>I am surprised you should pursue this matter. According to the
>chronological sequence provided in Gen.5, the Antediluvian period of earth history lasted 1656 years.
But according to the evidence of the Bible itself, the genealogies are incomplete. Luke 3:36 includes Cainan between Arphaxad and Shelah, yet neither Genesis nor I Chronicles mention him. Likewise, Matthew omits some rulers to give his pattern of 14 per interval. Additionally, the ages for each patriarch are not consistently recorded between the ancient versions (Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan). Such precision requires assuming that the genealogies in Genesis are exhaustive father-son connections, whereas the Biblical evidence does not warrant treating them as other than demonstrations of connection.
Dr. David Campbell
"Old Seashells"
Biology Department
Saint Mary's College of Maryland
18952 E. Fisher Road
St. Mary's City, MD 20686-3001 USA
dcampbell@osprey.smcm.edu, 301 862-0372 Fax: 301 862-0996
"Mollusks murmured 'Morning!'. And salmon chanted 'Evening!'."-Frank Muir, Oh My Word!
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