Cain's Life After Killing Abel in Genesis

After Cain murdered his brother Abel, his life was marked by divine judgment, exile, and the establishment of a new lineage and civilization outside the immediate presence of God ^{[1, 3]}. Cain, the firstborn son of Adam and Eve, was a tiller of the soil, while Abel was a keeper of sheep ^{[2, 4]}. Their differing occupations led to distinct offerings to the Lord; Cain offered produce from the ground, while Abel offered the firstlings of his flock ^[6]. God accepted Abel's offering but rejected Cain's, leading to Cain's jealousy and subsequent murder of Abel in the field ^{[5, 6, 11]}.

Following the murder, God confronted Cain, who denied knowledge of Abel's whereabouts ^[10]. As a consequence of his sin, Cain was cursed from the ground, which would no longer yield its strength to him, and he was condemned to be a restless wanderer on the earth ^[9]. Cain expressed fear that anyone who found him would kill him ^[7]. In response, God placed a mark on Cain to protect him from vengeance, ensuring that whoever killed Cain would suffer sevenfold retribution ^{[9, 10]}.

Cain then "left Yahweh’s presence, and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden" ^[3]. The name "Nod" signifies wandering ^[1]. Despite his exile, Cain established a new life. He knew his wife, though her identity is not specified in the biblical text, with some traditions suggesting she was his sister or a descendant of Adam through another son ^[12]. Cain built a city, which he named after his son Enoch ^{[1, 10]}. His descendants are noted for various inventions and advancements ^[1]. The Midrash Rabbah suggests that Cain lived many years and begot many children, though his soul was not sated ^[8]. The narrative of Cain's life after Abel's murder highlights the consequences of sin and the beginning of human civilization outside the direct, unmediated presence of God ^[7].

Sources

Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Cain — one of the cities in the low country of Judah, named with Zanoah and Gibeah. (Joshua 15:57) (possession). Gen. 4. He was the eldest son of Adam and Eve; he followed the business of agriculture. In a fit of jealousy, roused by the rejection of his own sacrifice and the acceptance of Abel's, he committed the crime of murder, for which he was expelled from Eden, and led the life of an exile. He settled in the land of Nod, and built a city, which he named after his son Enoch. His descendants are enumerated together with the inventions for which they were remarkable”
Genesis “Genesis 4:2 (BSB) — Later she gave birth to Cain’s brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, while Cain was a tiller of the soil.”
Genesis “Cain left Yahweh’s presence, and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. -- Genesis 4:16”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Cain — A possession; a spear. (1.) The first-born son of Adam and Eve (Gen. 4). He became a tiller of the ground, as his brother Abel followed the pursuits of pastoral life. He was "a sullen, self-willed, haughty, vindictive man; wanting the religious element in his character, and defiant even in his attitude towards God." It came to pass "in process of time" (marg. "at the end of days"), i.e., probably on the Sabbath, that the two brothers presented their offerings to the Lord. Abel's offering was of the "firstlings of his flock and of the fat," while Cain's was "of”
Genesis “Genesis 4:8 (LITV) — And Cain talked with his brother Abel. And it happened as they were in the field, Cain rose up against His brother Abel, and killed him.”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Abel — (Heb. Hebhel), a breath, or vanity, the second son of Adam and Eve. He was put to death by his brother Cain (Gen. 4:1-16). Guided by the instruction of their father, the two brothers were trained in the duty of worshipping God. "And in process of time" (marg. "at the end of days", i.e., on the Sabbath) each of them offered up to God of the first-fruits of his labours. Cain, as a husbandman, offered the fruits of the field; Abel, as a shepherd, of the firstlings of his flock. "The Lord had respect unto Abel and his offering; but unto Cain and his offering he ha”
CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 8.28: enjoy any of God’s benefits so long as they regard themselves as placed in the world, on this condition, that they pass their lives under his government. How wretched then is the instability of the wicked, who know that not a foot of earth is granted to them by God! 14. Every one that findeth me . Since he is no longer covered by the protection of God, he concludes that he shall be exposed to injury and violence from all men. And he reasons justly; for the hand of God alone marvelously preserves us amid so many dangers. And they h”
Midrash Rabbah (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Midrash Rabbah, Kohelet Rabbah 6:3:1: “If a man begets one hundred, and lives many years, and the days of his years are many, but his soul is not sated from the good, and he did not have a burial; I say, a stillborn is better than he” (Ecclesiastes 6:3). “If a man begets one hundred” – this is Cain who begot one hundred sons; “and lives many years” – as [Cain] lived many years; “and the days of his years are many [but his soul is not sated from the good]” – his soul was not sated by his possessions and was not sated from the good of the world; “and he did not have a burial” – he was in abeyanc”
Genesis (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Genesis 4:14: And the Lord said unto him,.... In order to satisfy him, and make him easy in this respect, that: he need not fear an immediate or bodily death, which was showing him great clemency and lenity; or in answer to his begging for death, "therefore", or as some render the word, taking them for two, "not so" (y); it shall not be that whoever finds thee shall slay thee, thou needest not be afraid of that; nor shall thy request be granted, that thou mightest be slain by the first man that meets thee: it was the will of God, that though Cain deserved to die, yet that he shoul”
Genesis (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Genesis 4 (introduction): The birth, trade, and religion of Cain and Abel, Gen 4:1-7. Cain murders his brother Abel, Gen 4:8. God calls him into judgment for it, Gen 4:9, Gen 4:10. He is cursed, Gen 4:11, Gen 4:12. He despairs, Gen 4:15, Gen 4:14. A promise given him of preservation, and a mark set on him to prevent his being killed, Gen 4:15. He departs from God's presence, Gen 4:16. Has a son whom he calls Enoch; and builds a city, which he calls after his name, Gen 4:17. Cain has several children, among whom are Lamech, the first bigamist, Gen 4:18, Gen 4:19. Jabal, who taugh”
Genesis (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Genesis 4:8: We have here the progress of Cain's anger, and the issue of it in Abel's murder, which may be considered two ways: - I. As Cain's sin; and a scarlet, crimson, sin it was, a sin of the first magnitude, a sin against the light and law of nature, and which the consciences even of bad men have startled at. See in it, 1. The sad effects of sin's entrance into the world and into the hearts of men. See what a root of bitterness the corrupt nature is, which bears this gall and wormwood. Adam's eating forbidden fruit seemed but a little sin, but it opened the door to the ”
Genesis (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Genesis 4:16: And Cain knew his wife,.... Who this woman was is not certain, nor whether it was his first wife or not; whether his sister, or one that descended from Adam by another of his sons, since this was about the one hundred and thirtieth year of the creation. At first indeed Cain could marry no other than his sister; but whether he married Abel's twin sister, or his own twin sister, is disputed; the Jews say (g), that Cain's twin sister was not a beautiful woman, and therefore he said, I will kill my brother and take his wife: on the other hand, the Arabic writers say (h),”

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