Where Did Cain Get His Wife?: What About Inbreeding? Where Did Cain Get His Wife?: What About Inbreeding? Introduction Cain's Wife? After Cain was sent into exile east of Eden for killing Abel he found a wife and built a city. Even if Cain married one of his sisters, doesn't this produce theological and biological problems? Rich Deem The Bible indicates that Adam and Eve's first son, Cain, slew his younger brother Abel because of jealousy over the acceptance of his brother's offering over his own. Immediately after being banished to the east in the land of Nod, Cain found a wife and raised a family and founded a "city" called Enoch. If Cain was the firstborn of Adam and Abel the second, then how could Cain have found a wife and built a city? Creation of humanity The Bible describes the creation of humanity in Genesis, the first book. According to the chapter one account, God created male and female human beings in His image. 1 Chapter two of Genesis goes into more detail about the creation of mankind. According to the narrative, God created Adam, the first man, 2 then, some time later, created Eve. 3 Adam and Eve sinned and were banished from Eden.

4 They produced two sons, Cain and Abel. 5 Both Cain and Abel presented sacrifices to God, but Cain's was rejected, 6 because he expended a half-hearted effort. 7 So, Cain became angry and murdered his brother in a fit of jealousy. 8 Cain is exiled God confronted Cain about the murder of Abel and banished him to the east of Eden. The problem arises in the next verse, where suddenly Cain is married and builds a city: Then Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden. (Genesis 4:16) Cain had relations with his wife and she conceived, and gave birth to Enoch; and he built a city, and called the name of the city Enoch, after the name of his son. (Genesis 4:17) Mesopotamia The assumption seems to be that Cain and Abel were the first two children of Adam and Eve. Although Cain does seem to be the firstborn, the text is not clear that Abel was the second born, but only that he was the second son.

5 Later, the narrative indicates that Adam and Eve produced "other sons and daughters." 9 So, it is possible that Adam and Eve produced daughters between the births of Cain and Abel. It is also likely that others sons and daughters were produced after the birth of Abel. We don't know how old Cain and Abel were when Cain murdered his brother, but they seem to be at least young adults, since they are both engage in a trade for their living. 5 The second thing one notices is Cain's seeming paranoia about being found and revenge being taken against his for killing Abel. 10 The only way this makes sense is if the brothers and sisters of Abel were upset that Cain had killed their brother. Although the period of time between the birth of Cain and the death of Abel is not given in the Bible, it would seem that this period was probably over 100 years, since the birth of Adam's next son, Seth is said to have occurred when Adam was 130 years old. 11 Adam and Eve could have produced many daughters during that period of time. Cain builds a "city" So, the Genesis narrative suggests that Cain had other brothers and sisters when he was exiled by God.

One of those sisters married Cain (or more likely had already been married to Cain when he killed his brother), became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch somewhere east of Eden. The next problem that arises is the claim that Cain "built a city." To us, in the 21st century, this evokes images of skyscrapers and high density housing. However, the original Hebrew word, translated "city," merely had the meaning of a place that was guarded by a watch or with a wall. 12 At its minimum, the Hebrew root referred to an encampment or post. So, it is entirely possible that Cain could have built such a "city." Theological problems Skeptics have pointed out that the only viable solution to the problem of Cain's wife (Cain marrying his sister) suffers from theological problems, since close relations were not allowed to marry according to Jewish law. 13 However, all of these events happened before the law was given. According to the Apostle Paul, when there is no law, there can be no violation of the law or sin. 14 So, since the law against incest was not given until thousands of years later, there was no theological problem with Cain marrying his sister.

Genetic problems Many skeptics object to the idea that Cain married his sister from a scientific viewpoint, since inbreeding leads to the expression of detrimental recessive mutations. This is why punctuated equilibrium does not represent a viable evolutionary mechanism, since species sorting does not really lead to the formation of new species, but to the extinction of the current species. 15 However, scientists have developed completely inbred strains of mice whose individuals are all genetically identical. The process involves selecting out the defects. The resulting strains of mice are regularly interbred and do not suffer from any defects (although scientists also raise strains of inbred mice that possess a single genetic defect, for study). In the same way, I believe that the first two humans were created without genetic defects. Inbreeding among their offspring did not lead to defects until many generations later as spontaneous mutations accumulated. At that point, God instituted laws against incest to minimize the expression of genetic mutations that had developed within our species. Conclusion Is has been shown that the Bible's claim that Cain, the first offspring of Adam and Eve, could have found a wife is found to be plausible if he had chosen among one of his sisters (and he probably had already done so before he murdered Abel).

Since there seems to have been at least 100 years between the birth of Cain and the death of Abel, Adam and Eve would have had plenty of time to produce daughters for Cain to choose from. Brothers and sisters marrying seems to be a theological problem, since the Bible is quite clear that one should not marry a close relative. However, the Jewish laws were not instituted until thousands of years later, so there would have been no prohibition against such marriages at that time. Skeptics also say that such interbreeding would have produced a genetically crippled population. However, if God had created human beings, as the Bible says, then it would be expected that they would have been created without genetic defects. The accumulation of detrimental mutations would taken many generations, at which time God instituted the laws against incest to protect against the majority of these defects.

