[5], Josephus wrote in Antiquities of the Jews (c. AD 93) that Cain continued his wickedness in Nod: resorting to violence and robbery; establishing weights and measures; transforming human culture from innocence into craftiness and deceit; establishing property lines; and building a fortified city. The Land of Nod (Hebrew: .mw-parser-output .script-hebrew,.mw-parser-output .script-Hebr{font-family:"SBL Hebrew","SBL BibLit","Taamey Ashkenaz","Taamey Frank CLM","Frank Ruehl CLM","Ezra SIL","Ezra SIL SR","Keter Aram Tsova","Taamey David CLM","Keter YG","Shofar","David CLM","Hadasim CLM","Simple CLM","Nachlieli",Cardo,Alef,"Noto Serif Hebrew","Noto Sans Hebrew","David Libre",David,"Times New Roman",Gisha,Arial,FreeSerif,FreeSans} ere-N) is a place mentioned in the Book of Genesis of the Hebrew Bible, located "on the east of Eden" (qima-en), where Cain was exiled by God after Cain had murdered his brother Abel. It will immeasurably enrich your understanding of such doctrines as the nature of God, pre-mortal life, the Creation, the Fall, the Atonement, the establishment of Zion, the Last Days, and the Second Coming. But if its correct, then Alulim might have been Irad, the fourth man, or fourth generation, after creation, and the first king of the first city on Earth, Eridu, Enki was the god of magic, craftsmanship, and wisdom. Along with An (or Anu) the sky god and Enlil, the god of the air, Enki was one of the three most important gods in Sumer. The Bible teaches us that Cain built a city, the name of the city was Enoch named after Cains son. From Acts of the Apostles to John's Revelation, 12 Aug. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17,11:20-34, 2 Feb. Genesis 29:31-35,30:1-12,17-24. Genesis mentions that Cains sixth generation included TubalCain, who forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron. (Ge . Also, in spite of the Divine sentence passed upon him, he longed for rest from his wanderings. 2 Samuel 18:18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's place. Cain and Abel in text and tradition: Jewish and Christian interpretations of the first sibling rivalry. That's what we read about in the second chapter of Genesis. As we explore ancient Christianity, we can better understand our own beliefs and practices and those of our fellow Christians today. The Doctrine and Covenants, Section 38:4. Now this name, in Hebrew Chanoch, is of the utmost importance in estimating Cain's character. In brief, Cain and Abel were the sons of Adam and Eve , the first man and woman created by God. He is described as a son of Cain, and father of Irad. Just as Eridu was the home of Enki, Enlil was chief deity at Nippur, Inanna (Ishtar) was supreme at Uruk, the sun god Utu was the patron deity of Sippar, and so on. Uruk is a strong contender for the city that Cain built. Thats not what the people who lived in it called it, of course; we dont know what they called themselves because they never invented writing. We know that the use of the word "bosom" in this instance means more than just some vague, heavenly location. Cain has gone into restlessness. 12 Who were separated from the earth, and were received unto myself-a city reserved . However, the local Sumerian people seem to have had their own records of what happened in those days. The city of Uruk was the largest city in the world at its height. "And Enoch beheldangelsdescending out of heaven, bearingtestimonyof the Father and Son; and the Holy Ghost fell on many, and they were caught up by the powers of heaven into Zion" (Moses 7:27). Clearly, the mark placed upon Cain worked ( Gen 4:15 ). Just like with Abraham's (Genesis 18), this verse gives us a vivid image of a trial, standing in front of God, the ultimate judge. To go much deeper with author and Biblical History Researcher Derek Gilbert read his recent book The Great Inception. The Sumerian King List states that the builder of Uruk was Mesh-ki-ang-gasher the son of Utu. by: Robert Marshall. "Consequently, Cain's activity as a builder serves two purposes in Josephus. Lamech was the first recorded polygamist in the Bible, taking two women named Adah and Zillah. 3870. A Bible Discovery / Quick Study extra! After the kingship descended from heaven, the kingship was in Eridu. Adam and his near offspring may have spoken some Sumerian, hence En became a prefix in those early years but then disappeared as Akkadian became the predominant language. Cain built this city in the land of Fugitiveness to the E of Eden, calling it by the name of his son Enoch. Daniel 4:30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? Using the website implies your agreement to the use of cookies. No one knows where the land of Nod was located, only that it was east of Eden. And he builded a city, and he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch. According to The Pearl of Great Price: Verse by Verse Commentary, bosom in this instance means God's throne, His actually dwelling place. He arrived very early in Sumer from Dilmun, probably the island of Bahrain in the Persian Gulf. The Ubaid