02-12-2008, 09:08 PM
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 | Puritanboard Librarian | | Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Warrenton, VA, USA
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John Calvin on Gen. 4.17: Quote: |
Gen 4:17. And Cain knew his wife. From the context we may gather that Cain, before he slew his brother, had married a wife; otherwise Moses would now have related something respecting his marriage; because it would be a fact worthy to be recorded, that any one of his sisters could be found, who would not shrink with horror from committing herself into the hand of one whom she knew to be defiled with a brother's blood; and while a free choice was still given her, should rather choose spontaneously to follow an exile and a fugitive, than to remain in her father's family.
| Matthew Poole ( Synopsis) on Gen. 4.17: Quote: |
[His wife] Who also was his sister (Grotius, Munster on verse 16). In the beginning of the world it was necessary for sisters to marry their brothers (Lapide, Menochius).
| Henry Ainsworth on Gen. 4.17: Quote: |
This was one of Adam's daughters, spoken of in Gen. v. 4. to whom it seemeth he was married before.
| John Bunyan on Gen. 4.17: Quote: |
Cain's wife was his sister, or near kinswoman; for she sprang of the same loins with himself; because his mother was "the mother of all living" (Gen 3:20).
| Benjamin Needler on Gen. 4.17: Quote:
It is faid, And Cain knew his wife, why is fhe not call'd his fifter?
There is no queftion, but Cain married his fifter, but fhe is not fo called, becaufe God would not have this to be a ftanding rule; lest therefore any from hence for the future might take occafion to tranfgreffe the command, there is no mention made of Cains wife being his fifter, but onely Cain knew his wife.
The truth is, Cain could not do otherwife; for being under a command to encreate and multiply, and God creating but one man and one woman, viz. his father and mother, Marriage could not have been continued, nor mankinde propagated, if he had not married his fifter.
But will neceffity make a thing unlawfull to be lawfull?
Yes, If that neceffity be founded upon the command of God, as in this cafe.
| James G. Murphy on Gen. 4.17: Quote: |
The wife of Cain was of necessity his sister, though this was forbidden in after times, for wise and holy reasons, when the necessity no longer existed.
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__________________
Andrew Myers
Husband of Jessica, Father of Jackson, Katie and Samuel
Member, Presbyterian Reformed Church of Northern Virginia
Warrenton, VA USA
Editor, The Matthew Poole Project
"Let your Morning Thoughts, and your last Evening Thoughts, be what shall become of you to all Eternity." -- Matthew Poole
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