Lamech Kills A Young Man-The Second Biblical Killing Account
by Joel Hendon(755)
As years passed after the creation, and people began to multiply, we find that Cain murdered his own brother, Abel, in Genesis the fourth chapter. Most people who have heard anything at all about the Bible, knows of this story. The first recorded physical death of a human, a murder. These two young men were the sons of Adam and Eve, the couple created by God. After this incident, Cain later fathered a son named Enoch. He then built a city and named it after his son, Enoch. Enoch is the first city recorded in the Bible. Then in the 18th verse of chapter 4, we have this recorded: "And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methushael; and Methushael begat Lamech." So it is Lamech, the great, great, great grandson of Adam with which our story is concerned. Lamech becomes the first recorded person to engage in polygamy. He married two wives, one of whom was named Adah, and the other named Zillah. His first wife, Adah, gave birth to two sons who were named Jabal and Jubal. Zillah then gave birth to a son which they named Tubal-cain and a daughter whose name was Naamah. Tubal-cain was a gifted creator of weapons such as spears and swords, metal work This makes it a little more understandable but still leaves room for question. But after reading some of the scholars of the Aramaic and Hebrew languages, I believe I have it straight. The more reliable ones believe that the manner in which he addresses his wives was simply the manner used in those days and is equivalent to what I might reduce down to: This sounds reasonable to me and we have no further evidence that he was not speaking of a self defense killing. Some biblical scholars having analyzed this short passage, make rather surprising presumptions from it. I include their remarks here for your consideration, but I have to say that I do not understand how they could reach such conclusions from such limited information. Here is a paragraph taken from a highly reputable and widely used source, The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE): "It is very instructive to note that this "father of polygamy" at once becomes the first blustering tyrant and a braggadocio; we are fully permitted to draw this conclusion from his so-called "swordlay" (Genesis 4:23). He does not put his trust in God, but in the weapons and implements invented by his sons,(Genesis 4:22) or rather these instruments, enhancing the physical and material powers of man, are his God. He glories in them and misconstrues the Divine kindness which insured to Cain freedom from the revenge of his fellow-men." I grant that there is much historical reading to be done to accumulate the knowledge and wisdom of some of these scholars, so I would not be so presumptuous as to say they are wrong in their conclusions. But with my own very limited knowledge, I have to take the position of simply questioning them.
"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 4:23-24)
"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 for wounding me, And a young man for bruising me: If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, Truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold."
Webgazine Columnist.
Article submitted Monday, March 30, 2009 & read 86 times.
Leave Your Comments: