Interesting Facts

• Cain was the firstborn son of Adam and Eve.
• Eve stated, “I have gotten a man from the LORD” upon his birth.
• Cain’s offering to the Lord consisted of fruit of the ground, described in one source as “inferior fruit”.
• After killing Abel, Cain repented and was “sadly grieved” and wept exceedingly.
• Cain built a city and named it Enoch, after his son.

Genealogy

• Cain was the son of Adam and Eve.
• He was the elder brother of Abel. He also had sisters, including Âwân, whom he later married [3, 9a, 14].
• Cain’s son with Âwân was Enoch.
• The text mentions a descendant of Cain named Irad, son of Enoch. Further descendants in Cain’s line include Mehujael and Methusael, father of Lamech. Lamech had two wives, Adah and Zillah, and sons Jabal and Jubal with Adah, and Tubalcain and a daughter Naamah with Zillah.

Historical Context

Cain’s life unfolded in the early generations of humanity after the creation of Adam and Eve. The primary occupation in this period seems to have been tilling the ground and keeping flocks. The act of bringing offerings to YHWH was established during this time. The sources suggest a nascent social structure with family units and the beginnings of land ownership and disputes over resources. The divine presence was more directly experienced, with YHWH engaging in direct conversation with individuals like Cain. Following the murder of Abel, Cain’s banishment marks a significant point in the narrative, leading to his establishment in the land of Nod and the subsequent building of the first city. This period also saw the beginning of distinct family lines and the multiplication of humanity.

Narrative

Cain’s story commences with his birth, where Eve expresses her belief that she has “obtained a man from the Lord”. As he grew, Cain became a tiller of the ground, while his brother Abel was a keeper of sheep. A pivotal event was their presentation of offerings to YHWH. The Lord showed respect for Abel’s offering of the firstlings of his flock and the fat thereof, but did not respect Cain’s offering of the fruit of the ground. This differential treatment ignited wrath and jealousy in Cain, causing his countenance to fall. YHWH confronted Cain, questioning his anger and stating that if he did well, he would be accepted, but if not, “sin lieth at the door”. Despite this warning, Cain approached Abel in anger, leading to a dispute over their respective lands and possessions. This conflict culminated in Cain rising up against Abel and slaying him. The texts vary slightly on the method, with one mentioning an iron part of his ploughing instrument and another a stone. When questioned by YHWH about Abel’s whereabouts, Cain responded with the infamous denial, “I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?”. As a consequence of his fratricide, Cain was cursed from the earth, which would no longer yield its strength to him, and he was made a fugitive and a vagabond. Cain expressed his fear that anyone finding him would slay him. However, YHWH placed a mark upon Cain, declaring that whoever slew him would suffer sevenfold vengeance. Cain then went out from the presence of the Lord and dwelt in the land of Nod. Later in his life, Cain married his sister Âwân and fathered Enoch, after whom he named the city he built. According to one source, Cain later died when his house fell upon him, a form of retributive justice for killing Abel with a stone. Another account describes Lamech, Cain’s descendant, accidentally killing him.