Genesis 5:3

And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years,.... The Septuagint version, through mistaken, gives the number two hundred and thirty years: and begat [a son]; not that he had no other children during

And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth: Adam lived an hundred and thirty years.

3874 Adam lived an hundred and thirty years after he was created, in which time he begat other sons and daughters, as appears from what was said before. After his image; either, 1. In regard of the natural frame of his body and soul; but this was so evident of itself, that the mention of it had been frivolous. Nor is there any reason why that should be said of Seth, rather than of Cain or Abel. Or, 2. In regard of his corruption, q.d. a weak, sinful, mortal man, like himself; for Adam’ s image is here plainly opposed to the likeness of God, wherein Adam is said to be created, . And this is fitly said of Seth to signify, that although he was a worthy and good man, and, Adam excepted, the most eminent person of the whole church of God; yet he, no less than wicked Cain, was begotten and born in sin; and that all the difference which was between him, and consequently between other good men, and the wicked progeny of Cain, was not from the nature which they received from Adam, but from the grace infused into them by God.

Genesis 5:3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat [a son] in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:Ver. 3. Adam lived one hundred and thirty years, and begat.] This was a great trial to his faith, to wait so long for a better issue, when the Cainites spread abroad, erected cities, and perhaps meditated monarchies. After his own image.] Corruptus corruptum . For "who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?" says Job. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh," saith our Saviour, and we can say no better of it. This is hard to persuade men to; for each one is apt to think his own penny as good silver: and a dead woman will have four to carry her forth, as the proverb has it. The Pharisee, bad enough though he be, yet is very braggardly of his good estate to Godward: And Novatus cries out, Non habeo, Domine, quod mihi ignoscas . How much better St Augustine, Ego admisi, Domine, unde tu damnare potes me; sed non amisisti, unde tu salvare potes me . One has destroyed me, but from you is my help - my safety here, and salvation hereafter. Lord I am hell, but you are heaven, as that martyr once said, &c. “ One depth called upon another” ; the depth of my misery, the depth of thy mercy. Heaven denies me; earth groans under me; hell gapes for me: help, Lord, or your servant perishes. "Wash me throughly from my iniquity, and purge me from my sin"; whether that imputed to me, inherent in me, or issuing from me. Bp. Hooper.

(3) In his own likeness, after his image.—That is, Adam handed down to his posterity that Divine likeness which he had himself received. Seth.—See on Genesis 4:25.

Verse 3. And Adam lived a hundred and thirty years, c.] The Scripture chronology especially in the ages of some of the antediluvian and postdiluvian patriarchs, has exceedingly puzzled chronologists, critics, and divines. The printed Hebrew text, the Samaritan, the Septuagint, and Josephus, are all different, and have their respective vouchers and defenders. The following tables of the genealogies of the patriarchs before and after the flood, according to the Hebrew, Samaritan, and Septuagint, will at once exhibit the discordances. ANTEDILUVIAN PATRIARCHS LIVED BEFORE THEIR SONS' BIRTH Heb. Samar. Sept. Adam, Gen. v. 3. 130 230 Seth, ---- 6. 105 205 Enos, ---- 9. 90 190 Cainan, ---- 12. 70 170 Mahalaleel, ---- 15. 65 165 Jared, ---- 18. 162 62 Enoch, ---- 21. Methuselah, ---- 25. 187 67 167 Lamech ---- 28. 182 53 188 Noah, at the flood, Gen. vii. 6. 600 Total before the flood, 1656 1307 2242* In this first period the sum in Josephus Isaiah 2256, which is also adopted by Dr. Hales in his New Analysis of Chronology. POSTDILUVIAN PATRIARCHS LIVED BEFORE THEIR SONS' BIRTH Shem begot Arphaxad after the flood, Gen xi.10. 2 Arphaxad, Gen xi.12. 35 135 Cainan (2d) mentioned only by the LXX. and Luke iii.36. 0 Salah, Gen. xi. 14. 30 Eber, ----- 16. 34 134 Peleg, ----- 18. Reu, ----- 20. 32 132 Serug, ----- 22. Nahor, ----- 24. 29 79 179 Terah, ----- 26. Total to the 70th year of Terah, 292 942 1172* In this second period the sum in Josephus Isaiah 1002. * The Septuagint account of the ages of the antediluvian and postdiluvian patriarchs in the above tables, is taken from the VATICAN copy, but if we follow the ALEXANDRIAN MS., we shall have in the first period the whole sum of 2262 instead of 2242 and in the second period, 1072 instead of 1172. On this subject the different MSS. of the Septuagint abound with various readings. For much satisfactory information on this subject I must refer to A New Analysis of Chronology, by the Rev. William Hales, D.D., 3 vols. 4to., London, 1809. And begat a son in his own likeness, after his image] Words nearly the same with those Genesis 1:26: Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. What this image and likeness of God were, we have already seen, and we may rest assured that the same image and likeness are not meant here. The body of Adam was created provisionally immortal, i.e. while he continued obedient he could not die; but his obedience was voluntary, and his state a probationary one. The soul of Adam was created in the moral image of God, in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness. He had now sinned, and consequently had lost his moral resemblance to his Maker; he had also become mortal through his breach of the law.

3. in his own likeness, after his image] Cf. Genesis 1:26. Man was made in God’s image, after His likeness; he begets a son, in his own likeness, after his image. Many Heb. MSS., however, only read “in his image.” On the words “image” and “likeness,” see note on Genesis 1:26. The phrase here is evidently intended to shew that the elements of resemblance to the Divine image, which at the first were implanted in man’s nature, were communicated from father to son. That the priestly document contained any tradition respecting the Fall, or the murder of Abel, seems improbable. Seth] See note on Genesis 4:25. The father here gives the name; the mother’s name is not mentioned in this genealogy.

The Book of the Generations of Adam, Genesis 5:1 to Genesis 6:8. Here begins another of the main divisions of our volume. As observed in the Introduction, (p.