Lamech (/ˈleɪmɪk/;[1] Hebrew: לֶמֶךְ Lémeḵ, in pausa לָמֶךְ 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.[2]
This Lamech is distinguished as an insolent man in the Abrahamic texts.
Character
editLamech is generally characterized in a poor light in the verses that mention him, highlighting him as polygamous and viciously murderous.
Polygamy
editLamech 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
editFurthermore, 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
editThe Adam progeny list is comparable to the ancient Mesopotamian tradition of seven pre-flood heroes who originate arts and culture.[2]
See also
editCitations
edit- ^ "the definition of Lamech". Dictionary.com.
- ^ a b Rogers 2000, p. 784.
Bibliography
edit- Rogers, Jeffrey S. (2000). "Lamech". In Freedman, David Noel; Myers, Allen C. (eds.). Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible. Eerdmans. ISBN 9781250088703.
