Gen 4

		4:1 It is in this verse that we are told that Adam knows his wife. Because it is here first mentioned we must conclude that he did not know his wife before. It is also important to note that fresh from the creator’s hand and under the mandate of being fruitful and multiplying it is understandable why it would be after sin, or rather after the test that man would be allowed to procreate.
		4:1 The declaration here made by Eve shows that they were expectant of a man-child. No doubt from the promise that was received in Gen 3:15. However this man-child was not the promised seed that would come. It is believed that God explained to them that the man-child which they were expecting, would not be born until 4000 years hence. Consequently, no declaration was made for the man child that was born next.
		4:2 Since the scripture does not say that Adam knew his wife again, it is suggested that Cain and Abel were twins.
		4:2 Cain the one who sinned was associated with the ground, and Abel the righteous one was associated with sheep.
		4:2The use of the word “but” in the verse is definitely contrasting and comparing one brother, over another.
If meat eating was forbidden until after the flood, why was Abel keeping the sheep?	It seems that Abel had a particular interest in the animals and as a result he came to be associated with them; or it could have been his assigned responsibility. In the same way that Adam was to tend the garden, maybe Abel was to tend to the sheep. The role of keeping sheep was very important since it would be a sheep that needed to be sacrificed should sin occur. The verse also seems to imply from the verse that Abel simply was fond of the animals and thus took care of them. He fed them	4:2
Was this the first time that Cain and Abel were offering a sacrifice.	Since this is the first time that this is being mentioned we assume that this was indeed the first time that Cain and Abel were officiating in this service as grown men. It seems safe to conclude that previously Adam and Even were the ones who did this service on their behalf.	4:3 Cain and Abel were now of age, and at a stage at which they should offer a sacrifice unto the Lord. The “process of time” suggests that it was at this point that Cain and Abel sinned. Thus the need for a sacrifice. Note that this time on Earth was a time when the life of an animal was precious and the eating of meat was forbidden.
		Had they not been grown, Adam would have been the one offering on their behalf. It seems safe to assume that these men were officiating on behalf of their independent families.
	Story of redemption: chapter 6	4:3 It seems that Cain and Abel       (being the first born)  were given major responsibility of caring for the sheep (important animals) and tiller of the ground (food-important activity)
Why was the sacrifice of Abel accepted and Cain’s rejected; especially since each brought that which they seemingly had?	According Heb 11:4 we are told that a big part of the reason that Abel’s sacrifice was accepted over Cain’s is that Abel offered his sacrifice by faith. Faith cannot be defined without the word of God, consequently, we know there was instruction from God as to what to do. Here Cain was blatantly going against what he knew the commandment from God was.	4:3-4. What seems to be under discussion here is tithing, and the sin offering. Cain brought only one, but Abel brought both firstlings (1) and the fat (2).
		4:6-7  It is clear in these verses that there was some instruction. This highlighted in the fact that God advises him if he does well then his sacrifice will be accepted. So no doubt Cain was advised of what the proper way was.  The Lord was appealing to him to do it the right way. The Lord was saying” You really don’t have any reason to be angry.” But rather than accepting sound reasoning Cain got more angry.
Who are all the different male figures mentioned in these verses?	It seems Cain and the devil/sin, however it is not clear what or who is being addressed at the different instances.	4:7 This verse has a lot of supplied words. It is not clear how to translate it.
	“If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall behis desire, and thou shalt rule over him.	4:7 based on the words used in the original language, the last sentence is just two words, desire and rule. It seem consistent that the last two words were simply an addition to the previous statement and should not have been independent. Hence this last sentence should have read “If thou doest not well sin lieth at the door and shall desire to rule”
		4:7 I think the verse is implying that sin would have dominion over Cain if he did not do well.
		4:8 Cain did not correct his way, and as a result we see sin ruling over him in this verse.
Why were they in the field?	4:8 There were in the field working together, as the custom was. One taking care of the sheep and the other tilling the soil.
		4:9 Again the questions of the Lord are rhetoric, and is for the benefit of the onlookers and the hearers, rather than for God’s benefit.
		4:9 Notice that Cain lies blatantly to the Lord. Sin is indeed having its mastery of him.
