Matthew Henry Commentary Genesis 5:6-20

"And Seth lived a hundred and five years, and begat Enosh: and Seth lived after he begat Enosh eight hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters: and all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years: and he died. And Enosh lived ninety years, and begat Kenan. and Enosh lived after he begat Kenan eight hundred and fifteen years, and begat sons and daughters: and all the days of Enosh were nine hundred and five years: and he died. And Kenan lived seventy years, and begat Mahalalel: and Kenan lived after he begat Mahalalel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters: and all the days of Kenan were nine hundred and ten years: and he died. And Mahalalel lived sixty and five years, and begat Jared: And Mahalalel lived after he begat Jared eight hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters: and all the days of Mahalalel were eight hundred ninety and five years: and he died. And Jared lived a hundred sixty and two years, and begat Enoch: and Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died." — Genesis 5:6-20 (ASV)

Concerning each of these, except Enoch, it is said, and he died. It is good to observe the deaths of others.

They all lived very long; not one of them died until he had reached almost eight hundred years, and some lived much longer—a long time for an immortal soul to be imprisoned in a house of clay.

The present life surely was not such a burden to them as it commonly is now; otherwise, they would have grown weary of it. Nor was the future life as clearly revealed then as it is now under the gospel; otherwise, they would have been eager to depart to it.

All the patriarchs who lived before the flood, except Noah, were born before Adam died. From him they could have received a full account of the creation, the fall, the promise, and the Divine precepts concerning religious worship and a religious life. Thus, God maintained in his church the knowledge of his will.