A Line of Ten
1 Chronicles 1:1-3
“Adam, Sheth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalaleel, Jered, Henoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.”
There are ten names in the first part of the Genesis 5 genealogy, from Adam to Noah. These names also appear in order in 1 Chronicles 1:1-3. What can these verses mean? 1 Chronicles is particularly unusual because it simply lists the names without any explanation. I would argue that the fact that we have the same list in Genesis 5 and 1 Chronicles 1 indicates that there are no gaps in this genealogy.
It is popular to believe that the genealogies have gaps. Perhaps some genealogies do, but those of Genesis 5 and Genesis 11 are different because they contain numbers. The numbers of years listed seem to suggest that they can be used to calculate a simple chronology.
The meanings of the names give a clue to why there are no gaps. Adam means man, Seth means appointed, Enosh means mortal, Kenan sorrow, Mahalalel the God who is to be praised, Jared He shall come down, Enoch teacher, Methuselah means his death shall bring it about, Lamech weary, Noah rest. Put the names together, and we find that the first section of 1 Chronicles actually reads: “Man is appointed mortal sorrow, but the God who is to be praised shall come down, teaching that His death shall bring the weary rest.” This is a statement of the Gospel! Yet, this does not work if there were to be any gaps in the Genesis 5 genealogy. It is no coincidence – this line of descent would eventually culminate in Jesus Christ Himself.
Prayer: Your love for us was so great, Lord God, that You made known for us the way of salvation immediately after the very first sin. You never leave us without hope of salvation. Amen.
Ref: Taylor, P.F. (2007), The Six Days of Genesis (Green Forest, AR: Master Books), pp. 134-135. Image: Adobe Stock Images, licensed to author.
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