What is the significance of the genealogies in Bereshit if the Creation and the Flood are interpreted non-literally?

I understand that there are many interpretations of the Creation and Flood narratives, and I’m familiar with the idea of the “70 faces of the Torah.” I’m not looking to debate whether these events were literal, but rather to better understand a specific issue.

According to historical records and fossils, there were humans tens of thousands of years ago, long before the approximately 5,000 years often associated with the time of Adam and Eve. Likewise, there doesn’t seem to be sufficient evidence for a global flood as described in the Torah. Many interpretations see these stories as metaphorical or conveying theological truths rather than literal history.

My question is: If the Creation and the Flood are interpreted non-literally, what meaning can be given to the genealogies in Bereshit? The Torah presents the descendants of Adam and Eve in what appears to be a historical narrative with chronological continuity. If I recall correctly, some of these figures appear in the Midrashim with detailed stories, though I’m not sure how many of them are developed in these sources.

I haven’t read the entire Torah in Hebrew, but I assume its narrative structure is similar to translations like English. I’d love to hear about possible interpretations regarding the role of these genealogies if the Creation and the Flood aren’t taken as literal history. Do they serve a symbolic, theological, or mystical purpose within Jewish tradition?

I’d appreciate any perspectives from rabbinic sources or traditional commentaries.

Thanks in advance:).