Gen 5:6–20: the repeated formula

Says Each entry runs as Seth's: וַיְחִי־שֵׁת, "and Seth lived," the years, וַיּוֹלֶד, "and he fathered," the son; אַחֲרֵי הוֹלִידוֹ, "after he fathered," the years and בָּנִים וּבָנוֹת, "sons and daughters"; וַיִּהְיוּ כָּל־יְמֵי, "and all the days of," the total, and וַיָּמֹת, "and he died." Most numbers put the smaller part first, as חָמֵשׁ שָׁנִים וּמְאַת שָׁנָה, "five years and a hundred years"; 5:5 has the hundreds first, תְּשַׁע מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה וּשְׁלֹשִׁים שָׁנָה. The MT marks a break after each completed entry. The Greek ages differ (note.textual.Gen.5.1-Gen.5.32.mt-sp-lxx-chronology).

Implies The repeated formula sets every life in one frame, and "and he died" closes each entry but Enoch's.

Uncertain The long lifespans. (1) Literal years; ground: they are given as ages at fathering and after, like those of 11:10–13. Objection: some look patterned (Enoch 365; Lamech 777). (2) Symbolic or schematic numbers; ground: those patterns. Objection: most show none. (3) Comparable to ancient lists of long-lived kings before a flood, with no claim of borrowing; objection: likeness of form does not fix meaning. No lean is taken here.

Uncertain Whether the line is closed, father to son, or open. Ground for open: Luke 3:36 has Cainan between Arphaxad and Shelah, from the Greek of Gen 11; the Hebrew of 11:12 has none. Objection: the ages at fathering read as continuous. No lean is taken here.

Uncertain What the like names in Cain's line show (note.language.Gen.4.17-Gen.4.22.cainite-names; xref.Gen.4.17.Gen.5.18-Gen.5.24.heb; xref.Gen.4.18.Gen.5.21-Gen.5.31.heb). No lean is taken here.