Interesting Facts

• Methusael was the son of Mehujael [17, Genesis 4:18c, Jasher 1:36c].
• Methusael was the father of Lamech, who notably took two wives, Adah and Zillah [22, 25, Genesis 4:18d, 19].
• The Book of Jasher identifies Lamech, the son of Methusael, as becoming related to Cainan by marriage through Adah and Zillah [26, Jasher 2:17a].
• Based on calculations derived from the generational timeline of Cain’s lineage, Methusael’s birth is estimated to have occurred around the year 421 A.M..

Genealogy

• Methusael’s lineage traces back to the first man, Adam, through his son Cain [1, Jasher 1:12b-13a, Jubilees 3:34, 4:1a, 7b]. His father was Mehujael, who was the son of Irad, who was the son of Enoch, who was the son of Cain [14, 17, Genesis 4:17a, 18a-c, Jasher 1:34, 36a-c].
• The sources do not explicitly name Methusael’s mother.
• Methusael begat Lamech [22, Genesis 4:18d, Jasher 1:36c]. The sources do not mention any other offspring of Methusael.
• Through his son Lamech, Methusael became the grandfather of Jabal, Jubal, Tubal Cain, and Naamah [30, 42, Genesis 4:20-22, Jasher 2:17b-18, 23-25].

Historical Context

Methusael lived in a period following the initial transgression of Cain and the subsequent establishment of a distinct lineage separate from that of Seth [8, Genesis 4:25, Jasher 2:1]. According to the Book of Jasher, this era was characterized by increasing rebellion and transgression against God [13, Jasher 2:3]. Idolatry began to take root as men made images and served other gods, forsaking the Lord [13, Jasher 2:4-5]. The earth itself was described as becoming corrupt [13, Jasher 2:9]. While the lineage of Seth began to call upon the name of the Lord [13, Genesis 4:26b, Jubilees 4:12], the line of Cain appears to have continued in a divergent path. The timing of Methusael’s life falls within the generations where craftsmanship and city-building were developing within Cain’s descendants [10, 11, Genesis 4:17b, Jasher 1:35, Jubilees 4:9b], suggesting a focus on earthly endeavors. Furthermore, the descent of angels and their intermingling with the daughters of men, leading to the birth of giants and the dissemination of forbidden knowledge, is placed by some accounts as beginning in the days of Jared, a contemporary within the broader timeline [19, 20, 21, Genesis 6:1-4, Enoch 6:6, 7:3, Jubilees 4:15b, 5:1b]. While not directly linked to Methusael, these events paint a picture of a world increasingly marked by both innovation and moral decline.

Narrative

The narrative concerning Methusael in the selected sources is relatively sparse. His primary significance lies in his genealogical connection as the father of Lamech [22, Genesis 4:18d, Jasher 1:36c]. The texts do not record any specific actions or pronouncements by Methusael himself. He serves as a link in the chain of Cain’s descendants, leading to the individuals credited with significant cultural advancements such as Jabal, the father of tent dwellers and cattle herders, Jubal, the originator of harp and organ music, and Tubal Cain, the instructor of metalworking [30, 42, Genesis 4:20-22, Jasher 2:17b-18, 23-24]. Methusael’s existence and his fathering of Lamech set the stage for the subsequent generations within Cain’s line, whose story culminates in Lamech’s transgression and the eventual judgment that unfolds before the great flood. Thus, while Methusael remains a somewhat shadowy figure, his role in the genealogy underscores the continuation and development of Cain’s lineage in the antediluvian world as depicted in these ancient texts.