jabal Summary and Overview

a stream, a descendant of Cain, and brother of Jubal; "the father of such as dwell in tents and have cattle" (Gen. 4:20). This description indicates that he led a wandering life.

(stream), the son of Lamech and Adah, #Ge 4:20| and brother of Jubal. He is described as the father of such as dwell in tents and have cattle.

JA'BAL (a stream), the son of Lamech, descendant of Cain; described as the "father of such as dwell in tents and have cattle." Gen 4:20.

"flowing stream." Son of Lamech and Adah (Genesis 4:20), "father (teacher and forerunner) of such as dwell in tents and have cattle." Abel fed sheep and goats, Jabal also larger animals, "cattle." Abel had a fixed dwelling, the land around which afforded sufficient sustenance for his flock. Jabal introduced the nomad life, in tents probably formed of skins, migrating in quest of pasture for his "cattle" from place to place (Genesis 4:2,20). Savages live by hunting; emerging from barbarism they become nomadic, then agricultural. But Scripture represents man as placed by God in a simple civilization, raised above barbarism and the need of living by the chase, though not a highly developed culture. Adam "dressed and kept" the garden of Eden, and his sons must have learned from him some of his knowledge.