In the present case from Adam to Noah inclusive are ten generations. The sum of the first class of numbers as it stands in our Hebrew text is 1656, to the year of the flood. The only question of difficulty is upon the _authority of the text_. The Septuagint makes the same interval 2262――an excess above the Hebrew of 606 years.――――In like manner from the birth of Arphaxad to the call of Abram (ten generations inclusive) the Hebrew text makes a total of 365 years; the Septuagint 1015, or by another text of the Sept. 1115, making an excess of 650 or 750 years. The sum of excess in the two periods is 1256 or 1356.――――The following tables will serve to show how these diverse footings are produced. The numbers given by Josephus have some interest: I therefore place them in the table for the period before the flood. The numbers given in the Samaritan text are frequently brought into this comparison. They differ considerably from either of the other authorities, but seem to me of no particular value, and are therefore omitted. A. HEBREW TEXT. SEPTUAGINT. JOSEPHUS. ――――――――――――――――― ―――――――――――――――― ――――――――――――――――― Age Age Age at Rest at Rest at Rest Son’s of Son’s of Son’s of NAMES birth. life.Total. birth.life.Total. birth.life. Total. ―――― ―――― ―――― ―――― ―――― ―――― ―――― ―――― ―――― 1. Adam 130 800 930 230 700 930 230 700 930 2. Seth 105 807 912 205 707 912 205 707 912 3. Enos 90 815 905 190 715 905 190 715 905 4. Cainan 70 840 910 170 740 910 170 740 910 5. Mahalaleel 65 830 895 165 730 895 165 730 895 6. Jared 162 800 962 162 800 962 162 800 962 7. Enoch 65 300 365 165 200 365 165 200 365 8. Methuselah 187 782 969 *187 782 969 187 782 969 9. Lamech 182 595 777 188 565 753 182 595 777 10. Noah 500 450 950 500 450 950 500 450 950 To the flood 100 100 100 ―――― ―――― ―――― ―――― ―――― ―――― ―――― ―――― ―――― Total 1656 2262 2256 * The Vatican text of the Seventy makes this number 167.