Lemekh's Monologue/2/en

Lemekh's Oration

Exegetical Approaches

Response to Killing

Lemekh shares with his wives his feeling about killing others.  Commentators disagree whether he is expressing regret or boasting.

Regret

Lemekh tells his wives that he is upset for having killed.

Sources:TanchumaBereshit 11About the Tanchuma, R. Saadia GaonCommentary Bereshit 4:16-25Tafsir Bereshit 4:23-24About R. Saadia Gaon, Rashi #1Bereshit 4:15Bereshit 4:19Bereshit 4:23-24About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki, SefornoBereshit 4:15,23-24About R. Ovadyah Seforno, HaKetav VeHaKabbalahBereshit 4:23About R. Yaakov Mecklenburg

"לָכֵן כָּל הֹרֵג קַיִן שִׁבְעָתַיִם יֻקָּם"

Who did Lemekh kill ("אִישׁ" and "יֶלֶד")?

What is "לְפִצְעִי" and "לְחַבֻּרָתִי"?

Purpose of the story

Boasting

Lemekh is proud of his ability to kill.

Sources:R. Yosef ibn KaspiTirat Kesef 1Bereshit 4:23-24About R. Yosef ibn Kaspi, possibility brought in Biur and ShadalBereshit 4:15Bereshit 4:23-24About R. Shemuel David Luzzatto, U. CassutoBereshit 4:23,24About Umberto Cassuto, Y"M ImmanueliBereshit Hesberim VeHaarot pp.101-102

Calming of Wive's Fear

Potential Death of their Children

Lemekh is boasting over killing or his ability to kill.

Punishment of Lemekh for Inventing Weapons

Reaction to Wive's Squabbles

Lemekh is calming down his wives who fear he will be killed for inventing weapons or being the seventh generation from Kayin.

Sources:RambanBereshit 4:23About R. Moshe Nachmanides, ShadalBereshit 4:15Bereshit 4:23-24About R. Shemuel David Luzzatto