The great ages reached by biblical characters

[MaryM]

I was just reading in Genesis chapter 47 verse 28 about how Jacob, Israel, lived to age 147.
I wondered about how human lifespan at some point became a maximum of 120 years? So many of the Old Testament earliest figures lived to incredible ages.

 

[Deuteronomy]

Hello @MaryM, it could be that the general human lifespan was shortened by God to 120 years around the time of the Flood, or it could be that the number of years from the time that God spoke those words to Noah until the flood began would be 120 years (or both ).

Here is a translation (LSB) and a paraphrase (NLT), the former leaving the possibility of both interpretations open, the New Living Translation choosing the former (that the general lifespan of man, going forward from that point, would be 120 years) .. see Genesis 6:3.

God bless you!!

~Deuteronomy (David)

 

[Shilohsfoal]

Methuselah 969

A long time ago I was calculating Methuselah's death.I learned it was the same year as the flood.

I've often wondered if Noah didn't invite grandpa on the boat.

 

[Omegatime]

All the generations after the flood lived longer than 120 years. Moses was the first to die 120 years old or younger.

 

[Omegatime]

Shem died 600 years old
Arphaxad 438
Shelah 433
Eber 464
Peleg 239
Reu 239
Serug 230
Nabor 148
Terah 205
Abraham 175
Issac 180
Jacob 147
Moses 120

I was wrong about Moses the first to die 120 or younger. Joesph died 110 years of age

 

[Omegatime]

Methuselah 969

A long time ago I was calculating Methuselah's death.I learned it was the same year as the flood.

I've often wondered if Noah didn't invite grandpa on the boat.

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Yes you are right but--

Methuseleh died year 1656 age 969

Noah turned 600 in year 1656, and lived another 350 years

Flood was in year 1656

All years are dating from Adam

 

[UnoiAmarah]

I was just reading in Genesis chapter 47 verse 28 about how Jacob, Israel, lived to age 147.
I wondered about how human lifespan at some point became a maximum of 120 years? So many of the Old Testament earliest figures lived to incredible ages.

It has been a 120 years since the beginning. If it is the truth that the days of man in the flesh on earth shall be 120 years then it is not a lie when it records that men lived older than 120 years. It is simply a choice one makes whether to believe the word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD or to lean to their own understanding.

In fact it could be true, that men lived longer than 120 years but not in the flesh on earth. I know, what a radical ideal of life after the end of the animated flesh.

Yet, it is written that after men began to multiple upon the face of the earth, that those men who were born not of blood or flesh, nor the will of man but of God, took unto themselves the daughters of men that were born unto them to be their wives, that the LORD revealed that his word was not going always to strive with man, yet his days in the flesh on earth would 120 years.

The scriptures also clearly establish that what was said by the LORD told before the daughters of men gave birth to the children. Since the days of Noah were some 1600 years after the beginning of man on the earth, it would have been longer than 120 years after the days of the men of renown were born.

 

[Omegatime]

It has been a 120 years since the beginning. If it is the truth that the days of man in the flesh on earth shall be 120 years then it is not a lie when it records that men lived older than 120 years. It is simply a choice one makes whether to believe the word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD or to lean to their own understanding.

In fact it could be true, that men lived longer than 120 years but not in the flesh on earth. I know, what a radical ideal of life after the end of the animated flesh.

Yet, it is written that after men began to multiple upon the face of the earth, that those men who were born not of blood or flesh, nor the will of man but of God, took unto themselves the daughters of men that were born unto them to be their wives, that the LORD revealed that his word was not going always to strive with man, yet his days in the flesh on earth would 120 years.

The scriptures also clearly establish that what was said by the LORD told before the daughters of men gave birth to the children. Since the days of Noah were some 1600 years after the beginning of man on the earth, it would have been longer than 120 years after the days of the men of renown were born.

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I am pretty certain that God was speaking of 120 years to the flood because there was 13 generations lived over 120 years after the flood.

 

[UnoiAmarah]

Or the way the scriptures reveal how many years till the days of Noah, those generations were listed to record the length of time so that the time from the beginning could be preserved so that by seeing they see not, neither perceive and by hearing they hear not nor understand. But as it is written, one man's faith is an another man's foolishness.

 

[Nehemiah6]

I was just reading in Genesis chapter 47 verse 28 about how Jacob, Israel, lived to age 147. I wondered about how human lifespan at some point became a maximum of 120 years? So many of the Old Testament earliest figures lived to incredible ages.

It is possible that there was a change in the climate that reduced the life span before and after the flood. But we really do not know.

