In Genesis
In Genesis, Enoch becomes the father of Methuselah and continues to walk with God after his son's birth. Methuselah becomes Lamech's father at one hundred and eighty seven years and later has other sons and daughters. The text gives his total lifespan as nine hundred and sixty nine years, then records his death.
In 1 Enoch
In 1 Enoch, Enoch addresses Methuselah as his son and tells him that he is writing things down for him. He promises to recount his visions and show Methuselah the prayer he writes for the generations of the world.
Lamech comes to his father Methuselah in fear, and Methuselah later returns home after hearing Enoch's words. The text says Enoch shows Methuselah everything in secret, and Methuselah then shows everything to Lamech.
In 2 Enoch
In 2 Enoch, Methuselah waits by his father's bedside day and night, hoping for his return. He offers to bring his father food and asks him to bless their homes, sons, and entire family. After Enoch is taken to heaven, Methuselah and his brothers build an altar at Achuzan, the place of Enoch's ascent.
Where Methuselah appears
- GenesisGenesis names Methuselah as Enoch's son and records his fatherhood, lifespan, and death. · The Complete 88-Book Ethiopian Bible
- 1 EnochIn 1 Enoch, Methuselah receives Enoch's words and passes what he learns to Lamech. · The Complete Books of Enoch
- 2 EnochIn 2 Enoch, Methuselah keeps watch for his father and later builds an altar with his brothers. · The Complete Books of Enoch
- JubileesJubilees names Methuselah's wife as Edna, daughter of Azrial, and their son as Lamech. · The Complete 88-Book Ethiopian Bible
- Hekhalot RabbatiHekhalot Rabbati places Methuselah at David's right, alongside Adam and Seth. · The Complete Books of Enoch
- 1 Chronicles1 Chronicles lists Methuselah between Enoch and Lamech among the names from Adam to Japheth. · The Complete 88-Book Ethiopian Bible
- 1 Esdras1 Esdras mentions a book Enoch writes for Methuselah and later keepers of the law. · The Complete 88-Book Ethiopian Bible
What the texts say, in their own words
“Methuselah lived a total of 969 years, and then he died. Lamech lived 182 years, and then had a son.”
“When Methuselah had heard the words of his father Enoch—for Enoch had shown him everything in secret—he returned home and showed everything to Lamech.”
“After Enoch was taken to heaven, Methuselah and his brothers built an altar at Achuzan, the place where Enoch had ascended.”
“Methuselah married a wife, Edna the daughter of Azrial, who was his father’s brother’s daughter, in the 3rd week, in the 1st year of this week, and he had a son and called his name Lamech.”
Questions
Who was Methuselah?
Methuselah is Enoch's son and Lamech's father in Genesis, and receives Enoch's teachings in 1 Enoch.
How long does Methuselah live?
Genesis says Methuselah lives nine hundred and sixty nine years before his death.
What does Enoch pass on to Methuselah?
In 1 Enoch, Enoch tells Methuselah about his visions and writes things down for him. In Jubilees, Enoch gives Methuselah a command, and Methuselah passes commands to his son Lamech.
Where is Methuselah mentioned in the lost texts?
Methuselah appears in Genesis, Jubilees, 1 Chronicles and 1 Esdras, in The Complete 88-Book Ethiopian Bible; 1 Enoch, 2 Enoch and Hekhalot Rabbati, in The Complete Books of Enoch.
