Exposition of Genesis 1-11

Exposition of Genesis 1-11 The Fall and its Aftermath Part IV Gen 4:17-26

What We’ve Covered So Far • The Creation of the Heavens and the Earth – Gen 1:1 – 2:3 • The Creation of Man and Woman and the Garden of Eden – Gen 2:4-25 • The Fall and its Aftermath – Gen 3:1 – 4:16

Genesis 4:17-26 Cain had relations with his wife and she conceived, and gave birth to Enoch; and he built a city, and called the name of the city Enoch, after the name of his son. Now to Enoch was born Irad, and Irad became the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael became the father of Methushael, and Methushael became the father of Lamech. Lamech took to himself two wives: the name of the one…

Genesis 4:17-26 (cont…) …was Adah, and the name of the other, Zillah. Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. As for Zillah, she also gave birth to Tubal-cain, the forger of all implements of bronze and iron; and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah. Lamech said to his wives, …

Genesis 4:17-26 (cont…) … “Adah and Zillah, Listen to my voice, You wives of Lamech, Give heed to my speech, For I have killed a man for wounding me; And a boy for striking me; If Cain is avenged sevenfold, Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.” …

Genesis 4:17-26 (cont…) …Adam had relations with his wife again; and she gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, for, she said, “God has appointed me another offspring in place of Abel, for Cain killed him.” To Seth, to him also a son was born; and he called his name Enosh. Then men began to call upon the name of the LORD.

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Context of Genesis 4:17-26 • OT • Book of the Law • Historical Prologue • Account of the “Very Good” Heavens and Earth • Introduction (2:4-25) • Curse on the serpent and ground (3:1-24) • Curse on Cain (4:1-26)

Genesis 3 and 4 • Questions of “Where?” and “What?” • Issue related to “fruit” • “Voice” is heard • “Desiring” and “Ruling” • Discipline by banishing • “Cursing” and “the ground” • “Cursed are you”, “Cursed is the ground” • “Cursed are you from the ground” Cf. Mathews, NAC, pg. 263

Curse of Cain • God says (11-12): • No yield of strength when cultivating • Be a vagrant and wanderer • Cain responds (13-14): • Driven from the ground, hidden from your face • Vagrant and wanderer, I’ll be killed! • God responds (15): • I’ll keep you from being killed • Cain leaves God’s presence (16)

Genesis 4:17-18: Cain to Lamech • Cain’s family begins in Nod • Who was Cain’s wife? (cf. Gen 5:4; Lev 18:9) • Who built the city? • Cain’s descendants • “Enoch” means initiation, dedication, founding • “Irad” is very close to the Hebrew for “city” • Difficult (for me, at least!) to learn much about other names

Genesis 4:19: Lamech’s Wives • Polygamy • Not what God planned (Gen 2:23-24) • Legislated in the law (Deut 21:15-17) • Overlooked(?) in patriarchs and kings? • Wives’ Names Emphasize the Physical? • Ornament • Shade or Shrill/Tinkle • Cf. Song of Songs 2:14

Genesis 4:20-22: Lamech’s Sons • “Producers” – Hebrew ybl • “Father” – Founder and Teacher • Jabal – Animal Husbandry • Jubal – Music • Tubal-cain – Metalurgy (bronze and iron) • Also a daughter! Naamah (Jewish tradition says she was Noah’s wife!) • Also Jewish legend that Lamech slew Cain

Genesis 4:23-24: Lamech’s Song • “Boy”? • “Wound” and “Injure/strike” (“eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, ….”) • Lamech pays back much more! • Lamech’s either… • presumes upon God • boasts of his own vengeance • Cf. Matthew 18:22

Cainitic Civilization • “Civilization’s attempt to thwart the effects of God’s curse is illustrated by the Cainitic economy as follows: • Urban life was preferred by many, instead of “tilling the ground” • Nomadic life was preferred by others, instead of the settled dwelling place required for agriculture • Cattle raising was inaugurated, probably because men had become meat eaters instead of being content with food grown from the earth • Metal working and tools were developed to ease the “toil” of the curse • Musical instruments were devised to mitigate the “sorrow” • Polygamy was introduced, instead of adhering to the monogamous form of marriage • Metallic weapons were invented, giving those who possessed them and were skilled in their use a great advantage over other men • Poetic boasting, as noted here in Lamech’s song and as often characteristic of human poetry and writing, asserted man’s self-sufficiency and independence of God. • Henry Morris, The Genesis Record, p. 147

Genesis 4: Cain and Lamech • Tubal-cain (qn) • Jabal’s “livestock” (miqneh) • Jubal’s music – Dirge? (qinah) • Lamech references Cain • “Kill” – Hebrew hrg • Vengeance

Genesis 4:25-26: God’s Grace • “Seth” • Sounds like “Appointed/Granted” (cf. v. 25) • Means “foundation” • God provides a son to replace Abel and who is not cursed like the murderer Cain • Seth names his son “Enosh” • “Man in his frailty” (e.g., Psa 90:3; Isa 13:7) • Quite a contrast with Lamech

“Called on the name of the Lord” • Lit: “Then it was begun to call on the Name of the Lord” • Variety of uses • God Himself does this (Ex. 33:19; 34:5-6)! • Nations do or don’t do this (Jer 10:25; Zeph 3:9) • Individuals do this (Gen 12:8; 16:13) • Key for Gen 4:26 is Gen 4:17 • Cain had a son and named a city after him • Seth had a son and God’s name was called upon

Genesis 4 and 5 • Adam • Seth • Enosh • Kenan • Mahalalel • Jared • Enoch • Methuselah • Lamech • Noah • Shem • Ham • Japeth • Adam • Cain • Enoch • Irad • Mehujael • Methushael • Lamech • Jabal • Jubal • Tubal-Cain

Genealogy from Adam to Noah Gen 5:1-32

Exposition of Genesis 1-11