4:8 talked with Abel. Abel was a prophet and no doubt urged Cain to repent and believe God’s Word, but this only angered Cain further. The Serpent was quickly striking at the Seed of the woman, corrupting her first son and slaying her second, trying to prevent the fulfillment of the Protevangelic promise.

4:23 speech. This fragment of Lamech’s song is history’s first recorded poem, and exhibits the humanistic attitude often typical of both ancient and modern literature.