Interesting Facts

• According to the Book of Jasher, Adah was one of the two daughters of Cainan [19, Jasher 2:15-16].
• The Book of Jasher states that Adah became the wife of Lamech, the son of Methusael from the line of Cain [30, Jasher 2:17a].
• Adah was the mother of Jabal, who is described as “the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle” [30, Genesis 4:20, Jasher 2:17b].
• Adah was also the mother of Jubal, who is described as “the father of all such as handle the harp and organ” [30, Genesis 4:21, Jasher 2:18].
• Along with her sister Zillah, Adah was addressed by Lamech concerning his accidental killing of Cain and his son Tubal Cain [49, Genesis 4:23-24, Jasher 2:34-35].
• According to the Book of Jasher, Adah and Zillah initially sought to kill Lamech upon hearing of his deeds and separated from him [50, Jasher 2:32-33].
• The Book of Jasher recounts that Adah, along with Zillah, eventually returned to Lamech following the counsel of their father, Adam [50, Jasher 2:36].

Genealogy

• Adah’s father was Cainan, the son of Enosh and grandson of Seth [19, Jasher 2:15-16]. Her lineage traces back to Adam and Eve [1, Genesis 4:1, Jasher 1:12b-13a, Jubilees 3:34, 4:1a, 7b].
• Her mother is not named in the provided sources.
• She had at least one sister, Zillah, and two brothers, Mahlallel and Enan, and another brother named Mered [19, Jasher 2:15-16].
• Adah became the wife of Lamech, who was the son of Methusael and a descendant of Cain [30, Jasher 2:17a, 26].
• Adah bore two sons to Lamech: Jabal and Jubal [30, Genesis 4:20-21, Jasher 2:17b-18]. The sources do not mention any other offspring of Adah.

Historical Context

Adah lived in the generations following the separation of the lines of Seth and Cain. The texts indicate a growing corruption and violence among the descendants of Cain [29, Jubilees 5:2]. It is during this period that certain men began to practice polygamy, as evidenced by Lamech taking two wives, Adah and Zillah [29, Genesis 4:19]. The Book of Jasher also notes a decline in adherence to God’s commandments, including those related to procreation, with some men causing their wives to become barren [31, Jasher 2:19-22]. Adah’s father, Cainan, is portrayed as a wise man who ruled over spirits and demons and prophesied the coming destruction [43, Jasher 2:11b-14], suggesting a familial awareness of divine judgment. Adah’s life would have been shaped by these societal trends, including the rise of new practices like animal husbandry and music attributed to her sons [30, Genesis 4:20-21], alongside increasing wickedness and knowledge of impending doom.

Narrative

Adah’s narrative within the selected sources primarily revolves around her marriage to Lamech and the birth of her sons. She is introduced as one of the two daughters of Cainan who became the wives of Lamech [30, Jasher 2:17a]. Her significance is highlighted through her offspring, Jabal and Jubal, who are credited with pioneering distinct aspects of human civilization [30, Genesis 4:20-21]. A pivotal moment in Adah’s story occurs when Lamech, in his old age and with impaired vision, accidentally kills Cain and his own son Tubal Cain [48, Jasher 2:26-31]. Upon learning of this, Adah, along with Zillah, reacted with anger and sought to distance themselves from Lamech [50, Jasher 2:32-33]. This reveals a sense of moral outrage and a desire to disassociate from such violence. However, they later heeded the counsel of Adam and returned to Lamech [50, Jasher 2:36]. This episode underscores the complexities of familial relationships and the influence of ancestral wisdom in their time. The narrative suggests that Adah played a significant role as a matriarch in the lineage of Cain, her sons’ innovations leaving a lasting mark on the early world as described in the scriptures.