Interesting Facts

• Tubalcain was an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron.
• He was born to Zillah.
• His sister was Naamah.
• He led his father Lamech, who had grown old and whose eyes were dim.
• He was unintentionally killed by his father Lamech in a tragic incident where they mistook Cain for an animal.

Genealogy

• Tubalcain was the son of Lamech. This Lamech was the son of Methusael and belonged to the line of Cain.
• His mother was Zillah, one of Lamech’s two wives.
• He was the brother of Jabal, who was born to Lamech by his other wife Adah and is described as the father of such as dwell in tents and have cattle.
• He was also the brother of Jubal, born to Adah, who is described as the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.
• His sister was Naamah, also born to Zillah.
• His father Lamech became related to Cainan (from Seth’s line) by marriage, taking Cainan’s two daughters as wives, though it is not specified if Zillah was one of them.

Historical Context

Tubalcain lived in a period after the initial multiplication of men upon the face of the earth. This era was marked by a significant departure from the ways of the Lord, with the sons of men teaching one another evil practices and sinning against Him. Every man made unto himself a god, and robbery and plunder were rampant, leading to a corruption of the earth filled with violence. Even the judges and rulers participated in the taking of wives by force. Furthermore, there was a transgression involving the mixture of animals, intended to provoke the Lord. This widespread lawlessness and corruption ultimately led to God’s decision to bring a flood upon the earth to destroy mankind. Tubalcain’s skills as an instructor in metalworking would have contributed to the developing technologies of this increasingly violent age, potentially aiding in the creation of tools and weapons.

Narrative

The narrative concerning Tubalcain primarily highlights his role as an innovator in metalcraft, being an “instructor of every artificer in brass and iron”. This suggests a significant contribution to the material culture of his time, indicating a development in toolmaking and potentially weaponry. Later in his life, as his father Lamech grew old and blind, Tubalcain served as his guide. The most significant event in Tubalcain’s narrative is his tragic death. While accompanying his blind father in the field, Tubalcain directed Lamech to shoot an arrow at what they believed to be an animal. However, their target was Cain, the son of Adam. Upon realizing their grave error, Lamech, in his distress, struck his son Tubalcain, causing his death. This incident underscores the increasing chaos and accidental violence of the pre-Flood world. Lamech’s lament over the deaths of both Cain and Tubalcain and the subsequent reaction of his wives further emphasize the tragic consequences and moral decay of this period. Tubalcain’s life, though cut short, illustrates the development of human skills alongside a descent into moral darkness.