Gods OT Strategy (7)

The first thousand years of history were a terrible time. This barren period of history described in Genesis 5 begins with the final verse of the previous chapter.

At that time people began to call on the name of the LORD (Gen 4:26).

The English translations put a positive spin on these words, but that is a bit misleading. The word translated “began” is “chalal”. Begin is a secondary meaning. The primary meaning is “pierce” or “profane”. A more realistic translation of the verse follows:

Men called out the name of the Lord as a profanity.

The barren period gets underway when men begin to curse God.