Genesis 5:6-20 Commentary
THOMAS SCOTT COMMENTARY
Verses 4-20. The Greek translation of the Bible, called the Septuagint, varies from our version, which was made from the Hebrew, both in this genealogy and in that which follows (Ge 11:10-26). In particular, by the addition of a hundred years to the age of six of these patriarchs, before their sons here mentioned were born, and deducting them from the subsequent part of their lives, making the sum total the same. Thus the space between the creation and the deluge is made six hundred years more than in our account: and by a similar addition, with other variations, the space between the deluge and the birth of Abraham is made almost nine hundred years more. But the original Hebrew is best intitled to our confidence; and the difference may be ascribed to some mistakes in the numeral letters; or rather, perhaps, to a vanity in the translators, which as been common in many nations, of ascribing a very remote antiquity to the commencement of their history.—The individuals here mentioned might not be the first-born, as Seth was not the eldest son of Adam; but the genealogy was continued through them, not only from Adam to Noah, but afterwards even to Christ, “the second Adam, the Lord from heaven.”
THOMAS HAWEIS COMMENTARY
Verses 6-20: Adam’s descendants are recounted to the sixth generation. He lived to see the earth overspread, and replenished with inhabitants. The account of Seth’s posterity is dwelt upon: while Cain’s is only mentioned, and no more. God’s saints are precious in his sight.
Observe, 1. How death passed upon all. Their lives were long indeed, but the burden of the tale is, and he died. Health, riches, wisdom, and what is better, godliness makes no distinction here; “‘Tis all thou art, and all the proud must be.”
2. The length of their lives. Many ages. Though death was entered, his ravages were retained, either by the excellent temperature of the air, and the wholesomeness of their food, in which the antediluvian world, no doubt, far exceeded the present; or by the power of God, who preserved men’s lives to overspread the earth the sooner, or rather that the true religion might be thus preserved from corruption. A sinner looks back with regret on these lives of ages, and wishes their return; a saint of God rejoices in his happier lot, that he is not left so long to groan in this tabernacle, being burthened.
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