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Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 4:14

Behold, thou hast driven me out - In Genesis 4:11 , Genesis 4:12 , God states two parts of Cain's punishment: The ground was cursed, so that it was not to yield any adequate recompense for his most careful tillage. He was to be a fugitive and a vagabond having no place in which he could dwell with comfort or security. To these Cain himself adds others. His being hidden from the face of God; which appears to signify his being expelled from that particular place where God had... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 4:15

The Lord set a mark upon Cain - What this mark was, has given rise to a number of frivolously curious conjectures. Dr. Shuckford collects the most remarkable. Some say he was paralytic; this seems to have arisen from the version of the Septuagint, Στενων και τρεμων εση , Groaning and trembling shalt thou be. The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel says the sign was from the great and precious name, probably one of the letters of the word Yehovah . The author of an Arabic Catena in the Bodleian... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 4:16

The land of Nod - As נוד nod signifies the same as sa נד , a vagabond, some think this verse should be rendered, And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, from the east of Eden, and dwelt a vagabond on the earth; thus the curse pronounced on him, Genesis 4:12 , was accomplished. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 4:17

She - bare Enoch - As חנוך Chanoch signifies instructed, dedicated, or initiated, and especially in sacred things, it may be considered some proof of Cain's repentance, that he appears to have dedicated this son to God, who, in his father's stead, might minister in the sacerdotal office, from which Cain, by his crime, was for ever excluded. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 4:19

Lamech took - two wives - He was the first who dared to reverse the order of God by introducing polygamy; and from him it has been retained, practiced, and defended to the present day. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 4:20

Jabal - was the father - The inventor or teacher, for so the word is understood, 1 Samuel 10:12 . He was the first who invented tent-making, and the breeding and managing of cattle; or he was, in these respects, the most eminent in that time. Though Abel was a shepherd, it is not likely he was such on an extensive scale. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 4:21

Jubal - the father - i.e. The inventor of musical instruments, such as the כנור kinnor , which we translate harp, and the עוגב ugab , which we render organ; it is very likely that both words are generic, the former including under it all stringed instruments, and the latter, all wind instruments. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 4:22

Tubal-cain - The first smith on record, who taught how to make warlike instruments and domestic utensils out of brass and iron. Agricultural instruments must have been in use long before, for Cain was a tiller of the ground, and so was Adam, and they could not have cultivated the ground without spades, hooks, etc. Some of these arts were useless to man while innocent and upright, but after his fall they became necessary. Thus is the saying verified: God made man upright, but they have... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 4:23

And Lamech said unto his wives - The speech of Lamech to his wives is in hemistichs in the original, and consequently, as nothing of this kind occurs before this time, it is very probably the oldest piece of poetry in the world. The following is, as nearly as possible, a literal translation: "And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Tsillah, hear ye my voice; Wives of Lamech, hearken to my speech; For I have slain a man for wounding me, And a young man for having bruised me. If... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 4:12

Verse 12 12.When thou tillest the ground. This verse is the exposition of the former; for it expresses more clearly what is meant by being cursed from the earth, namely, that the earth defrauds its cultivators of the fruit of their toil. Should any one object that this punishment had before been alike inflicted on all mortals, in the person of Adam; my answer is, I have no doubt that something of the benediction which had hitherto remained, was now further withdrawn with respect to the... read more

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