Related Pages General Rebuttal to the Theory of Evolution References Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth." (Genesis 1:26-28) Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. The LORD God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed.

(Genesis 2:7-8) Then the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him." Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him. So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. The LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man.

(Genesis 2:18-22) Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever"-- therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life. (Genesis 3:22-24) Now the man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, "I have gotten a manchild with the help of the LORD." Again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. (Genesis 4:1-2) So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground.

Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. (Genesis 4:3-5) By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks. (Hebrews 11:4) For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother's were righteous. (1 John 3:11-12) Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up?

And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it." (Genesis 4:6-7) Cain called Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. (Genesis 4:8) Then the days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years, and he had other sons and daughters. (Genesis 5:4) "Behold, You have driven me this day from the face of the ground; and from Your face I will be hidden, and I will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me." (Genesis 4:14) When Adam had lived one hundred and thirty years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth. (Genesis 5:3) Brown-Driver-Briggs' Hebrew Definitions: WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT CAIN'S WIFE Where did Cain get his wife? Don's answer: I’ve been waiting on this one.

Every Bible-basher from time immemorial has asked this question. It’s kinda like the Sadducees’ argument against the resurrection on the basis of a seven-time widow being confused over who her husband would be in the here-after (Matthew 22:23-28). Just like the foolish Sadducees believed that the resurrection could be easily disproved by a silly question over a widow’s confusion, many foolish sinners believe that the divinely inspired and inerrant Word of God is easily disproved by a silly question about Cain’s wife. The Bible plainly teaches us that the first man was Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45) and that the first woman was Eve, who was made from Adam’s rib to be his “helpmate” (Genesis 2:18-24). Furthermore, the Bible goes on to teach that these two are the original parents of all humanity, as is proven by the fact that the name “Eve” means “the mother of all living” (Genesis 3:20). Cain was the first child of Adam and Eve (Genesis 4:1). He murdered his brother Abel, our original parents’ second child (Genesis 4:2-8).

Afterward, he was cursed by God as “a fugitive and a vagabond” and “went out from the presence of the Lord” to “dwell in the Land of Nod” (Genesis 4:9-16). Contrary to popular opinion, the Bible does not say that Cain found his wife in the Land of Nod, but only that he “knew [her there]; and she conceived, and bore [him a son named] Enoch” (Genesis 4:17). Chances are, Cain was already married before he slew his brother; otherwise, Genesis 4:17 would have mentioned something about his marriage. Apart from his brother Abel, the only other sibling of Cain specifically named in the Bible is Seth. Eve named him “Seth,” which means “substituted,” because he was granted to Adam and Eve by God as a substitute for the slain Abel (Genesis 4:25). Although they are not specifically named in the Scripture, Adam and Eve had other children besides Cain, Abel and Seth.

For instance, in Genesis 5:4 we are told that Adam lived “eight hundred years” after Seth was born, during which time Adam “fathered [other] sons and daughters.” When you add to this, the possibility that Adam may have fathered many other children besides Cain, Abel and Seth in the 130 years before Seth was born, you quickly come to realize that the children of Adam and Eve may well have numbered in the hundreds. If the Bible is true, and we believe it is, then brothers and sisters had to marry in the beginning. Otherwise, that first generation could not have produced more generations. It is obvious, therefore, that Cain took one of his many sisters to be his wife. Remember, God commanded that first generation to “be fruitful, and multiply” (Genesis 1:28). If they had failed to do so, there would have been no succeeding generations. Many object to the idea of Adam and Eve’s sons and daughters marrying each other, because of God’s later prohibition against brothers and sisters intermarrying (Leviticus 18:6, 11; 20:17).

Yet, all married people are guilty of intermarriage with relatives, since we’re all related through Adam and Eve and descendants of “one blood” (Acts 17:26). Also, we shouldn’t forget that God blessed Abraham’s marriage to his half-sister Sarah as the fountainhead of His chosen people (Genesis 20:12). It was not until more than 400 years after the time of the Patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—that God prohibited such marriages in the Mosaic Law. One reason for the Mosaic Law’s prohibition against intermarriages between close relations was the unacceptable high risks of deformity to children produced by such unions. We need to remember that the children of Adam and Eve, unlike children in Moses’ day or in our day, were not products of accumulated genetic mistakes inherited from generations of ancestors who lived under the curse of sin. Instead, the genes our original parents past on to their offspring would have been the most minimally effected of all since sin entered into the world. By the time of Moses, however, creation had degenerated under the corruption of sin to the point that intermarriage between close relations carried with it the high probability of producing deformed offspring.

