Difference between revisions of "Cain"
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| + | == Life as recorded in the Bible == | ||
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'''Cain''' (Hebrew, "''acquisition''") was the firstborn son of [[Adam]] and [[Eve]] as recorded in the [[Bible]]. Born after [[Fall of man|the fall]], he became a farmer. He was the first murderer, killing his brother [[Abel]] because God accepted Abel's offering, but not Cain's. God punished him by cursing him to be a wanderer who would always have to toil hard for little reward. When Cain protested that "whoever finds me will kill me," God put a mark on him so that "if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over." <ref>Genesis 4:10-17</ref> | '''Cain''' (Hebrew, "''acquisition''") was the firstborn son of [[Adam]] and [[Eve]] as recorded in the [[Bible]]. Born after [[Fall of man|the fall]], he became a farmer. He was the first murderer, killing his brother [[Abel]] because God accepted Abel's offering, but not Cain's. God punished him by cursing him to be a wanderer who would always have to toil hard for little reward. When Cain protested that "whoever finds me will kill me," God put a mark on him so that "if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over." <ref>Genesis 4:10-17</ref> | ||
In time, Cain built a city that he named after his son Enoch. According to the apocryphal [[Book of Jubilees]], Cain married his sister <ref>Such marriages were not forbidden until the time of [[Moses]].</ref> Awan and was later killed when his house collapsed on him.<ref>Book of Jubilees 4:9,31</ref> | In time, Cain built a city that he named after his son Enoch. According to the apocryphal [[Book of Jubilees]], Cain married his sister <ref>Such marriages were not forbidden until the time of [[Moses]].</ref> Awan and was later killed when his house collapsed on him.<ref>Book of Jubilees 4:9,31</ref> | ||
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| + | == Cain's wife, continuing speculation == | ||
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| + | When Cain was sent away by God into exile,mankind was in it's second generation. Therefore the conundrum exists that who would Cain marry, as the Bible records Cain having offspring. Later Levitical law forbids the marriage of close relatives. However, the book of Jubilees,outside of the Biblical canon, records that Cain married his sister. Many people find this a Biblical contradiction. | ||
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| + | However, some interesting points to note ; a wife is related to her husband even before they marry, as all humans come from the offspring of Adam and Eve. Additionally, the law forbidding marriage between close relatives wasn't given until the time of Moses, Leviticus 18-20, 18:6 : "None of you shall approach to any that is near of king to him ,or uncover their nakedness..., 18:9, "the nakedness of thy sister, thou shalt not uncover. | ||
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| + | The Bible is the most logical book in existence,so one need only use internal reasoning to solve this problem. There is a sense of abrogation here, God didn't command it yet, so it's ok to pursue at this point. There is some logic to this in genetics. When God created man, he was a perfect creation,therefore the genetic degradation associated with reproduction with close relatives wouldn't have been an issue until centuries after the creation. | ||
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| + | Remember that Abram married his half sister Sara. Genesis 20:12, "indeed she is my sister, and then she became my wife", and it's fairly clear that God blessed this union, through the line of patriarchs. Therefore, the issue of Cain's wife is easily solved, in the pre-exodus period, as long as marriage was between one man and one woman for life (Genesis 1 -2), then there was no disobedience to god. | ||
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| + | == References == | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
[[Category:Biblical Persons]] | [[Category:Biblical Persons]] | ||
Revision as of 15:46, January 7, 2010
Life as recorded in the Bible
Cain (Hebrew, "acquisition") was the firstborn son of Adam and Eve as recorded in the Bible. Born after the fall, he became a farmer. He was the first murderer, killing his brother Abel because God accepted Abel's offering, but not Cain's. God punished him by cursing him to be a wanderer who would always have to toil hard for little reward. When Cain protested that "whoever finds me will kill me," God put a mark on him so that "if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over." [1]
In time, Cain built a city that he named after his son Enoch. According to the apocryphal Book of Jubilees, Cain married his sister [2] Awan and was later killed when his house collapsed on him.[3]
Cain's wife, continuing speculation
When Cain was sent away by God into exile,mankind was in it's second generation. Therefore the conundrum exists that who would Cain marry, as the Bible records Cain having offspring. Later Levitical law forbids the marriage of close relatives. However, the book of Jubilees,outside of the Biblical canon, records that Cain married his sister. Many people find this a Biblical contradiction.
However, some interesting points to note ; a wife is related to her husband even before they marry, as all humans come from the offspring of Adam and Eve. Additionally, the law forbidding marriage between close relatives wasn't given until the time of Moses, Leviticus 18-20, 18:6 : "None of you shall approach to any that is near of king to him ,or uncover their nakedness..., 18:9, "the nakedness of thy sister, thou shalt not uncover.
The Bible is the most logical book in existence,so one need only use internal reasoning to solve this problem. There is a sense of abrogation here, God didn't command it yet, so it's ok to pursue at this point. There is some logic to this in genetics. When God created man, he was a perfect creation,therefore the genetic degradation associated with reproduction with close relatives wouldn't have been an issue until centuries after the creation.
Remember that Abram married his half sister Sara. Genesis 20:12, "indeed she is my sister, and then she became my wife", and it's fairly clear that God blessed this union, through the line of patriarchs. Therefore, the issue of Cain's wife is easily solved, in the pre-exodus period, as long as marriage was between one man and one woman for life (Genesis 1 -2), then there was no disobedience to god.