On the Originality of the Septuagint's Numbers in Genesis 5 and 11

Henry B. Smith Jr. of Associates for Biblical Research speaks to students from Montana Bible College on the genealogies of Genesis 5 and 11. The focus of this presentation is on the numerical divergences between the Masoretic Text and the Septuagint in Genesis 5 and 11. Smith proposes that the LXX preserves (most of) the original numbers in Genesis 5 and 11. Most of the MT’s chronology in Genesis 5 and 11 does not represent the original text, and is the result of a deliberate and systematic post–AD 70 corruption. Corroborating external witnesses, internal and external evidence, text critical and LXX studies, and historical testimonies will be presented, along with arguments rebutting LXX inflation hypotheses.