Also, the world’s population by that time no longer necessitated intermarriage, since there were plenty of people to marry other than one’s close personal relatives. Thus, God prohibited marriages between brothers and sisters in the Mosaic Law. Today, intermarriage between close relations is forbidden by the Word of God. First, it is forbidden because it is totally uncalled for, thanks to the world’s present-day population. Second, it is forbidden because it is totally unacceptable, due to genetic degeneration brought on by thousands of years of sin’s deteriorating effects. If you doubt that sin has produced genetic degeneration over time, all you need to do is compare how long Adam lived (930 years) with the average life-expectancy of a modern-day male. Before ending our answer to the Scriptural skeptic’s favorite Bible question, we should address a couple of other issues. First, many Bible-bashers argue that the Land of Nod—the place to which Cain fled and supposedly met and married his wife—proves the presence of other races on the earth that were not descended from Adam and Eve.

Yet, as we’ve already pointed out, the Bible doesn’t say that Cain met his wife in the Land of Nod, but only that he had sexual relations with her there and that she conceived and bore him a son named Enoch. Furthermore, for all we know, the Land of Nod may have been unpopulated when Cain arrived there. Nowhere does the Bible address the population of the place. Many presume that the Land of Nod was populated, since the Bible says that Cain built a city there (Genesis 4:17). However, the Hebrew word for “city” may be translated a “walled town” or “protected encampment.” It should not be understood in the modern-day sense of the word. Cain did not go to the Land of Nod and build a thriving metropolis. What he probably built was an enclosure around his encampment to protect him and his family from wild animals. Finally, skeptics propose that Cain’s fear of others taking vengeance on him for the murder of his brother is additional proof of other races on the earth that did not descend from Adam and Eve (Genesis 4:14-15).

Actually, I believe Cain’s fear of others taking vengeance on him provides proof to the contrary. Why would other races care about Cain’s murder of Abel or have any interest in avenging Abel’s blood, especially in a time that predated civil government? Only those who were closely related to Abel would have been suspected by Cain as possible avengers of his brother’s blood. Sorry scriptural skeptics and Bible-bashers, but the wife of Cain does not provide you with a silver bullet to shoot through the heart of God’s Word. It is, as all shots at the Scripture prove to be, nothing but a blank cartridge. Instead of firing blanks at the Bible, why don’t you try believing it? You’ll be eternally grateful that you did! Cain and Abel | The Unspoken Bible It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that things are difficult. -Seneca According to theology, the Creator has the power of omniscience-perfect knowledge and control of everything, past, present and future. Yet, the first generation of humans is said to have committed the first sin and the second generation committed the first murder.

If there was a being with such awesome powers, then such events would have happened as planned. The buck stops at the Creator. If such a way of thinking had any basis in reality, humans would be mere automatons acting out their roles like puppets. We think we have free will, when in fact we don't. Religion tries to have it both ways wherever it is expedient. I stress that the Church's first concern is for obedience to its member clergy; the idea of a god is nothing but a metaphor for Church authority. It is more accurate to think of the Church as power seeking political organization rather than as a moral paragon. To prove my point, I will show that it is impossible to be resolutely true to raising the moral standards of human society and be religious at the same time. Let us digress to the fable of Adam and Eve and compare it to Cain and Abel. Adam and Even were labeled the first sinners because they disobeyed God. Yet by their act of disobedience, when they learned the difference between good and evil, they promptly tried to be good by making clothes for themselves. God lost control, so he condemned the entire human race.

Cain and Abel both tried to please their god by offering regular sacrifices-Cain by the first fruits of his crops and Abel by the firstborn of his herd. When God showed his preferences for Abel's sacrifices, Cain became visibly angry. Based upon God's mushy advice to do the right thing to avoid sin, and because Cain did not know what sin was, he followed his impulses and murdered his brother. God's reaction was to chase him away with a mark on him to warn others not to harm him. As a result, Cain became wealthy and respected. If God had truly punished Cain, we could properly admire God for acting justly. But because he rewarded him, Abel qualifies as the Bible's first sacrificial victim. In other words, though Cain did not intentionally sacrifice his brother, the purpose of blood sacrifice is to gain favor from God. This story opens the door to blood sacrifice that stretches all the way to Jesus' crucifixion. What we can draw from this is that sin defines acts of disobedience against the Church. Whereas when murder is committed to appease the Church's fictitious God, it is looked upon as virtuous.

If moral concerns were the Church's first priority, surely Cain's murder would qualify as the first sin instead of Adam's act of disobedience. Summary-Gen. 4:1-26 Common beliefs have it that the 'mark of Cain' symbolizes dishonor because God branded Cain a sinner for murdering his brother.Not exactly! The word sin makes its first appearance in the Cain and Abel story as a way of introducing the perverted consequences of religious obedience. Eve produced two sons, Cain and Abel. According to Eve, God was the father of the firstborn Cain and Adam fathered Abel. When they grew up, Cain became a farmer and Able a sheepherder. Each tried to please the Creator in his own way. Cain offered his first fruits from the ground and Abel offered the firstborn of his sheep. After a while, because God was showing favor towards Abel and disregarding Cain, Cain's frustration grew into visible anger. When God noticed Cain's anger, he advised, "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it." The statement was ambiguous. What must Cain do well to be accepted?

