Genesis 4:20-21

4:20 Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the first ¹  of those who live in tents and keep ²  livestock. 4:21 The name of his brother was Jubal; he was the first of all who play the harp and the flute.

Genesis 10:10

10:10 The primary regions ³  of his kingdom were Babel, ⁴  Erech, ⁵  Akkad, ⁶  and Calneh ⁷  in the land of Shinar. ⁸ 

¹ tn Heb “father.” In this passage the word “father” means “founder,” referring to the first to establish such lifestyles and occupations.

² tn The word “keep” is not in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation. Other words that might be supplied instead are “tend,” “raise” (NIV), or “have” (NRSV).

³ tn Heb “beginning.” E. A. Speiser, Genesis (AB), 67, suggests “mainstays,” citing Jer 49:35 as another text where the Hebrew noun is so used.

⁴ tn Or “Babylon.”

⁵ sn Erech (ancient Uruk, modern Warka), one of the most ancient civilizations, was located southeast of Babylon.

⁶ sn Akkad, or ancient Agade, was associated with Sargon and located north of Babylon.

⁷ tn No such place is known in Shinar (i.e., Babylonia). Therefore some have translated the Hebrew term כַלְנֵה (khalneh) as “all of them,” referring to the three previous names (cf. NRSV).

⁸ sn Shinar is another name for Babylonia.