INTRODUCTION: In this short section, we have the develop- ment of civilization. Sadly the effects of sin are prominent. Even here the sins that led to the Flood are beginning to be committed.I. CAIN - verses 16-18.
Cain left the place where God was worshipped and began his wandering. After some time, he built a city (we would have probably called it a walled village) and named it after his son. His purpose in building was no doubt protection and a desire to reverse the curse place on him [verse 14].It seems strange that the first city and first progress in arts, crafts, and animal breeding were produced by Cain and his godless seed. True religion has always been a friend of true science and culture, but those who have no heavenly hope are more concerned with worldly comforts. Often those who push for present progress never think of eternity. This world is their only concern.
II. LAMECH - verses 19-24.
As we come down the list of Cain's descendents, we meet Lamech. He and his sons were very influential in human history. Sadly, like Cain, his influence was not for good. There was great progress made by this family, yet none of it was spiritual.A. Here we have the first polygamist [verse 19]. God intended one man and one woman to unite in marriage until death parted them. The sixth generation from Adam saw this order perverted by Lamech. How shocked the godly must have been. The Hebrew names for wives seems to indicate that physical lust was the cause of Lamech's actions.
Sadly today, men and women live together without the benefit of marriage at all. We have sunk lower than Lamech.
B. This passage has the first man who perfected the raising of cattle. The tent was invented to follow the pasture.
C. The origin of music in the human race is given. Music is a gift of God and should be used to worship God. Unfortunately it is often used to drown out the memory of God.
D. Here we have the father of metal workers. Notice that Tubelcain was an instructor in this craft.
E. The first poetry written is given here. Lamech had been insulted or injured by someone and took his life. Rather than feel remorse, he boasted of it to his wives by composing what is seen in the Hebrew text to be a poem. It has been called Lamech's "taunt" or "sword song." The words of this song reveal what an ungodly man Lamech was. Not only did he boast of his revenge, but verse 24 in essence means, "I will do more to avenge myself than God could have done to avenge Cain had he been killed." Someone has suggested that Lamech's pride and confidence was inflated because his son Tubelcain had just made the first sword or spear.
Lamech's song also seems to have a self-righteous ring to it. In verse 24, he seems to have justified his actions. Implied perhaps is the thought: "I am more righteous than Cain for I killed someone who deserved to die and thus an attack on myself should be greatly avenged." Men soon learned to justify their actions by pointing to the sins of others.
III. SETH - verses 25-26.
Seth means "appointed" or "firmly founded." Eve saw him as the one sent to replace Abel. While the fathers of worldly progress came from the line of Cain, it was from Seth that Noah, Abraham, and eventually the Savior sprang. In verse 26, we are told that Seth had a son named Enos, which means "low" or "afflicted." The last statement of verse 26, is rather difficult. It seems to indicate that in the time of Enos, men began to publicly separate for worship and to identify themselves as followers of God. As the masses forsook God, the faithful began to stand out. The name Enos may reveal that God's people began to be afflicted by the world and thus banded together.
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