Lemekh's Monologue/3
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Lemekh's Monologue
Points of Dispute
These are some of the central points of dispute (נקודות המחלוקת) between the various exegetes:
- What is Lemekh's tone in the verses?
- Lemekh is boasting
- About his past action of murder – Ibn Kaspi, Cassuto.
- About his ability to murder – J. Herder cited in the Biur and Shadal.
- Lemekh is justifying himself / reassuring his wives – Tanchuma, Bereshit Rabbah, Rashi, R"Y Bekhor Shor, Ramban, Ralbag.
- Lemekh is sincerely regretting his action – R. Saadia, Seforno, HaKetav VeHaKabbalah.
- Lemekh is frustrated with his wives – R. Yosef Kara, Shadal.
- Lemekh is boasting
- What does "לָכֵן כָּל הֹרֵג קַיִן שִׁבְעָתַיִם יֻקָּם" mean?
- The one who kills Kayin will be revenged seven times – Septuagint,
- Kayin himself will be revenged at the end of seven generations – Aramaic Targumim, Midrash
- Kayin was killed by mistake by Lemekh who was the seventh generation from Adam – Midrash
- Kayin's descendants were wiped out during the flood
- How seven, because Lemekh is only sixth from Kayin? Seventh generation is the sons of Lemekh
- According to this possibility the Torah didn't explain what happens to the killer (כל הרג), but Kayin will שבעתים יקם