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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 4:19-22

We have here some particulars concerning Lamech, the seventh from Adam in the line of Cain. Observe, I. His marrying two wives. It was one of the degenerate race of Cain who first transgressed that original law of marriage that two only should be one flesh. Hitherto one man had but one wife at a time; but Lamech took two. From the beginning it was not so. Mal. 2:15; Matt. 19:5. See here, 1. Those who desert God's church and ordinances lay themselves open to all manner of temptation. 2. When a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 4:19

And Lamech took unto him two wives ,.... He was the first we read of that introduced polygamy, contrary to the first institution of marriage, whereby only one man and one woman were to be joined together, and become one flesh, Genesis 2:24 . This evil practice, though it began in the race of wicked Cain, was in later ages followed by some among the people of God, which was connived at because of the hardness of their hearts; otherwise it was not so from the beginning. This was the first... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 4:20

And Adah bare Jabal ,.... According to Hillerus F13 Onomastic. Sacr. p. 35,45, 349. , this name, and Jubal and Tubal, after mentioned, all signify a river; why Lamech should call all his sons by names signifying the same thing, is not easy to say. He was the father of such as dwelt in tents, and of such as have cattle : not in a proper sense the father of them, though his posterity might succeed him in the same business; but he was the first author and inventor of tents or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 4:21

And his brother's name was Jubal ,.... This was another son of Lamech by Adah, and his name differs only in one letter from his brother's: he was the father of all such that handle the harp and organ : he was the inventor of instrumental music, both of stringed instruments, such as were touched by the fingers, or struck with a quill, as the "harp"; and of wind instruments, such as were blown, as the "organ", which seems not to be the same we call so, being a late invention; but however a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 4:22

And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain ,.... Thought by many to be the same with Vulcan, his name and business agreeing; for the names are near in sound, Tubalcain may easily pass into Vulcan; and who, with the Heathens, was the god of the smiths, and the maker of Jupiter's thunderbolts, as this was an artificer in iron and brass, as follows: his name is compounded of two words, the latter of which was no doubt put into his name in memory of Cain his great ancestor; the former Josephus F21 ... 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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 4:19

Verse 19 19.And Lamech took unto him two wives. We have here the origin of polygamy in a perverse and degenerate race; and the first author of it, a cruel man, destitute of all humanity. Whether he had been impelled by an immoderate desire of augmenting his own family, as proud and ambitious men are wont to be, or by mere lust, it is of little consequence to determine; because, in either way he violated the sacred law of marriage, which had been delivered by God. For God had determined, that... read more

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