He (Jabal) was the father of such as dwell in tents That is, he taught shepherds to dwell in them, and to remove them from place to place for conveniency of pasture. The first authors of any thing are commonly called its fathers.
Related Commentaries of Genesis 4:20
Genesis 4:20
20 And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.