And Mahalaleel lived sixty and five years, and begat Jared:
God records the lineage of the righteous with care and clarity, setting down their years at length so all can see them, while the wicked are left nameless and forgotten. The memory of the just is blessed; the name of the wicked shall rot. These long lives teach us to number our days, for even centuries are but a quick passage.
AI summary
Commenting on Genesis 5:6-20
And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years, and he died. The name of this patriarch signifies "descending"; and, according to the Arabic writers (q), he had his name from the posterity of Seth, descending from the holy mountain in his time; for upon a noise being heard on the mountain, about an hundred men went down to the sons...
Seth bore the image of God as Adam did, yet corrupted by sin transmitted through his father. The recurring refrain "and he died" announces death as an unchangeable law from Adam onward; yet each man fathered children before he fell, so life persisted amid death, and the race endured to bring forth the Seed who would conquer death itself.
AI summary
Commenting on Genesis 5:3-32