Tubal-cain
Tubal-cain | |
|---|---|
 Tubal-cain in his forge. Tapestry in the Musée de Cluny | |
| Born | Tubal-cain |
| Other names | Tubal-Cain, Tubalcain, Tubal (simplified name) |
| Occupation | smith |
| Known for | forefather of smiths |
| Title | "an instructor of every craftsman in bronze and iron" |
| Parent(s) | Lamech and Zillah |
| Relatives | Jabal (half-brother) Jubal (half-brother) Naamah (sister) |
Tubalcain is a character mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, in Genesis 4:22. He was a descendant of Cain, the son of Lamech and Zillah, and the brother of Naamah.
Name
In Hebrew his name is תובל קין. In the King James Version this is rendered as Tubalcain, in the New International Version it is Tubal-Cain, while in the English Standard Version it is Tubal-cain. Rashi interprets the name to mean "he who spices the craft of Cain."[1]
It is not clear why he has a double-barrelled name. Gordon Wenham suggests that the name "Cain" means "smith" (which would anticipate the remarks about his metal-working skill), or that he is called "Tubal Cain" in order to distinguish him from the other Tubal, the son of Japheth.[2]
Henry Morris suggests that etymologically, his name is "the progenitor of the name of the Roman God Vulcan."[3]
Occupation
Genesis 4:22 says that Tubal-cain was the "forger of all instruments of bronze and iron" (ESV) or an "instructer of every artificer in brass and iron" (KJV). Although this may mean he was a metalsmith, a comparison with verses 20 and 21 suggests that he may have been the very first artificer in brass and iron. T. C. Mitchell suggests that he "discovered the possibilities of cold forging native copper and meteoric iron."[4] Tubal-cain has even been described as the first chemist.[5]
Others connect Tubal-cain's work to making weapons of war. Rashi notes that he "spiced and refined the Cain's craft to make weapons for murderers."[1] In The Antiquities of the Jews Flavius Josephus says that "Tubal exceeded all men in strength, and was very expert and famous in martial performances, ... and first of all invented the art of working brass." Walter Elwell suggests that his invention of superior weapons may have been the motivation for Lamech's interest in avenging blood.[6]
Alternatively, E. E. Kellett suggests that Tubal-cain may have been a miner.[7]
Popular Culture
Episode 315,[8] entitled "Rose Bowl," of the television situation comedy "NewsRadio" features "tubalcain" as a secret word which, when uttered in court, compels the judge to rule in one's favor and depart immediately to a secret cave in which judges paddle each other off. The character Joe Garelli , played by Joe Rogan, alleges that all state and local judges are members of an obscure sect of the Masons, which prescribes these rituals.
References
- ^ a b Rashi, Bereishis, chapter 4.
- ^ Gordon Wenham, Genesis 1-15 (Word, 1987), 113.
- ^ Henry M. Morris, The Genesis Record (Baker, 1976), 146.
- ^ T. C. Mitchell, "Tubal-cain," in New Bible Dictionary (IVF, 1962), 1302.
- ^ "Tubal-Cain Acclaimed as Pioneer Chemist". The Science News-Letter. Society for Science & the Public. August 30, 1941. p. 142.
- ^ Elwell, Walter E. (1988). Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House. p. 2109. ISBN 0-810-3447-7.
{{cite book}}: Check|isbn=value: length (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ E. E. Kellett (1922), "Some Old Testament Notes and Queries", Expository Times, 33: 426
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_rPoA4kWAw