- Nov 23, 2021
- 1,870
- 637

Bible Gateway passage: Genesis 4 - New Living Translation
Cain and Abel - Now Adam had sexual relations with his wife, Eve, and she became pregnant. When she gave birth to Cain, she said, “With the LORD’s help, I have produced a man!” Later she gave birth to his brother and named him Abel. When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain...
1 Now Adam had sexual relations with his wife, Eve, and she became pregnant. When she gave birth to Cain, she said, “With the Lord’s help, I have produced a man!”
2 Later she gave birth to his brother and named him Abel.
— — —
Now, Bible literalists will say Cain later married a sister, but not a sister he grew up with.
I say, Look, this is a story about the formation of the Israelite people as a distinct people from the Canaanites. And when you’re a new people breaking off, you always emphasize the differences. For example, with the new state of West Virginia, I’m sure people were quick to say, “We’re not Virginians, we’re West Virginians!” Especially since they broke off during the American Civil War.
So, with the Israelites breaking off, I’m guessing they traced it back to a prominent early family.