QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

GENESIS 4

​Genesis 4:3

In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord.

Question
​What is the purpose of these offerings?
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​Genesis 4:5

but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

Question
Was Cain very angry with himself, his brother Able, or God?
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Genesis 4:9

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

Question
How did Cain know that murdering his brother was wrong when he lied to God about not knowing where his brother was?
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Genesis 4:10

The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.

Question
Why does God not kill Cain for the murder of his brother Able?
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Genesis 4:11

Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.

Question
Why did God proclaim Cain to be a “restless wanderer on the earth”, yet allow him to be the founder of the first city (land of Nod; City of Enoch)?
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Genesis 4:13

Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear.

Question
Was Cain upset with his punishment from God, or for feeling guilty over the sin of murdering his brother?
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Genesis 4:14

Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”

​Question
Who is Cain afraid of with his banishment by God when he says, “whoever finds me will kill me”, since at this time we only know of Adam, Eve, and the now murdered Abel? Is it possible Adam and Eve had other children that were not mentioned?
Answer 

​Genesis 4:15

But the Lord said to him, “Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him.

Question
Why does God give Cain a mark of protection, even after what he had done?
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Question
​Could Adam and Eve have had other children between Cain and Abel? Genesis 4:2 goes from Abel’s birth, and then right to Cain being a farmer and Abel keeping flocks, which implies both were adults.​
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Question
​With the birth of Abel did God already know of his imminent death, since his name in itself is a self-fulfilling prophecy (futility, breath, nothingness, meaningless).​
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