Sunday Post: Of whom was Cain afraid after he killed Abel?

This week's Bible lesson reminded me that I had a long time question concerning Cain and his banishment. My quandary was that when Cain was banished after murdering brother Abel, who where the people of whom he was afraid? I've asked many "experts" to explain it and none of them have given me a satisfactory answer. I think the study below answers that question. I would elaborate with my theory, just guessing here, in that I would go so far as to speculate that there where other humans developing differently, parallel with us modern Homo Sapiens. I base that on all the ancient fossils scientists have been finding. These people may not have been a part of the civilization plan of the Lord, living in the wilderness and thus where savage. They either died out or bred with Sapiens.

What are your thoughts on this subject?

Question: "Of whom was Cain afraid after he killed Abel?"

Answer: In Genesis 4:13-14, shortly after he killed his brother Abel, “Cain said to the LORD, ‘My punishment is more than I can bear. 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.’” Whom exactly was Cain afraid of? The only people the book of Genesis had mentioned to this point are Adam and Eve (Cain’s parents) and Abel (who was now dead). Who would possibly be a threat to Cain?

It is important to recognize that Cain and Abel were both full-grown adults at the time that Cain killed Abel. Both Cain and Abel were farmers, who tended to their own lands and flocks (Genesis 4:2-4). The Bible does not tell us how old Cain and Abel were, but they very likely could have been in their 30’s or 40’s. The Bible does not specifically mention Adam and Eve having any children between Abel and Seth (Genesis 4:25). However, it is highly unlikely that the two most perfect human beings in the history of the world, Adam and Eve, would not have any children over several decades. Adam and Eve had many children after Seth (Genesis 5:4), so why would they not also have had other children between Abel and Seth? The Bible does not say that Seth was Adam and Eve’s first child, or even first son, after Abel was killed. Rather, it states that Seth was born as a “replacement” for Abel. Genesis chapter 5 traces the genealogy of Seth. Prior to his death, Abel was likely the “chosen” son that would eventually produce the Messiah (Genesis 3:15). It is in this sense that Seth “replaced” Abel.

So, whom was Cain afraid of? Cain was afraid of his own brothers, sisters, nephews, and nieces, who were already born and would be capable of seeking revenge. The fact that Cain had a wife (Genesis 4:17) is a further evidence that Adam and Eve had other children after Cain and Abel, but before Seth.Recommended Resources: Bible Answers for Almost all Your Questions by Elmer Towns and Logos Bible Software.

Found at: http://www.gotquestions.org/Cain-afraid.html