The Line of Cain: City, Tents, Music and Bronze
Cain builds the first city and names it after his son. Six generations later Lemech's four children are born, with whom the Torah begins the reckoning of herding, music, and work in bronze and iron.
Bereshit 4 runs the line of Cain in a single stroke—Chanoch, Irad, Mechuyael, Metushael, Lemech, the sixth counting Cain—and stops at Lemech's children to say of each what began with him. Yaval is "the father of those who dwell in tents with herds", Yuval "the father of all who handle harp and pipe", Tuval-Kayin "instructor of every craftsman in bronze and iron"; the sister, Naamah, is named as well.
It is the earliest place in the Torah where people are described by what they set going in the world. And two verses on stand Lemech's words to his wives about a man he killed and a boy. The chapter does not separate the craft from the blood.
This genealogy carries no years at all, unlike the next chapter, where Seth's line is set out year by year. The year given here is an estimate by generation, not a stated date.
How we know
Sources
Tanakh
- Bereshit 4:17–24 — the line of Cain: seven generations and Lemech's four children
Chazal: Mishnah, Talmud, midrash, Zohar
- Bereshit Rabbah 23:3 — the identification of Naamah with Noach's wife
Basis: stated in the Tanakh.
People and places
Cain · Chanoch son of Cain · Irad · Mechuyael · Metushael · Lemech of Cain's line · Adah · Tzilah · Yaval · Yuval · Tuval-Kayin · Naamah