 

[Omegatime]

It is possible that there was a change in the climate that reduced the life span before and after the flood. But we really do not know.[/QUOTE

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Weather is something that the Lord controls as well as major seismic events.

In the Millenium reign of Christ I see the return of long life but death is still prevalent. The Tribulation ( Dan 9:24 ) is to put an end to sin but those who survive the Tribulation and multiply on the earth are made from the earth and have flesh and blood.

IMO sin determines whether one suffers a drought, hurricane, tornado, ect or a gentle breeze or rain.

 

[Ballaurena]

God changed something in all of mankind as recorded in the beginning of Genesis 6, but it took time for it to take full effect. I have wondered if God did something to the telomeres on our DNA (the bumpers on our DNA that get shorter with replication and thus increasing age until the actual DNA starts getting damaged, leading to aging) but this may not be consistent with the gradual decline of age that an elder in my fellowship pointed out.

FYI, it is interesting to me to note the slight difference in emphasis in verse 3 between the NIV and NASB. Hard to pinpoint the exact difference, though.

"When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. 3 Then the Lord said, 'My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.' ”
Genesis 6:1-3 NIV

"Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them, 2 that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose. 3 Then the Lord said, 'My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.' ”
Genesis 6:1-3 NASB 1995

 

[Moses_Young]

Methuselah 969

A long time ago I was calculating Methuselah's death.I learned it was the same year as the flood.

I've often wondered if Noah didn't invite grandpa on the boat.

Lol. You know Methuselah's name means "When He Is Dead It Shall Be Sent"? When Methuselah died, the flood did indeed come. In my opinion, Methuselah's death was a warning sign from God. That he lived to such a long age is an indication of God's incredible mercy and will that man should repent, rather than be destroyed for his sin.

 

[Webers.Home]

.
"Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them: Be fruitful and
increase in number and fill the earth. (Gen 9:1)

Had people died too soon, it would've taken forever for Noah's generation to
populate the world.
_

 

[Omegatime]

Lol. You know Methuselah's name means "When He Is Dead It Shall Be Sent"? When Methuselah died, the flood did indeed come. In my opinion, Methuselah's death was a warning sign from God. That he lived to such a long age is an indication of God's incredible mercy and will that man should repent, rather than be destroyed for his sin.

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From Koinonia House-meaning of the names in Genesis 5 ---From Hebrew to English

Adam= Man
Seth- Appointed
Enosh= Mortal
Kenan= Sorrow
Mahalalel= ( The ) Blessed God
Jared = Shall come down
Enoch == Teaching
Methuselah= ( His ) death shall bring
Lamech --------- (The ) despairing
Noah ---------- Rest of Comfort

For more info--google Meaning Names in Genesis 5

 

[Bita-lucky]

I can now understand because Methuselah and Lameh died a week before the flood

 

[Omegatime]

I can now understand because Methuselah and Lameh died a week before the flood

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Lameth was born to Methuseleh when he was 187 years old ( Gen 5:25 ) and Lameth died 5 years before the flood in year 1651.

Methuseleh died same year as the flood year 1656

 

[Omegatime]

Adam created 6th day----------------------------------------Died 930 years old

Seth born year 130--------------------------------------------Died year 1042

Enosh born year 235-------------------------------------------Died year 1140

Kenan born year 325------------------------------------------Died year 1235

Mahalalel born year 395---------------------------------------Died year 1290

Jared born year 460----------------------------------------------Died year 1422

Enoch born year 622---------------------------------------------Lord took him

Methuseleh born year 687--------------------------------------Died year of flood in 1656

Lameth born year 874-------------------------------------------Died year 1651

Noah born year 1056---------------------------------------------Died year 2006

Noah was 600 years old when rains came year 1656 Genesis 7:6 & 7:11

 

[MaryM]

It is hard to understand the characters who lived several centuries. Unimaginably long lives. What on earth would any of us do with so much time? We also assume they were in good health all that time. If not, such long life would be a torture indeed.

Another point is it appears only men lived to such great ages. When they had children in advanced old age, I wonder how old the women were who bore those children?

 

[Omegatime]

It is hard to understand the characters who lived several centuries. Unimaginably long lives. What on earth would any of us do with so much time? We also assume they were in good health all that time. If not, such long life would be a torture indeed.

Another point is it appears only men lived to such great ages. When they had children in advanced old age, I wonder how old the women were who bore those children?

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I believe it is a clue about the few who survive the Tribulation and live to remultiply the earth in the 1000 year reign of Christ. Even in the Millenium death is still with them.