Sin lurks for not doing well at what? What desire must he master? What is sin? God, the omnipotent one, had to know what was on Cain's mind but he did not discourage him with an imperative statement like: Do not harm your brother! Instead, he left it up to the simple minded Cain to interpret what he said. Judging by Cain's actions, here is how he interpreted his Creator: If you do right I will accept you. And if you do wrong you will sin. Desire is for you to master. And that is exactly what Cain did. He mastered his desire and avoided sin by taking Abel out to the field and killing him. If we take the view that Abel was the firstborn son of the first human father-Cain being a son of God-we could argue that it was the first human sacrifice. According to the story of Adam and Eve, God did not want mankind to know good from evil. By that standard, Cain was a perfect being. He didn't know the difference, so he mastered his inhibition against killing Abel. After the deed, the omnipresent god asked, Where is your brother Abel?ï¿½ Without remorse, Cain answered, I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?

Popular belief has it that God cursed Cain, but he did nothing of the sort. He cursed the ground so Cain could never farm again. Also, he shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth. When Cain complained that God would not be able to protect him from so far away, God put a mark on his head so Whoever kills Cain will suffer a sevenfold vengeance. In actuality, these so-called punishments improved his life. Cain didn't wander at all. Instead he settled in the east in the land of Nod, married, prospered, had one son and founded a city. One of Cain's descendants was Lamech, who proudly confessed to his wives of killing a young man. If Cain is avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech 77-fold, he said. Lamech correctly saw the mark of Cain as a blessing. With god protecting him, crime pays. As a final thought, we might wonder if the Mark of Cain is synonymous with the Mark of the Devil. Deconstruction With help from God, Eve conceived and bore Cain. Abel was the second born. Cain became a farmer and Abel a sheepherder.

1Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying,"I have gotten a man with the help of the LORD." 2And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the ground. (Gen. 4:1-2) 1. Who is Cain's father? If Adam knew Eve then he would be Cain's father. But if Eve bore Cain "with the help of the Lord," then God could be the father. It's like a married woman cheating on her husband and crediting him with being the legitimate father. Eve's statement could be interpreted as a divine virginal conception. 2. According to Paul, the second man is from heaven. That would be Cain. 47The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. (1 Cor. 15:47) 48As was the man of dust, so are those who are of the dust; and as is the man of heaven, so are those who are of heaven. (1 Cor.

15:48) 49Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. (1 Cor. 15:49) 3. According to Isaiah and Psalms, God forms babies in their mother's womb; life cannot regenerate itself without his help. Thus he remains the sole creator of all life. 24Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: "I am the LORD, who made all things, who stretched out the heavens alone, who spread out the earth. (Isa. 44:24) 13For thou didst form my inward parts, thou didst knit me together in my mother's womb. (Psalms 139:13) 6Upon thee I have leaned from my birth; thou art he who took me from my mother's womb. (Psalms 71:6) 4. Thinking back to the two creation stories in Genesis 1 and 2. In Gen. 1:9, life began after God divided the watery chaos; and in Gen.

2:6, life began after it was watered-those two symbolize the water in women's wombs. In Gen. 1:26, God made man in his own image, and in Gen. 2:7, God breathed life into him-those acts gave men souls. So a man provides the seed, women provide the water and God gives human life by providing the soul. Women don't have souls, according to Genesis 1 and 2. Thus women are seen as being subhuman. 5. Let's replay that against the New Testament and Jesus' so-called virgin birth which is told in two contradictory ways in Matthew and Luke. This is not the time to go into the details. So suffice to say that it is not much of a stretch to present Mary as being impregnated by God. It was common belief that God gives life in the womb. The Gospel writers were no more forthright then the Creation writers. When they grew up, Cain offered fruits from his crops and Abel offered the firstborn from his flock. 3In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4and Abel brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. (Gen.

4:3-4a) But God showed favor for Abel's offerings and disregarded Cain's. So Cain grew frustrated and angry. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, 5but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. (Gen. 4:4b-5) God shows his preference for animal sacrifice. Who said God doesn't play favorites. Noticing Cain's anger, God advised he would find acceptance by doing well. If he does not do well, he will be judged a sinner. Its desire was up to him to master. 6The LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen? 7If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is couching at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it." (Gen. 4:6-7) 1. Whatever God said to Cain, it is hard to make anything sensible out of it. It appears that God suggested to Cain to master his sin if he so desires. There were no do-not commands and there was no definition of sin.

The choice was up to Cain to master his desire. See commentary. 2. There were no doors at the time Cain was supposed to be living. This story was written long after it supposedly happened. So Cain mastered his desire by killing his brother. 8Cain said to Abel his brother,"Let us go out to the field."And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and killed him. (Gen. 4:8) Since God did not forbid him to kill his brother, he did not sin. When God noticed Abel missing, he asked of his whereabouts. Cain replied defiantly that he is not his brother's keeper. 9Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?"He said, "I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?" (Gen. 4:9) 1. Early in the Bible, God was anthropomorphic, which means human like. This is why he did not know where Abel was. Could this be Jesus? 2. Cain's lack of remorse gives a sense that he felt encouraged to do what he did.

