ENOS, the son of Seth, and father of Cainan. He was born in the year of the world 235, before Jesus Christ 3765, before the Vulgar Æra 3769. He died at the age of nine hundred and five years, in the year of the world 1140, before Jesus Christ 2860, before the Vulgar Æra 2864. Moses tells us, That Enos began to call upon the name of the Lord; that is to say, he was the inventor of religious Rites and Ceremonies in the external worship which was paid to God. Others translate the Hebrew thus, Gen. iv. ultimo. אז הוחל לקרא בשם יהוהThen began men to call upon the name of the Lord. Enos formed the publick and external manner of honouring God. This worship was kept up and preserved in the family of Enos, while Cain’s family was plunged into all sorts of irregularities and impieties.
Ita Chald. uterque, alii. Vide Cartwright. ad Genes. iv. &c.Several Jews are of opinion, that Idolatry was first introduced into the world in the time of Enos. They translate the Hebrew thus, Then began men to profane the name of the Lord, to give it to the creature and to idols. This passage may likewise be Vide Aquil.translated thus, Then began men to call themselves by the name of the Lord. Good men to distinguish themselves from the wicked, began to take upon them the quality of sons or servants of God; for which reason Moses, Gen. vi. 1, 2. says, that the sons of God, that is to say, the descendants of Enos, who had hitherto preserved the true Religion, seeing the daughters of men, that they were fair, took them wives of all which they chose.
Genebr. Chronol. l. 2. p. 10.Genebrard makes Seth to be the author of some writings; he says, he wrote upon Religion, upon the manner of praying unto God, and upon ceremonies. But none of these supposed works have ever come to our knowledge, and he quotes no old author who has made any mention of them.
D’Herbelot. Bibl. Orient. p. 117. Anosch.The Eastern people make the following additions to his history; namely, that Seth his father declared him sovereign Prince and High-Priest of Mankind next after himself; that Enos was the first who ordained publick alms for the poor, established publick tribunals for the administration of justice, and planted or rather cultivated the palm-tree. He died at the age of nine hundred and sixty five years, and left his eldest son Cainan his successor in the Dignity of sovereign Prince and High-Priest.