Genesis: The Beginning of Civilization Quiz

Answer: Cain

"Then Cain went out from the presence of the LORD and dwelt in the land of Nod on the east of Eden. And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son-Enoch" - Genesis 4:16-17.

As a punishment for murdering his brother Abel, God had sent Cain out of his presence, away from his family and home to be a wanderer and vagabond. Building a city and naming the city after his son may have indicated that Cain had come to recognize the importance of community and the value of family relationships.

Answer: Jabal

"Then Lamech took for himself two wives: the name of one was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah. And Adah bore Jabal. He was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock" - Genesis 4:19,20.

In the beginning of human history, being a 'jack of all trades' must have been a big help to survival. Several hundred years into human history as recorded in the Bible, we see that skills and abilities are beginning to be classified and specialised, which would have enabled people to barter and trade for the things they needed.

Answer: Harp and flute

"His (Jabal's) brother's name was Jubal. He was the father of all those who play the harp and flute" - Genesis 4:21.

Even though Jubal's name means ram-horn blower or trumpet, the instruments listed in the New King James Version and a number of other translations are the harp and flute.

Answer: Metal work

"And as for Zillah, she also bore Tubal-Cain, an instructor of every craftsman in bronze and iron..." Genesis 4:22

In early times the forging of metals was a secretive craft. The techniques and alloys would have been carefully guarded and kept within families and clans and passed down through the generations.

Answer: None are specifically mentioned

While we can probably assume they tilled the ground as Adam and Cain had, and that they raised livestock as Abel did, no specific skills or trades are recorded about Seth's descendants.

Adam's genealogy in Genesis, chapter five, does mention some additional things about Adam's descendants through his son Seth, which are not always mentioned about Cain's descendants. Every generation records the first-born son's name, how many years he lived, that he had sons and daughters and that he died, except for Enoch, of whom it is recorded, "And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him" (Genesis 5:24)

Noah's birth, however, does make clear that they were a people well acquainted with hard work: "Lamech lived one hundred and eighty-two years, and had a son. And he called his name Noah, saying, 'This one will comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD has cursed'" - Genesis 5:28,29.

Answer: Men's hearts were inclined only to evil

"Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, 'I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.'" - Genesis 6:5-7.

It seems, according to this passage, that even God can have a broken heart. :(

Answer: They built a big boat

"And God said to Noah, 'The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch'" - Genesis 6:13-14.

God went on to describe how the ark should be built and that Noah's wife, sons and their wives were to go into the ark along with two of every kind of animal. In Chapter Seven, just before the rains began, Noah was told to take seven of every clean animal and two of every unclean animal along with his family into the ark.

Answer: All of these

"Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. And this is how you shall make it: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. You shall make a window for the ark, and you shall finish it to a cubit from above; and set the door of the ark in its side. You shall make it with lower, second, and third decks" - Genesis 6:14-17.

It would have taken many skills to carry out such a mammoth undertaking, not to mention unswerving faith and patience. Noah had to be a carpenter to build the ark, a stevedore to load it, and a zookeeper to keep his charges alive and healthy.

"Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did" - Genesis 6:22.

Answer: Wine maker

"And Noah began to be a farmer, and he planted a vineyard. Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent" - Genesis 9:20-21.

One thing I just have to love about the Bible is that it never glosses over its heroes. I see this as even more evidence that the Bible always tells it like it is.

Answer: Subdue

To subdue means to take control of by force. The book of Genesis portrays a picture of mankind, from the beginning, as uniquely created, intelligent and fully capable of functioning and influencing the world in which he lived. Mankind farmed, built cites and had specific occupations. Mankind explored, experimented, enjoyed music and was creative. Mankind lived in family groups and recognized their responsibility to care for and plan futures for their children.

In the book of Genesis mankind, it seems, was given freedom to acknowledge and worship the God who had created him or to reject the God who created him. Mankind was not given freedom to totally subdue the earth with evil. When it seemed evil would subdue the earth, God stepped in and rescued the only man and his family who still acknowledged and worshiped him.