Here are some excerpts from Swedenborg's "Arcana Coelestia" that help explain the inner meaning of this chapter:

AC 324. Doctrines separated from the church, or heresies, are here treated of; and a new church that was afterwards raised up, called "Enosh."

AC 325. The Most Ancient Church had faith in the Lord through love; but there arose some who separated faith from love. The doctrine of faith separated from love was called "Cain;" and charity, which is love toward the neighbor, was called "Abel" (verses 1, 2).

AC 326. The worship of each is described, that of faith separated from love, by the "offering of Cain;" and that of charity, by the "offering of Abel" (verses 3, 4). That worship from charity was acceptable, but not worship from separated faith (verses 4, 5).

AC 327. That the state of those who were of separated faith became evil, is described by Cain‘s "anger being kindled, and his countenance falling" (verses 5, 6).

AC 328. And that the quality of the faith is known from the charity; and that charity wishes to be with faith, if faith is not made the principal, and is not exalted above charity (verse 7).

AC 329. That charity was extinguished in those who separated faith, and set it before charity, is described by Cain slaying his brother Abel" (verses 8, 9).

AC 330. Charity extinguished is called the "voice of bloods" (verse 10); perverted doctrine, the "curse from the ground" (verse 11); the falsity and evil originating thence, the "fugitive and wanderer in the earth" (verse 12). And as they had averted themselves from the Lord, they were in danger of eternal death (verses 13, 14). But as it was through faith that charity would afterwards be implanted, faith was made inviolable, and this is signified by the "mark set upon Cain" (verse 15). And its removal from its former position is denoted by "Cain dwelling toward the east of Eden" (verse 16).

AC 331. The amplification of this heresy is called "Enoch" (verse 17).

AC 332. The heresies that sprang from this one are also called by their names, in the last of which, called "Lamech," there was nothing of faith remaining (verse 18).

AC 333. A new church then arose, which is meant by "Adah and Zillah," and is described by their sons "Jabal," Jubal," and "Tubal-Cain;" the celestial things of the church by "Jabal," the spiritual by "Jubal," and the natural by "Tubal-Cain" (verses 19-22).

AC 334. That this church arose when everything of faith and charity was extinguished, and had violence done to it, which was in the highest degree sacrilegious, is described (verses 23, 24).

AC 335. A summary of the subject is given: that after faith, signified by "Cain," had extinguished charity, a new faith was given by the Lord, whereby charity was implanted. This faith is called "Seth" (verse 25).

AC 336. The charity implanted by faith is called "Enosh," or another "man" (homo), which is the name of that church (verse 26).

324. Genesis 4

1. And the man knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain; and she said, I have gained a man, Jehovah. ¹

2. And she bore again, his brother Abel. And Abel was a shepherd of the flock, and Cain was a tiller of the ground.

3. And it happened at the end of days that Cain brought some of the fruit of the ground, a gift for Jehovah.

4. And Abel brought some of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat; and Jehovah had respect for Abel and his gift.

5. And for Cain and his gift He had no respect; and Cain's anger was set ablaze and his face ² fell.

6. And Jehovah said to Cain, Why has your anger been set ablaze, and why has your face ² fallen?

7. If you do well, is there not an uplifting? And if you do not do well, sin is lying at the door. And to you is his desire, and you have dominion over him.

8. And Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.

9. And Jehovah said to Cain, Where is Abel your brother? And he said, I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?

10. And He said, What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood ³ is crying out to me from the ground.

11. And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood ³ from your hand.

12. When you till the ground, it will not yield its strength to you; a wanderer and a fugitive you will be in the land.

13. And Cain said to Jehovah, My iniquity is too great for it to be taken away.

14. Behold, You have driven me this day off the face ² of the ground; and I shall be hidden from Your face, ² and I shall be a wanderer and a fugitive in the land; and everyone finding me might kill me.

15. And Jehovah said to him, Therefore anyone killing Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold. And Jehovah put a sign on Cain, lest anyone finding him should strike him.

16. And Cain went out from the face ² of Jehovah, and he dwelt in the land of Nod towards the east of Eden.

17. And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he was building a city, and he called the name of the city after the name of his son Enoch.

18. And to Enoch was born Irad. And Irad beget Mehujael, and Mehujael beget Methushael, and Methushael beget Lamech.

19. And Lamech took two wives for himself; the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.

20. And Adah gave birth to Jabal. He was the father of the tent-dweller and of cattle.

21. And his brother's name was Jubal. He was the father of all who play upon the harp and organ.

22. And Zillah also, she gave birth to Tubal-cain, teacher of every craftsman in bronze and iron. And Tubal-cain's sister was Naamah.

23. And Lamech told his wives Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice, O wives of Lamech, and with your ears perceive my speech that I have killed a man (vir) to my wounding, and a little one to my bruising.

24. For sevenfold will Cain be avenged, and Lamech seventy-sevenfold.

25. And the man (homo) knew his wife again, and she bore a son, and she called his name Seth - for God has appointed me another seed in place of Abel, seeing that Cain had killed him.

26. And to Seth also was born a son, and he called his name Enosh; then they began to call on the name of Jehovah.

CONTENTS

The subject is doctrinal systems which were not part of the Church, that is, which were heresies, and a new Church raised up afterwards, called Enosh.

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