Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have poured themselves into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. - Jude 1:11
Good morning. Last Sunday we read the story of Adam and Eve’s sons, Cain and Abel. Both of these young men brought an offering to God, but only Abel’s was accepted. Cain became jealous and murdered his brother. As a result, God condemned Cain to be a vagrant and wanderer on the earth for the remainder of his life.
In today’s message, we will continue to focus on Cain. What ever became of him? Did he have any children? If so, who were they and what do we know about them? This sermon will try to answer these (and perhaps a few other) questions. It is titled, “Adam’s Lineage Through Cain” and comes from Genesis 4:16-24.
I. THE LAND OF NOD (v16)
After the LORD passed judgment on him for killing Abel, Cain departed from his family and from the presence of the LORD. He settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden. The Hebrew word Nod means “wandering” or “exile”. While the Bible tells us that it was east of the land of Eden, where Adam and Eve presumably remained after being expelled from the garden, the exact location of Nod remains unknown.
Some scholars suggest that Nod was not a specific place, but rather referred to wherever Cain went - “The Land of the Wanderer”. While Cain was driven out of Eden, he chose to remain alienated from God. As such, he became a godless man who built a society and birthed a family that would follow in his footsteps.
II. WHO WAS CAIN’S WIFE? (v17a)
Cain and his wife had a child who they named Enoch. This has led many to ask, “Where did Cain’s wife come from?” We have already emphasized that Adam and Eve were the only 2 people God created and were the parents of all humanity. That said, Cain’s wife must have been 1 of his sisters or nieces. The Bible states that Adam and Eve had many other children who are not named in Scripture (Genesis 5:4).
The Biblical laws against incest were not enacted until the time of Moses, hundreds of years later. They were intended to protect and preserve family health, while promoting the proper meaning of marriage. However, the earliest generations of mankind had pure genetics, free from mutations and diseases which developed over time, and therefore could safely marry and have children with their close relatives. This was the only option for the earliest generations.
The Book of Jubilees is an ancient Jewish text which retells the story of Genesis. Fragments of it were found along with the Dead Sea scrolls. That said, for various reasons it is not considered to be inspired by the Holy Spirit and is therefore not regarded as a reliable record of truth. Still, for what it's worth, The Book of Jubilees says that Cain’s wife was his sister Awan.
III. THE CITY OF ENOCH (v17b)
Cain built a city and named it after his son Enoch. This is the 1st city mentioned in the Bible, and is therefore believed by many to be the 1st city ever built. Scholars associate it with the ancient Sumerian cities of southern Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq), though its precise location is unknown.
The fact that Cain built a city to settle in indicates a purposeful attempt on his part to undermine God’s punishment. Rather than accept his fate as a nomadic wanderer, Cain tried to establish a permanent home for himself. The Bible doesn’t tell whether or not his effort was successful.
IV. MORE DESCENDANTS (v18)
Cain’s son Enoch is not the same person who was translated into heaven. We will talk about this more next week. The name Enoch actually has several different meanings, including “disciplined”, and may be a reference to the fact that his father Cain was disciplined by God. Nevertheless, Enoch had a son named Irad whose name means “runner” or “fugitive”. Irad had a son named Mehujael which means “smitten of God” or “destroyed of God”. Mehujael had a son named Methushael which means “man of God”. Methushael had a son named Lamech which means “strong” or “wild man”.
Notice that, with the exception of Methushael, each of these names has a negative connotation. As stated earlier, Cain’s descendants did not follow the LORD. They were sinful, godless people. During these years, wickedness increased greatly upon the earth.
V. LAMECH AND HIS FAMILY (v19-24)
Lamech is the 1st man named in Scripture who married multiple wives. This is when polygamy began. He married 2 women - Adah and Zillah. Lamech boasted to his wives about killing a man who struck him and a boy that wounded him. He mocked God saying that if Cain was avenged 7 fold, he should be avenged 77 fold. In other words, he bragged that the vengeance and violence of Cain paled in comparison to his own! Lamach was an arrogant, violent polygamist and murderer.
During his earthly ministry, Jesus used Lamech’s boastful words to teach an important lesson. When Peter asked Him if he should forgive someone up to 7 times, Jesus answered that he should forgive the person “77 times” (Matthew 18:21-22). Most Bible translations quote Jesus as saying “70 x 7” - the original Greek is somewhat ambiguous. Either way it seems to me and many other theologians that Jesus is alluding to Lamech. He reversed Lamech’s call to increased vengeance, turning it into a command for unlimited forgiveness instead.
Through his wife Adah, Lamach had 2 sons - Jabal and Jubal. Jabal’s descendants lived in tents and had livestock. Jubal’s descendants played the lyre and pipe. Through his other wife Zillah, Lamach had 1 son and 1 daughter - Tubal-cain and Naamah. Tubal-cain was a forger of bronze and iron implements. Although they were not believers, Lamech’s offspring were gifted herdsmen, musicians, and craftsmen.
CONCLUSION
While there are no others listed in this passage, Cain most certainly had many descendants whose names are not recorded in the Bible. The lineage of Cain is considered the unrighteous branch of Adam’s offspring. It extended until the days of the great flood, when all of humanity was destroyed by water except for Noah and his family. Unless Noah’s wife or any of his daughter-in-laws were descendants of Cain (the Bible doesn’t say, but it seems unlikely to me), the line of Cain permanently ended with the flood.
Next week we will compare and contrast the lineage of Cain with that of Seth, another of Adam and Eve’s sons. We will discover and discuss some similarities and differences between the 2 family trees. In the genealogical record of Seth, specific ages are given which allow us to calculate how many years actually passed during this time period. See you then!
