Total Genesis

[Olde Tymer]

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● Gen 3:22b . . what if he should stretch out his hand and take also from the tree
of life and eat, and live forever!

The Hebrew word translated "forever" doesn't always indicate infinity. Normally it
just means indefinitely, i.e. having no exact limits. Basically: the tree would've
cured Adam's mortality and restored him to perfect health.

FAQ: Supposing Adam had eaten from the tree of life prior to eating from the other
tree. Would the good tree protect him from death?

REPLY: The tree of life doesn't work like a vaccine. According to Rev 22:1-2 it's
more like a remedy.

FAQ: Is immortality the same as eternal life?

REPLY: Immortality makes people immune to the aging process. But although
immortality won't let people die of old age, it doesn't protect them from death by
other means, e.g. violence, poison, falls, starvation, dehydration, bleeding out,
decapitation, blunt force trauma, bullets, suffocation, crushing, etc.

On the other hand, eternal life is superior to immortality in that it protects people
from every cause of death one can possibly imagine. Were that not true, it would
be possible to assassinate God.

In a nutshell: immortality pertains to the nature of one's body, whereas eternal life
pertains to the nature of one's existence; for example:

● 1John 1:2 . .The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim
to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.

Anyway: people tend to take advantage of medicine in order to continue their bad
habits. For example; treatments for STDs enable immoral folk to continue their
swinging life style with little fear of permanent consequences. The same can be said
for folk with high cholesterol numbers. Statins make it possible for them to keep on
eating foods that are normally unsuitable for them.

Had Adam been allowed unlimited access to the tree of life, he and his wife
would've no doubt routinely included fruit from the forbidden tree in their diets
because its detrimental effects on their health could've been easily reversed seeing
as according to Rev 22:1-2, the tree is useful for treating whatever ails you.

● Gen 3:23-24 . . So the Lord God banished him from the garden of Eden, to till the
soil from which he was taken. He drove the man out, and stationed east of the
garden of Eden the cherubim and the fiery ever-turning sword, to guard the way to
the tree of life.

It would seem that Man's maker doesn't want us to forget our origin-- why else
would it be mentioned relative to Adam's future as a farmer?

The sword spoken of in that passage must be very unique because herein is the
only place in the entire Bible where it's mentioned.

The east side of the garden faced towards sunrise; which may, or may not, be
significant in some way; for example when Christ returns, he'll approach from the
east (Mal 4:2, Rev 22:16) and also make the tree of life available again. (Rev 2:7,
Rev 22:14)

I think it's safe to assume that the garden, and the cherubim with its flaming
sword, were in existence up till the time of the Flood; so people could go and see it
for themselves rather than take a preacher's word for it. But for some reason,
there's no record of anybody making pilgrimages to that area.

Well; were that cherubim and its fiery sword anywhere on Earth in our day, I
should think it would draw more people to it than even Mecca because it would
definitely be a wonder to behold, but I suspect back then people were terrified of it.
_

 

[101G]

In the very beginning, the Earth was chaotic, incoherent, and had neither form nor
function. As such it was unsuitable for human habitation (Isa 45:18). To get it into
a useful condition, it was necessary to subject the Earth to law and order. (cf. Prov
6:23 where law is depicted as light)

is this not where wisdom come in at...... ORDER? from chaos to ORDER. and this order is the intelligence of God. for LIGHT here is H216 אוֹר 'owr (ore) n-f.
1. illumination.
2. (concretely) luminary (in every sense, including lightning, happiness, etc.).
[from H215]
KJV: bright, clear, + day, light (-ning), morning, sun.
Root(s): H215

VS the Light as you correctly stated on day 4 is H215 אוֹר 'owr (ore) v.
1. to be luminous.
2. (causative) to make luminous.
{literally and metaphorically}
[a primitive root]
KJV: X break of day, glorious, kindle, (be, en-, give, show) light (-en, -ened), set on fire, shine.

illumination vs luminous, NOT the same. one is to KNOW, spiritually. the other to make KNOWN Naturally. one is WISDOM "to know" or have knowledge of and have understanding, (without sight). the other is to make known Physically or by natural observation, (with sight).

and JESUS is the Wisdom of God, who is God himself ..... now Manifested in the World, for all to see.

101G.

 

[101G]

NOTE: It's curious to me that most Bible students have no trouble readily
conceding that everything else in the first chapter of Genesis is natural, e.g. the
cosmos, the earth, the atmosphere, water, dry land, the Sun, the Moon, the stars,
aqua life, winged life, terra life, flora life, and human life. But when it comes to light
they choke; finding it impossible within themselves to believe that Genesis just
might be consistent in its description of the creative process.

● Gen 1:4b-5a . . and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the
light Day, and the darkness He called Night.

Defining the properties of day and night may seem like a superfluous detail, but
comes in very handy for organizing the three days and nights related to Christ's
crucifixion and resurrection per Matt 12:40.

"God separated the light from the darkness." known from unknown, truth from falsehood, Understanding from Ignorance. ...... and spirit from flesh. ... and LIFE from Death.

101G.

 

[Olde Tymer]

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● Gen 4:1a . . Now the man knew his wife Eve,

Throughout the Old Testament, "knew his wife" is a common idiom for people
sleeping together.

There is more to knowledge than just information. Some kinds of knowledge can't
be learned from a book or a lecture; they can only be learned by personal
experience.

Carnal knowledge is one of those kinds of knowing. It's one thing for a young man
to learn things about girls from looking at their pictures and reading about them in
biology books and/or in magazines like Cosmopolitan and Maxim; but it's quite
another learning experience to actually cuddle with a girl skin to skin.

Genesis records no human intimacy in the garden prior to Man's eviction; but that
doesn't prove none occurred; it just proves that none is mentioned till the fourth
chapter.

● Gen 4:1b . . and she conceived and bore Cain, saying: I have gained a male child
with the help of the Lord.

God officially terminated His creation endeavor on the seventh day (Gen 2:2) and
rested after that. Not because He was tired, but because He was all done. At that
time, the human race was all done too.

"It was you who created my consciousness; you fashioned me in my mother's
womb. I praise you, for I am awesomely, wondrously made; your work is
wonderful; I know it very well. My frame was not concealed from you when I was
shaped in a hidden place, knit together in the recesses of the earth. Your eyes saw
my unformed limbs; they were all recorded in your book; in due time they were
formed, to the very last one of them." (Ps 139:13-16)

The writer of that Psalm believed that God saw him way before he was ever
conceived in his mother's womb. In fact; saw his substance in the recesses of the
earth before his mom even conceived: which attests that everyone pre-exists in
Adam because he alone was actually created directly from "the recesses of the
earth". Everyone else stems from Adam's organic tissues and it's just a matter of
time before the right combination of genes brings them out.

