בראשית, פרק ה׳, פסוק כ״ז

The life of the longest-living human in history comes to a close at a dramatic juncture, intersecting perfectly with the greatest disaster of the ancient world. Recognized as the oldest person recorded in scripture [ביאור שטיינזלץ], his extreme longevity is only part of the story; the specific year of his passing carries profound meaning. A careful calculation of the generations—from his life to the birth of Lamech, from Lamech to Noah, and adding the six hundred years of Noah's life before the Flood—reveals that his nine hundred and sixty-nine years conclude exactly in the year the Flood descends upon the earth.

This precise historical alignment serves as evidence for the accuracy of the traditional text over the Septuagint. According to the Greek translation's calculations, his lifespan would have extended many years after the Flood. Such a timeline is illogical, as scripture surely would have explicitly documented his survival had he lived through the global destruction [אם למקרא].

The exact convergence of his death and the onset of the disaster naturally raises questions about his final moments. Two possibilities emerge: either he perished in the floodwaters, or he passed away shortly before the rain began. The Midrashic approach leans toward the second option, explaining that he was a righteous man who earned his extraordinary lifespan through his merit. Consequently, he died peacefully just days before the disaster began, ensuring he was spared from witnessing the ruin brought upon the world [קאסוטו].