his elder, Gen. 28. 5. and Ephraim before Manasses, Gen. 48. 20.