No gods. No kings. - From Adam to Noah - Genesis 5

(Read Genesis 5)

Genealogical recording of the Ancient Middle East was liquid, not literal. Orders and ages represented importance and relationships. They did not necessarily need to represent exact family lines. Generations could be skipped.

Genealogy was recorded on a staff, and handed down through generations.

Except for Enoch, every person in the line of Adam had children, grew old, and died.

All humanity is mortal.

Memento Mori

There are no kings named in the genealogies of Genesis 1-11. Even when opportunities exist to name them, as when someone has a kingdom, for example, the name "king" itself is avoided. Ancient genealogies and history books traced history through the lives of kings, as modern history follows politics and war. It is notable that not only are kings not mentioned, they are avoided.

Also, the development of tool and art in other civilizations is usually attributed to gods, and handed down as gifts to humanity. In this genealogy, it is humans who discover and invent these instruments of culture.

Noah's name sounds like "to console" (Hebrew - Nahem), perhaps because he invented wine. After work, we are relaxed from our labour by drink.

Noah was the first man born after Adam's death.

Noah's name may also refer to God lifting the curse from the ground (Genesis 8:21). This provides rest, but not comfort, so the alcohol interpretation remains viable.


Genesis 5

1 This is the written account of Adam’s line.

When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. 2 He created them male and female and blessed them. And when they were created, he called them “man.”

3 When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth. 4 After Seth was born, Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. 5 Altogether, Adam lived 930 years, and then he died.

6 When Seth had lived 105 years, he became the father of Enosh. 7 And after he became the father of Enosh, Seth lived 807 years and had other sons and daughters. 8 Altogether, Seth lived 912 years, and then he died.

9 When Enosh had lived 90 years, he became the father of Kenan. 10 And after he became the father of Kenan, Enosh lived 815 years and had other sons and daughters. 11 Altogether, Enosh lived 905 years, and then he died.

12 When Kenan had lived 70 years, he became the father of Mahalalel. 13 And after he became the father of Mahalalel, Kenan lived 840 years and had other sons and daughters. 14 Altogether, Kenan lived 910 years, and then he died.

15 When Mahalalel had lived 65 years, he became the father of Jared. 16 And after he became the father of Jared, Mahalalel lived 830 years and had other sons and daughters. 17 Altogether, Mahalalel lived 895 years, and then he died.

18 When Jared had lived 162 years, he became the father of Enoch. 19 And after he became the father of Enoch, Jared lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. 20 Altogether, Jared lived 962 years, and then he died.

21 When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. 22 And after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23 Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. 24 Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.

25 When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he became the father of Lamech. 26 And after he became the father of Lamech, Methuselah lived 782 years and had other sons and daughters. 27 Altogether, Methuselah lived 969 years, and then he died.

28 When Lamech had lived 182 years, he had a son. 29 He named him Noah and said, “He will comfort us in the labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the LORD has cursed.” 30 After Noah was born, Lamech lived 595 years and had other sons and daughters. 31 Altogether, Lamech lived 777 years, and then he died.

32 After Noah was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham and Japheth.