Lamech (descendant of Cain)
Lamech is a figure appearing in the Old Testament's Book of Genesis, where he is the seventh generation from Adam and father of Jabal, the first breeder of livestock, Tubal-Cain, the first metalworker, Jubal, the first musician, and Naamah. This Lamech appears in the Yahwist genealogy ; the Priestly source has another Lamech who is the father of Noah.
This Lamech is distinguished as an insolent man in the Abrahamic texts.
Character
Lamech is generally characterized in a poor light in the verses that mention him, highlighting him as viciously murderous.Polygamy
Lamech is the earliest instance of polygamy in the Abrahamic narrative. Biblical verse Genesis 4:19 statesLamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.
Lamech is recorded taking on two wives simultaneously.
Murder
Furthermore, biblical verse Genesis 4:23-24 states
Lamech said to his wives:
Adah and Zillah, listen to me; wives of Lamech, hear my words.
I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for injuring me.
If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times.
Here Lamech admits to killing a young man in retaliation for striking him. Lamech further boasts of his wrath of vengeance as eleven times worse than Cain's wrath of vengeance.