"Just as you do not know how the spirit of life passes into the limbs within the
womb of the pregnant woman, so you cannot foresee the actions of God, who
causes all things to happen." (Ecc 11:5)

Acts of creation don't take place when babies are conceived. No, everybody's
creation took place back when Adam was created. Babies are merely reproductions
of Adam via the blessing of fertility.

Adam received life from God on the sixth day of creation. When God formed the
woman, He didn't breathe the breath of life into her nostrils like He did Adam. God
simply used Adam's already-existing life to energize Eve. And ever since then,
parents have been passing their life onto their children. In other words: human life
- like bird life, fish life, bug life, reptile life, and beast life --is a transferable kind of
life; passing from one generation on to the next. It's not a miraculous process; no,
it's a perfectly natural process; and it's a pretty amazing process too.

According to ancient Jewish thought, Eve thought Cain to be a very special boy.

T. And Adam knew Hava his wife, who had desired the Angel; and she conceived,
and bare Kain; and she said: I have acquired a man, the Angel of The Lord. (Targum Jonathan)

Apparently Eve expected her firstborn son to be "the God-sent one" who was
supposed to fulfill the promise of Gen 3:15 and crush the Serpent's head. But alas,
Cain was just an ordinary kid.

NOTE: The Hebrew word translated "angel" doesn't especially indicate a celestial
being. The word is a bit ambiguous and essentially means a dispatched deputy or a
messenger; viz: someone who speaks for, and/or represents, another; i.e. an
ambassador and/or someone selected by God for a special purpose. The New
Testament equivalent means pretty much the same thing.
_

 

[101G]

● Gen 1:5b . . And there was evening and there was morning, a first Day.

There are two primary kinds of Days in the first chapter of Genesis. One is a
creation day and the other is a natural day. It's very important to keep those two
kinds of days distinct and separate in our thinking because they are as unalike as
sand and gravel.

agreed 100%

In other words: the evenings and mornings relative to creation days aren't solar
events. The terms are merely index flags indicating the beginning and end of an
unspecified period.

agreed 100%

According to Gen 1:24-31, God created humans and all terra critters on the sixth
Day; which has to include prehistoric creatures because on no other Day did God
create beasts but the sixth.

However; the sciences of geology and paleontology, in combination with
radiometric dating, strongly suggest that dinosaurs preceded humans by several
million years.

Must disagree here. man was Made on day three, and was CREATED "MANKIND" on day 6. and many animals was created on day 5, which Adam was here before day 5.

101G.

 

[Olde Tymer]

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● Gen 4:2a . . She then bore his brother Abel.

The Hebrew word translated "Abel" basically means emptiness, futility, and/or
lacking permanent satisfaction. (cf. Ecc 1:2)

Poor Eve; she's only had two kids and already motherhood has lost its appeal. But
you know; in her day, women didn't have access to all the baby supplies, clothing,
conveyances, and conveniences that modern women in industrial nations have
today. Eve's situation and its conditions, were primitive, viz: pretty much third
world.

Cain and Abel are very interesting and share a lot in common. In fact, they share
so much in common that their individual personalities must be an enigma to
behavioral scientists.

Neither man came from a large gene pool because there were no grandparents.
Their genealogy stopped abruptly right in their own home with mom and dad and
went back no farther. They both had the same parents, lived in the same home in
the same neighborhood, grew up with the same customs, ate the same food,
associated with the same people, breathed the same air, survived in the same
environment, went to the same church, and revered the same God.

Yet those men were noticeably very different from each other. Abel was an inspired
man (Luke 11:50-51) but Cain, though religious; was not. And he was violent too.
(1John 3:11-12)

Both men were living souls per Gen 2:7, and both men existed by means of the
breath of life per the same verse. But souls are not the result of cookie-cutter
manufacturing processes. Souls are sentient individuals with a mind of their own.

* Individuality is one of the unsolved mysteries of life. How does the human brain's
three-pound lump of flabby organic tissue produce self awareness and a sense of
being unique? I don't know; it's very curious.

● Gen 4:2b . . Abel became a keeper of sheep, and Cain became a tiller of the soil.

The Hebrew word translated "sheep" basically means a flock; defined by Webster's
as a group of birds or mammals assembled or herded together. Abel could just as
easily have been a cowboy wrangling bovine and/or tending goats rather than
sheep. In point of fact, the Hebrew word for Abraham's "lamb" in the 22nd chapter
of Genesis is ambiguous too. It can mean either sheep or goats. Sometimes
translators have to make arbitrary decisions which, at times, can be misleading. But
we won't argue the point. Sheep will do.

Anyway: both men worked at honorable professions and their skills were essential
to the Adams' survival. Man at this time was a vegetarian so Cain farmed and
raised the family's food; while Abel kept them clothed and shod by tending flocks
for leather; and possibly fleece too.

NOTE: The Hebrew language didn't exist in Adam's day; nor would it exist till some
time after the Flood and the tower of Babel. Ancient names given in Hebrew aren't
the native-tongue names of people prior to Babel; but rather: Hebrew equivalents
of those names.
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

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● Gen 4:3-4a . . It came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering
to The Lord of the fruit of the ground. And Abel, on his part also brought of the
firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions.

It's evident from Heb 11:4 that what's taking place here was a legitimate part of a
God-given religion.

It's commonly assumed that Abel's offering was slain; but there isn't enough
evidence in this section to support it. Noah's offerings were obviously slain because
they're listed as burnt on an altar (Gen 8:20). But Abel's offering is not said to end
up the same way.

FAQ: How did Abel get the fat out of his animal without killing it?

REPLY: The Hebrew word for "fat" is somewhat ambiguous. It can mean fleshy
material, and it can also refer to prosperity, abundance, and/or the best of the
best; for example:

"Take your father and your households and come to me, and I will give you the
best of the land of Egypt and you shall eat the fat of the land." (Gen 45:18)

This all tells me that Abel not only offered an animal from among his blue ribbon
stock, but he picked out the choicest one of them all.

There's no indication in this scene suggesting their oblations were sacrifices for sin.
The Hebrew word for their offerings is from minchah (min-khaw') and means: to
apportion, i.e. bestow; a donation; euphemistically, tribute; specifically a sacrificial
offering (usually bloodless and voluntary).

Since the offerings were minchah type offerings-- essentially gifts and/or tributes
rather than atonements --it would be unwise to insist Abel slew his firstling and/or
burned it to ashes. In point of fact, holocaust offerings go by the name of 'olah (o
law') instead of minchah; for example Gen 22:2.

