11 Cheshvan · Yahrzeit
Metushelach ben Chanoch - great-grandfather of Noach
Metushelach ben Chanoch - great-grandfather of Noach
Yahrzeit - 11 Cheshvan
The Midrash "Yalkut Shimoni" says that his name, Metushelach, is composed of the words "mataim shloshim" - 230, corresponding to the number of parables with which he praised the Almighty.
Son of the righteous Chanoch, whom the Almighty took up to heaven alive, he was born in the year 687, when his father Chanoch was 65 years old.
He was the grandfather of Noach and lived 969 years.
The direct chain of 7 people from Adam:
Metushelach saw Adam, Shem saw Metushelach, Yaakov saw Shem, Amram saw Yaakov, Achiya HaShiloni saw Amram, Eliyahu saw Achiya, and Eliyahu is still alive. (Bava Batra 121b)
Metushelach was completely devout; he touched nothing without giving thanks to the Almighty.
He learned nine hundred orders of Mishnah (Yalkut Shimoni, Bereishit 42).
The L-rd made for Adam ... garments of skin.
Before his death, Adam entrusted [these garments] to Shet, who passed them on to Noach.
Metushelach, being a great sage, warned Noach's father, Lemech, not to call Noach by his name, so that the people of the generation of the Flood would not kill him with sorcery [which is effective only if the true name is used].
When his grandson was born, Metushelach named him Noach, but the child's father said: "Call him Menachem." (Yalkut Shimoni, Bereishit 42).
As long as Metushelach lived, the Flood did not come into the world [in his merit].
And when he died, Hashem delayed it for seven days [during which time he was mourned]. (Avot d'Rabbi Natan 32:1).
When Metushelach died, they heard a noise from the heavens, for [the angels] were singing praises in his honor.
Tears flowed from the eyes of the Chayot onto the place of his death. Upon seeing him, [humanity] sang his praises on Earth, and the L-rd delayed the generation's punishment by the Flood for seven days as a reward for their praises in his honor. (Yalkut Shimoni, Bereishit 42).
During the seven days of mourning for Metushelach, G-d gave them abundant light - a reward for his ascent to Heaven. (Etz Yosef) (Bereishit Rabbah 3:6)
The Yalkut Reuveni says that Metushelach was later reincarnated as Eliyahu HaNavi.
May the merit of this tzadik protect us all, Amen!
Tehillim 145 – the name Metushelach ben Chanoch in Tehillim
(Tzadikim.com)