After Cain goes into exile in Nod, east of Eden, the Bible presents a list of his descendants. But at the end of that list - another son of Adam and Eve is mentioned: Seth.
It's been about 240 years since Adam's formation (according to the genealogy lists) to the birth of Seth's son, Enosh.
Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh.
At that time people began to call on [proclaim] the name of the LORD.
The name Seth indicates Eve looked at him as a new seed [a new planting] for Abel. I imagine the birth of Seth to Adam and Eve was regarded as God's help in rebuilding their family. They had lost two sons in one day - one to death and the other to vagabondage. And Adam and Eve saw the direct connection from their disobedience to God to the loss of their family.
The name of Seth's son, Enosh, means human (or man, frail and mortal) - depending on the reference used.
And depending on the translation of QARA (7121), the people are calling out to God, addressing God by name, or preaching about God.
Did Seth's son, given the name Enosh, indicate a realization of identity to a generation of people; that they were human - not God?
Some translations shade the meaning of the verse to says that men began to call themselves (identify themselves) after the name God - becoming followers.
In this case, the translations are emphasizing the split between men after the nature of Cain, and those after the nature of Seth (and of God).
Peeking ahead, we know that God lets the human race have its way - until Noah's time, that is. Seth's lineage leads to Noah. Did God find Noah holy because he was part of a family that called on the name of the Lord?
And depending on the translation of QARA (7121), the people are calling out to God, addressing God by name, or preaching about God.
Did Seth's son, given the name Enosh, indicate a realization of identity to a generation of people; that they were human - not God?
Some translations shade the meaning of the verse to says that men began to call themselves (identify themselves) after the name God - becoming followers.
In this case, the translations are emphasizing the split between men after the nature of Cain, and those after the nature of Seth (and of God).
Peeking ahead, we know that God lets the human race have its way - until Noah's time, that is. Seth's lineage leads to Noah. Did God find Noah holy because he was part of a family that called on the name of the Lord?
Another item to consider (a we look even earlier into Genesis) - have all the prior encounters between God and people occurred when God took the initiative?
ReplyDeleteIn other words - have all the previous encounters happened when God called to (or came to) Man, and now - through the line of Seth - have the people called to God?
The linguists have a term, pleonasm, which means using more words than the grammar requires to produce emphasis. In the case of Genesis 4:26, this could mean that ...people began to call on the LORD himself.
ReplyDeleteThis would be different from calling on God as being in a star, or planets, or mountain, or tree.