03/20/2024
I thought I'd share a bit of the 5th chapter of soon to be released book called
God's Seconds, The Jewels of Genesis!
Chapter 5
The Tale of 2 Families,
Genesis 4:11-5
Part I. The First Family, The Line of Cain
This chapter was added in when I thought we were almost finished with the book. I felt the Spirit of God say, “You’ve missed something!” So, here we are. This is not considered in the sense of a first or second-born sibling, but a first and second-born family with the first patriarch of the family doing something that starts a downward trend that culminates in the final destruction of the human race by the flood. I almost wanted to call this chapter the 2 Enochs or 2 Lamechs, but I think the Spirit of God gave me the right title. Also, I want you to notice some things about the descendants of Cain. We’re going to look at the first family and kind of pick up from where we left off in chapter 4 of this book.
“11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. 13 And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me. 15 And the Lord said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. 16 And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. (Genesis 4:11-16)
Those 6 verses are some of the saddest in the bible. God said that Cain was cursed from the earth since he had murdered Abel. And when he plowed the ground and planted his fields, he would not have good crops. And that he’d be on the run as a person who would move around from place to place. There’s a mark on his body and a scar on his heart. I know people that have killed other people. Out of anger, in war, by accident, and even in self-defense. Some of the people I know are saved folk and some don’t profess Christ as Savior yet. But they all have this scar in their soul, forgiven? They can be if they’ve asked God. But maybe not yet by man or the state. Maybe they haven’t even forgiven themselves. How about you? If you’re in this situation, give the matter to God and let him cleanse your soul! What sin did Jesus not die for? He died for all sins small and large! The only sin he will not forgive is the sin of unbelief. Moses was a murderer and so was even King David, yet God forgave them when they asked for forgiveness. I even see this in a statement the Apostle Paul makes about his life prior to his conversion when he had Christians put to death (Acts 22:4, I Cor.15:9, Gal.1:13) But Paul is still forgiven. If God can forgive, why can’t you?
Although we see later that Cain built a city and dedicated it unto his son, I think he was also too busy to seek God and chose a busy and restless life trying to make a living and an existence, but not really learning how to live and even to live for God. Maybe he was trying to run from his past. I must confess I see a lot of humanity doing this very thing today and they can never seem to settle down. The Cains are still here. They’ve probably not murdered anyone, at least not physically. I can think of some individuals today who are in a similar boat. They can never live in the same house for long, keep the same job for long, stay in the same town for long, or even keep the same spouse for long. I even told a family member one time that I finally figured out what was going on with them. I said, “You have a restless heart!” A restless heart is what I think is wrong with a lot of our nation, the world, and its families!
Jesus said,
“28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29)
What the world needs is a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ, turning from their sinful ways and placing their faith in what He did on the cross of Calvary, which will save them from their sin! This will not only give them a home in Heaven but can make life down here on Earth more Heavenly too!
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)
So Cain got a wife and the age-old question, “Where did Cain get Cain get his wife?” Of course, it would have had to be an offspring of Adam and Eve, which would have to be one of his sisters. We must understand that in that day genetics had to be phenomenal even after the fall in the Garden of Eden. People up to the flood of Noah lived almost 1,000 years. Also, up to the flood people were vegetarians.
“And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.”(Genesis 1:29)
After the flood the Earth was not the same. It lost some of its nutrients and then man had to eat meat. After Noah came from the Ark, God said for man to eat meat, fruit, and vegetables.
“Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.”(Genesis 9:3)
Now back to the sons of Cain,
17 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.And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech. And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle. And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. And Zillah, she also bare Tubal Cain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubal Cain was Naamah. 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. If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold. (Genesis 4:17-24)
The first son of Cain was named “Enoch” which means (dedicated or teacher) I’m going to call him (Enoch I) and is a name of notoriety in the Bible, but not the one many may think of. Cain built a “city” and called it after his son’s name. My question is who was he dedicated to? God? More than likely not! To the devil? possibly! But how about to himself or to a humanistic point of view in which man is the center of his creation and not God? The devil doesn’t care how he destroys you, so long as you’re destroyed, and we see that today. Satan told Eve that on the day that she ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil her eyes would be open. Her curiosity got the best of her as we mentioned in a previous chapter.
This “Enoch I” got a city named after him and this is the first city mentioned in the bible. This is called by Bible scholars “The Law of First Mention.” And it often gives the precedent for the highest meaning of the word. It is a valuable tool in interpreting scripture. So you could say, what a great honor to have a city named after him and humanly it is, but this was a temporal honor because we see later that all this is futile when man is destroyed by the flood (Genesis chapters 6-7)
I love to travel when I have time, I love traveling to new towns and cities, but in the day we’re living in usually the larger the city the larger the possibility of criminal activity. I know crime happens in the country too. But the more people you have, the more problems you have. If you disagree just turn on the news. My wife and I rarely turn on the news and when we do it’s usually a news bite at the top of the hour. When we do turn it on, we want to see what the weather is going to be, but you must wade through all the crime, vulgarity, and politics, by that time you’re stressed for the day. What the cities and the world need is the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
Then we see Enoch had a son and his name was “Irad” which can have meaning, as we mentioned before in the introduction to our book. His name had 2 meanings, both I believe have negative connotations.
