Interesting Facts

• There appear to be at least two individuals named Naamah mentioned in the sources: one was the sister of Tubalcain and daughter of Lamech of Cain’s line, and the other married Noah and was the daughter of Enoch (of Seth’s line) according to Jasher.
• Jasher states that Naamah (sister of Tubalcain) was born after Zillah had “withered away” and is described as bringing “pleasure and delight”.
• According to Jasher, Naamah (who married Noah) was 580 years old when she married Noah, who was 498 years old.
• The wife of Noah is also called Emzara in Jubilees, identified as the daughter of Rake’el, the daughter of Noah’s father’s brother. It is suggested that Rake’el might be a title associated with Enoch (of Seth’s line).
• Nahmah is listed as a sister of Enoch, Methuselah, Elisha, and Elimelech in Jasher, placing her within the lineage of Enoch of Seth’s line, but her connection to Noah’s wife or Lamech’s daughter is not specified.

Genealogy

• Naamah (daughter of Lamech of Cain’s line): Her father was Lamech of Cain’s line, and her brother was Tubalcain. Her mother was Zillah, one of Lamech’s two wives.
• Naamah (wife of Noah according to Jasher): Her father was Enoch (of Seth’s line). Her lineage would thus trace back to Adam through Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, and Enoch. She married Noah (of Seth’s line), and they had three sons: Japheth, Shem, and Ham.
• Nahmah (sister of Enoch, Methuselah, and Elisha): Her father was Enoch (of Seth’s line), and her brothers were Methuselah, Elisha, and Elimelech. Her mother is not named in the provided excerpts.
• Emzara (wife of Noah according to Jubilees): Her father was Rake’el, who was the daughter of Noah’s father’s brother. This would make her Noah’s cousin. She married Noah (of Seth’s line) and bore him Shem, Ham, and Japheth. The source suggests that Rake’el might be Enoch (of Seth’s line) under a possible title.

Historical Context

The lives of these individuals named Naamah/Nahmah/Emzara spanned a period of significant upheaval in the antediluvian world. Naamah, the daughter of Lamech of Cain’s line, lived during a time when lawlessness increased, and men departed from the ways of the Lord. Violence filled the earth, and corrupt practices such as the mixture of animal species were prevalent. Some men even caused their wives to become barren to preserve their appearance. This context of moral decay and disregard for divine commandments characterized the environment in which she was born and lived.

Naamah (who married Noah) and Nahmah (sister of Enoch of Seth’s line) lived in a similar era, further impacted by the descent of the Watchers and the proliferation of giants. Secret and forbidden knowledge was taught, leading to increased godlessness and corruption. The earth was filled with violence, and the cries of the oppressed reached heaven. The impending judgment of the Flood loomed over this generation, a consequence of the pervasive wickedness. Noah and Methuselah preached repentance for 120 years, but their calls were largely ignored. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord amidst this corruption and was chosen to preserve a righteous seed.

Narrative

The narrative concerning Naamah, daughter of Lamech of Cain’s line, is brief. She is mentioned as being born to Zillah in Lamech’s old age, bringing joy to her mother. Her existence is part of the genealogical record of Cain’s lineage leading up to the Flood. The text does not provide any specific actions or dialogues for her.

Naamah (who married Noah) and Emzara (as she is called in Jubilees) play a crucial role in the narrative of salvation from the Flood. Jasher highlights the advanced age of Naamah at the time of her marriage to Noah, emphasizing Noah’s obedience to God’s command to take a wife and beget children to continue the righteous lineage. She bore Noah three sons, Japheth, Shem, and Ham, who were raised in the ways of the Lord as taught by Noah and Methuselah. As Noah’s wife, she entered the ark with him and their sons and daughters-in-law, thus being among the few humans to survive the deluge. Her role is essential for the continuation of humanity after the Flood. Jubilees refers to her as Emzara and provides a different genealogy, making her Noah’s cousin. Despite the differing names and parentage, her role as Noah’s wife and the mother of his sons who repopulated the earth remains central to the post-Flood narrative.

Nahmah, listed as a sister of Enoch’s descendants, is mentioned solely in a genealogical context. The sources do not provide further narrative details about her life or any direct connection to the other individuals named Naamah. Her existence contributes to the broader picture of the Sethite lineage before the Flood.