Complete Works of Philo Judaeus, Vol. 2

§. 13. Having distinguished the meanings concerning Enoch, we move next to "Methuselah," who was "a sending away of death." Two meanings arise from this expression: one where death is sent upon someone, and another where it is sent away from someone. Now, to whom it is sent, that person certainly dies, but from whom it is sent, that person lives and survives. For Cain, the one who receives death is his house, as he is always dying regarding the life of virtue; but for Seth, it is most akin to him, from whom it is sent away, and the dying is walled off; for the virtuous man has harvested the true life. Furthermore, Lamech, being "humiliation," is ambiguous; for either we are humiliated when the tensions of the soul are relaxed, according to the diseases and infirmities generated from irrational passions; or we are humiliated out of zeal for virtue, sending ourselves away from swelling arrogance. "The former occurs through weakness, being a species of the many-formed and many-turning leprosy. 'For whenever the sight appears lower original: "Lev. 13, 3."' than the leveled and taut perception, the lawgiver says that the grievous disease, 'leprosy,' has occurred. The latter consists of strength of endurance, which is followed by propitiation, according to the perfect number of the decade. For it is commanded to humble souls on the tenth day of the month original: "Ibid. 23, 27.", which is to lay aside boasting, the removal of which works a plea for voluntary and involuntary offenses." The Lamech who is humble in this way is a descendant of Seth and the father of the just Noah, while the other is an offshoot of Cain.