“Irad”, meaning- (Wild Donkey, Fugitive.)
Irad has a son named “Mehujael,” meaning – (Destroy, Smitten of God.)
Mathujael has a son named “Methusael”, meaning- (Demands His Death.)
Mathusael has a son named “Lamech”, meaning- (Strong Man-Despairing,) even in some translations (Priest), but if a priest to whom? God or Satan? That’s a good question!
We’re going to call him Lamech I. We also get the word (Lament) from this name.
The meaning of (lament) And we will start with the negative first,
1.(negative) a lament can be tool for provoking vendetta, uncontrolled reciprocal
violence (against which most nations having laws to control such actions).
Giving vent to a variety of fierce emotions, laments can quickly and easily transform from sorrowful to songs of vengeance, songs like these can also inspire others to do violent acts to individuals, society, or even an ethnic group of people. -this epitomizes Lamech I.
2.(positive) The godly lament in the Bible is not simply an outlet for our frustrations. Though venting may be proven to be beneficial in and of itself, a lament is a form of prayer. And prayer is not passive. This prayer should be given to God in intercession for others whether it’s friend or foe as Jesus said to forgive, love, and pray for our enemies. -This epitomizes the second Lamech we will call him “Lamech II” as we’re going to see in the second half of this chapter, and we know without a shadow of a doubt he was the servant of God concerning his, prayer, and lamentation concerning the earth, its curse, and his blessing over his son Noah.
Lamech I had 2 wives, the first named “Adah” (pleasure or adornment) and the second named “Zillah” (to hide) Even the names of these 2 wives could allude to the possible character traits, if we’re to follow the custom of the day and biblical narrative. For “Adah” (pleasure and Adornment) Pleasure or adornment are not wrong if it is coupled with a respect for Godly precepts (I Timothy 1:5-6, I Peter 3:3-4) And “Zillah” (To Hide) Was it just she may have been shy? Or was she hiding from something or someone? The first parents Adam and Eve hid from God after they had sinned (Genesis 3:8)
This is also the first mention of Polygamy, and God never approved of it and I think this practice even bled over into a lot of the Godly patriarchs later, but it caused nothing but trouble. It demeaned women and made them nothing more than property instead of an equal and helpmeet with the man. That’s why the Apostle Paul said to Timothy in the Epistle of First Timothy,
“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach” (I Timothy 3:12)
To be able to serve the Lord without unnecessary distractions for God’s servant was and is His original design one man and one woman married for life. The fall in the Garden tainted that image and we see it even back to Adam and it has affected the outcome as we will see in approximately 1,650 years to the Flood.
Adah has a son named “Jabal” (Stream of Water) was the first who was a Bedouin (tent dweller) and cattle farmer.
Adah also has another son named “Jubal” (Ram’s Horn) he was the first to play the harp and organ. He was the first mentioned to make music.
Zillah, she also bare “Tubal Cain” (You brought forth Cain, Blacksmith) He’s a craftsman and teacher in making of tools and weaponry of brass and iron: I believe it went beyond Cain just killing Abel with a rock or knife chiseled from a stone, but now there are more precision tools and weapons and violence increases as we again refer to Genesis chapter 6. Were plowshares beaten into swords?
Tubal Cain also had a sister named “Naamah” (Pleasant) This name seems one of the few positive things mentioned in this section of Scripture, but it reminds me even today we have some good people at least by human standards. But good people need the Lord too!
This family of Cain has all the distinctions of civilizations and even some cultures of third-world countries today, other than some technology and a few amenities. And they even have cities. People haven’t changed much. Have they? And those days mirror our days and the ushering in of the flood of Noah soon to follow.
Even Jesus affirmed this when He said,
“37 But as the days of Noe (Noah) were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe (Noah) entered into the ark. 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”(Matthew 24:37-39)
Then Lamech I says in Genesis 4:23-24 (paraphrasing), Listen to me wives for I have killed a young man because he was trying to kill me. If Cain was to be avenged sevenfold (7 times) for killing his brother Abel (Genesis 4:15), Then he should be avenged seventy and sevenfold (77 times) because his killing of a young man was in self-defense (Genesis 4:24)
Remember what Peter asked Jesus,
“21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.” (Matthew 18:21-22)
What Jesus said instead of getting revenge we should forgive one another. He is saying 70 x 7=490 times (which is saying to forgive without number) I believe this was part of the reason that the Pre flood civilizations digressed to what happened in Genesis chapter 6 concerning God sending the flood. These are 6 (number of man) generations from Cain. There are 7 (number of completion) if you count Cain’s line from Adam his father and it is judged by The Flood of Noah.
