Genesis 4:19-24
Part 2- The Men in the Line of Cain
And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. (Genesis 4:19)
And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle. (Genesis 4:20)
And his brother’s name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. (Genesis 4:21)
And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah. (Genesis 4:22)
And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt. (Genesis 4:23)
If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold. (Genesis 4:24)
Jabal
And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle. (Genesis 4:20)
  We have 3 men that are singled out by God the Holy Spirit to allow us a glimpse into the world of the antediluvians. The first is Jabal, ‘a stream,’ a tent dweller, and a cattleman. What can be seen in ‘a stream,’ Jabel? This is a world of city dwellers. It was Cain, the first born into the world, and the first murderer who built the first city and named it after his son, Enoch.
And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch. (Genesis 4:17)
Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names. (Psalm 49:11)
  The very first thing that we are told about one of Lamech’s sons is that Jabal did not live in a city environment, but he chose a life under a tent. His business was cattle, breeding, and cattle management. He was the father or the stream by which those who followed him showed their prosperity. The very word ‘father’ reveals that he was one who was revered, a leader, and a developer. Through this occupation we gather that there was a demand for meat, and he fulfilled the need of the people by supplying them with this particular food item. By the plural of the word ‘tent(s)’ we are made aware of a large communities or many communities of cattle breeders suppling the needs of the city dwellers.
Jubal
And his brother’s name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. (Genesis 4:21)
  We now see another type of Cainite, one who enjoys the, so called, finer things in life. Here is our city dweller. His name has a dual meaning, ‘a trumpet,’ or/and ‘he that runs.’ He is called the father of the art of music, but much more than a musician; being a ‘father’ also would imply an inventor, a developer, one who is revered by others. Two types of musical instruments are mentioned, the harp, and the organ, both could be stringed or wind instruments; showing us that this man was quite an inventive and talented person. Through the meaning of ‘a trumpet,’ we understand that he most probably was boisterous, liked to stand out, lacked restraint, and most probably had a problem with self-discipline. These characteristics are not only describing one man, but it is describing a society. ‘He that runs’ brings the image of an aggressive, and a competitive nature with little regard for others. Jabal and Jubal the sons of Adah, sons from the same mother, and most probably influenced by the personality of Adah.
Tubalcain
And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah. (Genesis 4:22) Here is the first smith recorded in Scripture. In the name of this offspring we see a reference directed back to the head of their lineage; showing, therefore, pride in Cain’s reputation and leadership. Tulbalcain was a forger of brass and iron instruments. In this we have a picture of practical inventions, but it also implies weaponry and idols. There is a two fold meaning of his name, ‘thou wilt be wrought of Cain,’ and ‘possessed of confusion.’ ‘Possessed of confusion’ shows an unstable person, a double minded man, unsettled in words and deeds. It is here in this verse that we have two siblings mentioned from the same mother, Zillah. They also, most probably, had been influenced by her personality, as with most children both parents add to the character of their children.
  The civilization that Cain spawned was independent of God, although this culture revealed inventive and creative genius, it was in total opposition to God and His purposes. Later in Scripture we will see the arts and music used to glorify God, as it should be, since gifts come from God all gifts should be used to glorify God. The line of Cain tried to make their existence without God tolerable; thus, recorded history in verses 19-22 gives us a glimpse of a humanistic culture.
  Even though men produce the comforts and luxuries of life, they cannot by their genius, or energy set aside the sentence of death. Man cannot run away from death. Through inventions, creations of music and art, engineering, fabrications, and building achievements life can be made easier and more enjoyable, but men will always be faced with his sin, and the penalty of that sin which is — death.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)
  Our humanistic culture is based on the creative genius of man, and ‘hero’ worship. I use the word ‘hero’ loosely, for it stretches from the lowest of the low of the dregs of society to the ‘idol’ worship of sports and entertainment personalities. I find it amusing that in the entertainment arena, people are called ‘stars,’ (that which exist in the heavenlies) when for the most part they show forth the lowest of low in character, in action, and in living. In the field of entertainment they are always giving themselves awards — award after award — practically every week there is another award presentation; taking turns praising each other and receiving praises.
  The culture of the humanist is to leave God out of all accomplishments. Man refuses to recognize God, so that man can receive all the praise, and all the glory from other men of the same ilk. The end result of humanism culminates in the worship of one man, the Antichrist.
And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt. (Genesis 4:23)
If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold. (Genesis 4:24)
Lamech – ‘made low’
  Made low boasts to his wives of his killing two men, whether in self-defense, or otherwise, we do not know, but through his speech to his wives his character is revealed. What does his speech reveal about him?
1 – There is no remorse, it shows an unrepentant heart.
2 – He felt he and his were safe from revenge, that they were beyond retaliation. He was safe and secure in his actions.
3 – He thought himself to be more important and greater than Cain; herein, is pride.
  As the recorded genealogy began with a murderer in Cain assassinating his brother Abel, it ends the record of Cain with the murders by Lamech. The line of Cain will no more be mentioned in Scripture. Their recorded end comes at the seventh from Adam, but Lamech was also the sixth from Cain. Six, the number of man. In this number is the culmination of all man’s wickedness centered around one man in the Antichrist, as we find him in Revelation 13:18.
 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. (Revelation 13:18)
The Number 6
  God deliberately ends the record of this ungodly line with Lamech because ‘made low’ is a type of the Antichrist. In the number 6 – 6 – 6 we have the fulfillment of all that is evil in man. The last empire of the Antichrist will consist of a lustful, sexual perverted, murderous, prideful and rebellious people. They will be unified politically and religiously by the world, the flesh, and the devil, and this will be the trilogy of evil and identified with the number 6 – 6 – 6.
The number 7
  In the number seven, we have the fulfillment of God’s purpose for this ungodly line. All their buildings, all their possessions, all their philosophy will fail them. Their religious, economic, and political systems will fail them because death is the penalty of sin. All of Cain’s line, and their ungodly culture will be swept away by the flood to come in judgment against the unrighteous. This Cainite line is a prophetic picture of how our current humanistic culture will be destroyed, but this time it will be by fire not by water.
© Copyright 2015, Mary Haigh
Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the Authorized King James Bible. (KJV)