זה ספר תולדות אדם, thus begins the story of human history, and events worth recording for all posterity.

בדמות אלוקים עשה אותו, a reference to man’s free will. It is in this respect that man is like G’d. This is why when different generations of man angered G’d they were punished, [i.e. they had not been programmed to do evil. Ed.]

ויולד כדמותו כצלמו, Sheth was more righteous than either of his brothers, seeing that even Hevel had only offered his gift to G’d after Kayin had preceded him.

Chanoch walked with Elokim. That is, he emulated His ways by performing acts of lovingkindness and issuing rebuke.

זה ינחמנו, Lemech prayed that this son would provide him with the ability to take a rest from his heavy labour. The root of the word נח is מנוחה, rest, (retirement). The word is also used in connection with giving one a respite from one’s enemies, as in Esther 9,16.