The online Bible teaching ministry of John Brand

Genesis Lifespans

It’s an interesting exercise to put the lifespans and the main characters in Genesis 1-11 side by side, based on the genealogical information we have in chapters 5 and 11 and elsewhere.

Note that:

  • Adam lived to see Lamech, his GGGGGGGrandson
  • Noah is still alive when Terah, Abraham’s father is born
  • Shem, Noah’s eldest son overlapped with Abraham by 100 years and with Isaac by 50 years

One of the significant implications of this is that, with Babel being just 100 years after the flood, and with Noah and Shem still being alive and having their personal testimonies about God’s judgement and mercy, the sin of the people in their rebellious activity is all the greater.