Generations of Adam

Seth and Cain

The Sethite line begins with Adam and extends to Noah and his three sons, while the Cainite line runs to Naamah. In the Cainite line, the seventh-generation Lamech is described as father of Jabal and Jubal by his first wife Adah, and Tubal-cain and Naamah by his second wife Zillah. The Sethite line gives ages at fatherhood and death, with Masoretic ages ranging from 777 for Lamech to 969 for Methuselah, and Enoch taken by God at age 365. The Septuagint and Samaritan Pentateuch differ in ages, with the Septuagint often placing fatherhood 100 years later. The 2nd-century BC Book of Jubilees provides wives' names for the Sethite line.

Comparisons

Scholars who study the formation of biblical texts see the two genealogies as variations of a single original tradition, though the exact relationship between their similarities and differences remains unclear. Most agree the Cainite line comes from the Jahwist source, while the Sethite line was added from the Priestly source. The Sethite genealogy may be linked to the Sumerian King List. Evidence includes the seventh figure in each list having solar associations: Enmeduranna is tied to a city of sun-god worship, and Enoch lived 365 years.

Like Enoch, Enmeduranna’s advisor Utuabzu was taken up to heaven. Fritz Hommel connected Amelon with Enosh (both third and meaning “mankind”), Ammenon with Cainan/Cain (both fourth and linked to craftsmanship), and noted the tenth figure in each line survived a flood. This view faces criticism because half the names don’t match linguistically. Irad and Eridu also share similarities.

Thomas Kelly Cheyne proposed a link to a North Arabian genealogy, with Mahalalel as a corruption of Jerahmeel and Methuselah as a corruption of Ishmael, but his theories are now rejected.