For killing his brother, God cursed the ground he stood on.His crops would diminish in yield and he would become and fugitive and wanderer. 10And the LORD said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground. 11And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. 12When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength; you shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth." (Gen. 4:10-12) 1. In Gen 3:17 when God cursed the ground Adam stood on, it was meant that Adam had to work the land to get his food. This time when God curses the ground, the land is not supposed to produce crops. 2. There is a faint reference to the Israelites' wandering in the desert for forty years without anything to eat except manna-whatever that is. Cain feared he would starve or be killed if he left Eden. 13Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is greater than I can bear.

14Behold, thou hast driven me this day away from the ground; and from thy face I shall be hidden; and I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will slay me." (Gen. 4:13-14) Cain's statement gives away the fact that there were many more inhabitants on earth besides him and his parents. Who did Cain fear? So God put a mark on him for protection. 15Then the LORD said to him, "Not so! If any one slays Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold." And the LORD put a mark on Cain, lest any who came upon him should kill him. (Gen. 4:15) Surely, the mark of Cain qualifies as a blessing. Nobody would dare kill him no matter what he did. He could steal, cheat and kill with impunity. Cain moved to the land of Nod, east of Eden, where he found a wife, fathered a son named Enoch, and built a city. 16Then Cain went away from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

17Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch; and he built a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch. (Gen. 4:16-17) 1. Wait a minute! According to Gen. 3:23-24, God drove Adam and Eve out of Eden. Eden is supposed to be uninhabited. This is because two different people wrote them. One refers to 'LORD' and the other, 'LORD God.' 23therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he was taken. 24He drove out the man; (Gen 3:23-24a) 2. Creation was supposed to have begun in Eden and already we have a place called Nod where there were enough people to populate a city. Cities are a big step up from towns and villages. Its population would have to be in the thousands. Apologists have offered all kinds of rationalizations, but the Bible authorizes none of them. 3. God still dwells in Eden and has no presence in Nod which implies he had no authority there.

In fitting with pagan mythology, gods lived within the boundaries of the people who invented them. We don't know what the mark looked like and why it was readily recognized. Perhaps it was believed that the gods had a pact among themselves to honor it. Lamech counts as the seventh generation from Creation. Adam and Eve and Cain and Abel were the first two. 18To Enoch [3] was born Irad; and Irad [4] was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael [5] the father of Methushael, and Methushael [6] the father of Lamech [7]. (Gen. 4:18) The number seven seems a play on the number of times God would avenge anybody who killed Lamech. See below on Lamech's crimes. Lamech had a large family of descendants. 19And Lamech took two wives; the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. 20Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have cattle.

21His brother's name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. 22Zillah bore Tubalcain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubalcain was Naamah. (Gen. 4:19-22) The mention of iron places the time of writing somewhere after 950 BCE. This generation was supposed to have existed approximately 3500 BCE. If it looks like folklore and it sounds like folklore, it is folklore. Lamech figures that if Cain could get away with murder, so could he. The number seven comes into play again. 23Lamech said to his wives: AdahZillah, hear my voice; you wives of Lamech, hearken to what I say: I have slain a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me. 24 If Cain is avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold." (Gen. 4:23-24) Lamech must have inherited Cain's mark. Adam fathered another son, Seth, to replace Abel.

25And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, "God has appointed for me another child instead of Abel, for Cain slew him." 26To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time men began to call upon the name of the LORD. (Gen. 4:25-26) According to Genesis 5:3, Adam and Eve produced Seth when they were 130 years old. A little ridicules, but this is the Bible. It is said that Adam fathered a son again to replace Abel. That still leaves Cain as a Son of God. Commentary This story takes an additional twist when we consider the effect Adam's disobedience could have had on Cain. When God warned Adam he would die on the day he ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:15), he was too innocent to know what evil was. As it turned out, instead of dying on the day he ate the forbidden fruit, he lived for 930 years (Gen. 5:5).

Similarly, Cain had no idea what sin was, but he had reason to believe he might be rewarded as his father was. The mushy phrase "Sin couches at the door" does not compare to an imperative like, "Don't do it." Plus, there was no defined penalty. Cain's instincts proved correct. When he complained about being banished, God rewarded him with a mark to protect him. Lamech got the point when he admitted to his wives that he killed a man. The pattern repeats itself with Moses. After he fled to Midian for murdering an Egyptian, Yahweh rewarded him by inducting him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. 1. Where did Cain get his wife and where did Cain find the people to build a city? The apologist answer is that according to Genesis 5:4, Adam and Eve had other unnamed sons and daughters. There a number of conflicts. 3When Adam had lived a hundred and thirty years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. 4The days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years; and he had other sons and daughters. (Gen.

