I have oftened wondered about the meaning of 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.
According to the Complete Jewish Bible that I found in Bible Study Tools: Lemekh said to his wives, "Adah and Tzilah, listen to me; wives of Lemekh, hear what I say: I killed a man for wounding me, a young man who injured me.
Everything else I have found says he was hunting with a young man. The man was helping him with his aim because he had poor eyesight due to old age. His great-great-great grandfather, Cain (Adam and Eve's son), appears and Lamech accidentally kills him. Then when he claps his hands together in grief he accidentally kills the lad.
It goes on to say that God avenged Cain so He will avenge Lamech. Avenge means: (1) to inflict punishment or penalty in return for; revenge (2) to take vengeance on behalf of. God had said earlier that He would punish anyone who killed Cain: Genesis 4:13 And Cain said unto the LORD, my punishment is greater than I can bear (14) Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me. (15) And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. So, Lamech tells his wives that God would do the same for him.
God doesn't forgive you just because He forgave someone else. There are so many people who think just because they grew up in church and their parents/grandparents were saved that they are automatically saved and are going to Heaven. Unfortunately, if they don't realize the truth before they die they will spend eternity in hell. No matter what you have done God will forgive you but you have to ask and be sorry for what you have done. Just because you have been raised in church and have tried very hard to be good, you are still a sinner and need to ask Him to save you. 1 John 1:8-10: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (9) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (10) If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. Romans 3:10: As it is written There is none righteous, no, not one. Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Jesus says in Matthew 9:13 that He came to call the sinners to repentance.
I tried to find information on his daughter but was unable to do so. If and when I do I will write an article on her.
This is the last we hear of the descendants of Cain. Because they were unwilling to repent for their wickedness this entire race of people were destroyed in the flood. Even though they had been extremely bad He was still willing to save them. This is evidenced in Noah's constant warning to them through the building of the ark. I am sure people were always coming to him and asking him why he was building such a structure. He would tell them God was going to flood the earth and they would laugh and mock him as year after year went by and nothing happened. They probably were still mocking as Noah and his family went inside and God closed the door. But, when the waters began to rise the laughing stopped and they were begging for help.
Keep your mind and heart open when someone is telling you something because it might be a message from God. But, also be careful because it might be the devil in disguise trying to trick you. 1 Peter 5:8: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. 2 John 7: For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Matthew 24:4-5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. (5) For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. Before you accept or dismiss the message pray and ask God to reveal to you the truth.
When I hear a preacher giving a sermon on something that I know does not apply to me I pay close attention and keep it in my heart as a warning from God to me that this is the consequence of doing that. Even Mary kept things in her heart. Luke 2 says that when the shepherds came to see Jesus when He was born they told everyone that this is the Messiah that God had promised. (19) But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
I hope this has been helpful to you. May God bless you on your journey back home to Heaven.
Leigh
According to the Complete Jewish Bible that I found in Bible Study Tools: Lemekh said to his wives, "Adah and Tzilah, listen to me; wives of Lemekh, hear what I say: I killed a man for wounding me, a young man who injured me.
Everything else I have found says he was hunting with a young man. The man was helping him with his aim because he had poor eyesight due to old age. His great-great-great grandfather, Cain (Adam and Eve's son), appears and Lamech accidentally kills him. Then when he claps his hands together in grief he accidentally kills the lad.
It goes on to say that God avenged Cain so He will avenge Lamech. Avenge means: (1) to inflict punishment or penalty in return for; revenge (2) to take vengeance on behalf of. God had said earlier that He would punish anyone who killed Cain: Genesis 4:13 And Cain said unto the LORD, my punishment is greater than I can bear (14) Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me. (15) And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. So, Lamech tells his wives that God would do the same for him.
God doesn't forgive you just because He forgave someone else. There are so many people who think just because they grew up in church and their parents/grandparents were saved that they are automatically saved and are going to Heaven. Unfortunately, if they don't realize the truth before they die they will spend eternity in hell. No matter what you have done God will forgive you but you have to ask and be sorry for what you have done. Just because you have been raised in church and have tried very hard to be good, you are still a sinner and need to ask Him to save you. 1 John 1:8-10: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (9) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (10) If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. Romans 3:10: As it is written There is none righteous, no, not one. Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Jesus says in Matthew 9:13 that He came to call the sinners to repentance.
I tried to find information on his daughter but was unable to do so. If and when I do I will write an article on her.
This is the last we hear of the descendants of Cain. Because they were unwilling to repent for their wickedness this entire race of people were destroyed in the flood. Even though they had been extremely bad He was still willing to save them. This is evidenced in Noah's constant warning to them through the building of the ark. I am sure people were always coming to him and asking him why he was building such a structure. He would tell them God was going to flood the earth and they would laugh and mock him as year after year went by and nothing happened. They probably were still mocking as Noah and his family went inside and God closed the door. But, when the waters began to rise the laughing stopped and they were begging for help.
Keep your mind and heart open when someone is telling you something because it might be a message from God. But, also be careful because it might be the devil in disguise trying to trick you. 1 Peter 5:8: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. 2 John 7: For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Matthew 24:4-5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. (5) For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. Before you accept or dismiss the message pray and ask God to reveal to you the truth.
When I hear a preacher giving a sermon on something that I know does not apply to me I pay close attention and keep it in my heart as a warning from God to me that this is the consequence of doing that. Even Mary kept things in her heart. Luke 2 says that when the shepherds came to see Jesus when He was born they told everyone that this is the Messiah that God had promised. (19) But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
I hope this has been helpful to you. May God bless you on your journey back home to Heaven.
Leigh