Genesis 4:16
And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

Those in rebellion against God do not at all desire His Presence, and for all the obvious reasons.
“Nod” means “wandering;” the majority of the human race “wander,” because they don’t know God and, therefore, have no peace.

I know a lot of folk who dwell in “the land of nod” when they are in church, but frankly, I do not know where the land of Nod really is.

But we are told that Cain went out and dwelt in that area.


Genesis 4:17
And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.

"knew his wife" is the Biblical terminology for conception.

"builded a city" actually means “was building” or “began to build;” the idea is, it was not finished; and so it has been, and is, with the human race; nothing is ever quite finished with the unredeemed, simply because what is built doesn’t satisfy.

This carries the idea, due to the meaning of the name Enoch, that this city would be a place of education and learning — but it was education and learning without God.

Men have been doing this ever since. They like to call streets and cities by their own names or by names of loved ones.

Even in Christian work you have schools named for individuals.

Men love to do that, whether they are Christian or whether they are after the order of Cain.

But here is where urban life, city life, began: “and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.”

Cities have become one of the biggest problems that man has today.

The cities, they say, are dying, and yet people all over the world are flocking to the cities.


Genesis 4:18
And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech.

This means fathered.

All of this was three hundred or more years after the creation of Adam and Eve.


Genesis 4:19
And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.

The first instance of polygamy recorded in the Bible. Here is the beginning of polygamy—having more than one wife.

Lamech now does that which is contrary to what God intends, contrary to what God has for man.

You will never find anywhere in the Scriptures that God approves of polygamy.

If you read the accounts accurately, you will find that He condemns it.

He gives the record of it because He is giving a historical record, and that is the basis on which it is given to us here.

“Adah” means pleasure or adornment. She was the first one to make it to the beauty parlor, I guess.

“Zillah” means to hide; I suppose that means she was a a woman who flirts.

My fellow Christian Siblings, what two girls he had for wives!

No wonder he had problems.

Later on we will see what happened. Here now is the beginning of civilization, the Cainitic civilization.


Genesis 4:20
And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.

She gave birth to Jabal.

The apostle Paul was a tent maker later on, but here is the first housing contractor.

This is the very first rancher.


Genesis 4:21
And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.

Here is the beginning of the musicians.

When we hear some of the modern music today, I am sure there are many who would agree that it must have begun with Cain’s civilization!

It seems that Jubal was the originator of musical instruments; man’s ear is now filled with other sounds than those which issue from Calvary, and his eye is filled with other objects than a Crucified Christ.


Genesis 4:22
And Zillah, she also bare Tubal–cain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubal–cain was Naamah.

Tubal-cain was the first one to begin to work with metals; the name of “Cain” was probably added to show that these were “Cainites;” “Naamah” means “beautiful”.

Here we see the ones who are craftsmen.


Genesis 4:23
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.

We do not know whether he did or not, but he says that he slew in self-defense.

And We do not know whether or not his two wives entered into this, or whether or not he was defending one of them.

We are not told how it happened.


Genesis 4:24
If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.

Lamech says, “If Cain got by with it, I can get by with it. After all, Cain did not slay in self-defense, but I have.”

This is the first recorded poem in human history.

Like so much poetry ever since, it glorifies immorality and murder, and denies coming wrath.

Man has attempted to deny judgment ever since; nevertheless, judgment one day is coming [Rev. 20:11-15].