Lemekh's Monologue/3

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.
• Who are the "אִישׁ" and "יֶלֶד"?
  • Anonymous people – R. Saadia, J. Herder cited in the Biur and Shadal, Netziv, R. D"Z Hoffmann.
  • Kayin and Tuval Kayin – Tanchuma, Rashi #1, Abarbanel, Seforno.
  • Hevel – Rashi #2, Ramban, Ralbag, Cassuto
  • Lemekh's wives and future kids – HaKetav VeHaKabbalah.
• What are "לְפִצְעִי" and "לְחַבֻּרָתִי"?
  • Motivation for attack in the past / future – Ibn Kaspi, J. Herder cited in the Biur and Shadal.
  • Mode of attack – Ramban, Ralbag, R. D"Z Hoffmann, Cassuto.
  • Punishment of Lemekh – Bereshit Rabbah, Abarbanel, Seforno.
  • Guilt of Lemekh – Tanchuma, Rashi.
• What does "לָכֵן כָּל הֹרֵג קַיִן שִׁבְעָתַיִם יֻקָּם" mean?
  • The one who kills Kayin will be revenged seven times – SeptuagintGenesis 4:15,23-24About the 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