Interesting Facts

• According to the Book of Jasher, Mered was the third son of Cainan [17, Jasher 2:15-16].

Genealogy

• Mered’s father was Cainan [17, Jasher 2:15-16].
• His paternal grandfather was Enosh [13, Genesis 5:6, Jasher 2:2, Jubilees 4:11b].
• His paternal great-grandfather was Seth [9, Genesis 4:25, 5:3, Jasher 2:1, Jubilees 4:7b].
• His paternal great-great-grandparents were Adam and Eve [1, Genesis 4:1, Jasher 1:12b-13a, Jubilees 3:34, 4:1a, 7b].
• The Book of Jasher records that Cainan begat Mered along with his brothers and sisters after he was seventy years old [17, Jasher 2:15].
• Mered had two brothers, Mahlallel (the firstborn) and Enan (the second), and two sisters, Adah and Zillah [17, Jasher 2:15-16].
• The lifespan, marriage, or offspring of Mered are not mentioned within the provided sources.

Historical Context

Mered’s life unfolded in the generations following the establishment of Seth’s lineage. As the son of Cainan, his lifetime coincided with a period characterized by a growing departure from divine precepts amongst many of the sons of men [14, Jasher 2:3-5]. It was in the days of his grandfather Enosh that the practice of serving other gods and crafting idols began to take root [14, Jasher 2:4]. However, this era also witnessed the nascent practice of calling upon the name of the Lord [14, Genesis 4:26b, Jubilees 4:12]. Notably, Mered’s father, Cainan, is depicted as a figure of wisdom and authority, ruling over spirits and demons and endeavoring to turn some individuals back to the service of God [16, 40, Jasher 2:11b-14]. Therefore, Mered would have lived during a time of spiritual tension, where the influence of both increasing wickedness and efforts towards righteousness were present, potentially shaping the societal and familial environment in which he lived. The prophecies attributed to his father concerning a future deluge might also have been a contextual element of his life.

Narrative

The narrative pertaining to Mered within the confines of these ancient texts is exceedingly sparse. His existence is solely documented in the genealogical listing found in the Book of Jasher, where he is identified as the third son born to Cainan, following Mahalallel and Enan, and having sisters named Adah and Zillah [17, Jasher 2:15-16]. Unlike his elder brother Mahalallel, whose name appears in the records of Genesis and Jubilees [17, Genesis 5:12, Jubilees 4:14b], Mered is only mentioned in Jasher. Consequently, no specific actions, pronouncements, or personal experiences are attributed directly to Mered within the provided excerpts. His significance, as conveyed by these sources, rests primarily within his place in the lineage descending from Seth. While the broader context of his father’s influence and the prevailing spiritual climate would have undoubtedly impacted his life, the available texts offer no further insights into his individual story or his contribution beyond his inclusion in the familial register of Cainan.