Also in Daniel Chapter 9, around 536 B.C. We also have (70x 7= 490 years) Daniel (God is my Judge) was praying to God confessing his sins and the sins of the nation of Israel, and at that time Israel was still exiled in Persia, a messenger of God named Gabriel (God is my Strength) comes to him and says,
“24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. 25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.” (Daniel 8:24-27)
Now, let’s break these verses down.
Vs.24,“Seventy weeks (70x7=490 years) are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and make to reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.”
Vs.25, “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks (49 years), and threescore and two weeks Jerusalem was to be rebuilt (+ 434 years= 483 years): the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.” (books of Ezra and Nehemiah records this)
Vs.26, “And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself (Christ’s crucifixion date is not fixed, it only says “after” threescore and two weeks (62 weeks=434 years) in verse 26.
I believe consists of 9 major events.
1. Christ’s birth,
2. His ministry,
3. Crucifixion,
4. Resurrection,
5. Ascension,
6. Holy Spirit coming down at Pentecost and Peter preaches to Israel.
7. The death of Stephen due to his message to the leaders of Israel.
8. And the calling of Saul of Tarsus to be the Apostle to the Gentiles.
9. Then the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D.70 by Rome took place.
In my opinion, somewhere between the death of Stephen (Acts 8:54-60 approximately 33 A.D.) and the destruction of Jerusalem 36 years later, the prophetic clock stopped on Israel, and they’re set aside until the Church Age ends, which lasts approximately 2000 years. Then comes the Rapture of the Church and this ends the Church Age, which was a mystery to the O.T. prophets. Then the prophetic clock starts ticking again concerning Israel) and the people of the prince that shall come (Rome) shall destroy the city and the sanctuary, and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.”
Vs.27, “ And he (the Anti-Christ) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week (This is Daniel’s 70th week which is a 7-year Tribulation Period and fulfills the 490 years): and in the midst of the week (3 ½ years 42 months) he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”
God is the perfect standard of grace and forgiveness, and He is the only one who is to give the final judgment, It is not for us to exact vengeance and judgment upon those who sin against Him or even us. It is God’s job to do that! Until God says otherwise!
The Apostle Paul says,
“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” (Romans12:19)
The Apostle John also records the end of this event,
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords. (Revelation 19:11-16)
Now back to Genesis Chapter 5. Here is something that I discovered in the names and genealogies of these patriarchs, and I am not alone, as I will be referencing other scholars and students of the Bible with the same conclusions. This is a Bible Acrostic Name Code, let’s call it (BANC) for short and you the reader will see a couple of more of these in this book.
Hebrew-English Meaning
Yahweh- God
Adam-man
1. Cain-(is) brought forth or acquired.
2. Enoch-a teacher or teaching
3.Irad-(the) fugitive.
4.Mehujael-The one smitten of God
5.Methusael-Who demands his death
6.Lamech- strong man or despairing (Note: adjectives follow nouns in Hebrew.)
7.(Then the 3 sons of Lamech which were the 7th Generation who more than likely perished in the Flood.)
Jabal- A river flows forth,
Jubal- O' offspring of the man brought forth!
Tubal-Cain-(Tubal-Cain also sounds like, "You brought forth Cain"
Cain also means, "Acquired or brought forth". All three names have the same root meaning, "to bring forth", and are related to the word for the "Flood" as used in the Flood narrative in which these three more than likely perished! Gen. 6:17.) The word "Cain" is a synonym, and thus a play-on-words. "Jabal" and "Jubal" are also related to the word "Jubilee", which suggests the end of an age, as does the narrative's use of multiples of seven, Gen. 4:24. (A jubilee occurred at the end of 7 x 7= 49 years) And was later to be instituted in the Mosaic Law called the “Year of Jubilee,” which came every 50th year and was a year full of releasing people from their debts, releasing all slaves, and returning property to those who owned it (Leviticus 25:1-13). This year was also dedicated to rest.
And as I have mentioned previously, these names hold a Bible Acrostic Name Code (BANC) which is a message when put together, let's look at it horizontally. It reads as follows,
“God created man and he (man) brought forth, a teacher of fugitives. The One smitten of God, who demands his death, a mighty despairing man, A river flows forth, O’ descendants of Cain!”
I believe this is saying that because of Cain's rebellion in rejecting God’s required sacrifice, Cain has raised 7 generations of worldly Godless fugitives (Genesis 4:14) and at the end of the age will be destroyed in the worldwide flood of Noah. This should also be a warning to unregenerated man today, although this time we’re living in now, it is an overflowing of wickedness and not literal water. But God’s final judgment will be consummated in which the wicked will be destroyed then by fire at the end (Revelation 20:7-15)
“25 And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. 26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the Lord” Genesis 4:25-26)
