Genesis 4:22

Tubal-cain The double name is strange, and presumably means "Tubal of the family of Cain." Tubal is traditionally supposed to have given his name to the people mentioned in Genesis 10:2 (see note). "Tubal" in Ezekiel 27:13; Ezekiel 32:26; Ezekiel 38:2; Ezekiel 39:1 is associated with Javan and Meshech as a community whose traffic included "vessels of brass." The Assyrian inscriptions record a people called "Tabal," apparently living to the S.E. of the Black Sea.

the forger Heb. "the sharpener." The expression is intended to denote the first smelter of metals. LXX τὸν Θόβελ, καὶ ἦν σφυροκόπος χαλκεὺς χαλκοῦ καὶ σιδήρου. Lat. Tubalcain qui fuit malleator et faber in cuncta opera aeris et ferri.

The R.V. marg. = A.V. "an instructor of every artificer," is a conjectural rendering of an obscure passage, and does not follow the original.

brass Better than copper. The metal, like the Gr. χαλκός, was probably our "bronze," for which "brass" was the equivalent in all early English literature. "Brass" is an alloy of copper and zinc; "bronze" of copper and tin. Copper-mining (not "brass") is referred to in Deuteronomy 8:9; Job 28:2. Our English word "bronze" is derived from "Brundusium."

It should be noticed here (1) that Hebrew tradition realizes how important an epoch in the progress of civilization is marked by the discovery of the use of metals; (2) that in this verse the mention of bronze precedes that of iron; (3) that no knowledge is shewn of a stone age, which archaeology has demonstrated to have preceded.

Naamah meaning "pleasant." The mention of her name, concerning whom nothing else is recorded, implies the existence of legends or traditions which have disappeared. Perhaps she symbolized luxury, as Jubal symbolized art and Tubal-Cain industry. The juxtaposition of Naamah and Tubal-Cain reminds us of Venus and Vulcan, more especially as Naamah is said to have been the Phoenician title of the Semitic goddess Istar. It is the name borne by the mother of Rehoboam, an Ammonitess (1 Kings 14:31).