5:3-4) 1a. Even rabbits can't multiply that fast. According to the Guinness Book of Records, the most prolific mother had 69 children. Among them were 16 twins, 7 triplets and 4 quadruplets. The oldest mother was 63 years old; but she was artificially inseminated with donor eggs. The greatest number of living descendants stands at 824. With polygamy, it goes up to 1700. The oldest person lived to 122.5 years. 1b. If there were unnamed brothers and sisters, they weren't exiled. Cain went alone and there is no suggestion that anybody else ever went into Nod. 1c. The Bible has a habit of mentioning only male descendents. Thus at the time of exile, it is certain that Cain had no other brothers. 1d. What was the mark supposed to protect him from? It could only be from adults not family related. 1e. Seth came when Adam and Eve were 130 years old, but we don't know how long after Cain's exile. It is reasonable to surmise that it was long after Cain married his wife and founded a city.

After Seth, the remaining sons and daughters were spread out over 800 years. 2. Puns. 'Nod' comes from Nahd, meaning wandering. 'Seth' means substituted. 'Abel' means something transitory. 'Cain' comes from qayin, meaning spear. 3. Themes. Cain plays the role of the Canaanites whose sacrifices in the Elijah story of 1 Kings 18:20-40, go unaccepted. Abel plays the role of Israel as a nation God once chose. This leads us to believe that the Cain and Abel story was produced after the Babylonian exile in 586 BCE. 4. Sacrifice plays a crucial role in the sin motif. It can be practiced either to please God or to expiate sin. This is where the Bible introduces meat eating, animal sacrifice and human sacrifice. 5. Symbolism. The Hebrews were poor wandering herdsmen and their culture was steeped in animal sacrifice. Canaanites were farmers. Adam and Eve had a third son, Seth, who became an ancestor of Noah and later of Jesus according to Luke 3:38 6. Pagan parallels.

In Egyptian mythology, Seth created havoc on earth by murdering his brother Osiris, out of jealousy for his high reputation. The Sumerian tale of Dumuzi and Enkimdu depicts the rivalry between herdsmen and farmers. In this case they argued over who would marry the fertility goddess, Inanna. Nobody died. 7. What is the mark of Cain? Could it be the mark of the beast, the number 666, described in the Book of Revelation? It is the only place in the Bible where a mark is defined. 17so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. 18This calls for wisdom: let him who has understanding reckon the number of the beast, for it is a human number, its number is six hundred and sixty-six. (Rev. 13:17) The explanation I find most convincing is that the mark has astronomical significance. Representing Cain and Abel are Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer and Hercules respectively. The serpent symbolizes Cain's evilness and Hercules upside down position represents the fallen Abel. Coincidently Ophiuchus' head is represented by one star.

It's a reasonable guess that that the mark is the head star Ras Alhague which ranks as the 56th brightest star of all the stars and the brightest in the constellation. Graphic illustrations show the star on Ophiuchus' forehead. For more detail see Eden to Babel . Cain and Abel - Bible Story Verses & Meaning Cain and Abel Bible Articles Videos Audio This is a summary on the Biblical account of brothers Cain and Abel . You can read more in-depth Bible verses from the Scripture below and use the articles and videos to understand the meaning behind this teachable event in the Bible. Cain and Abel were the first and second sons of Adam and Eve. While Cain was a farmer, Abel was a skilled shepherd who took care of the family's animals. One day Cain and Abel made sacrifices to the Lord to worship and thank Him. Cain brought some of the produce from the land while Abel brought the first born of his sheep. God showed favor upon Abel's sacrifice because it was an offering that came from the best Abel had to give. This made Cain very angry and jealous. Cain lured his brother Abel into the fields and killed him with a rock.

The Lord called to Cain asking what happened and after Cain lies about killing his brother, God punishes Cain. While God's harsh punishment on Cain was that he would no longer able to grow crops on his land, He did promise Cain that no one would kill him. Read more about the story of Cain and Abel below. Genesis 4:1-16 1 Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man.” 2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. 6 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?

But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” 8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. 9 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 The LORD said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. 11 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.” 13 Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is more than I can bear.

14 Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” 15 But the LORD said to him, “Not so ; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. 16 So Cain went out from the LORD’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. Cain and Abel: Scriptures and Legends scriptures and legends Cain and Abel The First Book of Moses, called Genesis And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect.

And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.

Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me. And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch. Source: Genesis 4:1-17, King James version. Link to the entire King James Bible (Internet Sacred Text Archive).

The Story of the Two Sons of Adam The Quran Recite to them the story of the two sons of Adam; truly when they offered an offering, and it was accepted from one of them, and was not accepted from the other, that one said, "I will surely kill thee;" he said, "God only accepts from those who fear. If thou dost stretch forth to me thine hand to kill me, I will not stretch forth mine hand to kill thee; verily, I fear God, the Lord of the worlds; verily, I wish that thou mayest draw upon thee my sin and thy sin, and be of the fellows of the Fire, for that is the reward of the unjust." But his soul allowed him to slay his brother, and he slew him, and in the morning he was of those who lose. And God sent a crow to scratch in the earth and show him how he might hide his brother's shame, he said, "Alas, for me! Am I too helpless to become like this crow and hide my brother's shame?" and in the morning he was of those who did repent. Source: The Qur'ān , 5:30-34, translated by E. H.