civilization was typified by large unwalled villages, rectangular multi-room mud-brick houses, high quality pottery, and the first public temples. Although agricultural settlements like Jericho (c. 9000 B.C.) Map of Ubaid civilization sites in Sumer. In the English tradition Nod was sometimes described as a desert inhabited only by ferocious beasts or monsters. The Doctrine and Covenants, Section 45:11-12. John's Revelation to the 7 Churches of Asia, John's Letter to the 7 Churches of Asia Minor, The messages to the believers on the coastal plain, The messages to the believers living inland, 21. The articles and information in this website are for education, motivation, encouragement and challenge. During this vision, Enoch also saw the divine destiny of Zion. When Cain was banished from the garden he was tilling, he fled to the land of Nod (Genesis 4:16 KJV). 1) Gen 4:17: In parallel with Gen 4:1, Moses wrote, "Then Cain knew his wife. In time, the city grew to house a holy shrine and a controversial temple the first Tower of Babylon (see Genesis 11:1-9). Even after Zion was taken off the earth, there were still those taking up residence in the city. You'll find heaps of discussion about where Cain found his wife on here, in a bunch of different questions, and in Creationists site. This page was last edited on 30 December 2022, at 03:47. He was known as Enki to the Sumerians and Ea to the later Akkadians and Babylonians. The first city was built, not by Enoch but by Cain. Thus, the building of a city becomes a lasting monument to Cain's ongoing evil activity. . God had continued to stretch out His merciful hand, but Cain continued in his disobedience and gainsaying. Enoch (not to be confused with the son of Jared) is the eldest son of Cain and one of the kings of the city of Enoch, which was built by his father who put his name on his homage. We Bible-believing Christians dont reject science when we interpret data through a biblical lens. Enoch, a pre-Flood city. (Note: Were using dates that are generally accepted by a consensus of scholars so we dont get bogged down arguing about the timeline. Question: I am curious about the metaphysics of: land of Nod, Cain's wife, and the Son/City of Enoch. The World of the New Testament Journeys, English Translations of the New Testament, Jesus teaches how to receive the Holy Spirit, Jesus is changed on the slopes of Mount Hermon, Jesus heralds the end of the sacrificial system, The believers are filled with the Holy Spirit, Stephen is killed & the believers are scattered, 9. Scythe. It is located at the far end of a two-mile-long (3.2 km) road, which joins the A614 road at Holme-on-Spalding-Moor (.mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}534907N 04317W / 53.8185N 0.7215W / 53.8185; -0.7215 (Land of Nod, Holme-on-Spalding-Moor)). PHONE: 435-586-1119 FAX: None Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 9 am - 4:30 pm., Friday 9 am - 1 pm. The first city built inthe Bible was the city f noch named after the prophet Enoch.Gen_4:17 And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he [Enoch] builded a city . The first city, Eridu, is on what used to be the shore of the Persian Gulf. ), used of a reed shaken by the wind, 1Ki.14:15; hence to wander, to be a fugitive, Jer. Though, then, the wife may have had most to do with giving the name, yet we see in it a purpose that the child should be a trained and consecrated man; and Cain must have now put off those fierce and violent habits which had led him into so terrible a crime. Cain's descendants. Irad was the father of Mehujael. (Cain) builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch (or Chanoch)." Genesis 4:17 Genesis then goes on to chronicle Cain's basic lineage down through Lamech's sons and daughter (Genesis 4:18-24). So as the Neolithic revolution got well and truly underway the Sumerian tongue flourished and became the lingua franca for traders and the dominant language in Mesopotamia. However, the older Sumerian story credits Enki with giving life to all things, including mankind, and names Enlil the slayer of Tiamat. 20 Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the ancestor of . In fact, the Sumerians believed Enki personally created Eridu, elevating it from the marshy ground on what was then the shore of the gulf. Cain rebelled against God and created new gods with false stories. everything from religious practices to social interaction to music. An adult is usually able to avoid wearing their heart on their sleeve, but a child is not experienced enough to dampen the display of their feelings. Cain left the presence of the Lord. even though none of the skulls were cracked or broken, which would be expected if the deformations had occurred after death. Similarly, Moses 7:69 states, "And Enoch and all his . Interestingly, the Bible may support this account. This derivation, coincidentally or not, connects with the English pun on "nod". The winners of the Church History Museums 12th International Art Competition have been announced, and the artwork is