Mahalaleel

Two figures bear this name. One is an antediluvian patriarch of the Sethite line, fourth from Seth and great-grandfather of Noah, listed in Genesis 5, 1 Chronicles 1, and the Lukan genealogy of Christ. The other is a post-exilic resident of Jerusalem from the tribe of Judah. The UPDV spells the antediluvian's name "Mahalalel" in Genesis and Chronicles, "Mahalaleel" in Luke; both belong to the same figure.

Mahalalel Son of Kenan

Mahalalel is son of Kenan and father of Jared. The Sethite chronology gives his life-span: "And Kenan lived seventy years, and begot Mahalalel: and Kenan lived after he begot Mahalalel 840 years, and begot sons and daughters: and all the days of Kenan were 910 years: and he died. And Mahalalel lived sixty-five years, and begot Jared: And Mahalalel lived after he begot Jared 830 years, and begot sons and daughters: and all the days of Mahalalel were 895 years: and he died" (Gen 5:12-17). The chronicler condenses the line: "Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared" (1Chr 1:2).

In the Genealogy of Christ

The Lukan genealogy traces the same descent forward to Jesus, naming Mahalaleel between Cainan and Jared: "the [son] of Methuselah, the [son] of Enoch, the [son] of Jared, the [son] of Mahalaleel, the [son] of Cainan" (Luke 3:37). The same antediluvian patriarch stands in the line that the Lukan account follows back through Adam.

A Man of Judah

A second Mahalalel appears in the resettlement record as a Judahite ancestor of one of the Jerusalem residents: "And in Jerusalem dwelt certain of the sons of Judah, and of the sons of Benjamin. Of the sons of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, of the sons of Perez" (Neh 11:4). He is placed within the line of Perez son of Judah.