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.
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