The poetry of hatred and revenge

The power of words

Genesis chapter 5 states that Enoch, the seventh generation from Adam, walked with God. Enoch walked with God. He was gone because God took him (Genesis 5:24). He was transferred to heaven without experiencing death. By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”^[a] For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. (Hebrews 11: 5). However, Lamech, who is also the seventh generation from Adam, has fallen into a completely different path.

¹⁷Cain made love to his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was then building a city, and he named it after his son Enoch. ¹⁸To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael was the father of Methushael, and Methushael was the father of Lamech. ¹⁹Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah. ²⁰Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock. ²¹His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play stringed instruments and pipes. ²²Zillah also had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out of^[a] bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain’s sister was Naamah. ²³Lamech 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.
²⁴If Cain is avenged seven times,
    then Lamech seventy-seven times.”

(Genesis 4: 17-24)

One of the seventh generation from Adam walked with God, and the other became a devil’s slave. Originally they were the same ancestors, but in the 7th generation, the difference between heaven and earth was born. Adam’s firstborn Cain did not humble himself before God and was rejected by God in an attempt to stand in his own righteousness. He was dissatisfied with it and was indignant and killed his brother Abel. From this Cain, Lamech broke the principles of family life (Genesis 2:24,　therefore the man left his parents, united with his wife, and the two became one ), and he took two wives. (verse 19).

Four children were born in this polygamous family. They divided their lives into a livestock farm (verse 20), a musician (verse 21) and a blacksmith (verse 22). This is the beginning of a civilization without God. The division of labor itself is not bad, nor is livestock farming, music, and blacksmithing itself bad. Music that praises the Lord turns to God and reveals His glory. However, some music seduces and sins people with its lyrics. Bronze and iron tools should be used well, but if they are abused, they can hurt and kill people. The problem with Lamech’s children was that they lived in their own right, without praying in the name of the Lord. Lamech, who violated God’s family principles, did not have the qualifications or power to teach children correctly. Eventually, it would lead to Noah’s flood (Genesis chapter 6-9). It means that the seeds we sow will be harvested.

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. ⁸Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. ⁹Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6: 7-9)

The poem of Lamech in verses 23-24, the first poem in history, is a polygamy poem, a poem of hatred and revenge, and a poem of murder. One Bible scholar said, “Maybe the author of this poem, Lamech, robbed another’s mistress and made him his wife, where a young man who was robbed of his mistress tried to kill him, and Lamech was revengeful. It must have burned and killed the young man. ” This is the figure of humankind. In this way, crimes and murders are repeated, and they are on the path of ruin and destruction, and are about to continue. May God have mercy on this world.