		4:8-9 In these verses we see the unrepentant behavior of Cain. Consequently, we are able to understand why it was that Cain was reckoned as the seed of the devil. It follows that by definition a seed of the devil is any unrepentant soul.
		4:3 There seems to be some sort of poetic reference or metaphorical reference to the ground yielding Abel blood at the hand of Cain, esp since Cain was a tiller of the soil
Her in this verse is supplied, however the word for mouth is masculine. Why was a female pronoun used to describe the mouth of the Earth	In an attempt to associate the things that are said with what is, the translators linked the earth with the caring, nurturing , bearing aspect of a woman with the earth.	This point is further strengthened in the next verse.
		4:12 hence the Earth shall not yield, produce, bring forth for you anymore. In order to get something from the Earth you have to first plant something. Here Cain had basically planted his brother’s blood, consequently his hand would be cursed and would not get anything from the Earth when he planted.
		4:12 In other words the Earth will become like a barren female unto you.
		4:13 Cain was sentenced to walk and beg for food for the rest of his life. Since he enjoyed tilling the soil to reap, this was a great punishment.
What was Cain really saying, by adding to the word of God?		4:14 Cain basically repeats his punishments, but then adds to what God said.
		4:15 This is just proof that the Lord has no pleasure in the destruction of the wicked.
		4:15 Vengeance is mine saith the Lord.. It seems that taking revenge for Abel’s death was personal to God and no-one would
Why didn’t God allow Cain to be destroyed?	The mind of sin, the characteristic of sin is on display. God extended mercy to Cain, so that it can be seen by the onlookers that no matter how much mercy is shown the mind of sin it will never be changed. Cain had entertained evil, now it had taken him over.	4:15 Notice there is no record of Cain repenting. In spite of how merciful God was to Cain, he did  not apologize. Instead we see him blaming God for his curse. I must be evil and there must be no consequences for me. “the selfish mind of sin” God you are wicked for this punishment. I can’t bear this punishment.
		4:16 His hard heartedness is revealed even more in this verse. Rather than humbling himself Cain departed from the presence of the Lord.
		4:17 We know that Cain was never in the garden. Hence he could not have left the garden. Eden here is definitely a place on the earth, but it is not the earth itself. Eden had borders like a city and it is clear that
		4:17 The highpoint of the verse is that Cain left the presence of the Lord. Cain moved to the boarder of Eden to the Land of Nod (wanderer-wiki-pedia)
		4:17 "Nod" (נוד) is the Hebrew root of the verb "to wander" (לנדוד). Therefore, to dwell in the land of Nod is usually taken to mean that one takes up a wandering life
Where did Cain get his wife?	No doubt Cain’s wife was a dweller in Eden. It seems safe to assume that she must have been assigned to him prior to his murder of Abel. Granted what woman would want to live with him after such a heinous act?	4:17 She was his wife before his murder of Abel?
	It seems that Cain and Abel had to pass a test before they could conceive (have children), similar to their parents. Cain failed and Abel passed however only one lived to conceive to be fruitful and multiply.	4:17
		4:18-19 Here is shown the lineage of Cain. Its seems that all the Earth was filled with godless people until the birth of Seth.
	Meaning of the names mentioned in Cain’s lineage	It seems that the names tell a story, however we are unable to unlock that story.
		4:19-24 Lamech means powerful, more defiant than any other of Cain’s descendants. He takes unto himself two wives. Something here first mentioned. The second murder is listed among the descendants of Cain. He kills two men, and he declares himself untouchable. If Cain was not punished for his murder, then Lamech should not be punished either.
		4:25 Adam knew his wife, because they had continued relations. Again is not to be interpreted as once more as is typically understood. The again is to be understood in the sense that they had continued relations. It seems that only the first born linage is followed of both seeds.
		4:25 The declaration of Seth to be the replacement was God appointed. It seems then that only the significant seeds are mentioned. Hence the reason why Seth was mentioned by  name. This does not in any way say that Adam did not have any other children.
Was this an implication that only the descendants of Enos called on the name of the Lord; or was this a hint to mankind that this seed was the hope of men?	While it is not clear why Seth named his son Enos=men. It is clear however that it was through this lineage that the messiah would come.	4:26 The meaning of the name Enos=men. It seems awkward that the bible would then record that then men began to call on the name of the Lord.