Good morning. Last Sunday we read the story of Adam and Eve’s sons, Cain and Abel. Both of these young men brought an offering to God, but only Abel’s was accepted. Cain became jealous and murdered his brother. As a result, God condemned Cain to be a vagrant and wanderer on the earth for the remainder of his life.
In today’s message, we will continue to focus on Cain. What ever became of him? Did he have any children? If so, who were they and what do we know about them? This sermon will try to answer these (and perhaps a few other) questions. It is titled, “Adam’s Lineage Through Cain” and comes from Genesis 4:16-24.
I. THE LAND OF NOD (v16)
After the LORD passed judgment on him for killing Abel, Cain departed from his family and from the presence of the LORD. He settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden. The Hebrew word Nod means “wandering” or “exile”. While the Bible tells us that it was east of the land of Eden, where Adam and Eve presumably remained after being expelled from the garden, the exact location of Nod remains unknown.
Some scholars suggest that Nod was not a specific place, but rather referred to wherever Cain went - “The Land of the Wanderer”. While Cain was driven out of Eden, he chose to remain alienated from God. As such, he became a godless man who built a society and birthed a family that would follow in his footsteps.
II. WHO WAS CAIN’S WIFE? (v17a)
Cain and his wife had a child who they named Enoch. This has led many to ask, “Where did Cain’s wife come from?” We have already emphasized that Adam and Eve were the only 2 people God created and were the parents of all humanity. That said, Cain’s wife must have been 1 of his sisters or nieces. The Bible states that Adam and Eve had many other children who are not named in Scripture (Genesis 5:4).
The Biblical laws against incest were not enacted until the time of Moses, hundreds of years later. They were intended to protect and preserve family health, while promoting the proper meaning of marriage. However, the earliest generations of mankind had pure genetics, free from mutations and diseases which developed over time, and therefore could safely marry and have children with their close relatives. This was the only option for the earliest generations.
The Book of Jubilees is an ancient Jewish text which retells the story of Genesis. Fragments of it were found along with the Dead Sea scrolls. That said, for various reasons it is not considered to be inspired by the Holy Spirit and is therefore not regarded as a reliable record of truth. Still, for what it's worth, The Book of Jubilees says that Cain’s wife was his sister Awan.
III. THE CITY OF ENOCH (v17b)
Cain built a city and named it after his son Enoch. This is the 1st city mentioned in the Bible, and is therefore believed by many to be the 1st city ever built. Scholars associate it with the ancient Sumerian cities of southern Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq), though its precise location is unknown.
The fact that Cain built a city to settle in indicates a purposeful attempt on his part to undermine God’s punishment. Rather than accept his fate as a nomadic wanderer, Cain tried to establish a permanent home for himself. The Bible doesn’t tell whether or not his effort was successful.
IV. MORE DESCENDANTS (v18)
Cain’s son Enoch is not the same person who was translated into heaven. We will talk about this more next week. The name Enoch actually has several different meanings, including “disciplined”, and may be a reference to the fact that his father Cain was disciplined by God. Nevertheless, Enoch had a son named Irad whose name means “runner” or “fugitive”. Irad had a son named Mehujael which means “smitten of God” or “destroyed of God”. Mehujael had a son named Methushael which means “man of God”. Methushael had a son named Lamech which means “strong” or “wild man”.
Notice that, with the exception of Methushael, each of these names has a negative connotation. As stated earlier, Cain’s descendants did not follow the LORD. They were sinful, godless people. During these years, wickedness increased greatly upon the earth.
V. LAMECH AND HIS FAMILY (v19-24)
Lamech is the 1st man named in Scripture who married multiple wives. This is when polygamy began. He married 2 women - Adah and Zillah. Lamech boasted to his wives about killing a man who struck him and a boy that wounded him. He mocked God saying that if Cain was avenged 7 fold, he should be avenged 77 fold. In other words, he bragged that the vengeance and violence of Cain paled in comparison to his own! Lamach was an arrogant, violent polygamist and murderer.
During his earthly ministry, Jesus used Lamech’s boastful words to teach an important lesson. When Peter asked Him if he should forgive someone up to 7 times, Jesus answered that he should forgive the person “77 times” (Matthew 18:21-22). Most Bible translations quote Jesus as saying “70 x 7” - the original Greek is somewhat ambiguous. Either way it seems to me and many other theologians that Jesus is alluding to Lamech. He reversed Lamech’s call to increased vengeance, turning it into a command for unlimited forgiveness instead.
Through his wife Adah, Lamach had 2 sons - Jabal and Jubal. Jabal’s descendants lived in tents and had livestock. Jubal’s descendants played the lyre and pipe. Through his other wife Zillah, Lamach had 1 son and 1 daughter - Tubal-cain and Naamah. Tubal-cain was a forger of bronze and iron implements. Although they were not believers, Lamech’s offspring were gifted herdsmen, musicians, and craftsmen.
CONCLUSION
While there are no others listed in this passage, Cain most certainly had many descendants whose names are not recorded in the Bible. The lineage of Cain is considered the unrighteous branch of Adam’s offspring. It extended until the days of the great flood, when all of humanity was destroyed by water except for Noah and his family. Unless Noah’s wife or any of his daughter-in-laws were descendants of Cain (the Bible doesn’t say, but it seems unlikely to me), the line of Cain permanently ended with the flood.
Next week we will compare and contrast the lineage of Cain with that of Seth, another of Adam and Eve’s sons. We will discover and discuss some similarities and differences between the 2 family trees. In the genealogical record of Seth, specific ages are given which allow us to calculate how many years actually passed during this time period. See you then!