Genesis 4:18

Years passed away, the family of Cain grew to manhood, and, in imitation of their parents, founded homes for themselves. And unto Enoch (whose wife probably would also be his sister, few caring at this early stage to intermarry with the accursed race) was born Irad. Townsman , citizen, urbanus civilis (Keil, Lange); fleet as a wild ass (Murphy); ornament of a city, from Ir, a city (Wordsworth). And Irad begat Mehujael. Smitten of God (Keil, Gesenius, Murphy), the purified or formed of God (Lange). And Mehujael begat Methusael. Man of God (Gesenius, Lange), man asked or man of El (Murphy), man of prayer (Keil). And Methusael begat Lamech . Strong youth (Gesenius, Lange); man of prayer, youth (Murphy); king, by metathesis for melech (Wordsworth). The resemblance between these names and those in the line of Seth has been accounted for by supposing a commingling of the two genealogies, or one common primitive legend in two forms (Ewald, Knobel). But—

1. The similarity of the names does not necessarily imply the identity of the persons. Cf. Korah in the families of Levi ( Exodus 6:21 ) and Esau ( Genesis 36:5 ); Hanoch in those of Reuben (eh. Genesis 46:9 ) and Midian ( Genesis 25:4 ); Kenaz in those of Esau ( Genesis 36:11 ) and Judah ( Numbers 32:12 ).

2. The similarity of the names only proves that the two collateral branches of the same family did not keep entirely apart.

3. The paucity of names at that early period may have led to their repetition.

4. The names in the two lines are only similar, not identical (cf. with Irad, Jared, descent; with Mehujael, Mahalaleel, praise of God; with Methusael, Methuselah, man of the sword).

5. The particulars related of Enoch and Lamech in the line of Seth forbid their identification with those of the same name in the line of Cain.