Ancient rabbis understood the brothers' offerings to be a "first fruits" kind of
oblation.

T. And it was at the end of days, on the fourteenth of Nisan, that Kain brought of
the produce of the earth, the seed of cotton (or line), an oblation of first things
before the Lord; and Habel brought of the firstlings of the flock. (Targum Jonathan)

Seeing as how Cain was a farmer, then in his case, an amount of produce was the
appropriate first fruits offering, and seeing as how Abel was an animal
husbandman, then in his case a head of livestock was appropriate.

I think it's safe to assume the brothers were no longer boys, but rather, responsible
men in this particular scene because God is going to treat them that way.

This incident is not said to be the very first time they brought gifts to God. The
brothers (and very likely their parents too), probably had been bringing gifts for
many years; ever since they were kids. And up to this point, apparently both men
were doing everything right and God was just as much pleased with Cain and his
gifts as He was with Abel and his gifts.

● Gen 4:4b-5a . .The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain
and his offering he did not look with favor.

Regardless of whether their offerings were correct, the first thing The Lord did was
look upon the men themselves. He looked with favor upon Abel but not with favor
upon Cain. In other words; Abel was the kind of man whom God approves whereas
Cain was the kind of man whom God disapproves.
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

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● Gen 4:5b . . Cain was much distressed and his face fell.

Cain was a whole lot worse than distressed. He was blazing mad. The Hebrew word
basically means to blaze up, i.e. to get hot under the collar. Cain is actually in a
passionate rage over this and certainly in no mood for a lecture.

● Gen 4:6 . . And The Lord said to Cain: Why are you distressed, and why is your
face fallen?

God made a sincere effort to talk things over with Cain and resolve their
differences; but Cain didn't respond; he was too busy sulking in a black pout.

● Gen 4:7a . . If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?

Cain believed in the existence of a supreme being; that was good, and his ritual
was timely; that was good too. But Cain's piety was flawed, i.e. his personal
conduct was didn't satisfy God's expectations, ergo: his ways tainted the offering
and made it unacceptable. (cf. 1Pet 1:18-19 where it's implied that Christ's blood is
an acceptable offering because his ways were acceptable.)

FAQ: How could Cain possibly know God's requirements without a written code to
inform him?

REPLY: Luke 11:49-51 says that Cain's kid brother Abel was a prophet; so Cain at
least had a verbal source, which is adequate enough when it's coming from an
inspired man.

Cain's situation is well illustrated at Isa 1:11-20. Moses' people were offering all the
covenanted sacrifices, they were praying up a storm, and observing all the God
given feasts and holy days. He rejected all of it, even though He himself required it,
because the people's personal conduct was unbecoming.

"The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah." (Prv 15:8)

FAQ: In what way might Cain's piety have been lacking?

REPLY: Well, my first guess would be bad blood between him and his younger
sibling. (Matt 5:23-24)

And his attitude was deplorable; Cain was insolent and rude; even to his maker.
(Gen 4:9)

● Gen 4:7b . . But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door;

This is the very first instance in the Bible of the word "sin". The Hebrew word
basically means an offense; as in repeat offender. In other words; not just an
occasional slip-up, but a life style.

● Gen 4:7c . . it desires to have you, but you must master it.

This is the first mention of self control in the Bible. In other words: God created
humanity with the capability to choose bad ways for itself; but that's only half the
story. God also created humanity with the capability to choose good ways for itself;
so He wasn't requiring something impossible from Cain like touching his right elbow
with the thumb of his right hand.

* Christians are not exempt from self control.

"Do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not
offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer
yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer
the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness." (Rom 6:12-13)

"If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not
live by the truth." (1John 1:6)
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

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NOTE: I suspect Cain wasn't always a jerk but started out just as pious as his kid
brother.

For example: one of my brothers and I were only eleven months apart. We were
born of the same mother and father, grew up in the same home, ate the same
foods, had the same friends, were equally educated and equally catechized; and
while still in elementary school, my brother was an altar boy. But as we grew older,
my brother became strange.

During an evening service in church back in the 1950s, the priest instructed
everyone to stand and promise God we would do our best to live a good life. Well;
my brother stood, but didn't promise. Later I asked him why? He replied: There's
things I want to do.

I was deeply disturbed, and totally mystified, by the transformation that came over
my brother. But in time, the differences in our attitudes helped me in my thinking
about the differences between Cain and Abel & Esau and Jacob.

● Gen 4:8a . . Now Cain talked with Abel his brother;

Cain probably complained to his brother that God was unfair. But the poor man
couldn't have picked a worse sounding board because Abel was a prophet (Luke
11:50-51). In Cain's dispute with the Lord, Abel no doubt took God's side in it. That
was too much. There's no way a man like Cain was going to take a lecture from his
own kid brother. Abel's popularity with God was bad enough, but preaching would
only make it worse and add insult to injury.

● Gen 4:8b . . and when they were in the field, Cain set upon his brother Abel and
killed him.

Whether or not Cain premeditated his brother's death that day is difficult to tell.
The Hebrew word translated "killed" means to smite with deadly intent. So the
attack on his kid brother, whether premeditated or not, was definitely meant to end
Abel's life rather than to just rough him up and teach him a lesson.

NOTE: According to 1John 3:12, Cain's motive was primarily envy; roughly defined
as painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another. In other
words; Cain had a serious problem with sibling rivalry.

How Cain planned to explain Abel's death to his parents isn't stated. He couldn't
very well blame it on a carnivorous predator since man and beast were on friendly
terms prior to the Flood. It's my guess he set up the crime scene to make it look
like an accident but then too, in light of verse 10, Cain may have buried Able; that
way he'd be reported as a missing person instead of possibly murdered.

● Gen 4:9 . . The Lord said to Cain: Where is your brother Abel? And he said: I
don't know. Am I my brother's keeper?

This religious man's reaction to the object of his worship is just as unexpected as
the murder he'd just committed. Cain worshipped the true God, and his rituals were
correct and timely; yet Cain was insolent and responded to his maker's inquiry with
a lie and a sarcastic rejoinder. It's not too difficult to appreciate God's refusal of this
man's recent offering.

● Gen 4:10 . .Then He said: What have you done? Hark, your brother's blood cries
out to me from the ground!

Whether or not human blood actually has an audible voice isn't nearly important as
to what it might be saying. And in this case with Cain, it certainly couldn't be good.
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

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● Gen 4:11-12 . .Therefore, you shall be more cursed than the ground which
opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. If you till the soil,
it shall no longer yield its strength to you. You shall become a ceaseless wanderer
on earth.

Ceaseless wandering was an inevitable consequence of the inability to raise an
adequate amount of your own food in that day and age. Nobody was eating meat
yet, so the soil was pretty much it as far as nourishment went.

