Knowing The Word in Genesis 4:17-24, Cain's Descendants

[Genesis always records the descendants of the unfavored son before the elect line, which is Seth’s.]

17 Cain knew his wife [a daughter of Adam and Eve or were there other humans?], and she conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city [often associated with human autonomy and turning away from God's law], he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch [“dedicator/ builder of cities”]. 18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech [the seventh generation, whose violent lifestyle recalls Cain’s]. 19 And Lamech took two wives [further decline in God’s pattern for human life in having two instead of one wife only]. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. 20 Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock [father of the Bedouin lifestyle]. 21 His brother's name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe [the first musician]. 22 Zillah also bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron [the first smither]. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.

23 Lamech said to his wives:

“Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say: I have killed a man for wounding [bruising] me, a young man [less than 40] for striking me. 24 If Cain's revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech's is seventy-sevenfold.” [Lamech is more depraved than Cain, having killed at least two men for minor infractions. His revenge is far out of proportion. There is disaster waiting to happen if this line of man continues.]