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Genesis 4: 17–24 — Cain’s Family Line and Lamech | Bible Commentary · A Tithe of Time Podcast

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to a tithe of time, verse by verse.
• 0:03
  SPEAKER_00: Today we begin reading from the ESV, Genesis 4, 17-24, Cain's family line and Lamech.
• 0:11
  SPEAKER_00: Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch.
• 0:15
  SPEAKER_00: When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch.
• 0:20
  SPEAKER_00: To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mahujael, and Mahujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech.
• 0:29
  SPEAKER_00: And Lamech took two wives.
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_00: The name of the one was Ada, and the name of the other, Zillah.
• 0:35
  SPEAKER_00: Ada bore Jabal.
• 0:37
  SPEAKER_00: He was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock.
• 0:40
  SPEAKER_00: His brother's name was Jubal.
• 0:42
  SPEAKER_00: He was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe.
• 0:46
  SPEAKER_00: Zillah also bore Tubalcane.
• 0:48
  SPEAKER_00: He was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron.
• 0:52
  SPEAKER_00: The sister of Tubalcane was Namah.
• 0:55
  SPEAKER_00: Lamech said to his wives, Ada and Zillah, hear my voice.
• 0:59
  SPEAKER_00: You wives of Lamech, listen to what I say.
• 1:03
  SPEAKER_00: I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me.
• 1:07
  SPEAKER_00: If Cain's revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech's is seventy-sevenfold.
• 1:13
  SPEAKER_00: Now let's look closer.
• 1:14
  SPEAKER_00: Cain's story continues through his descendants.
• 1:17
  SPEAKER_00: His wife gives birth to Enoch, and Cain names a city after his son.
• 1:22
  SPEAKER_00: Earlier, God had told Cain he would be a fugitive and a wanderer.
• 1:26
  SPEAKER_00: Now the story follows his family through several generations.
• 1:30
  SPEAKER_00: When we reach Lamech, one detail stands out.
• 1:33
  SPEAKER_00: Lamech took two wives.
• 1:35
  SPEAKER_00: Genesis 2 described a man and his wife becoming one flesh.
• 1:40
  SPEAKER_00: Here, Lamech's household includes Ada and Zillah.
• 1:43
  SPEAKER_00: Their children are associated with different kinds of work and skill.
• 1:47
  SPEAKER_00: Jabal is called the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock.
• 1:52
  SPEAKER_00: Abel had already kept sheep, so notice the particular way Jabal's role is described: tents and livestock together.
• 2:00
  SPEAKER_00: Jabal's brother Jubal is connected with those who play the lyre and pipe.
• 2:04
  SPEAKER_00: A lyre was an ancient stringed instrument, somewhat like a small harp.
• 2:09
  SPEAKER_00: Tubalcane is described as the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron.
• 2:14
  SPEAKER_00: A forger works and shapes metal.
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_00: His sister Nama is also named.
• 2:19
  SPEAKER_00: These details give us more than a list of descendants.
• 2:22
  SPEAKER_00: We hear about a city, households, livestock, music, and metalworking.
• 2:28
  SPEAKER_00: Then the passage turns from the family skills to Lamech's words.
• 2:32
  SPEAKER_00: He calls both wives to listen.
• 2:34
  SPEAKER_00: Ada and Zillah, hear my voice.
• 2:37
  SPEAKER_00: You wives of Lamech, listen to what I say.
• 2:41
  SPEAKER_00: What follows is not another account of work or family.
• 2:44
  SPEAKER_00: Lamech announces that he has killed.
• 2:46
  SPEAKER_00: He says, I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me.
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_00: The circumstances are not fully described, but his next words make a clear connection to Cain.
• 2:57
  SPEAKER_00: If Cain's revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech's is seventy-sevenfold.
• 3:02
  SPEAKER_00: Remember where the sevenfold warning came from.
• 3:05
  SPEAKER_00: God had warned that anyone who killed Cain would face vengeance.
• 3:09
  SPEAKER_00: Now Lamech invokes that warning and declares a much greater vengeance for himself.
• 3:14
  SPEAKER_00: But seventy-sevenfold is Lamech's claim.
• 3:17
  SPEAKER_00: The passage does not present it as a promise God gave him.
• 3:21
  SPEAKER_00: God's warning concerned protecting Cain from being killed.
• 3:24
  SPEAKER_00: Lamech speaks after announcing that he has killed someone who injured him.
• 3:28
  SPEAKER_00: That is the striking turn at the end of this family line.
• 3:32
  SPEAKER_00: The language of protection given to Cain becomes the language Lamech uses to claim greater vengeance for himself.
• 3:39
  SPEAKER_00: This concludes Genesis 4 17 24.
• 3:43
  SPEAKER_00: Next, we'll continue with Genesis 4 25 26.
• 3:47
  SPEAKER_00: And remember, tithe your time.