In the memorable survey of Biblical characters that makes up “It Ain’t Necessarily So” (from Porgy and Bess, lyrics by George Gershwin, singing by Sportin’ Life), Li’l David, Big Goliath, Jonah, Li’l Moses and Ol’ Pharaoh’s daughter all set the stage for Methus’lah, who lived 900 years—well, 969 to be exact, according to Genesis 5:27. A long time indeed—for humans! The Bible records none longer. But what sort of time frame are we looking at when the name, Methuselah, stays the same, but the species changes? For the sake of an organizing principle of our own, we’ll start from […]
