This story of two brothers begins in the 4th chapter of the book of 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.
These two brothers were born with different interests, I was amazed as my children (every one of the three) was born with very distinct personality's.
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.
This is the first teaching of tithing found in the Bible. I believe that their parents taught them about sacrifice, and how God had killed some animals and used the skins to make coats to cover them with... a picture of the far future's final offering that Jesus would make as payment for us all.
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 if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
After looking into the hearts of the two brothers, God finds Abel's offering pleasing but was displeased with Cain's. Cain's reaction was a visible change in his appearance and God Asked him why. As always Gods desire is for us to do well but when we miss that mark its not the end of the world; perhaps some sin was deep in Cain's heart such as jealousy of his brother. God knows what we will do tomorrow and just like He says here, sin sets a desire in you but you can overcome. Unfortunately Cain's anger only increased.
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.
The Bible does say a little more about this, I have found two verses that apply. I will occasionally change versions that I feel better communicate the point that is being discussed.
Hebrews 11 v4 (NIV)
By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
1 John 3 v12 (NIV)
Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.
The reason I have chosen to use the (NIV) version for this example is simple... read them in the (KJV) and you will see that they are much harder to understand.
Hebrews 11 v4 (NIV)
By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
1 John 3 v12 (NIV)
Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.
The reason I have chosen to use the (NIV) version for this example is simple... read them in the (KJV) and you will see that they are much harder to understand.
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.
Jude 1 v11(NIV)
Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.
Jude 1 v11(KJV)
Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward and perished in the gainsaying of Core
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.
The curse God placed on Cain was from the earth.
suddenly he was dependent on others for farming his food.
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.
God places a mark on Cain
There is no way to determine what the mark looked like to my knowledge,
only that it was visible to others.
( some have suggested that a horn grew in the center of his forehead )
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.
Adam and eve probably had lots of children by the time these events occurred
Cain only had sisters to choose from for a wife and he choose one and they went east and built a city
The city's name was Enoch, named after Cain's evil son Enoch (not the same as the Seth's son)
And they multiplied
And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech.
And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.
And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.
And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.
And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.
And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.
And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.
Lamech suddenly tells his wives a very odd thing
And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt. If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.
In a few old books from time before the Bible we see a few hints that may or may not be true.
Here is an interesting (story/theory) of Lamech when his son takes him out hunting
He accidently kills Cain when his son leads him (almost blind) in his direction
And then he kills his son also by mistake at the same time
Click the picture for the link
Here is an interesting (story/theory) of Lamech when his son takes him out hunting
He accidently kills Cain when his son leads him (almost blind) in his direction
And then he kills his son also by mistake at the same time
Click the picture for the link
And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the Lord.
Adam and Eve were the very first parents and this is only a little of their children's stories... you know, sometimes
as a parent you can do everything you think is correct and still life comes at you as it does. Even the very first parents
and their children were infected with sin and indeed we all pass it from father to child.
In conclusion to this study we see, Cain's line ends about seven generations throughout genesis chapter 4
His line was not able to grow food because of their fathers unique curse so those folks worked on things
not related to gardening such as metal working and herding cattle.
Now we shall continue with Genesis chapter 5 and read about the righteous line of Adam
I hope that this has been useful and informative, once again if you want to talk about this topic,
or would like to aid in any way just contact us through the link found on the members page.
as a parent you can do everything you think is correct and still life comes at you as it does. Even the very first parents
and their children were infected with sin and indeed we all pass it from father to child.
In conclusion to this study we see, Cain's line ends about seven generations throughout genesis chapter 4
His line was not able to grow food because of their fathers unique curse so those folks worked on things
not related to gardening such as metal working and herding cattle.
Now we shall continue with Genesis chapter 5 and read about the righteous line of Adam
I hope that this has been useful and informative, once again if you want to talk about this topic,
or would like to aid in any way just contact us through the link found on the members page.
