The Story of Cain and Abel raises some enormously puzzling questions. Over the centuries Christians and Jews have read, interpreted, and pondered this narrative. They have found wildly divergent 1) Is Cain alone responsible for Abel’s death or must God, Adam and Eve, and even Abel take some of the blame? 2) What do you imagine Cain and Abel said to one another in the field just before the murder? 3) If you were Cain’s defense lawyer, how would you argue on his behalf? If you were the prosecutor, how would you argue for his conviction? Does Cain’s punishment fit his crime? 4) In exile, Genesis tells us, Cain went on to build cities, create music, and make technological advances. What does this story suggest about the relationship between progress, violence, and civilization? 4) What does this story tell us about violence—in the family, in America, in the world—as we near the twenty-first century? Respond to the questions here or post your own question on our forum. Return to the Student Forum introduction
meanings within this apparently simple story. The story tracks a sibling rivalry than spins out of control and erupts in the first murder, the first death in the Bible. If this biblical episode is held in one hand and today’s newspaper in the other, can we gain any fresh insights into the dynamics of violence?
Genesis 4: 3 In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel for his part brought of the firstlings of his flock, their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.
