The Two Lamechs
Did you know that the book of Genesis tells us about two men named Lamech? The first man named Lamech was a very remarkable man, with a very remarkable family. He was the fifth descendant of Cain. The Bible narrative jumps from the well-known stories of Cain killing his brother Abel, being driven away into the land of Nod, and then skips four generations until Lamech comes along.
Genesis 4:19 documents Lamech as the first man to take two wives: “Lamech took to himself two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other, Zillah.”
The Bible then tells us about Lamech’s children. He had three sons:
- Jabal, who is described as the inventor of the tent and developer of the Nomadic lifestyle. He also devised formal systems for domesticating and commercially producing animals apart from sheep. His name means “wanderer” (Gen. 4:20).
- Jubal, who is described as the inventor of both stringed and wind musical instruments. His name means “sound” (Gen. 4:21).
- Tubal-Cain, who is described as the inventor of metallurgy, both in bronze and iron. He had a sister named Naamah (Gen. 4:22), of which we know nothing more.
Lamech also gives us the only extant example of antediluvian poetry: Lamech said to his wives, Adah and Zillah, “Listen to my voice, You wives of Lamech, Give heed to my speech, For I have killed a man for wounding me; And a boy for striking me; If Cain is avenged sevenfold, Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.” (Gen 4:23-24)
Scholars disagree upon whether this constituted murder or self-defense, but the poetry shows us that Lamech was quite proud of his victory (it’s also a perfect Hebrew parallelism). It is obvious why the Bible felt the need to document this man named Lamech, his children, and all of their accomplishments. They were quite the family!
There was also another man named Lamech mentioned in the Bible. We don’t know much about this Lamech, other than his family heritage. He was the son of Methuselah. As you well know, Methuselah was the oldest man who ever lived, nine hundred sixty-nine years (Gen. 5:27)! He was also the grandson of Enoch, who we all know as the man whom God “took”: “Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.” (Gen 5:24)
However, we don’t know anything about Lamech’s life. His appears to be a rather uneventful one – with one exception.
Lamech had a son: “Lamech lived one hundred and eighty-two years and became the father of a son. Now he called his name Noah, saying, ‘This one will give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the LORD has cursed.’” (Gen 5:28-29)
Now, we do know a thing or two about Noah’s life. Noah, the man through whom God saved the human race. The one man with whom God found favor. In a time of utter wickedness, where EVERY thought of man was on evil, one man stood alone:
Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. The LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. (Gen 6:5-8)
Noah was the son of this Lamech.
So, we have two men named Lamech:
1. The first polygamist; father to the fathers of tent-making, music, metallurgy; renowned poet and warrior.
2. The father of Noah. Noah, who found favor in God’s sight: “Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God.” (Gen 6:9b) Noah, whose righteousness allowed you and me to exist.
We all want to be successful in life. We all want our children to be successful in life. We love to brag about our successes, and our children’s successes. But how are you defining success? Do you want to make your mark on this world, leaving a legacy that all will remember? Or do you want to please God?
This world, and all that is in it, is ultimately pointless. Many years ago, I heard a modern-day proverb: “Upon their death bed, no one says, ‘I wish I had spent more time at the office.’”
What will your legacy be?
- Phil Parker
A beautiful depiction of old age:
Stars Invisible by Day
What then, shall we sit idly down and say
The night hath come; it is no longer day!
Something remains for us to do or dare;
Even the oldest tree some fruit may bear;
For age is opportunity no less
Than youth itself, though in another dress.
And as the evening twilight fades away,
The sky is filled with stars invisible by day.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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