Enoch = Teaching or Initiation. Cain's posterity (verses: Genesis 4:16-24 ) comes in "the Generations of the heavens and the earth" (see Structure, p. 5). See App-20 . This seed was begotten after the slaying of Abel. city. A city has been discovered beneath the brick platform on which Nipur, in South Babylonia, was built. This verse shows there were people on earth other than Adam's children, or Cain married his full sister. read more
Irad = city of witness. Lamech = powerful, 7th from Adam in Cain's line. read more
"And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bare Enoch: he builded a city and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.""He builded a city ..." according to Aalders, should be translated "He was building a city."[22] There is no record of his having completed the city mentioned here. The fanciful notion that Cain built some magnificent metropolis should be summarily rejected. The city that he built, or was trying to build, was probably nothing more than a stronghold base... read more
"And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael; and Mahujael begat Methushael; and Methushael begat Lamech."The similarity of some of the names in this genealogy to some of those in the genealogy of Seth is used as an excuse for some to claim that these are actually garbled accounts of the same genealogies, but there is no evidence whatever to support such a view. The very variations in the names used demonstrates their belonging to separate lines. Besides, as Willis expressed it, "The... read more
Genesis 4:17. And Cain, &c.— It is evident from this verse, how brief the narration of Moses is, how he passes over time, and connects events of many years distance. For it is plain, that several years must have passed from the exile of Cain to his building this city. He chose rather to call it after his son's name than his own, probably because of the odium under which he lay. read more
Genesis 4:18. Unto Enoch was born, &c.— It is observable, that while the genealogy of Seth is accurately deduced to Noah, and while an exact account is given of the age of his descendants, the genealogy of the descendants of Cain is carried but a little way, and no mention is made of their age. The reason is evident: Moses wrote this history for the chosen seed, from whom should spring the great Messiah; and to deduce the grand original promise. REFLECTIONS.—The murder of Abel was secret,... read more
17-22. builded a city—It has been in cities that the human race has ever made the greatest social progress; and several of Cain's descendants distinguished themselves by their inventive genius in the arts. read more
B. What became of the creation 2:4-4:26Moses described what happened to the creation by recording significant events in the Garden of Eden, the murder of Abel, and the family of Cain."The section begins with a description of the creation of Adam and Eve and traces their sin, God’s curse on sin, and the expansion of sin in their descendants. No longer at rest, mankind experienced flight and fear, making his way in the world, surviving, and developing civilization. As if in answer to the... read more
The descendants of Cain 4:17-24"By virtue of being Cain’s descendants, the people named in the genealogy all inherit his curse. Thus the Cainite genealogy becomes part of the Yahwist’s account of man’s increasing sin." [Note: R. R. Wilson, Genealogy and History in the Biblical World, p. 155.] Cain’s wife (Genesis 4:17) was evidently one of his sisters or nieces (cf. Genesis 5:4). God did not prohibit marrying siblings and close relatives until the Mosaic Law."Because harmful mutations so... read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Genesis 4:17-26
Cain’s followers and Seth’s (4:17-26)Difficult though this new way of life was, the ungodly Cain was no doubt relieved to be free from the influence of God. The human population had been growing constantly, so in a plan to make himself secure Cain established his own independent settlement (17-18).The beginnings of settled life were marked by both good and evil. People made some progress in the raising of sheep and cattle, and developed skills in various arts and crafts, but morally they became... read more