Fear No Fear

(All scripture from the World English Bible, ebible.org, all rights reserved)

“Jared lived one hundred sixty-two years, then became the father of Enoch. Jared lived after he became the father of Enoch eight hundred years, and became the father of other sons and daughters. All of the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty-two years, then he died.“
(Genesis 5:18-20)

Jared was the father of Enoch, the second man with that name (Genesis 4:17), and arguably one of the more famous men from the whole bible. Enoch means ‘inaugurated’ or ‘trained’, from the root חנך (hanak), to inaugurate or train. Jared is the sixth generation (Adam being the first), and his son Enoch was the seventh.

Of Enoch as the seventh generation, the sage Chizkuni writes: ‘This was the seventh generation, a number that was predestined for holiness and sanctity. David is also mentioned as having been the seventh son of his father Yishai, although that had been obvious from the way Samuel had been looking for the man to replace King Shaul. (Chronicles I 2,15) The number “seven” is special in the seven “heavens,” the seven deserts the Jewish people traversed, i.e. the desert of Sinai, in the seven seas, i.e. Lake Tiberias. [The subject has been expanded upon in Pirkey de Rabbi Eliezer, chapter 18. Ed.] The seventh universe (which according to our tradition, will be the last and perfect universe), as well as the seventh day of Creation, are all examples of the significance of the number “seven.”’

Jared was 162 when he had Enoch, but he may have had daughters before Enoch. He certainly had other sons and daughters, but because of the way a lineage works, Enoch would have been the first son.

Adam was 622 years when Enoch was born. Jared died 492 years after Adam, 132 after his own father, and 244 years before the Flood. Jared was 596 years old when Noah was born. Jared was 962 years old when he died, the longest living human being known up to that point – but only up to that point (his grandson lived longer).

These years of possible fellowship together would have been vital as the Flood approached because so much of the world was turning against God – despite having originated among people who revered God. It really illustrates that everyone needs to forge their own personal relationship with God. God only has children. He has no grandchildren. Just because someone else in your family believes and worships God, there is nothing that makes you do it. It is a personal choice. The best we can do is teach our children about God and make a personal introduction. We never stop praying for our family members, but everyone makes their OWN choice. It CANNOT be forced.