Cain went on to become a very hungry, very overworked man. Wherever he tried to
farm, the ground would respond in such a way as to act infertile. The curse was
leveled right at his diet and the source of his food. Up till now, Cain had been a
successful. But no amount of agricultural wisdom would ever restore his once green
thumb. Cain had crossed over a line and there was no going back.

Since Cain could no longer sustain himself by farming, it would be difficult to settle
down and build himself a home; so he was forced to become migratory and forage
for seasonal foods.

Though the Bible doesn't say; it would seem to me a reasonable assumption that
the curse upon Cain extended to his posterity (cf. Num 14:18).

Up ahead we'll see that they became renowned as an industrial society rather than
agrarian. As time went by, and the Adams family multiplied and spread out; Cain's
community no doubt traded with them using income from the sale of manufactured
goods to barter for the foods that they themselves were unable to grow.
Dependence upon commercial food may not be ideal; but it's certainly better than
going hungry.

● Gen 4:13a . . Cain said to the Lord: My punishment is too great to bear!

Cain's punishment was relatively lenient. In point of fact, it wasn't punishment at
all, it was discipline. It's true that Cain would struggle to survive; but at least he
was allowed to live. His kid brother was dead. How is that fair?

FAQ: How did Cain get off with only a slap on the wrist? Why didn't God report
Cain's deed to Adam to have his son stand trial for murder?

REPLY: The Bible's retribution for murder is capital punishment; and that comes out
relatively early in God's communications with Man at Gen 9:5-6. However; Adam
couldn't prosecute Cain for murder because it wasn't illegal in his day. In other
words; the codified laws of God aren't retroactive. (Deut 5:2-4, Rom 4:15, Rom
5:13, and Gal 3:17)

FAQ: Well then, why didn't God step in and prosecute Cain for murder?

REPLY: It's important to note that Gen 9:5-6 doesn't apply in God's association with
Man, rather; in Man's association with Man. And on top of that; God's association
with Man has never been based solely upon strict rules and regulations because
Christ was reckoned crucified prior to the cosmos. (1Pet 1:18-21 & Rev 13:8) In
other words: the cross allowed God quite a bit of latitude in His association with
Cain.

● Gen 4:14 . . anyone who meets me may kill me!

Cain's natural sense of right and wrong knew that the only way to balance the
scales of justice for taking his kid brother's life was to forfeit his own. However, up
to that point in God's association with humanity, He had not yet given any official
instructions related to criminal justice. So then, were somebody to go after Cain
and execute him for the crime of murder, they would be taking the law into their
own hands; which is a very serious thing to do.

● Gen 4:15 . . The Lord said to him: I promise, if anyone kills Cain, sevenfold
vengeance shall be taken on him. And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest anyone
who met him should kill him.

The characteristics of that mark are currently unknown but the mark was clear
enough to anyone who saw it that God would strongly disapprove of their taking
Cain's life in retribution for his brother's even though "eye for an eye" is the right
thing to do-- but as yet it wasn't the lawful thing to do.
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

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● Gen 4:16a . . Cain left the presence of The Lord

Cain's departure wasn't a forced eviction as had been the Adams' departure from
the garden. And even though the Adams were driven from the garden, they weren't
driven from God. The family kept that connection and brought up their boys to keep
it too.

Cain's self-imposed exile has the aura of a dreadful finality. He renounced God, and
his native religion, and was content to forego its privileges so that he might not be
under its control. He forsook not only his kin but also their worship, and cast off all
pretenses to the fear of God-- apparently putting out of his mind God's statement:
"If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?"

Gen 4:16a is a terrible epitaph upon the tombstone of Cain's life, and you can
almost feel the concussion of a dreadful thud as the mighty doors of perdition close
solidly behind him; sealing his passage into permanent darkness.

Why didn't God plead with Cain to stay in touch? Because that would be like
throwing good money after bad. Sadly, there are people for whom it can be said:
That was the last straw.

Of all the things that Cain had done up to this point, walking out on God was his
worst mistake. Yes, he would have to scrounge for food; but that was just a bump
in the road; not the end of the road. People need to think that over. No matter how
harsh your circumstances are, and no matter what life has thrown in your face, loss
of contact with your maker is much worse. It is wise to stay in touch with God even
if your life is a train wreck and God seems oblivious to your circumstances.

"The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast
love. He will not contend forever, or nurse His anger for all time . . As a father has
compassion for his children, so The Lord has compassion for those who fear Him.
For He knows how we are formed; He is mindful that we are dust." (Ps 103:8-14)

● Gen 4:16b . . and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

The Hebrew word for "Nod" mean: wandering, vagrancy or exile. Precisely how Nod
got its name, or where it was located is unknown; and this is the only place in the
entire Old Testament where nowd is found so we can't compare it with other uses.

● Gen 4:17a . . Cain knew his wife,

Cain married one of his sisters: he had to because there was no other human life
available anywhere on earth other than that descending from Adam.

He was created directly from the earth's soil, whereas Adam's wife was constructed
from human material taken from his body. In other words: Eve's flesh was
biologically just as much Adam's flesh as Adam's except for certain physical
characteristics; viz: Eve wasn't a discrete species of human life, rather; she was the
flip side of the same coin.

Upon completion of Adam and his wife, God wrapped the work of creation and has
made nothing new for the cosmos ever since, i.e. it was all done. Thereafter all
human life descended from Eve.

"Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living."
(Gen 3:20)

"From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole
earth." (Acts 17:26)

An even more convincing example of prehistoric incest is Noah and his three sons
and their wives. Nobody else survived the Flood; ergo: Shem's, Ham's, and
Japheth's children all married amongst themselves.

"Now the sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem and Ham and Japheth.
These three were the sons of Noah; and from these the whole earth was
populated." (Gen 9:18-19)
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

.
● Gen 4:17b . . and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he then founded a city, and
named the city after his son Enoch.

The "city" probably wasn't the kind of city we're used to thinking. The Hebrew word
for it simply means a community, in the widest sense; even of a mere encampment
or post.

Whether Cain actually lived in a permanent settlement is doubtful since he was
stuck with vagrancy and wandering. Cain's city was very likely nothing more than a
migratory village.

● Gen 4:18-19 . .To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad begot Mehujael, and Mehujael
begot Methusael, and Methusael begot Lamech. Lamech took to himself two wives:
the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other was Zillah.

Adah's name means ornament. It's not unusual for people to name their little girls
after precious and/or semi-precious stones like Jewel, Pearl, Crystal, Ruby, Jade,
Emerald, Sapphire, and Amber.

