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A Study of the
120 years

        Genesis 6:3 says, "And the the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty."

        The two major interpretations placed upon this verse are:
  1. Adjusted lifespan. The 120 years is thought by some to be the new and adjusted average lifespan of man after the flood. At this time men were living over 900 years. After the flood the lifespan of man dropped rapidly to around 100 to 120 years.
  2. Longsuffering of God. God had already been patient with mankind. He was ready to destroy the human race and start over. Yet, God is longsuffering. (1 Peter 3:20)
        NOTE: God does not say man will have a shorter time to live on the earth. The context is the plan to destroy the earth with a flood. God has been patient. Even though the earth could be destroyed immediately, God shows His patience and long-suffering by giving man an additional 120 years to repent.

The Problem

        Here are the facts which some believe to be a contradiction in the Bible:
    1. Man will have 120 years to repent from this time to the beginning of the flood. (Gen. 6:3)
    2. Noah was 500 years old and begat Shem, Ham and Japheth. (Gen. 5:32)
    3. Noah was 600 years old at the time the flood came upon the earth. (Gen. 7:6)

        The issue is: How could 120 years pass from the time of the birth of his sons at age 500 to the flood at age 600?

        The answer is:
    1. Shem, Ham and Japheth are not triplets. They were born over a period of time.
    2. The figure of 500 must be understood to be a round number. That is, Noah was around 500 years old when his three sons were born. It may be that one was born when Noah was 480, another when he was 486 and the third when he was 489. He was around 500 when they were born.
    3. The 120 figure is more precise. God is saying, "120 years is all the patience I have left. If they have not repented in another 120 years, I will send the flood."
    4. To get 120 years between the birth of his sons and the flood, it is necessary that at least one of the sons was born by the time Noah was 480.

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