Genesis 4:1

CHAPTER IV

The birth, trade, and religion of Cain and Abel, 1-7.

Cain murders his brother Abel, 8.

God calls him into judgment for it, 9, 10.

He is cursed, 11, 12.

He despairs, 15, 14.

A promise given him of preservation, and a mark set on

him to prevent his being killed, 15.

He departs from God's presence, 16.

Has a son whom he calls Enoch; and builds a city,

which he calls after his name, 17.

Cain has several children, among whom are Lamech, the first

bigamist, 18, 19.

Jobat, who taught the use of tents and feeding cattle, 20.

Jabal, the inventor of musical instruments, 21.

Tubal-cain, the inventor of smith-work, 22.

Strange speech of Lamech to his wives, 23, 24.

Seth born to Adam and Eve in the place of Abel, 25.

Enoch born, and the worship of God restored, 26.

NOTES ON CHAP. IV

Verse Genesis 4:1. I have gotten a man from the Lord.] Cain, קין, signifies acquisition; hence Eve says קנתי kanithi, I have gotten or acquired a man, את יהוה eth Yehovah, the Lord. It is extremely difficult to ascertain the sense in which Eve used these words, which have been as variously translated as understood. Most expositors think that Eve imagined Cain to be the promised seed that should bruise the head of the serpent. This exposition really seems too refined for that period. It is very likely that she meant no more than to acknowledge that it was through God's peculiar blessing that she was enabled to conceive and bring forth a son, and that she had now a well-grounded hope that the race of man should be continued on the earth. Unless she had been under Divine inspiration she could not have called her son (even supposing him to be the promised seed) Jehovah; and that she was not under such an influence her mistake sufficiently proves, for Cain, so far from being the Messiah, was of the wicked one; 1 John 3:12. We may therefore suppose that את היוה eth Yehovah, THE LORD, is an elliptical form of expression for meeth Yehovah, FROM THE LORD, or through the Divine blessing.