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By bringing the unhappy story of humanity’s increasing alienation from God to a close, ch. 5 serves to introduce the narrative of Noah by means of genealogy. The Adam story has been concluded. Adam’s line of descent through Seth is now of principle concern to the sacred historian.
The genealogy comprises ten generations, tracing the drama of humankind from the Creation to the Flood. A second extended genealogy of ten generations occurs in 11:10-29, outlining the period from the Flood to Abraham. These are not exhaustive lists, but by selecting ten, the narrative suggests the completion of a historical era. Similarly, the seven generations of Cain (4:16-22) and the three periods of fourteen generations each in Mt 1 (despite the fact that kings Ahaziah, Joash, and Amaziah are omitted to achieve the fourteen generations in the second period) are examples of selective genealogies that imply the completion of eras.
Though the text appears to indicate a view that life prior to the Flood was quantitatively longer, the lack of precise information inherent in these genealogies may reflect a less than accurate accounting of years. If one compares the ancient Summarian King List, one discovers a list of Mesopotamian kings that omits certain names while attributing the years of their reigns to predecessors. That may well be the case here. In the midst of the chapter’s rehearsal of the life and death of the patriarchs, one man’s life stands out as qualitatively distinct. Enoch is described twice as one who walked with God (vv.22, 24). It is language that indicates intimacy, integrity, and obedience. As a result of such piety, Enoch is taken into the presence of God, presumably without experiencing death. The chapter ends with an account of the birth of Noah. It is upon him that the future redemption of creation will depend. Through Noah the hope born with Seth continues to shine.