Palmer (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1880), p. 101 . In more recent translations of The Quran the division into verses of this passage is given as 5:27-31. The title of the sacred book of Islam is variously Romanised as Koran, Quran, Qur'an, or Qur'ān. Kabil and Habil Palestine Kabil and Habil, or Cain and Abel, with their two sisters, were the first children born to Adam and Eve. Adam, by Allah's direction, ordered Cain to marry Abel's twin sister, and that Abel should marry Cain's, for it being the common opinion that marriages ought not to take place with those very near akin, such as their own sisters, it seemed reasonable to supose that they ought to take those of the remoter degree, but this Cain refused to, because his sister was the handsomer. Hereupon Adam told them to take their offerings to Allah, thereby referring the dispute to His determination. Cain's offering was a sheaf of the very worst of his corn, but Abel's a fat lamb of the best of his flock.

Allah having declared His acceptance of the latter in a visible manner, Cain said to his brother, "I will certainly kill you." Abel was the stronger of the two, and would easily have prevailed against his brother, but he answered, "If you stretch forth your hand against me, to slay me, I will not stretch forth my hand against you to slay you, for I fear Allah, the Lord of all creatures." So Cain began to consider in what way he should effect the murder, and as he was doing so, the devil appeared to him in human shape, and showed him how to do it, by crushing the head of a bird between two stones. Cain, having committed the fratricide, became exceedingly troubled in his mind, and carried the dead body on his shoulders for a considerable time, not knowing where to conceal it, till it stank horribly. And then Allah taught him to bury it by the example of a raven, who, having killed another raven in his presence, dug a pit with his claws and beak and buried him therein. Source: J. E.

Hanauer, Folk-Lore of the Holy Land: Moslem, Christian, and Jew (London: Duckworth and Company, 1907), pp. 69-70 . Stylistically slightly revised by D. L. Ashliman. Cain and Abel Turkey It is related that when our mother Eve bare Cain and Abel, she bare a daughter along with each. God Most High commanded the Messenger Adam, saying, "For the sake of their offspring, give to Cain the girl born with Abel, and give to Abel the girl born with Cain." The Messenger Adam did so. Now the girl born with Cain was exceeding fair; and Cain said, "O father, let the girl born with him be his, and let the girl born with me be mine." Adam answered, "God Most High commanded otherwise." But Cain loved that girl exceedingly; so he went and slew Abel. Thus because of a woman was blood first shed upon the ground. Source: The History of the Forty Vezirs; or, The Story of the Forty Morns and Eves , written in Turkish by Sheykh-Zada, translated into English by E. J. W.

Gibb (London: George Redway, 1886), p. 395 . This book is the translation of a manuscript prepared apparently in the early seventeenth century, but based on much older stories, similar in style and function to those found in the 1001 Nights. Cain and Abel Turkey (Armenian) One day Eve called to her Cain and Abel, who, still little children, were playing on the grass. She held out to her firstborn her right arm, and to her second son her left, and said, "Bite them, I command you." The elder boy bit till he drew blood, but Abel merely imprinted a long lingering kiss on his mother's arm. Then said Eve to her husband, "Our Cain will be a wicked man." Adam and Eve loved Abel dearly. Cain was jealous of their partiality. He wished to kill his brother, but knew not how. Satan took the form of a raven, picked a quarrel with another raven, and in Cain's presence cut his opponent's throat with a pointed black pebble.

Cain picked up the stone, hid it in his girdle, proposed to his brother a walk on the mountain, and there cut his throat with the pebble. The peasants of Armenia to this day call flints "Satan's nails," and conscientiously break every pointed black one they may find. Cain, after his crime, dared not return to his parents; the blood of his brother still adhered to his hands. In vain did he hold them all day long immersed in a neighboring spring; the stain was still there. Night came on, and, not being able to sleep, he wandered long and far, seeking a waterfall. Guided at last to one by the noise of its waters in the still night, he lay down on the bank and held his reddened hands under the cascade. There he held them, day and night, summer and winter, during a whole year, without sleep and without food, but at the end of that time they were still as crimson as on the day of the crime. And so long as Cain lived, he was never able to get rid of the proof of his fratricide. Abel and Cain Italy They were two brothers.

Abel greatly loved Cain, but Cain did not love so much the brother Abel. Cain had no great will to work. Abel, however, on the contrary, was greatly disposed (si ingegnava) to labor, because he had found it profitable. He was industrious in all, and at last became a grazier (mercante di manzi. And Cain also, being moved by jealousy (per astia), wished to become a grazier, but the wheel did not turn for him as it did for Abel. And Cain also was a good man, and set himself contentedly to work, believing that he could become as rich as his brother, but he did not succeed in this, for which reason he became so envious of Abel that it resulted in tremendous hate, and he swore to be revenged. Cain often visited his brother, and once said to him, "Abel, thou art rich and I am poor.

