John Calvin Commentary Genesis 4:20

"And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents and [have] cattle." — Genesis 4:20 (ASV)

Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents. Moses now relates that, with the evils that proceeded from the family of Cain, some good had been blended. For the invention of arts, and of other things that serve the common use and convenience of life, is a gift of God by no means to be despised, and a faculty worthy of commendation.

It is truly wonderful that this race, which had most deeply fallen from integrity, should have excelled the rest of the posterity of Adam in rare endowments. I, however, understand Moses to have spoken expressly about these arts as having been invented in the family of Cain. His purpose was to show that Cain was not so accursed by the Lord as to prevent Him from scattering some excellent gifts among his posterity. For it is probable that the genius of others was in the meantime not inactive, and that there were, among the sons of Adam, industrious and skillful men who exercised their diligence in the invention and cultivation of arts.

Moses, however, expressly celebrates the remaining blessing of God on that race, which otherwise would have been deemed void and barren of all good. Let us then understand that the sons of Cain, though deprived of the Spirit of regeneration, were yet endowed with gifts of no despicable kind. The experience of all ages teaches us how widely the rays of divine light have shone on unbelieving nations for the benefit of the present life. We also see today that the excellent gifts of the Spirit are diffused throughout the whole human race.

Moreover, the liberal arts and sciences have descended to us from the heathen. We are, indeed, compelled to acknowledge that we have received astronomy, other parts of philosophy, medicine, and the order of civil government from them. Nor is it to be doubted that God has thus liberally enriched them with excellent favors, so that their impiety might have less excuse.

But while we admire the riches of His favor that He has bestowed on them, let us still value far more highly that grace of regeneration with which He uniquely sanctifies His elect for Himself.

Now, although the invention of the harp and of similar instruments of music may serve our pleasure rather than our necessity, still it should not be thought entirely superfluous; much less does it deserve, in itself, to be condemned. Pleasure is indeed to be condemned unless it is combined with the fear of God and with the common benefit of human society.

But such is the nature of music that it can be adapted to religious practices and made beneficial to people, if only it is free from corrupting attractions and from that foolish delight by which it seduces people from better pursuits and occupies them in vanity. If, however, we allow the invention of the harp no praise, it is well known how far and how widely the usefulness of the carpenter’s art extends.

Finally, Moses, in my opinion, intends to teach that this race flourished in various and preeminent endowments, which would both render it inexcusable and prove to be most evident testimonies of divine goodness. The name “the father of them that dwell in tents” is given to him who was the first inventor of that convenience, which others afterwards imitated.