Bible Question: I am starting to study the Bible.In Genesis 4:17-18 and 5:17-26,we read about Seth s and Cain s descendants.But I have a doubt,is Lamec a descendant from Seth or Cain? because his name(and the name of his father Metusael)appears in both lines of descendants.Thank you for your help.Be blessed. |
Bible Answer: Ok, Since Lamech is mentioned in both places and also concidering that the Earth is still young and not heavily populated, it is reasonable to assume that both references are about the same person. Therefore, he must be the son of both Cain and Seth. Turn to genesis 6:1-4. Now, get the idea out of your head that angels married humans and produced superhuman giants, like some scholars have suggested. That's obsurd and doesn't follow context at all. Notice in verses 1-2. The population of the earth began to multiply and the "sons of God" saw the "daughters of men" and married them. Now, who are these two groups. 1) Sons of God. There are three possible identities to this phrase. the first is Jesus Christ, who is called the Son of God. However, due to the plural usage in Genesis, this option is cancelled out. The Second is that it is in reference to Angels. This idea stems from the same usage in Job chapter 1. In Job 1:6, 2:1, the "sons of God" are gathered before God, and Satan approaches God and Job becomes the topic of the conversation. Notice that the term "angels" is never used. The only reason that "angels" are given as a possible meaning is because Satan is there and they are gathered before God. In fact, no where in scriptue is "sons of God" clearly attributed to angels. The term "Sons of God" is almost always attributed to those who are in obedience to the will of God the Father. The largest protion is humans. Roman 8:1-17 comes right out and calls those who are saved as God's children. Israel is called the children of God time and time again throughout the Old Testament. Therefore, it is more likely that Genesis 6:1-4 is in reference to the group of human males who are living in obedience to God the Father. Now, as you have pointed out, there is a fusion of Cain's lineage and Seth's lineage. Many of the offspring are listed twice. Clearly, the two lines intermarried. Now, since Cain and his lineage were cursed by God, it is safe to assume that Seth's lineage are the "Sons of God". 2) Daughters of Men As stated above, Since Cain and his lineage was cursed by God, they cannot be the "Sons of God". Therefore, the "daughters of men" must be in reference to Cain's female offspring. Now, to explain the Niphillim, or Giants. No, these aren't the offspring. This is a time reference. As If I were to talk about Baseball history and say, "The Dodgers were playing in Brooklyn at the time,..." From that reference, you would know that I am talking about a time period before the 1960's. Also notice the phrase about the "niphillim". It says that they were in the land at that time when the sons of God came to the daughters of men. How can they be offspring if they were already there? Also, the "mighty men of old" and "men of renown" are the offspring, and these "men of renown" and "mighty men of old" are not the niphillim. So, as you can see the answer to your question is in chapter 6 of Genesis. Jesusman |