Expert: Phillip Senn - 1/24/2009

Question
When Cain was cast out of the presence of the everliving god in Genesis, who did he believe to bring him harm?  If it was some undetermined 6th day beast man i've been hearing about it seems very silly to me that the so called 6th day man would bring harm to him without any motive.  However the descendants of Adam and that family would have to motive to slay a murder of their people.  Where did he get his wife?  Why did he build a city?  These questions are also giving me a hard time.  I would like to know what you would structurally advise for clarity on this subject.


Answer
Derrik,

It would have been one of his kinsmen. A period of time had transpired (Gen. 4:3) after Cain and Able were born. During that time and afterward, Adam & Eve had other children (Gen. 5:4) and they also had children, etc. Cain's fear was that some of these would have killed him, if they found him. Also, there is no evidence of where Cain got his wife, but apparently, since Eve was the "mother of all living", it would have had to be a relative, although not necessarily a close relative.

There is no indication in Scripture as to why Cain builded a city, just that he did. The speculation would be that a city is walled to provide protection from outsiders, and that he was seeking to provide for his and his family's protection.

I hope this answers your questions sufficiently.

With Love In Christ,
Phillip Senn