breathtaking. Crop irrigation developed by about 5000 B.C., so cereals and grains could grow in the dry climate that again dominated the region. But if its correct, then Alulim might have been Irad, the fourth man, or fourth generation, after creationAdam, Cain, Enoch, Iradand the first king of the first city on Earth, Eriduthe city which bore his name. (See? Analysis is what we do with that information after its collected. Before joining SkyWatchTV in 2015, his secular broadcasting career spanned more than 25 years with stops at radio stations in Philadelphia, Saint Louis, Little Rock, and suburban Chicago. The first city known by archaeologists to exist in Mesopotamia was Eridu. Remains of Eridu, Iraq(Ltybcc1, Wikimedia Commons). The first city mentioned in the Bible. Psalm 49:11 Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names. Enoch named his firstborn to reflect this prophecy. Imagine a 365-year-old citydisappeared. A possible description we have of where the City of Enoch might have been located is in Moses 7:17, which states that the people of Enoch "were blessed upon the mountains, and upon the high places, and did flourish," making it possible that the City of Enoch could have been built somewhere in a mountainous region. This happens a lot with prehistoric cultures. He built a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch. The reunion of the City of Enoch to the earth in the Millennium will be its final resting place, and God's abode during this 1,000-year period. Uruk is a strong contender for the city that Cain built. Cain completely removes and replaces every trace of his past and every reminder of God in . As a rule, only the eldest son is mentioned in the genealogies, and Abel's birth is chronicled chiefly because of his tragical end, leading to the enactment of the merciful law which followed and to the sundering of the human race. Enoch then built "the city of holiness, even Zion." (Moses 7:19.) Lets just hope when archaeologists 8,000 years from now discover the remains of our civilization, its not by stumbling across the shell of a Wawa or a Piggly Wiggly. During his ministry, Enoch also built a city for the people of God or the people who repented and were baptized. Gen 4:25 - 5:32 Adam and Eve have another son called Seth, and the Biblesketches outtheir family history. Cain was initiating a new (godless) way of life, as well as a new (godless)security, and a completely new (godless) sense of rootedness. This happens a lot with prehistoric cultures. Again, this is speculative and it may be way off base so dont take it as gospel. -Genesis 4:17. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch" (4:17). ; Luke 3:37 (B.C. Enoch (dedicated).The eldest son of Cain, (Genesis 4:17) who called after his name the city which he built. [8] Early commentators treated it as the opposite of Eden (worse still than the land of exile for the rest of humanity). Now Cain dwelt in the land of trembling, in keeping with what God had appointed for him after he killed Abel his brother. The Church is also built such, for Jesus was the younger brother of the whole Adamic race, slain by that company of older brothers because they hated Him. 49:30. City of Cain. Let us say that Cain could father children around the age of 180 taking us to the year 4808 BC when Cains son Enoch was born. Adam, for example, "lived a total of 930 years Genesis 5:5), while Seth lived for 912 years (Genesis 5:8). Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden. 42 And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bare Enoch, and he also begat many sons and daughters. Adam had many children, so marriage was not a problem as mutations only appeared in the time of Leviticus 18:6 (2500 year later) where God prohibited inter-family relations. All the homesgone. (en) : an: Enoch [ink] . Thank you for your indepth analysis of this ages old story pastor Bill. We know this because Enoch received many visions from God and "walked with him" (D&C 107:49) and talked with Him "face to face" (Moses 7:4). And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch. Ge 4:17. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. Ironically , Nod means Wanderings. Lamech likely lived near the city of Enoch that his great-great-great grandfather, Cain built. East of Eden, away from Gods presence and the memory of the paradise,Cain would set about to make his own life.He would secure himself, and escape from his wonderings by building the worlds first city. This essay is not in any way a thorough review of life, culture, or religion in ancient Mesopotamia, but there is one more aspect of life in the ancient Near East to call to your attention. archaeologists and sociologistshave known at least since the late 1940s that people throughout Mesopotamia, before they learned how to write, figured out how to turn their children into coneheads. He was depicted with two streams of water flowing from his shoulders that represented the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the main sources of fresh water in Mesopotamia.