st off by God, but were the very people of God.

V. 22. _And Zillah, she also bare Tubal-cain, the forger of every
cutting instrument of (an artificer in every workmanship of) brass and
iron; and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah._

268. Tubal-cain signifies, produce property. So the Romans gave such
names as "Valerius" (from valeo), and "Augustus" (from augeo). And
Naamah received her name from her sweetness, or beauty. This posterity
of Cain increased infinitely; hence Moses breaks off at this point.

269. Now, when he not only chronicles names but makes mention also of
the deeds and labors of each one, the Jewish explanation is to be
rejected that the offspring of Cain was compelled to follow other
occupations because the earth was cursed, and hence gained their
livelihood, one as a shepherd, another as a worker in brass, and
another as a musician, obtaining grain and the other fruits of the
earth from the offspring of Adam. But if the Cainites had been so
severely pressed by hunger, they would have forgotten the harp, organ
and other instruments of music in their extremity; for the enjoyment
of music is not characteristic of the hungry and thirsty.

270. Their invention of music and their efforts in the discovery of
other arts is proof that they had the necessaries of life in
abundance. The reason, therefore, that the descendants of Cain turned
to these pursuits and were not contented with the simple food the
earth produced, like the descendants of Adam, was that they wished to
rule, and aimed at the high praise and glory of being men of talent. I
believe, however, that some of them passed over to the true Church and
followed the religion of Adam.

271. And such as Moses here describes the generation of the wicked, or
the false church, to be, from the beginning down to the mighty flood
of waters, so we find it ever, and such it will remain until the final
flood of fire. "The sons of this world are for their own generation
wiser than the sons of the light," Lk 16, 8. Therefore it is that they
ever advance and increase, and commend themselves and their own, and
thus acquire riches, dignities and power; while the true Church, on
the other hand, always lies prostrate, despised, oppressed,
excommunicated.

Vs. 23-24. _And Lamech said unto his wives: Adah and Zillah, hear my
voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a
man for wounding me, and a young man for bruising me. If Cain shall be