Zillah's name means shade (or shadow), whether literal or figurative. Shade is a
good thing in sunny locales so Zillah's name may have been associated with
shelter, protection, peace, serenity, and rest-- as in Song 2:3.

Lamech's marriages are the very first incidence of polygamy in the Bible; and I
have yet to see a passage in the Old Testament where God forbids it other than the
restrictions imposed upon Jewish monarchs. (Deut 17:17 cf. 2Sam 12:8)

Aside from the obvious sensual benefits men derive from harems; polygamy does
have its practical side. The gestation period for human beings is nine months. At
that rate, it would take a man many years to build up his clan to a respectable size.
But with multiple wives, he could speed things up considerably. In primitive
cultures, large families are very influential, and their numbers crucial to survival
and self preservation.

"Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are sons born to a man in his youth. Happy is
the man who fills his quiver with them; they shall not be put to shame when they
contend with the enemy in the gate." (Ps 127:4-5)

● Gen 4:20 . . Adah bore Jabal; he was the ancestor of those who dwell in tents
and amidst herds.

This is the Bible's very first mention of man-made portable shelters. Tents, teepees,
wigwams, etc; make it possible to roam long distances in relative comfort while
searching for foods and pastures.

Abraham and Sarah were housed in portable shelters the whole time they lived in
Canaan. With portable shelters, Enochville could be a mobile community, staying in
one place only long enough to deplete its natural resources before moving on to
better diggings to invade, plunder, exploit, litter, and pollute.

Jabal wasn't the father of animal husbandry as the passage seems to suggest. Abel
was already tending flocks before Jabal was born (Gen 4:2). Dwelling "amidst"
herds describes the lifestyle of North America's early plains Indians; whose
livelihood depended a great deal upon wild buffalo. Though they followed the herds,
the Sioux, Cheyenne, Arapaho, Kiowa, Crow, Blackfoot, Comanche, and Shoshone,
et el; didn't actually raise any of their own buffalo like on a ranch.

Dwelling amidst herds is a nomadic way of life rather than one that's domesticated;
hence the need for portable shelters; and the herds (e.g. deer, elk, wild goats,
antelope, wildebeests, et al) would provide fabric for not only the tents, but also for
shoes and clothing; which would need replacement quite often.

One of Lewis' and Clark's complaints, when they were passing through the Oregon
territory, was that moccasins rotted off their feet in the Northwest's climate. Even
without rot, the soles of moccasins are not all that resistant to wear. Buckskins,
manufactured from Elk hide and/or deerskin, fared little better.
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

.
● Gen 4:21 . . And the name of his brother was Jubal; he was the ancestor of all
who play the lyre and the pipe.

The Hebrew word for "ancestor" basically means father, in a literal and immediate,
or figurative and remote application. In this particular case, it doesn't mean literal
kin, but likely analogous to an inventor who is the first to introduce a new concept
which then later becomes widely adopted.

The word for "lyre" basically means to twang. So the actual instrument itself is
difficult to identify. It could have been a harp. But then again, it may have even
been something as simple as a string stretched between a washtub and a broom
stick.

Primitive string can be spun from plant fibers. For example the ancient Kumeyaay
(Koom'-yi) people of southern California made surprisingly strong, sturdy twine for
bows and baskets from agave leaves.

The word for "pipe" basically means a reed-instrument of music. In that culture, it
could very well have been something as simple as a tube whistle made from a
single hollow section of plant stem; or several of those bundled together like a Pan
flute.

● Gen 4:22a . . As for Zillah, she bore Tubal-cain, who forged all implements of
copper and iron.

Copper, in its natural form, is too soft and pliable for practical purposes; but it's a
classification of metals called work-hardening. In other words, by pounding or
rolling cold copper, its mechanical properties can be greatly improved. It probably
didn't take Mr. Tubal-cain long to figure that out.

Adding a little tin to copper produces bronze, which is much stronger and tougher
than pure copper.

Copper's advantage in cooking is its natural heat conduction, which is very fast as
compared to iron and/or steel. It's also an excellent conductor of electricity, but
unless they were bottling lightening in those days, copper's electrical properties
would have to wait for future exploitation.

Iron, though stronger and harder than copper, is relatively soft and pliable in its
natural condition too; but with the addition of small amounts of carbon, it becomes
steel, which is quite a bit tougher than natural iron. Whether Tubal-cain figured that
out is difficult to know for sure.

● Gen 4:22b . . And the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.

Her name is from Na'amah (nah-am-aw') which means pleasant, amiable, or
agreeable. A girl named Joy would probably fit that category. Na'amah suggests
that the people of Enochville were content with their way of life.

So all in all, Enochville, though unproductive in agriculture, prospered through
manufacturing and commerce instead; trading the goods and services of their
industrial base for much needed produce; the same way that most urbanites still do
even today. People in towns and cities typically don't support themselves directly
from nature. They earn a medium of exchange in some sort of skill or profession,
then trade it with merchants to buy the things they need to survive.

The technological, and cultural, level of early Man was very high. It's interesting
that the identifying marks which evolutionary anthropologists use to denote the
emergence of a stone age culture into a civilized society were extant prior to the
Flood-- animal husbandry, agriculture, trades, urbanization, music, and metallurgy.
All these civilizational technologies emerged very early: within just a few
generations of Adam; rather than thousands upon thousands of years of human
development.

I'm not saying there were never any "stone-age" peoples. Obviously there were.
But though Cain's community may have started out as cave men, by Noah's day
they were past primitive conditions and actually pretty well advanced.

It's too bad the Flood wiped early Man off the map. Who can tell what he might
have accomplished had his progress not been interrupted. (cf. Gen 11:6)
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

.
● Gen 4:23-24 . . And Lamech said to his wives: Adah and Zillah, hear my voice! O
wives of Lamech, give ear to my speech! I have slain a man for wounding me, and
a lad for bruising me. If Cain is avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.

Brag, Brag, Brag-- boy, I tell you some men sure love to show off and glorify
themselves in front of women; no doubt about it.

Apparently ol' Lamech figured the homicide he committed wasn't nearly as severe
as Cain's because Lamech killed in retribution; whereas Cain killed in rage. Also,
Cain killed his kid brother, whereas Lamech killed his relative a little more distant.
So to Lamech's way of thinking, Cain's killing was a much more serious crime; and
if a dirty rotten scoundrel like gramps was under divine protections, then, in
Lamech's judicious estimation, he deserved to be under them even more so.

* That's a good example of the kind of humanistic thinking brought about by the
forbidden fruit incident wherein Man's natural intuition became his moral compass
per Gen 3:22.

