Interesting Facts

• Seth was considered by Eve to be a divinely appointed seed in place of Abel, whom Cain had slain.
• Seth was born in the likeness and image of Adam.
• The birth of Seth brought joy to Adam and Eve.

Genealogy

• Seth was the son of Adam and Eve.
• He was born one hundred and thirty years after Adam’s birth. This occurred in the fourth year of the fifth week of the third jubilee, corresponding to the year 130 AM.
• Seth had a sister named Azûrâ.
• Seth married his sister, Azûrâ, in the fifth week of the fifth jubilee, between the years 225-231 AM.
• In the fourth year of the sixth week, corresponding to the year 235 AM, Azûrâ bore Seth a son named Enos. Genesis 5:6 and Jasher 2:2 state that Seth was one hundred and five years old when he begat Enos.
• Seth lived for eight hundred and seven years after the birth of Enos and had other sons and daughters.
• The total lifespan of Seth was nine hundred and twelve years, and he subsequently died.

Historical Context

Seth’s birth occurred in a world marked by the tragic event of fratricide, the slaying of Abel by Cain. His arrival was viewed as a divine compensation for this loss, signifying the continuation of a righteous lineage. The sources indicate a relatively close family structure in these early generations, as evidenced by Seth’s marriage to his sister Azûrâ. During Seth’s lifetime, the human population began to increase. Later in the life of Seth, during the days of his son Enos, a significant spiritual decline commenced among humankind. Men began to rebel and transgress against God, serving other gods and making idols. This period also saw divine chastisement through floods from the river Gihon and severe famine, though Seth himself is not directly implicated in these transgressions.

Narrative

The narrative concerning Seth primarily focuses on his birth and his role as the progenitor of a line distinct from that of Cain. His birth is explicitly stated as being in place of Abel, highlighting his significance in the divine plan following the first murder. Being born in the likeness and image of Adam suggests a continuation of the original divine design for humanity. While the sources do not detail specific actions or dialogues of Seth, his marriage to his sister and the subsequent birth of Enos establish him as a key figure in the genealogical records leading to later righteous individuals like Enoch and Noah. The naming of his son Enos is also significant, with Jasher noting that it was during Enos’s time that men began to multiply and afflict their souls through transgression. Thus, Seth’s legacy lies in the lineage he established, a lineage that would carry forward a semblance of piety in an increasingly corrupted world. His long life and the birth of his descendants are foundational elements in the unfolding story of humanity after the Fall and the first great sin.