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Genesis chapter 4 presents the account of Cain and Abel. Here we are introduced to Cain, who was a farmer, and his younger brother Abel, who was a shepherd. The account goes on to say that one day they both offered a sacrifice to God, Cain offering fruits and Abel offering the firstborns of his flock.

Although God favors Abel's offering, he does not specify a reason in the Genesis account. However, in Hebrews 11:4, we read, "by faith Abel offered God a sacrifice of greater worth than Cain, through which [faith] he had witness borne to him that he was righteous." Thus, God favored Abel's offering because he was righteous, unlike his brother Cain.

Cain was "hot with anger" when God did not accept his offering God even warned Cain to not let his anger and jealousy take the best of him by saying "If you turn to doing good, will there not be an exaltation? But if you do not turn to doing good, there is sin crouching at the entrance, and for you is its craving; and will you, for your part, get the mastery over it?" (Genesis 4:5-7).

The story continues with God approaching Cain asking about Abel's whereabouts. In response Cain answers, "Am I my brother's guardian?" (Genesis 4:9)

Finally, seeing through Cain's deception, God curses Cain to wander around the earth. Cain is overwhelmed by this and appeals in fear of being killed by other men, and so God places a mark on Cain so that he would not be killed, stating that "For that reason anyone killing Cain must suffer vengeance seven times" (Genesis 4:15). Cain then departs "to the land of fugitiveness" (Genesis 4:16).

But Cain did not depart alone for he probably took one of his sisters or nieces as Genesis 4:17 states that he "had intercourse with his wife and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch." And we all know that Enoch was a good man for he "kept walking with the [true] God." (Genesis 5:24).

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