It almost appears that Lamech killed two people, but really it was only one; and in
fact a person younger than himself. Two words describe Lamech's opponent. The
first word is from 'enowsh (en-oshe') and simply means a mortal; viz: a human
being (of either gender), in general (singly or collectively); viz: someone and/or
somebody. The second word reveals the person's age. The word for "lad" is yeled
(yeh'-led) and means something born, i.e. a lad or offspring-- boy, child, fruit, son,
young one and/or young man.

Apparently Lamech got in a disagreement with somebody and they settled their
differences in a fight. The injury Lamech received in the ensuing scuffle could have
been something as simple as the man biting his ear or kicking him in the groin. It's
my guess Lamech over-reacted and stabbed the man to death with a spiffy hunting
knife that his son Tubal-cain made for him over in the blacksmith shop.

Lamech's sense of right and wrong reflects the humanistic conscience of a man void
of God's mentoring. In his earthly mind, revenge was an okay thing; which is a
common attitude in many primitive cultures.

But his opponent only wounded him. In return, Lamech took his life. The scales of
justice don't balance in a situation like that-- they tip. Pure law says eye for eye,
tooth for tooth, burning for burning, stripe for stripe, life for life, and no more. If
the lad's intent was obviously upon great bodily harm; Lamech would probably be
justified to kill in self defense since his opponent was a younger man and had the
advantage in age. However, according to Lamech's own testimony, he killed the
man in revenge; not self defense.

NOTE: Cain's side of the Adams family is characterized by technology, invention,
boasting, achievement, commerce, and violence. But not one word is recorded
concerning its association with, nor its interest in, their maker. Cain's entire
community was impious and went on to be completely destroyed right down to the
last man, woman, and child in Noah's flood. No one survives him today.

The Bible doesn't record even one single incident of a Cain family blessing God for
His goodness; nor for His mercy, nor for His providence. There is no record that any
of them ever said even one single prayer-- not even a simple lay-me-down-to-sleep
kind of prayer. Every one of the little kids in Enochville went to bed each night
without the slightest assurance that humanity's creator cared at all for the well
being of their little souls.
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

.
● Gen 4:25 . . And Adam had relations with his wife again; and she gave birth to a
son, and named him Seth, for, she said: God has appointed me another offspring in
place of Abel; for Cain killed him.

Seth's name in Hebrew basically means a substitute, defined by Webster's as a
person or thing that takes the place or function of another; e.g. substitute teachers,
generic medications, pinch hitters, and/or after-market car parts.

Apparently Eve was still anticipating that she herself would be the woman to give
birth to the man promised by God to defeat the Serpent. (Gen 3:15)

● Gen 4:26a . . And to Seth, in turn, a son was born, and he named him Enosh.

Sometimes the record shows the mother naming a child, and sometimes the father;
which suggests that in all cases there was very likely mutual consultation between
husband and wife on this important decision. But it's always important for the
father to take a hand in naming the children because the act testifies that he
legally, and officially, accepts them as his own. (e.g. Gen 16:15, Gen 21:3, Luke
1:13, Luke 1:63)

NOTE: God instructed both Joseph and Mary to give her baby the name Jesus (Matt
1:21, Luke 1:31). By doing so, both went on record as Jesus' parents rather than
only his mom. (Luke 2:48, Matt 13:55)

The name Enosh means a mortal, i.e. a man in general, singly or collectively.
There's really nothing special about an enosh-- just a feller: similar to boys named
Guy or Buddy.

● Gen 4:26b . .Then men began to call on the name of The Lord.

The Hebrew word for "Lord" in this case is the four-letter tetragrammaton YHVH,
usually pronounced Jehovah and/or Yahweh; and always, without exception,
identifies the one true divinity.

Apparently up to this point in time, people addressed God in a sort of general way
instead of a personal way, and some still do. For example; during the Native
American funeral service held for my No.1 nephew, a tribal elder prayed to God as
"Grandfather" rather than by a personal moniker like Ganesha or some such.

● Gen 5:1a . .This is the record of Adam's line.

The Bible doesn't give a complete record of Adam's line, but every human being
named in the Bible is for sure Adam's posterity; which actually began with Eve, but
women are typically omitted: not always, but usually.

● Gen 5:1b-2 . .When God created man, He made him in the likeness of God; male
and female He created them. And when they were created, He blessed them and
called them Man.

As a preamble to Seth's line, Genesis reminds the reader that Man's origin was by
intelligent design and special creation, and that he was made in the likeness of his
maker, and that he's been an h.sapiens right from the get go. Man didn't begin his
existence as some sort of pre-human hominid named Ardi who lived in Ethiopia's
Afar Rift some 4.4 million years ago.

Some people take issue with Genesis because it seems to them so unscientific and
contrary to the (known) fossil record. But they need to be cautious because science
doesn't have perfect understanding of everything yet, nor has it discovered
everything there is to discover, and it often has to be revised to reflect new
discoveries, and to correct outdated theories and opinions.

But to be fair, Bible students don't know everything yet either so I would advise
watching the sciences for new discoveries that help fill in some of the Bible's
blanks.
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

.
● Gen 5:3a . .When Adam had lived 130 years, he begot a son

Bible genealogies often have very large gaps in them-- omitting insignificant male
siblings and typically all the girls. In one instance (1Chron 1:1) the record skips
Abel and jumps directly to Seth.

Taking advantage of this rather strange Bible practice; critics are quick to point out
gaps in Christ's genealogy with the intent of invalidating the entire New Testament.
But gaps are to be expected or otherwise the list would be cumbersome and require
a book all its own. For example; a sizeable quantity of time passed between Noah's
ark and the arrival of Abraham on the scene; and probably a couple of ice ages too.
We're talking about a lot of generations there, and naming them all to a man would
be just as useless as it would be impractical.

● Gen 5:3b . . in his likeness after his image, and he named him Seth.

The best application for "likeness and image" that I've discovered thus far is as a
technical term related to kin: physical and/or non physical. For example; in the
beginning God made Man in His own image and likeness. However; Man bears no
physical resemblance to God at all. Adam exclaimed that Eve was bone of his bone
and flesh of his flesh, and she was; but God is neither-- God is spirit whereas Man
is physical and can be examined and defined by the laws of physics; whereas God
cannot be gone over like that.

● Gen 5:4-5 . . After the birth of Seth, Adam lived 800 years and begot sons and
daughters. All the days that Adam lived came to 930 years; then he died.

Well, there goes grandpa Adam, just as God predicted at Gen 3:19. But hey?
Where's the listing of the rest of his kids? Didn't God bless him with the words "be
fruitful, increase in number, and fill the earth". Well, I seriously doubt that he and
Eve stopped after just three kids. But the rest of his progeny-- for reasons I can
only guess --didn't make the cut.

