2007-10-22 22:07:09 · 12 answers · asked by Cotton Wool Ninja 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
In all of the mythologies that predate the writing of the Hebrew bible people lived to incredible ages. In the Babylonian texts, Sumerian and Hittite texts early Egyptian texts people frequently lived hundreds of years.
The Hebrews simply incorporated this into their mythology to make sure that "our heroes are just as good as your heroes". Anyone who has taken even a basic class in ancient near eastern mythology will quickly realize that most of the Hebrew bible is either heavily borrowed or written into the stories to specifically refute points from other cultures.
2007-10-22 22:25:20 · answer #1 · answered by Gawdless Heathen 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yes, coz he died at the same time with the big flood in Noah time.
Count pls
PS : Why only Methusaleh? Noah was 950, Adam was 930, Seth was 912, Enosh 905, Kenan 910, Mahalalel 895, Jared 962, and Lamech 777. (Enoch 365 cos he'd raptured)
After the flood, humans age not longer than 600yrs. Then 4 generations after Shem (Noah's son), humans age not longer than 300 years. Now not longer than 150years.
2007-10-22 22:19:34 · answer #2 · answered by Si semut 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you do the math, Methuselah actually died the year of the flood. Hypothetically he could have lived longer if he had a boat.
Some Bible scholars think that the ages credited to line of Adam to Noah are more symbolic numbers than literal. For instance, Enoch's years numbered 365, the number of days in a year, which might symbolize completeness. Lamech lived 777 years (also died the year of the flood), which could be symbolic of his prophecy about himself in Genesis 4 about the number of curses that his enemies would face.
But Christians believe that God created the universe out of nothing, so a little super-aging is not all that hard to swallow when you think of it in those terms.
2007-10-22 22:17:09 · answer #3 · answered by SDW 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Perhaps some do, but I don't.
I wondered if "years" were once based on the lunar cycle. Dividing all these huge ages by 13 (the approximate number of lunar cycles in a solar year) yields much more credible lifespans.
2007-10-22 22:14:50 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
katolos and the old know it all nailed it---you divide by lunar cycle and still get remarkable long lifespans, but credible, and the true age of Methuselah is not relevent to the message...many Christians and almost all Jews believe Genesis to be metaphorical, anyways...
2007-10-22 22:20:53 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Some do, some don't. The people who take the Bible as 100% literal truth believe it.
2007-10-22 22:13:48 · answer #6 · answered by Tut Uncommon 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Neither the existence nor the age of Methuselah is relevant to the Christian message.
2007-10-22 22:15:50 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Probably , if they believe in the Adam and Eve and other 'stories' from the bible.
2007-10-22 22:23:51 · answer #8 · answered by Hobbit 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
what a poor fellow if he really makes it to 969, god must really hate him
2007-10-22 22:24:03 · answer #9 · answered by passerby 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I am 176 years old and I'll be reaching puberty soon - can't wait.
2007-10-22 22:40:47 · answer #10 · answered by Paul R 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