Only Two Divisions in the World

Cain had a son, Enoch and mankind was divided into two branches and still is-those who still abide in the presence of God, and those who have fled to a distance from Him. That really is the only two divisions in the world – those who have a restored relationship with God thru Christ Jesus and those who do not. Tonight we look at the progression of those who walk the path away from God.

Gen 4:18-24

18 To Enoch was born Irad; and Irad begot Mehujael, and Mehujael begot Methushael, and Methushael begot Lamech.

19 Then Lamech took for himself two wives: the name of one was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah. 20 And Adah bore Jabal. He was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother's name was Jubal. He was the father of all those who play the harp and flute. 22 And as for Zillah, she also bore Tubal-Cain, an instructor of every craftsman in bronze and iron. And the sister of Tubal-Cain was Naamah. 23 Then Lamech said to his wives:

"Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;

Wives of Lamech, listen to my speech!

For I have killed a man for wounding me,

Even a young man for hurting me.

24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold,

Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold."

1. Enoch, Cain's Son and His Sons (vs. 18)

The powerful development of the worldly mind and of ungodliness among the Cainites was openly displayed in Lamech, in the sixth generation. Of the intermediate links, the names only are given. Some of these names resemble those of the Sethite genealogy, for example Irad and Jared, Mehujael and Mahalaleel, Methusael and Methuselah, also Cain and Cainan; and the names Enoch and Lamech occur in both families. But neither the recurrence of similar names, nor even of the same names, warrants the conclusion that the two genealogical tables are simply different forms of one primary legend. The names, though similar in sound, are very different in meaning. Irad probably signifies the townsman, Jared, descent, or that which has descended; Mehujael, smitten of God, and Mahalaleel, praise of God; Methusael, man of prayer, and Methuselah, man of the sword or of increase.

The repetition of the two names Enoch and Lamech even loses all significance, when we consider the different places which they occupy in the respective lines, and observe also that in the case of these very names, the more precise descriptions which are given so thoroughly establish the difference of character in the two individuals, as to preclude the possibility of their being the same, not to mention the fact, that in the later history the same names frequently occur in totally different families; e.g., Korah in the families of Levi (Ex 6:21) and Esau (Gen 36:5); Hanoch in those of Reuben (ch. 46:9) and Midian (ch. 25:4); Kenaz in those of Judah (Num 32:12) and Esau (Gen 36:11). The identity and similarity of names can prove nothing more than that the two branches of the human race did not keep entirely apart from each other; a fact established by their subsequently intermarrying.

Lamech took two wives, and so was the first to prepare the way for polygamy. The names of the women are indicative of sensual attractions: Adah, the adorned; and Zillah, either the shady or the tinkling.

Lamech's three sons followed three different paths. Jabal (probably = jebul, produce) became the father of those who lived in tents, i.e., of nomads who lived in tents and with their flocks, getting their living by a pastoral occupation. Jubal (sound), the father of all those who handled the harp and pipe, i.e., the inventors of stringed and wind instruments. kinowr a guitar or harp; `uwgaab the shepherd's reed or bagpipe. Tubal-Cain, "hammering all kinds of cutting things (the verb is to be construed as neuter) in brass and iron;" the inventor therefore of all kinds of edge-tools for working in metals: so that Cain, from qiyn to forge, is probably to be regarded as the surname which Tubal received on account of his inventions.

NOTE: Gen 4:23: Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah. The passage which follows is poetical, as is evident from the use of certain forms of expression in the original, as well as from the parallelistic stanzas, which are a characteristic of Hebrew poetry. The insertion of such a rhapsody, which apparently contains neither doctrine nor fact worthy of historical preservation, has greatly puzzled commentators. But as it is the most ancient piece of poetical composition in the world, perhaps this primitive chant was intended to propose that Lamech was the father of poetry, as two of his sons were the founders or inventors of other arts. 

 

Whether it comprised the whole poem, or is merely the fragment of a longer poem, it is impossible to know, but its transmission to the times of Moses may be accounted for, if we accept the tradition that Naamah, the daughter of Lamech, became the wife of Ham, through whom, or his son Canaan, the respective ancestors of the Egyptians and Canaanites, it was preserved, until it was afterward embodied in the popular minstrelsy of both countries. (from Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1997 by Biblesoft)

2. Lamech Commits Murder And Brags About It (vs. 23&24)

Since a difference of opinion exists among interpreters whether the verb in the third line is to be taken as “killed”, or a future, “I will slay”, it cannot be determined whether the speaker was commemorating an actual occurrence, or merely stating what he would do in a possible contingency. Some translators agree with the Septuagint, the Syriac, and the Vulgate versions of Scripture in considering that Lamech had already avenged himself on a young Cainite who had wounded him. They believe that this speech was a kind of apology, because the murder, which he explained was perfectly justifiable, having been committed in self-defense. Considering the parallelism, which repeats the same idea in two consecutive lines, it seems there is only one murder spoken of, and not two.

However, most of the old commentators, such as Calvin, LeClerc, etc., as well as all the more recent ones, Kiel, Delitzsch, Ewald, regard the speech of Lamech as an outburst of proud and presumptuous self-confidence, the boast of a bold, bad man, elated with the possession of arms, and believing that with such formidable weapons as his son had invented, he could defy all the world to oppose him in whatever courses he chose to follow. A boasting menace who could inflict compendious vengeance. Vengeance which God did not deem appropriate in Cain's case. His boast that if any should assail him, or do him the slightest injury, the offender would compensate his daring by an instant and inevitable death.

The idea is this: whoever inflicts a wound or stripe on me, whether man or youth, I will put to death; and for every injury done to my person, I will take ten times more vengeance than that with which God promised to avenge the murder of my ancestor Cain. In this song, which contains in its rhythm, its strophic arrangement of the thoughts, and its poetic phrasing, the germ of the later poetry we may detect "that Titanic arrogance, of which the Bible says that its power is its god (Hab 1:11), and that it carries its god, viz., its sword, in its hand (Job 12:6)."

(Delitzsch).- According to these accounts, the principal arts and manufactures were invented by the Cainites, and carried out in an ungodly spirit; but they are not therefore to be attributed to the curse which rested upon the family. They have their roots rather in the mental powers with which man was endowed for the sovereignty and subjugation of the earth, but which, like all the other powers and tendencies of his nature, were pervaded by sin, and desecrated in its service. Hence these inventions have become the common property of humanity,

because they not only may promote its intended development, but are to be applied and consecrated to this purpose for the glory of God.

And so, Lamech, to whom the introduction of polygamy is generally ascribed, was, probably, also the introducer of human sacrifices.' So ends the account of the Cainites, whose genealogical roll is brought down only to the seventh generation.

What should you take away from these verses? Because of man's original sin in the garden Cain committed a great sin against his brother Able by killing him. Then Cain's grandson Lamech brags about committing murder. One sin begets another and where there is no repentant heart it continues. And so Cain's family became slaves to sin and Satan But if you will turn from your sins and turn to Christ Jesus your sins will be forgiven and you no longer have to be a slave to sin.