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Lamech (descendant of Cain)

Biblical figure, descendant of Cainan, Descendant of Seth, brother of Cain and Abel

Lamech (descendant of Cain)

Biblical figure, descendant of Cainan, Descendant of Seth, brother of Cain and Abel

''Lamech and Cain,'' 1524 engraving by [[Lucas van Leyden

Lamech (; Lémeḵ, in pausa Lā́meḵ) is a figure appearing in the Old Testament's Book of Genesis, where he is the seventh generation from Adam and father of Jabal, the first breeder of livestock, Tubal-Cain, the first metalworker, Jubal, the first musician, and Naamah. This Lamech appears in the Yahwist genealogy (the line of Cain); the Priestly source has another Lamech who is the father of Noah.

This Lamech is distinguished as an insolent man in the Abrahamic texts.

Character

Lamech is generally characterized in a poor light in the verses that mention him, highlighting him as viciously murderous.

Polygamy

Lamech is the earliest instance of polygamy in the Abrahamic narrative. Biblical verse Genesis 4:19 states

*Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.*

Lamech is recorded taking on two wives simultaneously.

Murder

Furthermore, biblical verse Genesis 4:23-24 states

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.* *If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times.*

Here Lamech admits to killing a young man in retaliation for striking him. Lamech further boasts of his wrath of vengeance as eleven times worse than Cain's wrath of vengeance.

Comparative religion

The Adam progeny list is comparable to the ancient Mesopotamian tradition of seven pre-flood heroes who originate arts and culture.

Family tree

Citations

Bibliography

  • {{cite book | editor1-last = Freedman | editor1-first = David Noel | editor2-last = Myers | editor2-first = Allen C. | chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=qRtUqxkB7wkC&pg=PA784

References

  1. "the definition of Lamech".
  2. Feddes, David. (2013-07-17). "Lamech - Bible School Insights".
  3. Hess, Richard S.. (1991). "Lamech in the Genealogies of Genesis". Bulletin for Biblical Research.
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book-of-genesis-people biblical-murderers bereshit-(parashah) bigamists
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