Give me the half of thy wealth, since thou wishest me so well!" Then Abel replied, "If I give thee a sum which thou thyself couldst gain by industry, thou shouldst still labor as I do, and I will give thee nothing, since, if thou wilt work as I do, thou wilt become as rich." One day there were together Cain, Abel, and a merchant, whose name I forget. And one told that he had seen in a dream seven fat oxen and seven lean. And the merchant, who was an astrologer or wizard, explained that the seven fat oxen meant seven years of abundance, and the seven lean as many years of famine. And so it came to pass as he foretold -- seven years of plenty and seven of famine.

And Cain, hearing this, thought, "During the seven years of plenty Abel will lay by a great store, and then I will slay him, and possess myself of all his goods, and thus I will take care of myself, and my brother will be dead." Now, Cain greatly loved God; he was good towards God, more so than Abel, because Abel, having become rich, never spoke more unto the Lord; and Abel would gladly have become a wizard himself. Then Cain began to think how he could slay Abel and become a merchant in his place, and so went forth to cut wood. One day he called his brother Abel, and said to him, "Thou art so rich, while I am poor, and all my work avails me little." And with that he gave Abel a blow with a knife, and dressed himself in his garments, and took a bundle of thorns on his back, and thus clad he took Abel's place as a merchant, believing that no one would recognize him as Cain. And while thus buying and selling he met the merchant-wizard who had foretold the seven years of famine and of abundance.

And he said, "Oh, good day, Abel," to make Cain believe that he was not discovered. But the oxen who were present all began to chant in chorus: Do not call that person Abel; It is Cain, do you not see it? Cain who, for the greed of money, Treacherously slew his brother, And then clad him in his garments. Now, O Cain! thou wilt be summoned Speedily unto the presence Of the Lord, who had condemned thee Unto death for thy great avarice. Cain came before God. O great God of endless mercy, Thou who art so good and mighty, Grant, I pray thee, grant me pardon For the good I did while living! Truly once, but for an instant, I forgot myself, but deeply I since then have long repented That I slew my brother Abel. But God replied: A punishment thou shalt have because thou didst slay thy brother from a desire to become rich. Likewise thou didst meddle with witchcraft and sorceries, as did thy brother. And Abel made much money and was very rich, because he did not love God, but sorcerers.

Albeit, ever good he never did evil things, and many good, wherefore God pardoned him. But thou shalt not be pardoned because thou didst imbrue thy hands in human blood, and, what is worse, in thy own brother's blood. The punishment which I inflict is this: The thorns which thou didst put upon thy brother are now for thee. Thou shalt be imprisoned in the moon, and from that place shalt behold the good and the evil of all mankind. And the bundle of thorns shall never leave thee, and every time when anyone shall conjure thee, the thorns shall sting thee cruelly. They shall draw thy blood. And thus shalt thou be compelled to do that which shall be required of thee by the sorcerers or by conjuring, and if they ask of thee that which thou wilt not give, then the thorns shall goad thee until the sorceries shall cease. Source: Charles Godfrey Leland (Hans Breitmann) Legends of Florence , collected from the people and retold, first series (London: David Nutt; and New York: Macmillan and Company, 1895), pp. 263-66 .

Breitmann's source: "Taken down from an old dame." The First Grave Poland Adam and Eve were standing on the bank of a brook, and before them lay the corpse of Abel, who had been killed by Cain. As they sat there, not knowing what they should do with the corpse, suddenly a little bird fell from a nearby tree. The little bird was still very young and could not fly. The fall killed it. Adam and Eve looked at the dead bird and saw that it was a raven. Soon the old raven flew by, and when he saw that his young one was dead, he scratched a hole in the ground with his feet, and laid it inside. Then he scratched the hole full and flew away. Adam and Eve observed all this and followed the raven's example. They made a hole in the earth, laid Abel's corpse in it, and covered it with earth. This was the first human grave. Source: Otto Knoop, "Das erste Grab," Ostmärkische Sagen, Märchen und Erzählungen (Lissa: Oskar Eulitz' Verlag, 1909), no. 73, p. 149. Translated by D. L.

Ashliman. © 2000. Online Bible | Biblica - The International Bible Society Genesis 4 Cain and Abel 1Adam[ a ] made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain.[ b ] She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth[ c ] a man.” 2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?

But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” 8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”[ d ] While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. 9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. 11 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.” 13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear.

14 Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Not so[ e ]; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. 16 So Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod,[ f ] east of Eden. 17 Cain made love to his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was then building a city, and he named it after his son Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael was the father of Methushael, and Methushael was the father of Lamech. 19 Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah. 20 Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock.

21 His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play stringed instruments and pipes. 22 Zillah also had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out of[ g ] bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain’s sister was Naamah. 23 Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, listen to me; wives of Lamech, hear my words. I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for injuring me. 24 If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times.” 25 Adam made love to his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth,[ h ] saying, “God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.” 26 Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to call on[ i ] the name of the Lord. Footnotes

Question: In the Bible, after killing his brother Abel, Cain fled to the land of where?
Answer: Nod