Hacker News Reader

Many people who were born after the flood are listed in the Bible as living longer than 120 years. It's just not a very internally consistent book (probably because it has multiple authors).

Edit: I was wrong about the part below.

As for it being 120 years until the flood, if my memory serves me right, that passage is clearly after the flood (and as a reaction to the 'wickedness' before the flood).

View on HN

That passage is before the flood. Flood planning starts just after.

I don't remember anyone living hundreds of years in the Bible after that proclamation (unless they were already alive, like Noah) but you might be right. I see Jacob was apparently 130 or older and that was later on. Is there anyone who lived a really long time that was born after Genesis 6:3? Seems like a good place to spot an obvious "plot hole".

You're right about the flood planning, I just checked. It's worth noting that the chapters in the Bible are likely modern too.

Abraham lived for 175 years, Moses suspiciously lived for exactly 120 years, some medieval commentators claim the genesis verse is a reference to him (although there is no other proof).

Thank you, good example. 175 is indeed beyond what one could reasonably consider "around 120" and Abraham came after the 120 years proclamation.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com