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So, Cain is cast out to live “East of Eden”. We may not know exactly where east of Eden exactly is but we do know Cain didn’t seek God's forgiveness nor did he seek God's favour, rather he pursued his own desires and his own sense of direction. The other thing is interesting in these verses is that it tells us he built a city and named it after his son. The definition of a city at the time this was a residential development within a secure walled area. But please remember, God had just said he was going to be a wanderer and a fugitive and what he goes and does is build a city, and in doing so immediately goes out and defies the command of God? Furthermore, he clearly did not believe that God would protect him, because he built a walled city, enclosed for protection. So, again, at the bottom of everything is unbelief.
In the verses that follow there are a whole bunch of his relatives whose names are hard to pronounce. The author mentions them deliberately to clarify the family line but passes over them in order to quickly get to verse 19 So, let’s look at verse 19 (OHP 11)
Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.
(Gen 4:19)
Ladies, please note we have the first bigamist in the Bible. If we go back to chapter 2:4 God said was “therefore a man shall leave his father and mother to be joined to his wife [singular] and they should become one flesh. And now Lemech in open defiance and disobedience to God goes and marries 2 wives. So again, the point is, he is in open rebellion against God. Let’s pick it up at verse 20.
Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play stringed instruments and pipes. Zillah also had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain’s sister was Naamah.
(Gen 4: 20-22)
This list gives us some interesting insights about the very beginnings of the human race. Here we see the originator of nomadic farmers. Then there is Tubal Cain who is the first to forge in bronze and iron and his sister who is named as a leader of the female musicians Tradition says she made music on drums for the purpose of idol worship. So, Cain’s descendants are seen to be gifted but godless. Then:
23 Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, listen to me; wives of Lamech, hear my words. I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for injuring me. 24 If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times.”
(Gen 4: 23-24)
So, violence is seen again when vengeance is taken. The grace God showed Cain’s family line is ignored by his ancestors. All this violence springing from the single act of disobedience by Cain and worsening within a supposedly cultured civilization. Remember there is now music, as well as the work of artisans and various artists, musicians and craftsman. This is a culture where art increases, whilst at the same time the society degenerates and falls further and further away from God. The family line of Cain was able to make great achievements and accomplishments but at the same time they are drifting further and further away from the Lord and degenerating into violence and murder This is a picture of artistic and technical success, alongside moral failure. Material progression does not mean moral advancement, and that's the lesson of Cain. The final part of this section will now tell us about Seth.