But when did Eve die? Did she outlive Adam? Who died first, Adam or Eve? Nobody
really knows. But supposing Eve died quite a while before Adam? Did he remarry?
And if he remarried, who did he marry? One of his own grandchildren?

Well . . in Adam's case, what's so bad about that? I mean, after all, his first wife
was constructed from the organic tissues of his own body; so that in reality, Eve
was his first child which means that by today's social standards; Adam practiced
the worst kind of incest. At least his grandkids would have been several times
removed.

● Gen 5:6-7 . .When Seth had lived 105 years, he begot Enosh. After the birth of
Enosh, Seth lived 807 years and begot sons and daughters.

No doubt some people envy the longevity of the antediluvians; but I don't. Their life
was hard, and for the most part, pretty boring too. Would you want to live for 912
years in pre historic conditions without a single modern convenience? Not me.

Was Enosh the first of Seth's children? Maybe, but probably not. However, he is the
only child that counts because it's through him that we're moving towards Noah;
and ultimately Abraham, David, and their progeny Messiah.

● Gen 5:8 . . All the days of Seth came to 912 years; then he died.

(sigh) The story of our futile lives. So and So was born, he got married and
reproduced; he lived X number of years after that, and then died-- same O, same O
--the weary circle of life.

* If people were immortal, global population would increase significantly. For
example here in the USA, the current birth rate is roughly 10,800 per day and the
death rate is 7,854 per day, resulting in a net gain of 2,945 which is only 27% of
what it could be had Adam not tasted the forbidden fruit.

● Gen 5:9 . .When Enosh had lived 90 years, he begot Kenan.

Kenan's name in Hebrew means fixed or permanent like when somebody's life is a
dead end and/or when their feet are set in concrete, i.e. it is what it is; which is
kind of pessimistic. Fixed can also mean that someone's life has a noble purpose
and that their mind is focused upon that purpose rather than looking two ways at
once.
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

.
● Gen 5:10 . . After the birth of Kenan, Enosh lived 815 years and begot sons and
daughters.

You know, some of these guys really didn't accomplish very much. All they seemed
to do was reproduce. But the important thing is: they made a line to Messiah and,
as is the duty of patriarchs, preserved whatever sacred teachings were handed
down from their fathers.

● Gen 5:11 . . All the days of Enosh came to 905 years; then he died.

(yawn) Over and over again. Just about everybody reproduces in chapter five. And
just about everybody dies too.

● Gen 5:12-20 . .When Kenan had lived 70 years, he begot Mahalalel. After the
birth of Mahalalel, Kenan lived 840 years and begot sons and daughters. All the
days of Kenan came to 910 years; then he died. When Mahalalel had lived 65
years, he begot Jared. After the birth of Jared, Mahalalel lived 830 years and begot
sons and daughters. All the days of Mahalalel came to 895 years; then he died.

. . .When Jared had lived 162 years, he begot Enoch. After the birth of Enoch, Jared
lived 800 years and begot sons and daughters. All the days of Jared came to 962
years; then he died.

Four of those men-- Enoch, Jared, Mahalalel, and Kenan (Cainan) --are listed in
Christ's genealogy at Luke 3:37-38.

● Gen 5:21 . .When Enoch had lived 65 years, he begot Methuselah.

Methuselah's name is a compound word made up of math (math) which means an
adult (as of full length or full size), and shelach (sheh'-lakh) which means a missile
of attack, i.e. a spear, sling stone, or perhaps an arrow. Methuselah was a man-size
weapon rather than one that might be employed by little children.

Today our preferred missile of attack from a hand held weapon is the bullet. A
Methuselah bullet would probably be known today as a magnum. Magnums cost
more than normal ammo but hit harder, go further, and cause more damage
(they're louder too). A modern name that might correspond to Methuselah is Long
Tom-- a nickname often given to very large canons. Maybe they meant to call him
Big Guy because he was such a heavy newborn.

● Gen 5:22-23 . . After the birth of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years;
and he begot sons and daughters. All the days of Enoch came to 365 years.

Enoch was a fiery preacher, speaking the words recorded in Jude 1:14-15; warning
people prior to the Flood that Almighty God intends to hold people's feet to the fire
some day.

● Gen 5:24a . . Enoch walked with God;

Enoch was the exact opposite of Abel's brother Cain: he walked with God rather
than away from God.

This is the very first man on record who is actually said to have walked with God;
though no doubt Abel did too.

Those who are outwardly religious, but don't actually walk with God, might be wise
to give this next little saying some thought.

Ye call me Lord and respect me not.
Ye call me Master and obey me not.
Ye call me Light and see me not.
Ye call me Way and walk me not.
Ye call me Life and choose me not.
Ye call me Wise and heed me not.
Ye call me Kind and love me not.
Ye call me Just and fear me not.
If I condemn thee, blame me not.

On the page of Scripture, Enoch isn't said to walk with God until after his little boy
Methuselah was born; suggesting perhaps that parenthood gave him cause to
ponder his manner of life thus far.
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

.
● Gen 5:24b . . then he was no more, because God took him away.

The Hebrew word translated "no more" is primarily a negative indicating that one
minute Enoch was on earth, and the next he wasn't.

It's difficult to ascertain from so little information in the book of Genesis whether
Enoch died of natural causes or the hand of God; but according to Heb 11:5, he
didn't undergo death at all but was instantaneously transferred from this life to the
next; apparently leaving behind no remains for his family to bury.

It's assumed by many that Enoch was taken to heaven; but according to Christ; no
man had been to heaven prior to himself. (John 3:13)

● Gen 5:25-27 . .When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he begot Lamech. After the
birth of Lamech, Methuselah lived 782 years and begot sons and daughters. All the
days of Methuselah came to 969 years; then he died.

Ol' Methuselah holds the record for longevity. He outlived his son Lamech, dying
five years after him in the very year the Flood came; when Methuselah's grandson
Noah was 600.

Whether or not Methuselah died in the Flood or by natural causes is not said.
However, he may indeed have perished in it right along with all of the rest of
Noah's relatives. Just because men are listed in Messiah's genealogy doesn't
necessarily mean they were righteous. In point of fact, some of David's kings in
Jesus' line were totally incorrigible men beyond remedy. (e.g. Jer 22:24-30)

● Gen 5:28-29 . .When Lamech had lived 182 years, he begot a son. And he named
him Noah, saying: This one will provide us relief from our work and from the toil of
our hands, out of the very soil which the Lord placed under a curse.

The Hebrew word for "Noah" means rest or quiet. But not the kind of quiet one
might find in a sound-proof room. More like the tranquility a person would
experience by getting away from it all, e.g. anxiety, fear, conflict, and toil.

