Beraishis 5D Descendants of Shais שת

Just as in the fourth chapter the Torah lists the Kayin line, here the Torah lists the line of Shais. The names are quite similar as shown here (The Shais line not in chronological order).

The key difference is that in the Kayin line there was only decline. In the Shais line there is decline followed by a turn for the better followed once again by decline and again back upward. In this way, the generations slowly progress.

(The names given, like those listed above in the Kayin line, do not indicate that the parents were prophetic about who their children would be. It is likely that the names reflected trends of the generation that the children were born into.)

קינן – A generation that idolizes possession.
The next generation tries to be more spiritual.

מהללאל – A generation that praises God.
But knowing of God and praising God is not the same as subordinating one’s life to God’s Will (the basic concept of Judaism). This generation knew of אלקים but not שם השם – God as Master. Superficial מהללאל is always followed by…

ירד – The generation sinks. Lip service of hymns and prayers do not inspire. They are not rooted in action.

חנוך – A better generation emerges through education.
However when all around there is spiritual decline, those who strive to be better remain an elite few. They emerge as….

מתושלח – They abandon the masses (see page 157 for detailed etymology), having no interest or concern for society. (Much more on this in a coming post about isolation)

למך – As in the Kayin line, RSRH does not know how to explain the meaning of this name. However he does point out that in both cases Lemech made a pronouncement.

Lemech, Kayin’s grandchild pronounced his despair, that all man’s efforts were useless.

Lemech, the grandchild of Shais, declares that despite man’s struggle with a world that is cursed, good emerges because man himself is not cursed. There is a bright future through children! (More on this in a coming post about the word בן)

Beraishis 5:4-28
pages 153-160