Genesis 4: Did anyone hear what God said?

1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have gotten a man from the LORD.”

I assume they mean he ‘knew’ her in the biblical sense, so you’d think it is safe to assume that it was Adam, but then Eve says that she ‘got a man from the LORD’.  Threesome anyone?

2 And she again bore his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

3 And in process of time it came to pass that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.

4 And Abel also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering;

Ok, what the hell does God do with a lamb?  Just saying…

5 but unto Cain and to his offering He had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

What? No explanation as to why God showed no respect for Cain?

6 And the LORD said unto Cain, “Why art thou wroth? And why is thy countenance fallen?

I don’t blame Cain.  He toiled as hard as his brother at his work and made an offering and yet had it ignored.  I’d feel a bit put out as well.

7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.”

Why hadn’t he done as well?  He gave of his toil as did his brother.  God was just playing favourites as usual.  Probably had a thing for Abel.

8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and slew him.

9 And the LORD said unto Cain, “Where is Abel thy brother?” And he said, “I know not. Am I my brother’s keeper?”

Again, the guy who is supposed to be all-knowing, knows nothing and has to ask questions of a mortal.

10 And He said, “What hast thou done? The voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto Me from the ground.

Still asking questions even though he admits he knows.

11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand.

12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength. A fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be on the earth.”

13 And Cain said unto the LORD, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.

14 Behold, Thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth, and from Thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth. And it shall come to pass that every one who findeth me shall slay me.”

Just how many times could he be slain I wonder.

15 And the LORD said unto him, “Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.

16 And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod to the east of Eden.

17 And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch.

Cursed, a mark upon him and yet someone marries him? Yeah, even then they had weirdos.

18 And unto Enoch was born Irad; and Irad begot Mehujael, and Mehujael begot Methushael, and Methushael begot Lamech.

19 And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.

So two wives is alright huh?  Why then has that changed?  If it was alright then, why is it seen as immoral now?  God seemed fine with it.  He didn’t put any mark upon Lamech for his indiscretion, but as I say, it probably wasn’t an indiscretion then.

20 And Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents, and of those who have cattle.

21 And his brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who handle the harp and organ.

22 And Zillah, she also bore Tubalcain, an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron; and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.

23 And Lamech said unto his wives, “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech! For I have slain a man for my wounding, and a young man for my hurt.

24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.”

25 And Adam knew his wife again; and she bore a son and called his name Seth. “For God,” said she, “hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.”

Oh yeah, this is all the begatting and living for centuries crap.  First though, tell me how Cain ‘knew’ anyone?  He had no sisters.  There were no other ‘Adam and Eves’.  There was only him and his parents so I guess he ‘knew’ his mother.  Seemingly multiple wives and incest was a normal part of life back then.

26 And to Seth also there was born a son, and he called his name Enosh. Then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.

I don’t doubt they’d call upon the LORD.  Probably to get the moron to give them some extra women.  Eve must have been pretty tired from all the begatting going on.

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