Lamech speaks as one fatigued with the business of living, and as one grudging
that so much energy, which otherwise might have been much better employed in
leisure, entertainment, or self improvement, was unavoidably spent in toil and labor
necessary simply to survive back in that day.

Lamech undoubtedly saw that Noah was a very special boy; the next patriarch after
himself. Perhaps he hoped Noah was the promised seed of the woman; the one who
would crush the Serpent's head, remove the curse, and restore the Earth to its
former prosperity and glory; thus making for Man a much more enjoyable
experience than the one he is subjected to for now.

● Gen 5:30-32 . . After the birth of Noah, Lamech lived 595 years and begot sons
and daughters. All the days of Lamech came to 777 years; then he died. When
Noah had lived 500 years, Noah begot Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Lamech escaped the Flood by a mere 5 years. It came when Noah was 600 (Gen
7:6).

Shem was the next patriarch after his dad Noah. But the names of all three boys
are given probably because of the role they will play in re-populating the Earth after
the Flood. The Bible doesn't say that Shem, Ham, and Japheth were especially good
men. They survived the Flood in spite of their character only because they got
aboard the ark with their dad when it was time for the rain to begin. If they had
mocked, and remained on land with the rest of the world, then they would have
certainly drowned right along with everyone else in spite of their ancestry.

So; were Mr and Mrs Noah childless until Noah was 500 years old? Probably not.
The other kids, if there were any, didn't count as far as God was concerned, and, if
there were any, they perished in the deluge.

NOTE: Being related to holy men like rabbis, pastors, deacons and/or missionaries
etc doesn't guarantee a ticket to safety. Everyone has to make their own personal
decisions in that regard (e.g. Gen 19:12-14). God commands all people everywhere
to repent. The alternative is the sum of all fears no matter how important, nor well
connected, your friends, associates, and/or relatives might be.
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

.
● Gen 6:1-2 . . Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the
land, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw that the
daughters of men were good; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they
chose.

The Hebrew word translated "good" is one of a number of ambiguous Hebrew words
that can be utilized in a wide variety of applications. It can indicate morality, a tasty
meal, a job well done, a nice man, a pretty dress, a shapely woman and/or a
handsome man, and an expert musician and/or a really groovy song. But in this
case; I think it's pretty safe to assume it pertains to a woman's looks.

NOTE: Ambiguous words serve to illustrate why it's virtually impossible to translate
Hebrew into English with 100% verbatim precision. No linguist in his right mind
would dare to say that English versions of the Hebrew Old Testament are perfect
word-for-word renditions of the original manuscripts-- no; they can't even be
certified perfect word-for-word renditions of the available manuscripts let alone the
originals.

The characteristics of the "sons of God" have been debated. Some say they were
members of the aristocracy of that day who married attractive women from among
the commoners. Others say they were renegade spirit creatures who donned fully
functioning human avatars so they could cohabit with women; thus producing a
hybrid strain of hominid freaks. Others say they were God-fearing men who threw
caution to the wind and built themselves harems of pagan women.

The latter seems the more likely seeing as how intermarriage between believers
and unbelievers is often frowned upon in both the Old Testament and the New.

* The label "son of God" is somewhat ambiguous in the Old Testament. For
example in Job 1:6 & Job 38:7 it pertains to angels, whereas in Ex 4:22-23 an
entire people are identified as God's son, and in Psalm 82 authorities are sons of
God, while in Psalm 89 king David is God's son.

Hooking up men of faith with infidel women is a proven tactic for watering down,
compromising, and even extinguishing Bible beliefs and practices (e.g. Num 31:7
16). The people of God are strictly, unequivocally, and clearly forbidden to marry
outside their faith. (Deut 7:1-4, 2Cor 6:14-18)

Women can be very effective in influencing an otherwise pious man to compromise
his convictions; for example Solomon got off to a good start but down the road
accumulated a harem of foreign women who led him into idolatry; which
subsequently caused The Lord to engineer rebellion in the kingdom. (1Kgs 11 & 12)

The sons of God in Noah's day-- whose wives were chosen based solely upon
sensual allure sans any spiritual prudence whatsoever --all perished in the Flood
right along with their infidel wives and children. Not even one of them had the good
sense to go aboard the ark with Noah.
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

.
● Gen 6:3a . . And the Lord said: My Spirit shall not strive with man forever

Some translations have "abide" instead of strive. But the Hebrew word is diyn
(deen) which means: to rule; by implication: to judge (as umpire); also to strive
(as at law). It can also mean to plead the cause of; or to contend in argument.

So; how did "My Spirit" accomplish this striving with man? In person Himself? No;
just like He always has: via inspired men; e.g. Noah and Enoch. (2Pet 2:5 & Jude
1:14-15)

NOTE: According to 1Pet 3:18-20, the Spirit of Christ and My Spirit are one and the
same spirit. In point of fact; according to 1Pet 1:10-11, all the Old Testament
preachers (a..k.a. prophets) were motivated by the Spirit of Christ. (cf. Rom 8:9
and 1Cor 6:19 where the Spirit of Christ and The Spirit are seen as one and the
same spirit)

● Gen 6:3b . . for they are only mortal flesh.

A problem with flesh is it's brevity. The human body eventually loses its vigor, so
God has a limited amount of time to work with people before they pass on.

"Where are your forefathers now? And the prophets, do they live forever?" (Zech
1:5)

Were our bodies immune to the aging process, God would have plenty of time to
turn people around; but alas, without access to the tree of life, such is not the
case;

● Gen 6:3c . . yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.

Some feel that God set the limits of human longevity in that verse. But people still
continued to live long lives for a great number of years afterwards. Even Abraham,
who lived many, many years after the Flood, didn't die till he was 175 years old.

It's far more reasonable to conclude that God was announcing a deadline; viz: they
had 120 years left to get ready to meet their maker. But you think that alarmed
anybody? Heck no. They went right on; business as usual.

"And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:
They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the
day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all." (Luke
17:26-27)

The time of God's patience is sometimes long; but never unlimited; viz: though God
bear a great while, He never bears forever; for example:

"Today, if you hear is voice, do not harden your hearts as [Moses' people] did at
Meribah, as they did that day at Massah in the desert, where their fathers tested
and tried Me, though they had seen what I did. For forty years I was angry with
that generation. I said; "They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have
not known my ways." So I declared on oath in My anger; "They shall never enter
my rest." ( Ps 95:7-11)

NOTE: The "My rest" spoken of in that passage is related to God's sabbatical per
Gen 2:1-3 which is a perpetual variety of rest. In other words: had Moses' people
invaded the promised land when God ordered them to, they would never lose
control of it and would forever be blessed with security and prosperity.
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