Genesis

Adam’s descendants are listed, beginning with God’s creation of humankind, male and female, in his image. When Adam fathered Seth, he was 130 years old; after Seth was born, Adam lived 800 years more, for a total of 900 years before he died.

Adam’s descendants—Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, and Lamech—are named, along with the ages at which they became fathers and the age at which each man died. Notably, Enoch is distinguished for having “walked with God” and been taken away by God at the end of his life. His son, Methuselah, is notable for living a total of 969 years.

When Lamech was 182 years old, he had a son named Noah, who in turn became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

People continue to multiply. Daughters are born, and men see that they are attractive and take wives for themselves. The LORD says that his spirit will not remain in fleshly mortals forever, and that from now on, their years will be limited to 120. The Nephilim also live on the earth and marry human women, who bear their children. These become famous heroes and warriors.

The LORD sees that humanity’s wickedness is great, and he regrets having created them. He decides that he will blot out what he has made, both people and all other creatures. Noah, however, finds favor in God’s sight. Noah follows God blamelessly.

God tells Noah that, because of the violence that fills the earth, he is going to destroy everything that breathes. He instructs Noah to build an ark made out of cypress wood, giving him exact directions regarding the rooms and dimensions the ark must have and the materials Noah should use. After Noah builds the ark, God will flood the earth, destroying all life. However, he will establish a covenant with Noah. Noah, his wife, his sons, and their wives will enter the ark, along with two of every kind of creature—male and female. Noah does as God commands him.