Cain and Abel

Adam had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, stating she had acquired a man with the help of the Lord. She later gave birth to his brother Abel. As they grew, Abel became a keeper of flocks, while Cain became a tiller of the ground (Genesis 4:1-2). In the course of time, Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord, and Abel brought an offering of the firstlings of his flock and their fat portions. The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering, He had no regard (Genesis 4:3-5). Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. The Lord questioned Cain's anger and told him that if he did well, his countenance would be lifted up, but if he did not do well, sin was crouching at the door.

Cain spoke to Abel his brother, and while they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel and killed him. When the Lord asked Cain where Abel was, Cain replied that he did not know and asked if he was his brother's keeper (Genesis 4:8-9). The Lord stated that the voice of Abel's blood was crying out from the ground. Because the ground had opened its mouth to receive his brother's blood from his hand, Cain was cursed from the earth. The text indicates that when Cain tilled the ground, it would no longer yield its strength to him, and he would be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth (Genesis 4:10-12).

Cain told the Lord his punishment was too great to bear, fearing that whoever found him would kill him. The Lord declared that whoever killed Cain would suffer vengeance sevenfold and placed a mark on Cain so that no one finding him would kill him (Genesis 4:13-15). Cain then left the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, which was located east of Eden (Genesis 4:16). How Cain spoke to Abel in the field or the specific nature of the mark placed upon him, the text does not say.